dargonking999
08-29-2004, 05:03 PM
When training camp began a month ago in California, the Cowboys hadn't solidified their right cornerback position. They hadn't named a starting center or a punter, and weren't exactly sure who would line up at right tackle or even weak side linebacker.
Here we are on the verge of the third preseason game and not too far from having the fourth game out of the way as well, and the Cowboys have yet to finalize any of those positions. In fact, they've even added a position battle or two since the beginning of camp.
Needless to say there is a lot on the line for several players as the Cowboys get ready for Monday Night Football in their preseason home opener against the Tennessee Titans at Texas Stadium.
For the last four weeks, each position has been broken down inside and out, so let's get down to business one more time.
Here's a look at some of the key position battles the Cowboys have yet to sort out and will be watching closely here in the final week of the preseason.
POSITION: Right Cornerback
PLAYERS: Pete Hunter, Jemeel Powell, Bruce Thornton
There hasn't been a more talked-about position all summer long than right cornerback. Since the departure of Mario Edwards (Tampa Bay), the Cowboys have been waiting for one of these three to fill the void.
While neither of them has been spectacular, it appears Hunter remains in the lead, as he will start Monday night for the second time this preseason. He has the edge in size, speed and even experience, despite being just in his third year.
But even if Hunter wins the job as expected, the other two are expected to play. Look for Powell or Thornton, or maybe both, to get some extended minutes in the nickel defense.
POSITION: Right Tackle
PLAYERS: Torrin Tucker, Jacob Rogers, Kurt Vollers
At the start of training camp, Tucker and Rogers, and even Javiar Collins were all expected to rotate with equal snaps to compete at right tackle. While Tucker and Rogers got most of the reps, Collins was eventually traded last week to Carolina for a conditional seventh-round draft pick.
But that doesn't mean the competition has been narrowed to just Rogers and Tucker. Because if neither satisfies Parcells enough to be the starter, the coach said he can always move Kurt Vollers back to the right side, after spending all of the off-season backing up Flozell Adams on the left side. Vollers, who took some snaps this past week on the right side, did start eight games at right tackle last year but Parcells has used training camp to get a better look at both Rogers and Tucker.
As for Monday night's game, Parcells said Vollers would not play at right tackle and he would play both Rogers and Tucker each for half the game, but did not specify who would start.
POSITION: Weak side linebacker
PLAYERS: Dexter Coakley and Bradie James
This might be the closest of the battles the Cowboys have had during training camp. And with that, maybe the most meaningless. Because regardless who ends up winning the starting spot on the weak side between Dexter Coakley and Bradie James, the other will still be a key contributor to the Cowboys defense this year.
If James, who has more size than Coakley, ends up starting, look for the Cowboys to use the still speedy Coakley in more of a nickel-linebacker role, possibly playing in more passing situations. But remember, it doesn't have to be third down for the Cowboys to go to the nickel defense. So whether it's Coakley or James, both players should have a significant role in the defense.
But for Coakley, a three-time Pro Bowler who was named a starter during his rookie season (1997), losing his first-team status would still be considerable change for the seven-year veteran.
POSITION: Center
PLAYERS: Tyson Walter and Al Johnson
This competition wasn't supposed to last this long, but the improvement of Tyson Walter throughout the off-season has turned this into quite a battle. Al Johnson, who missed all of last season after needing microfracture surgery on his right knee, still has more upside to be the starter and should still be considered the favorite to win the job.
But this competition is more about the play of Walter, whom Parcells considers to have made the biggest strides in his game since last season.
Walter and Johnson have rotated the starts for the first two games and Parcells said he'll likely keep the order going and give Walter another start Monday night against Tennessee.
But this position might be one that doesn't end before the start of the season. Last year, Parcells seemed to have no problems rotating Matt Lehr and Gennaro DiNapoli at the center position for the first seven games, until DiNapoli went on injured reserve (high ankle sprain). And Parcells has already said he plans on playing both Walter and Johnson this year. Walter also has value because he can play guard, and possibly tackle, where he played in college.
POSITION: Place-kicker
PLAYERS: Billy Cundiff and Matt Bryant
Not only was this not a position battle at the start of training camp, but Matt Bryant was not even on the team to compete with Billy Cundiff. But after Cundiff, who has kicked for the Cowboys the past two seasons, struggled a bit with consistency during the first week of camp, Bryant was signed to offer some serious competition.
The former New York Giants kicker has made this a close race - simply by making his two field goal attempts last week against the Raiders - but also with his practice performance.
Both kickers will likely rotate on field goal attempts and on kickoffs on Monday and Thursday against the Chiefs, assuming both players survive Tuesday's roster cuts.
But Parcells said this was one of the positions the Cowboys have been receiving inquiries from other clubs about. While he didn't reveal which player had the advantage, he did say he thought "both players would land on their feet."
POSITION: Punter
PLAYERS: Mat McBriar and Ryan Flinn
Unlike the place-kicker position, Parcells has said a few times since the start of training camp that McBriar has the distinct edge over Flinn in the punting race.
In fact, when asked on the first day of training camp what newcomer could have the biggest impact on this team, Parcells said McBriar, because of his unique punting style, which originates from his Australian Rules football past. McBriar and his different styles of punts excites Parcells and therefore gives him an edge over Flinn, who could be the tallest punter in the league at 6-5, but that's about the only thing that separates him from the rest. Both are inexperienced, but McBriar appears to have more upside and expect him to stick around.
