5 camp battles

xwalker

xwalker

Well-Known Member
Messages
58,307
Reaction score
66,476

  • The 5 "position" battles.
    • Safety: Darian Thompson vs. Jayron Kearse vs. Israel Mukuamu
    • RB: Brenden Knox vs. JaQuan Hardy vs. Nick Ralston
    • LB: Azur Kamara vs. Luke Gifford vs. Francis Bernard
    • OL: Brandon Knight vs. Terence Steele vs. Matt Farniok vs. Ty Nsekhe vs. Isaac Alarcon
    • QB: Cooper Rush vs. Garrett Gilbert vs. Ben DiNucci
  • Safety: Darian Thompson vs. Jayron Kearse vs. Israel Mukuamu
    • Kearse played played in the Big Nickel package as the 3rd Safety.
      • This included some snaps in all series when the starters were playing in the Texans game.
    • I would puke if they cut Mukuamu and kept Thompson.
    • They can cut Thompson and re-sign him after other players are moved to IR
      • If they want to keep him.
      • He is not subject to waivers as a veteran.
  • RB: Brenden Knox vs. JaQuan Hardy vs. Nick Ralston
    • They can all be retained for the practice squad.
    • There just aren't enough teams that carry a FB. The ones that do likely already have their guy.
    • Know/Hardy are too slow to get much interest from other teams.
  • LB: Azur Kamara vs. Luke Gifford vs. Francis Bernard
    • Kamara does not play the same position as the other 2.
      • He is a DE or 3-4 OLB type, not an off-ball LB.
    • Bernard is injured.
      • If they keep him on the 53, it would be for 1 day and then he would be moved to IR.
    • Off-Ball LB depth chart (They keep 6 or 7 most years):
      • Parsons
      • Neal
      • LVE
      • Jaylon
      • Cox
      • Gifford (Maybe Bernard over Gifford if he was healthy)
  • OL: Brandon Knight vs. Terence Steele vs. Matt Farniok vs. Ty Nsekhe vs. Isaac Alarcon
    • They don't all play the same position but I guess it is a question of the last 2 OL spots.
    • Alarcon has not played a snap at OT and I don't think he has practiced there in camp.
    • Farniok is the 3rd option at OC and maybe the 2nd backup at OG.
  • QB: Cooper Rush vs. Garrett Gilbert vs. Ben DiNucci
    • Does it matter? The Cowboys won't win much with any backup QB.
    • It's either Rush or Gilbert for backup. No need to keep both.
    • DiNucci is competing with players at other positions for the 53rd roster spot.
      • DiNucci has more upside but it too raw to have a chance at the #2 spot.
      • If he had been around the NFL as long as the other 2 he would be ahead of them.
 
xwalker said:

  • The 5 "position" battles.
    • Safety: Darian Thompson vs. Jayron Kearse vs. Israel Mukuamu
    • RB: Brenden Knox vs. JaQuan Hardy vs. Nick Ralston
    • LB: Azur Kamara vs. Luke Gifford vs. Francis Bernard
    • OL: Brandon Knight vs. Terence Steele vs. Matt Farniok vs. Ty Nsekhe vs. Isaac Alarcon
    • QB: Cooper Rush vs. Garrett Gilbert vs. Ben DiNucci
  • Safety: Darian Thompson vs. Jayron Kearse vs. Israel Mukuamu
    • Kearse played played in the Big Nickel package as the 3rd Safety.
      • This included some snaps in all series when the starters were playing in the Texans game.
    • I would puke if they cut Mukuamu and kept Thompson.
    • They can cut Thompson and re-sign him after other players are moved to IR
      • If they want to keep him.
      • He is not subject to waivers as a veteran.
  • RB: Brenden Knox vs. JaQuan Hardy vs. Nick Ralston
    • They can all be retained for the practice squad.
    • There just aren't enough teams that carry a FB. The ones that do likely already have their guy.
    • Know/Hardy are too slow to get much interest from other teams.
  • LB: Azur Kamara vs. Luke Gifford vs. Francis Bernard
    • Kamara does not play the same position as the other 2.
      • He is a DE or 3-4 OLB type, not an off-ball LB.
    • Bernard is injured.
      • If they keep him on the 53, it would be for 1 day and then he would be moved to IR.
    • Off-Ball LB depth chart (They keep 6 or 7 most years):
      • Parsons
      • Neal
      • LVE
      • Jaylon
      • Cox
      • Gifford (Maybe Bernard over Gifford if he was healthy)
  • OL: Brandon Knight vs. Terence Steele vs. Matt Farniok vs. Ty Nsekhe vs. Isaac Alarcon
    • They don't all play the same position but I guess it is a question of the last 2 OL spots.
    • Alarcon has not played a snap at OT and I don't think he has practiced there in camp.
    • Farniok is the 3rd option at OC and maybe the 2nd backup at OG.
  • QB: Cooper Rush vs. Garrett Gilbert vs. Ben DiNucci
    • Does it matter? The Cowboys won't win much with any backup QB.
    • It's either Rush or Gilbert for backup. No need to keep both.
    • DiNucci is competing with players at other positions for the 53rd roster spot.
      • DiNucci has more upside but it too raw to have a chance at the #2 spot.
      • If he had been around the NFL as long as the other 2 he would be ahead of them.
Click to expand...

