Things We Learned from the 2013 NFL Hall of Fame Game

The preseason has officially started with the 2013 NFL Hall of Fame game taking place Sunday night. The Dallas Cowboys took care of the Miami Dolphins by a score of 24-20 in Canton, Ohio, finishing the festivities of the Hall of Fame weekend.

While it wasn't always pretty to watch, it's simply good to know that football is finally back. Here are a handful of things we learned as the Cowboys beat the Dolphins.

Sunday Night Football Doesn't Need a Preseason

While this technically doesn't have much to do with the actual game, NBC proved that it still has the best show in football with Sunday Night Football.

Cris Collinsworth and Al Michaels make quite the team in the booth. Even though this game meant little, they still did a great job announcing, bringing great information about position battles and roster outlooks.

It's easy to understand why NBC gets such great games when you watch all the pieces together while Monday Night Football and ESPN struggle to get quality games on a weekly basis.

Lamar Miller Looks Like a No. 1 Running Back

Despite only playing a few offensive possessions for the Miami Dolphins, Lamar Miller looked good in limited time.

While he did put the ball on the ground during a shaky handoff with quarterback Ryan Tannehill on the first possession, he recovered quite nicely. His next two runs showed off what makes him so intriguing entering his second season.

Miller made fantastic back-to-back runs, showing off his vision, quickness and agility in the open field. He only finished the game with 21 rushing yards on two carries, but it was enough to prove that he deserves many more touches once the regular season starts.

Phillip Tanner Also Looked Extremely Good

No player played with as much physicality as running back Phillip Tanner of the Dallas Cowboys.

Tanner is entering his third year in the league and was expected to be fighting for a roster spot. However, after rushing for 59 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries, he looks poised to compete for playing time.

What was so impressive about Tanner was how physical he was running the ball. Despite losing weight this offseason, he broke a number of tackles nearly every time he touched the ball.

Many people expect rookie Joseph Randle to ultimately become the No. 2 back behind DeMarco Murray, but Tanner looks like he has something to say about that.

The Dolphins Still Have a Major Question at Left Tackle

The Miami Dolphins decided to not re-sign offensive tackle Jake Long this offseason. That left a huge hole at one of the most important positions on the field, left tackle.

The Dolphins obviously hope that second-year tackle Jonathan Martin is capable of replacing Long. Unfortunately, that's not how it looks through the first preseason game. In fact, Martin struggled mightily to protect quarterback Ryan Tannehill, giving up a good amount of pressure.

After Martin was done for the day, the Dolphins tested rookie lineman Dallas Thomas out at left tackle. He too struggled, giving up a number of sacks and getting beaten on a rather consistent basis.

The problem is that neither Martin nor Thomas looked like a franchise left tackle. This will be a position Miami worries about every snap until someone steps up and performs consistently.

The Cowboys Might Not Have Reached with Travis Frederick

Seemingly everyone criticized the Dallas Cowboys for drafting center Travis Frederick in the first round this year. Many believed he'd be available later in the draft.

However, in his first-ever game, Frederick certainly looked like an NFL-caliber center. He opened up holes for the Cowboys' running backs and consistently got to the second level to block defenders.

Later in the game the Cowboys gave Frederick a run at guard, but he wasn't nearly as good there as he was playing center. As long as Frederick continues to build on a solid performance against the Miami Dolphins, drafting him in the first round won't seem like a reach at all for Dallas.

Dion Jordan Looks Ready to Produce

The one word that every analyst seemed to use to describe Dion Jordan coming out of college was raw. He has all the potential in the world, but no one knew how quickly that would be able to translate onto the field.

Well, after watching him against the Dallas Cowboys, it might be safe to say that his potential will translate pretty quickly.

Jordan made plays all over the field during the short amount of time he played. He was getting pressure on the quarterback, making stops in the run game and lining up at linebacker.

Simply put, Jordan's versatility makes him an extremely dangerous rookie. Look for him to have quite the debut season as he makes a run at winning Defensive Rookie of the Year.

The Cowboys Defense Looks Good

With their switch from a 3-4 defense to a 4-3 defense this year, no one really knows what to expect out of the Dallas Cowboys defense this year.

However, if Week 1 of the preseason is any indication, we could see a rather dominant defense in Dallas. The Cowboys made play after play on defense by getting pressure on the quarterback, creating turnovers and playing rather stout defense overall.

Defensive end George Selvie and linebacker DeVonte Holloman were the standout performers. Selvie recorded two sacks, while Holloman returned an interception for a touchdown.

All in all, the Cowboys must be thrilled with how their new-look defense performed in the first preseason game.

The Dolphins Still Need Some Time

While it was only Week 1 of the preseason, I'm sure the Miami Dolphins would have wanted things to go a little smoother. This is especially true on the offensive side on the ball.

Through the first three quarters of the game, the Dolphins only managed to put three points on the board while turning the ball over twice. They weren't able to get into a rhythm offensively.

Things were a little better on defense, but not much. Overall, the Dolphins looked like a team that has the potential to be competitive this year but still may need some time to fully get there.