Here we are on the verge of the third preseason game and not too far from having the fourth game out of the way as well, and the Cowboys have yet to finalize any of those positions. In fact, they've even added a position battle or two since the beginning of camp.
Needless to say there is a lot on the line for several players as the Cowboys get ready for Monday Night Football in their preseason home opener against the Tennessee Titans at Texas Stadium.
For the last four weeks, each position has been broken down inside and out, so let's get down to business one more time.
Here's a look at some of the key position battles the Cowboys have yet to sort out and will be watching closely here in the final week of the preseason.
POSITION: Right Cornerback
PLAYERS: Pete Hunter, Jemeel Powell, Bruce Thornton
There hasn't been a more talked-about position all summer long than right cornerback. Since the departure of Mario Edwards (Tampa Bay), the Cowboys have been waiting for one of these three to fill the void.
While neither of them has been spectacular, it appears Hunter remains in the lead, as he will start Monday night for the second time this preseason. He has the edge in size, speed and even experience, despite being just in his third year.
But even if Hunter wins the job as expected, the other two are expected to play. Look for Powell or Thornton, or maybe both, to get some extended minutes in the nickel defense.
POSITION: Right Tackle
PLAYERS: Torrin Tucker, Jacob Rogers, Kurt Vollers
At the start of training camp, Tucker and Rogers, and even Javiar Collins were all expected to rotate with equal snaps to compete at right tackle. While Tucker and Rogers got most of the reps, Collins was eventually traded last week to Carolina for a conditional seventh-round draft pick.
But that doesn't mean the competition has been narrowed to just Rogers and Tucker. Because if neither satisfies Parcells enough to be the starter, the coach said he can always move Kurt Vollers back to the right side, after spending all of the off-season backing up Flozell Adams on the left side. Vollers, who took some snaps this past week on the right side, did start eight games at right tackle last year but Parcells has used training camp to get a better look at both Rogers and Tucker.
As for Monday night's game, Parcells said Vollers would not play at right tackle and he would play both Rogers and Tucker each for half the game, but did not specify who would start.
POSITION: Weak side linebacker
PLAYERS: Dexter Coakley and Bradie James
This might be the closest of the battles the Cowboys have had during training camp. And with that, maybe the most meaningless. Because regardless who ends up winning the starting spot on the weak side between Dexter Coakley and Bradie James, the other will still be a key contributor to the Cowboys defense this year.
If James, who has more size than Coakley, ends up starting, look for the Cowboys to use the still speedy Coakley in more of a nickel-linebacker role, possibly playing in more passing situations. But remember, it doesn't have to be third down for the Cowboys to go to the nickel defense. So whether it's Coakley or James, both players should have a significant role in the defense.
But for Coakley, a three-time Pro Bowler who was named a starter during his rookie season (1997), losing his first-team status would still be considerable change for the seven-year veteran.
POSITION: Center
PLAYERS: Tyson Walter and Al Johnson
This competition wasn't supposed to last this long, but the improvement of Tyson Walter throughout the off-season has turned this into quite a battle. Al Johnson, who missed all of last season after needing microfracture surgery on his right knee, still has more upside to be the starter and should still be considered the favorite to win the job.
But this competition is more about the play of Walter, whom Parcells considers to have made the biggest strides in his game since last season.
Walter and Johnson have rotated the starts for the first two games and Parcells said he'll likely keep the order going and give Walter another start Monday night against Tennessee.
But this position might be one that doesn't end before the start of the season. Last year, Parcells seemed to have no problems rotating Matt Lehr and Gennaro DiNapoli at the center position for the first seven games, until DiNapoli went on injured reserve (high ankle sprain). And Parcells has already said he plans on playing both Walter and Johnson this year. Walter also has value because he can play guard, and possibly tackle, where he played in college.
POSITION: Place-kicker
PLAYERS: Billy Cundiff and Matt Bryant
Not only was this not a position battle at the start of training camp, but Matt Bryant was not even on the team to compete with Billy Cundiff. But after Cundiff, who has kicked for the Cowboys the past two seasons, struggled a bit with consistency during the first week of camp, Bryant was signed to offer some serious competition.
The former New York Giants kicker has made this a close race - simply by making his two field goal attempts last week against the Raiders - but also with his practice performance.
Both kickers will likely rotate on field goal attempts and on kickoffs on Monday and Thursday against the Chiefs, assuming both players survive Tuesday's roster cuts.
But Parcells said this was one of the positions the Cowboys have been receiving inquiries from other clubs about. While he didn't reveal which player had the advantage, he did say he thought "both players would land on their feet."
POSITION: Punter
PLAYERS: Mat McBriar and Ryan Flinn
Unlike the place-kicker position, Parcells has said a few times since the start of training camp that McBriar has the distinct edge over Flinn in the punting race.
In fact, when asked on the first day of training camp what newcomer could have the biggest impact on this team, Parcells said McBriar, because of his unique punting style, which originates from his Australian Rules football past. McBriar and his different styles of punts excites Parcells and therefore gives him an edge over Flinn, who could be the tallest punter in the league at 6-5, but that's about the only thing that separates him from the rest. Both are inexperienced, but McBriar appears to have more upside and expect him to stick around.