I noticed Steele got some snaps at LT vs Houston.

If it ever comes down to that in a real game I'm not sure I could watch.

The 35 year old isn't much better.

Knight is the clear swing tackle by default IMO.
 
@xwalker
What about the battle at DE with Anae? Does that mean he made the team? Anae vs Armstrong would be a tough call for me right now. Would like to keep both if I could.

In my opinion, Kamara needs to practice as an all-around LB. He is too light to play just a 3-4 OLB rushing the passer only.

'Farniok is the 3rd option at OC and maybe the 2nd backup at OG' - Farniok is the backup center in my opinion. No one else is practicing there in the games so far. Williams is the emergency in-game center only. But Williams is the starting OG. He will not be practicing C much when the season begins. Farniok will likely be the official backup to Biadasz and getting all the backup center reps in practice. Farniok has played center and OT in camp and in games, not G from what I can remember.

I doubt they will keep Bernard or Gifford on the 53-man roster. No one wants those two players. Why waste a roster spot for either of those two?

I agree with Mukuamu. I hope he has already made the team. No way I am keeping Kearse or Thompson over Mukuamu.

Coyle has a shot at safety in my opinion. He just needs a little more time. I hope he makes it to the PS. I think he will be good next year or later this year.
 
Kearse (Mukuamu to practice squad)
Ralston (Hardy to PS)
Gifford (Bernard to IR; Kamara to PS)
Knight, Steele and Nsekhe (Farniok to PS, Ball to IR, Alarcon IPP)
Rush (Gilbert cut, DiNucci to PS)

It's important to remember the PS rules this year. You can protect up to four players, put up to six vets on PS and you can bring two up to the 53 each week. So those last couple of spots come down to who you think you can get through waivers. Because of that, I could see us doing something a little more unorthodox, such as putting Jeremy Sprinkle on the PS, keeping two tight ends and then bringing Sprinkle up each week to be the third tight end.
 
xwalker said:

  • The 5 "position" battles.
    • Safety: Darian Thompson vs. Jayron Kearse vs. Israel Mukuamu
    • RB: Brenden Knox vs. JaQuan Hardy vs. Nick Ralston
    • LB: Azur Kamara vs. Luke Gifford vs. Francis Bernard
    • OL: Brandon Knight vs. Terence Steele vs. Matt Farniok vs. Ty Nsekhe vs. Isaac Alarcon
    • QB: Cooper Rush vs. Garrett Gilbert vs. Ben DiNucci
  • Safety: Darian Thompson vs. Jayron Kearse vs. Israel Mukuamu
    • Kearse played played in the Big Nickel package as the 3rd Safety.
      • This included some snaps in all series when the starters were playing in the Texans game.
    • I would puke if they cut Mukuamu and kept Thompson.
    • They can cut Thompson and re-sign him after other players are moved to IR
      • If they want to keep him.
      • He is not subject to waivers as a veteran.
  • RB: Brenden Knox vs. JaQuan Hardy vs. Nick Ralston
    • They can all be retained for the practice squad.
    • There just aren't enough teams that carry a FB. The ones that do likely already have their guy.
    • Know/Hardy are too slow to get much interest from other teams.
  • LB: Azur Kamara vs. Luke Gifford vs. Francis Bernard
    • Kamara does not play the same position as the other 2.
      • He is a DE or 3-4 OLB type, not an off-ball LB.
    • Bernard is injured.
      • If they keep him on the 53, it would be for 1 day and then he would be moved to IR.
    • Off-Ball LB depth chart (They keep 6 or 7 most years):
      • Parsons
      • Neal
      • LVE
      • Jaylon
      • Cox
      • Gifford (Maybe Bernard over Gifford if he was healthy)
  • OL: Brandon Knight vs. Terence Steele vs. Matt Farniok vs. Ty Nsekhe vs. Isaac Alarcon
    • They don't all play the same position but I guess it is a question of the last 2 OL spots.
    • Alarcon has not played a snap at OT and I don't think he has practiced there in camp.
    • Farniok is the 3rd option at OC and maybe the 2nd backup at OG.
  • QB: Cooper Rush vs. Garrett Gilbert vs. Ben DiNucci
    • Does it matter? The Cowboys won't win much with any backup QB.
    • It's either Rush or Gilbert for backup. No need to keep both.
    • DiNucci is competing with players at other positions for the 53rd roster spot.
      • DiNucci has more upside but it too raw to have a chance at the #2 spot.
      • If he had been around the NFL as long as the other 2 he would be ahead of them.
Click to expand...

