Texas NFL Capsules: Depth concern for Cowboys after opening preseason

SAN ANTONIO — There will be a different sense for the Dallas Cowboys when they get back to practice in the Alamodome. Especially for the non-starters.

One preseason game can change the perception of things.

"You can start plays over at practice. It’s different in games, you can’t start plays over," linebacker Bradie James said after the Cowboys lost their preseason opener 31-10 at Oakland. "When they get coached this week, they’ll understand. It will set in."

Tony Romo and the No. 1 offense played two drives, following an opening three-and-out Thursday night with a nine-play touchdown drive in which six different players ran or caught the ball.

James and the starting defense held Oakland to a field goal even after a 47-yard pass interference penalty against new safety Gerald Sensabaugh gave the Raiders first-and-goal at the 8 on their opening drive.

But things got out of hand when the starters were done, creating cause for concern about the Cowboys depth.

"That isn’t the way we wanted to start out team-wise," coach Wade Phillips said. "Our second groups were sloppy overall. We tried to play basic techniques and basic running plays and pass plays, and we didn’t execute them all."

Beside the 47-yard penalty, the Raiders also had a 48-yard pass play and a 45-yard run against a defense for which Phillips is now his own coordinator. There have been widespread personnel changes, with only six of the top 13 tacklers from last season still on the team.

Oakland had 456 total yards, 176 on the ground.

"Overall, we’ve still got some work to do," James said.

The Cowboys got a break Friday before their final five days of training camp in the Alamodome, starting with two sessions Saturday. They break camp Wednesday, then two days later play the first game in their new $1.1 billion stadium with the preseason home opener against Tennessee.

With Terrell Owens gone, the starting offense did spread the ball around. The six different players who touched the ball on the touchdown drive each had gains of at least seven yards.

"It’s a glimpse about what this offense is about," said tight end Jason Witten, who caught an 8-yard TD from Romo. "There are a lot of different weapons. Obviously,it makes us a better offense when we can do that, puts a lot of stress on the defense."

Romo completed four passes on his final drive to four different receivers.

One of the second-team standouts was receiver Sam Hurd, who caught five passes for 79 yards.

"It was obvious that Sam played really well," Phillips said. "He showed some things. That was encouraging for us."

Fullback Deon Anderson had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee Thursday and could be out a month. The Cowboys also played the preseason opener without cornerbacks Terence Newman (groin), Mike Jenkins (ankle) and rookie Michael Hawkins (knee), backup running back Alonzo Coleman (knee) and rookie linebacker Stephen Hodge (knee).

But there appeared to be no significant injuries sustained against the Raiders.

"It looked like we didn’t get many injuries," Phillips said. "Look at it the other way, it doesn’t look like we played hard enough to get some injuries sometimes."

Chiefs open Haley era against Texans 

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — As thousands of Kansas City fans settle into their seats Saturday night, they’ll be paying absolutely no attention to a milestone moment Todd Haley’s been planning for months.

Since he was hired last winter as Chiefs head coach, Haley has made a point of not setting foot in Arrowhead Stadium. For one thing, there’s been no need to. The coaches’ offices have moved out of Arrowhead into a gleaming new administration building that opened last year.

For another, Haley’s been saving his own personal Arrowhead entrance for Saturday night’s preseason matchup with Houston. The game will be his own little private grand entrance into the small and exclusive club of NFL head coaches.

"I didn’t want to (go into the stadium) intentionally. I’m saving that for Saturday," he said this week.

What fans will be watching for closely will be whatever improvements Haley and new general manager Scott Pioli have made on a team coming off a franchise-worst 2-14 season. That record led to the dismissal of the general manager and head coach and the demotion of the quarterback.

There have been plenty of changes in approach, attitude and personnel. Also making their first appearance in a Chiefs uniform will be quarterback Matt Cassel, linebackers Mike Vrabel and Zach Thomas, kicker Ryan Succop and wide receiver Amani Toomer, among others.

Cassel, who came in a trade from New England, has been by far Pioli’s most significant addition. He’s as eager as everyone else to lock into preseason play and get a feel for how much progress the new regime has made.

"It is hard to tell," he said. "We’ve got the pads on each and every day and we are not game- planning anything. We are just installing each and every day. Like I said before, we have made a tremendous amount of progress from where we were early on in training camp."

Brodie Croyle, who had been designated as KC’s starting quarterback, is now battling Tyler Thigpen for the job as No. 1 backup. The starter is Cassel, who is happy to finally have a team of his own after sitting on the bench all through college and most of his NFL career.

"We still have a lot of work to go, but I am comfortable with the guys now because I have been here a little while," he said. "Hopefully, we can keep building and building to make this thing a finished product."

Elsewhere Saturday, it’s Atlanta at Detroit, Chicago at Buffalo, Tampa Bay at Tennessee, Cleveland at Green Bay, and Seattle at San Diego.

While the Chiefs are coming off their worst season, the Texans are riding the momentum of a 5-1 finish that brought them to an encouraging 8-8, tying their best record.

Both coaches plan to play their first team about one quarter.

"My history over the past would say they’re probably going to play a quarter at the most, but I’ll probably put a play count on them," said Texans coach Gary Kubiak.

Linebacker Brian Cushing, the Texans’ first-round draft pick, is out for the first couple of preseason games with a knee injury. The Texans are also unsettled at cornerback with the injury last week of Jacques Reeves, and with Dunta Robinson skipping camp in protest of being given the franchise tag.

Falcons at Lions

Daunte Culpepper starts for Detroit, while top overall draft pick Matt Stafford will get his first game action. He can only hope to emulate Atlanta’s rookie quarterback sensation of last year, Matt Ryan. Although the game doesn’t count, the Lions would love to taste victory after registering the first 0-16 record in NFL history in 2008.

Atlanta has a bigtime newcomer, too: Tony Gonzalez. The perennial Pro Bowl tight end was acquired from Kansas City.

"I’m not coming in here trying to catch 100 balls or save the day," Gonzalez said. "I’m going to do the same thing I always do. When they call my number and call my play, I’m going to try to produce, and things will take care of themselves."

Bears at Bills

Buffalo already has played a preseason game, losing 21-18 to the Titans in the Hall of Fame game. The new kid in town, Terrell Owens, won’t make his Western New York debut because of a toe injury.

Jay Cutler gets his first action as Bears quarterback after forcing a trade from Denver last winter.

Buccaneers at Titans

The remade Bucs, minus a slew of veterans released in the offseason, debut under new coach Raheem Morris. In retooling the defense and even getting away from the Tampa Two principles, Morris has created many questions for the Buccaneers to answer.

Tennessee’s starters looked sharp against Buffalo a week ago, particularly the first-string defense, even with All-Pro tackle Albert Haynesworth gone to Washington.

Browns at Packers

A pair of teams coming off poor seasons after surprisingly successful 2007 campaigns.

Green Bay is trying to sort out its offensive line, which could take the entire training camp. The Packers also are switching to a 3-4 defense, which could require several weeks of adjustment, beginning Saturday night.

Cleveland has dozens of holes to fill under new coach Eric Mangini, including at quarterback.

Seahawks at Chargers

Seattle is eager to turn loose top draft pick Aaron Curry, and plan to use him at linebacker and end at San Diego.

"You know, if there’s one thing that I would look for is watch Aaron Curry and see how he rushes as an end. We’re going to find out a little bit, you know? I’m excited to see it," new coach Jim Mora said. "There’s no sense in waiting."

-- Doug Tucker