A couple roster evaluations I don't understand

[xwalker]

Agree with you on Dunbar but Hanna is a very good blocking TE. Is he all world, probably not, but he is better than every TE on the roster with the exception of HOF bound Jason Witten. Some teams use an athletic back up OT or DL as an in line TE on short yardage or goal line but you also have to think that chemistry with the current OL has to be a factor, especially because no one was used in this capacity during TC and preseason.

Best scenario is to place Hanna on IR (if at all possible) and retain them both. Otherwise, I could see Cowboys going with 4 TEs.

Hanna can't play all season if he is placed on IR. The do have the 1 Designated for Return IR spot, but that has to come after the cut to 53. They have to cut to 53, then if a player is moved to DFR-IR, they can re-sign a player that passed through waivers.

 

[Stash]

Kind of like why do people like a big mac over a whopper, when clearly Wendy's is much better? ....

It is, isn't it? Give me a double with cheese any day!

 

[Aven8]

What about Heath and

I cant recall the third RB being such a topic of conversation here in recent years. McFadden/Randle are going to get the bulk of the carries, I'm cool with whatever they throw Dunbar's way provided it fits the skills he brings to the table.

Nobody would be talking about him if the first 2 above him were any good.

 

[ShiningStar]

When clearly Five Guys is better than all of them!



Yea, I don't get McClain much either since he's barely been healthy. Sturm has a good article on Dunbar's worth too actually.



For some, at least me, it's concern about the lack of a tough inside runner who can take a pounding and get dirty yards when necessary. I like Randle and McFadden but don't see either as that type and would like one of those types on the roster as a role. I think Dunbars role can be filled by Randle and/or McFadden.

throws down my White Castle burger!!!!!


I ve never been a fan of Dunbar, but to knock him off the roster, did Seatrunk do it? Days? Gus Johnson yet?

 

[Stash]

I cant recall the third RB being such a topic of conversation here in recent years. McFadden/Randle are going to get the bulk of the carries, I'm cool with whatever they throw Dunbar's way provided it fits the skills he brings to the table.

For me personally, I would worry less about it if we didn't already have so many questions about #'s 1 & 2 already. But with the questions and injury history there, it's only natural I feel to pay more attention to the guy behind them.

 

[xwalker]

Sturm just wrote an article stating that McClain and Hayden are locks to make the roster. I don't get that.

He is just guessing; although, we know that Hayden is a very high probability to make it due to possibly being Marinelli illegitimate son.

A recent report claims the coaches don't trust Coleman and are concerned he won't try hard if he makes the 53. McClain and Coleman have some similarities in that the are both 1/3tech tweeners and tend to play out of control at times but also flash some big plays at times.

Reports claim that coaches see Bishop as limited (because he is a 1tech only) but I don't see where Hayden can do any more than Bishop.

 

[Stash]

Have our STs been bad during the regular season?

We're terrible now, despite having all of these 'key special teams contributors' out there.

 

[blindzebra]

We're terrible now, despite having all of these 'key special teams contributors' out there.

Even if 1 or 2 are out there that means that 9 or 10 guys that won't make the roster are out there with them.

 

[Stash]

When clearly Five Guys is better than all of them!

Zero argument on that!

Yea, I don't get McClain much either since he's barely been healthy. Sturm has a good article on Dunbar's worth too actually.

Yeah, I disagree with Sturm here. I think Coleman stays over Terrell McClain.

For some, at least me, it's concern about the lack of a tough inside runner who can take a pounding and get dirty yards when necessary. I like Randle and McFadden but don't see either as that type and would like one of those types on the roster as a role. I think Dunbars role can be filled by Randle and/or McFadden.

Agree again.

 

[JBS]

A question for you and anyone else who wants to answer it:

How is it that we keep guys like Dunbar, Heath, and McCray - who are complete liabilities or non-factors at their reported on-field positions - because they're supposedly key special teams contributors, and yet our special teams suck? Why is that?

Our STs was damn good last year...

Going off of preseason is pointless

 

[Stash]

Even if 1 or 2 are out there that means that 9 or 10 guys that won't make the roster are out there with them.