Mostly agree on the battles except at LB. Yes Cowboys have almost always kept 6 or 7 but this year is different because if you look at Quinn's history then it will be 5 LBs and the extra spot either goes DB or DE, JMO. Oh, Alarcon has practiced early in camp and OTAs at OT but again since they can keep him due to the international exemption probably comes down to Knight/Steele/Nsekhe. Think Nsekhe has to play really well just to stay. If Farniok does really well at OC then it should be a no brainer as the backup OC. As to backup QB, say a prayer... yep that is all I got on backup QB.
 
fivetwos said:
Guessing they IR Bernard, possibly just an outright cut....considering.

There's has to be a limit to IR spots, yes?

I'm not sure.
Click to expand...

In order to go on IR-Return-Eligible the player must be on the 53 for 24 hours.
- After the 1 day of being on the 53 the player can be moved to IR-Return-Eligible.
- I don't think there is an IR numbers limit otherwise.
 
ninja said:
@xwalker
What about the battle at DE with Anae? Does that mean he made the team? Anae vs Armstrong would be a tough call for me right now. Would like to keep both if I could.

In my opinion, Kamara needs to practice as an all-around LB. He is too light to play just a 3-4 OLB rushing the passer only.

'Farniok is the 3rd option at OC and maybe the 2nd backup at OG' - Farniok is the backup center in my opinion. No one else is practicing there in the games so far. Williams is the emergency in-game center only. But Williams is the starting OG. He will not be practicing C much when the season begins. Farniok will likely be the official backup to Biadasz and getting all the backup center reps in practice. Farniok has played center and OT in camp and in games, not G from what I can remember.

I doubt they will keep Bernard or Gifford on the 53-man roster. No one wants those two players. Why waste a roster spot for either of those two?

I agree with Mukuamu. I hope he has already made the team. No way I am keeping Kearse or Thompson over Mukuamu.

Coyle has a shot at safety in my opinion. He just needs a little more time. I hope he makes it to the PS. I think he will be good next year or later this year.
Click to expand...

They didn't include Anae because they mistakenly thought Kamara was an off-ball LB.

Anae and Kamara play what is considered DE. They do play some snaps as 3-4 OLB types but Quinn considers his scheme a 4 man DL base.

The multi-front defenses make roster position speculation more difficult.
- The line between DE and DT is blurred. (Urban is listed at DE but is more of a DT)
- The line between DE and LB is blurred. (Anae is a DE but sometimes plays a 3-4 OLB type role)

  • I think they keep 5 "EDGE" players but maybe only 4:
    • DeMarcus Lawrence
    • Randy Gregory
    • Dorance Armstrong
    • Bradlee Anae - Appears to be clearly ahead of Carter.
    • Tarell Basham - Status on depth chart unknown because he has not played much due to injury.
    • Ron'Dell Carter
    • Azur Kamara - He is listed at LB on the roster but he has played the same position as Anae & Carter.
    • Chauncey Golston - PUP
 
xwalker said:

  • The 5 "position" battles.
    • Safety: Darian Thompson vs. Jayron Kearse vs. Israel Mukuamu
    • RB: Brenden Knox vs. JaQuan Hardy vs. Nick Ralston
    • LB: Azur Kamara vs. Luke Gifford vs. Francis Bernard
    • OL: Brandon Knight vs. Terence Steele vs. Matt Farniok vs. Ty Nsekhe vs. Isaac Alarcon
    • QB: Cooper Rush vs. Garrett Gilbert vs. Ben DiNucci
  • Safety: Darian Thompson vs. Jayron Kearse vs. Israel Mukuamu
    • Kearse played played in the Big Nickel package as the 3rd Safety.
      • This included some snaps in all series when the starters were playing in the Texans game.
    • I would puke if they cut Mukuamu and kept Thompson.
    • They can cut Thompson and re-sign him after other players are moved to IR
      • If they want to keep him.
      • He is not subject to waivers as a veteran.
  • RB: Brenden Knox vs. JaQuan Hardy vs. Nick Ralston
    • They can all be retained for the practice squad.
    • There just aren't enough teams that carry a FB. The ones that do likely already have their guy.
    • Know/Hardy are too slow to get much interest from other teams.
  • LB: Azur Kamara vs. Luke Gifford vs. Francis Bernard
    • Kamara does not play the same position as the other 2.
      • He is a DE or 3-4 OLB type, not an off-ball LB.
    • Bernard is injured.
      • If they keep him on the 53, it would be for 1 day and then he would be moved to IR.
    • Off-Ball LB depth chart (They keep 6 or 7 most years):
      • Parsons
      • Neal
      • LVE
      • Jaylon
      • Cox
      • Gifford (Maybe Bernard over Gifford if he was healthy)
  • OL: Brandon Knight vs. Terence Steele vs. Matt Farniok vs. Ty Nsekhe vs. Isaac Alarcon
    • They don't all play the same position but I guess it is a question of the last 2 OL spots.
    • Alarcon has not played a snap at OT and I don't think he has practiced there in camp.
    • Farniok is the 3rd option at OC and maybe the 2nd backup at OG.
  • QB: Cooper Rush vs. Garrett Gilbert vs. Ben DiNucci
    • Does it matter? The Cowboys won't win much with any backup QB.
    • It's either Rush or Gilbert for backup. No need to keep both.
    • DiNucci is competing with players at other positions for the 53rd roster spot.
      • DiNucci has more upside but it too raw to have a chance at the #2 spot.
      • If he had been around the NFL as long as the other 2 he would be ahead of them.
Click to expand...


Unfortunately, I think the Cowboys are going to wind up cutting some promising players this year. It is a good problem to have but always hurts when a guy is cut then goes on to do good things somewhere else.

I like the young guys they drafted for the secondary and would hate to lose any of them but I think that is going to happen. At safety I see no point in keeping Thompson. I can;t say I have been greatly impressed with Mukuamu either but he is a rookie with potential.

I hope they keep Ralston and then find a spot on the practice squad for one of the other two. Ralston could become the blocking FB they have needed since Moose Johntson retired.

I like Gifford, he plays with a lot of enthusiasm but so does Kamara. I don't know if any of these guys winds up on the 53 man roster. To me Kamara is probably in more competition with Anae for a pass rushing specialist spot.

On the OL, I would find a way to keep Farniok. In time he will make a better Center than Connor Williams. In fact he might already be better snapping the football. Alarcon gets a roster exemption on the practice squad so they will stash him there and probably will. I do think he has potential so why not? Steele has actually looked worse in 2021 than he did last year. Nsekhe has been close to awful. Brandon Knight hasn't exactly shined either. Too bad we didn;t get a chance to see Josh Ball.

I hope nothing bad happens to Dak but I still think Gilbert is the best option of these 3 right now. I don't trust Cooper Rush in real games. DiNucci needs at least 1 more year to sit and learn. I would probably hold my nose and give the job to Gilbert.
 
gimmesix said:
Kearse (Mukuamu to practice squad)
Ralston (Hardy to PS)
Gifford (Bernard to IR; Kamara to PS)
Knight, Steele and Nsekhe (Farniok to PS, Ball to IR, Alarcon IPP)
Rush (Gilbert cut, DiNucci to PS)

It's important to remember the PS rules this year. You can protect up to four players, put up to six vets on PS and you can bring two up to the 53 each week. So those last couple of spots come down to who you think you can get through waivers. Because of that, I could see us doing something a little more unorthodox, such as putting Jeremy Sprinkle on the PS, keeping two tight ends and then bringing Sprinkle up each week to be the third tight end.
Click to expand...

  • Mukuamu highly likely to get claimed.
  • Ralston unlikely to be claimed.
  • Farniok likely to be claimed (Draft picks always more likely to be claimed than UDFAs even if the UDFA did more in the preseason)
  • Alarcon unlikely to be claimed.
  • For IR-Return-Eligible, Ball & Bernard would have to be on the 53 for 1 day.
 
Sandyf said:
Mostly agree on the battles except at LB. Yes Cowboys have almost always kept 6 or 7 but this year is different because if you look at Quinn's history then it will be 5 LBs and the extra spot either goes DB or DE, JMO. Oh, Alarcon has practiced early in camp and OTAs at OT but again since they can keep him due to the international exemption probably comes down to Knight/Steele/Nsekhe. Think Nsekhe has to play really well just to stay. If Farniok does really well at OC then it should be a no brainer as the backup OC. As to backup QB, say a prayer... yep that is all I got on backup QB.
Click to expand...

