Todd Archer's 53-man roster projection

[Mr Cowboy]

By Todd ArcherARLINGTON -- After the first preseason game, here is a guess as to how the Cowboys' 53-man roster could shake out for the Sept. 11 season opener at the New York Jets:

QUARTERBACKS (3)
Tony Romo
Jon Kitna
Stephen McGee

McGee delivered with a game-winning fourth-quarter drive vs. Denver. He is not pushing Kitna for the No. 2 job just yet but he has shown the ability to make plays when it matters most. Coaches still want him to get rid of the ball faster.

RUNNING BACKS (4)
Felix Jones
Tashard Choice
DeMarco Murray
Lonyae Miller

Miller did not show in the game how well he did in camp practices but it’s too early to say he can’t do it. Plus, he can play on all the special teams units. The bigger question with this group is whether all four could be active for games. I don’t see it.

http://espn.go.com/blog/dallas/cowboys/post/_/id/4682010/todd-archers-53-man-roster-projection

[Picksix]

Can't see us going with 4 TB's. Everything else makes sense. I think some interesting battles are looming, depending on injuries. I could see Sandejo pushing AOA off the roster at this point. I know the kid is a project, but he hasn't shown much yet.

[ABQCOWBOY]

I'm not sure what Miller did in practice is all that indicative of anything, based on last nights performance. Denver ran the ball on us all night. I was not pleased, at all, with what we got out of our run defense.

[links18]

He can't seriously believe we are cutting the Beeler.......:confused:

[Cowboys22]

Take Miller off and add McCann. You need him on special teams if you cut Holley and he could be needed in the defensive sub packages much more than the team will need a 4th tailback. If Miller gets taken by another team, oh well, put Tanner on the pratice squad instead. Doesn't seem you would lose too much with that move.

[casmith07]

I can see us keeping Lemon over Brooking, and I can also see us keeping Geathers over Lissemore. Lissemore got pushed around something fierce in the game last night.

All of that being said, not a bad 53. I can't believe he even commented on the rookie trying to take LP's job. Not going to happen.

[casmith07]

Take Miller off and add McCann. You need him on special teams if you cut Holley and he could be needed in the defensive sub packages much more than the team will need a 4th tailback. If Miller gets taken by another team, oh well, put Tanner on the pratice squad instead. Doesn't seem you would lose too much with that move.

That is all of course assuming that we keep Tashard Choice instead of dealing him for a pick.

[Sandyf]

Wouldn't put much stock into his predictions until after the 3rd preseason game then it might still be debatable.

Who knows anything at the moment other than Jerry, Garrett, and Ryan?

McGee might play himself into the 2nd QB role and if so would we keep Kitna at $3.1 million as the 3rd string guy? That's his cap number this year. If we cut him and took the full hit for bonus this year, we would still ADD $1.3 million to the cap. Doubt if we do anything with him but if some team had a QB go down in TC, he could be trade bait.

Don't see us keeping 4 RBs, but I could see Choice being traded, same with Igor before the last cut. Right now Chapas is PS material, he needs the strength coach and to get use to the speed of the NFL.

I see Ogletree as on the fence. Why? Harris and Radway both look like players in practice and game day, Holley is a very good ST player. Ogletree runs good routes, doesn't fight for yards, and to me doesn't fit the Garrett mode.

OL is going to be interesting. If Holland is not out there the next game then I could see a situation of him being released and Waters or ... ready for this Flozell Adams being brought in. Remember Adams has played some guard not only in Pittsburgh but a couple of times for us and in almost all the Pro Bowls he went to. He could be the swing OT and the starting OG if needed RG or LG. Either guy would only be a one year contract anyway. But if Holland can play, pretty sure they would like him in there over Arkin at least for the 1st half of the season.

IMO, we keep 5 CBs not six and I see Ball as the odd man out. Of Course if Church keeps making plays then there is nothing that says we don't cut Sensabaugh if he doesn't grasp the D quickly. He was guaranteed only the bonus money of $700,000.

I could see us going heavy at the OLB and ILB spot with 5 each. Everyone thinks B. Williams is odd man out but check his ST work and he hasn't made any mistakes on D, just not been as flashy or noticable as Butler. Albright is a keeper though. If Carter starts the season on the PUP list then it wouldn't surprise me to see us keep Cummings and Lemon for about six weeks. Remember this is Brookings last year and I doubt we could slip Lemon onto the PS initially.

On the DL it is a bit more settled but Geathers is doing his best to make it interesting.

On the TE front, well it will be Witten, Bennett and Phillips.