I think that's a nice blanket statement to attempt to absolve blame but one that's not close to accurate. They're not keeping the special teams guys in bubble wrap.

 

[Stash]

Our STs was damn good last year...

Going off of preseason is pointless

Preseason is the most current piece of information available. To try to point to what they did last year, with guys who are t even on the team anymore, is truly pointless.

The next time one of these special teams only guys makes a play, somebody let me know.

 

[Idgit]

For both these guys, there are cases where it's what you can do with them that the defense has to adjust to that's probably more of the appeal than it is necessarily what they do on the field. We know Garrett has wanted two all-around TEs that can play in-line and the Y for years. If a big part of what you want to do offensively involves those two TE sets--where defenses can't tell what you're going to do in those sets just because one of your TEs can't block, for example--having an extra guy who can do that lets you be comfortable that those sets can remain in your offense all season long. That's nice insurance.

Similarly for Dunbar, if you splitting him out draws a coverage player off of Beasley on third and short. Or if pulls a run defender out of the box when you want him pulled out of the box, or if you can pair him with, say, Escobar and make them decide who gets covered by a DB and who gets the LB on what looked like a running play based on the personnel grouping, then those are nice benefits. Even if he's not necessarily getting the balls in those situations. Throw in that he gives you something in both the return game and on coverage teams, freeing up the roster to keep more and better players for your offensive or defensive depth, and you ought to be able to see why they want him on the roster over a backup RB who's going to otherwise get 20-30 carries in a whole season unless your top two starters go down.

 

[JBS]

Preseason is the most current piece of information available. To try to point to what they did last year, with guys who are t even on the team anymore, is truly pointless.

The next time one of these special teams only guys makes a play, somebody let me know.

He's not a STs only guy...

And if preseason is the latest and most important piece of information...than it looks like our team sucks..bc we have linked like crap all preseason...

But guess what, I'm not ignorant to believe that

 

[JBS]

Preseason is the most current piece of information available. To try to point to what they did last year, with guys who are t even on the team anymore, is truly pointless.

The next time one of these special teams only guys makes a play, somebody let me know.

Our STs was also horrific in preseason last year...and come the real games..it was a completely different story...

 

[Stash]

He's not a STs only guy...

He's sure not a running back!

And if preseason is the latest and most important piece of information...than it looks like our team sucks..bc we have linked like crap all preseason...

But guess what, I'm not ignorant to believe that

Other players have been rested and not played, that's the excuse for those areas looking bad. Special teams has looked bad without key players being in bubble wrap.

I'm not ignorant enough not to see that.

 

[Satchel89]

I know that Hannah wasn't known as a blocker coming out of College but he was good at it last year. I like Swaim too. I think they both make the team. It's nice to have depth at that position. I hope we get to see more of Dunbar this year. Obviously the coaches like him so maybe he gets some more game action during the season

 

[Idgit]

Preseason is the most current piece of information available. To try to point to what they did last year, with guys who are t even on the team anymore, is truly pointless.

The next time one of these special teams only guys makes a play, somebody let me know.

Honestly, stash, you can't take the preseason ST coverage and expect to get any reasonable conclusion about how we're likely to play. One breakdown in lane integrity and the whole unit looks bad. Even if it's the starters, like it was last weekend, you don't know how much time they're spending in camp on the ST coverage units. STs coaches are famously working with scraps through camp because they have to give the reps to the back roster players to see if any of them have the chops to stick on the roster. Most of them don't. But it's not until this week, really, that the veterans are earnestly working on their coverage teams. Once the roster is cut down and you have your 11 and you have time to prepare them for the game, we'll see real improvement. There's no substitute for that, and the preseason data, though most recent, has way too many variables in it to be indicative of anything meaningful.

 

[JBS]

He's sure not a running back!



Other players have been rested and not played, that's the excuse for those areas looking bad. Special teams has looked bad without key players being in bubble wrap.

I'm not ignorant enough not to see that.

STs has been run by guys who won't even be on the roster next week for most of these plays!!!

 

[Kevinicus]

Kind of like why do people like a big mac over a whopper, when clearly Wendy's is much better? ....

Bold: Good question.
The rest: That's disgusting!