Injury probability is an issue at LB.
- Neal and LVE returning from injury.

The injury issue has caused the Cowboys to go 1 long at positions in the past.

I would make Jaylon the backup QB. He's going to take up a roster spot, has a QB number and somebody needs to hold the clipboard.
- Just cut the other backup QBs. They can always "stash" them at home on their sofa waiting for Cowboys to call...
 
xwalker said:
  • Mukuamu highly likely to get claimed.
  • Ralston unlikely to be claimed.
  • Farniok likely to be claimed (Draft picks always more likely to be claimed than UDFAs even if the UDFA did more in the preseason)
  • Alarcon unlikely to be claimed.
  • For IR-Return-Eligible, Ball & Bernard would have to be on the 53 for 1 day.
Click to expand...
This is why I don't like keeping a supposed special teams ace (Goodwin) who will never play on defense and isn't really all that much of a difference maker.

Those guys are like pitchers winning gold glove awards. It's about reputation once you have it.

I've watched every ST snap that man has taken with Dallas and I fail to see how and why people think he is some sort of difference maker.
 
Cut all three back up QB's and put them on the PS and elevate them once the 53 IR's are designated.

Can't imagine anyone signing our backup QB's.
 
fivetwos said:
This is why I don't like keeping a supposed special teams ace (Goodwin) who will never play on defense and isn't really all that much of a difference maker.

Those guys are like pitchers winning gold glove awards. It's about reputation once you have it.

I've watched every ST snap that man has taken with Dallas and I fail to see how and why people think he is some sort of difference maker.
Click to expand...

In the past Goodwin has been on of the players they cut during the initial cut to 53 then they re-sign him after other players are moved to IR-Return-Eligible.

Wasn't it Goodwin that won the Atlanta game last year with the amazing on-side kick recovery?

I have in mind that he had another ST play with a similar level of impact last year.

Sometimes players are like coaches on the field and we as fans don't see all of their contributions in that regard.

I'm certain that Quinn wanted Neal and Kazee for their scheme knowledge (coach on the field) abilities as much as for their actual abilities as players.
 
xwalker said:
In the past Goodwin has been on of the players they cut during the initial cut to 53 then they re-sign him after other players are moved to IR-Return-Eligible.

Wasn't it Goodwin that won the Atlanta game last year with the amazing on-side kick recovery?

I have in mind that he had another ST play with a similar level of impact last year.

Sometimes players are like coaches on the field and we as fans don't see all of their contributions in that regard.

I'm certain that Quinn wanted Neal and Kazee for their scheme knowledge (coach on the field) abilities as much as for their actual abilities as players.
Click to expand...
That could be on the coach on the field part.

I'll offer the benefit of the doubt there as I respect your posts.

The "amazing" play was happenstance though. I don't buy that a different player in that spot doesnt make that play. Atlanta freezing made the play.

Even if it was all him, not enough to cut a potential starting player in order to keep him.

I dont recall one outstanding play as a gunner. When you make zero of those, you can't take a 53 spot as a supposed ST ace.
 
fivetwos said:
That could be on the coach on the field part.

I'll offer the benefit of the doubt there as I respect your posts.

The "amazing" play was happenstance though. I don't buy that a different player in that spot doesnt make that play. Atlanta freezing made the play.

Even if it was all him, not enough to cut a potential starting player in order to keep him.

I dont recall one outstanding play as a gunner. When you make zero of those, you can't take a 53 spot as a supposed ST ace.
Click to expand...

The play that I remember clearly was all about Goodwin knowing nuances of the rules better than the opponent players.

Only the 1st few weeks are difficult to fit players on the 53.
- Injuries and other issues almost always open up spots by the 3rd or 4th week.
 
xwalker said:

  • LB: Azur Kamara vs. Luke Gifford vs. Francis Bernard
    • Off-Ball LB depth chart (They keep 6 or 7 most years):
      • Parsons
      • Neal
      • LVE
      • Jaylon
      • Cox
      • Gifford (Maybe Bernard over Gifford if he was healthy)
Click to expand...
Here's hoping we cut Jaylon. The plus side is we're *already* stuck with his salary, so him making the season doesn't mean they've just given up. If he makes the season because Bernard is hurt, we can still just cut him. Zeke's restructuring gives us the cap room this year.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Staff online

Members online

Total: 10,617 (members: 41, guests: 10,576)
Robots: 1,128

Latest posts

Forum statistics

Threads
474,011
Messages
14,506,478
Members
24,207
Latest member
TomGiantsfan
Back
Top