ddh33
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Well, the preseason is over, and we all get to look forward to the games that matter now. Thank goodness. I know all of us fall into a very small group of people that actually enjoy preseason games, but seeing all of the over-reaction and air-chairing after these games is a little much.
The biggest thing to come out of tonight's game is that no one seemed to get injured. I saw Bobby Carpenter look a little ginger with an ice pack on his knee, and I saw Tyson Thompson tweak an ankle. Nothing seemed very serious though on that front, so we can all breathe a momentary sigh of relief.
As far as the game goes, there isn't much point in talking about the scheme or calls or anything else. This game, like the last, was about evaluation. Some guys showed well for themselves, and others didn't. The final cuts should be very interesting.
Let's start with special teams. McBriar is obviously your punter. Ladouceur is your long snapper. Folk is your kicker - your only kicker. I don't see the team spending two roster spots for kickers. Folk has been just as good, if not better. He's also younger and cheaper.
I know that Matt Moore has a big following on the board, but I didn't think he showed enough to take a roster spot from someone else. I think the team would be elated if he slipped through waivers and made it onto the practice squad, and I suspect that is exactly what they will try to do with him. If not, a guy like Bartel wasn't that far behind him, and I don't know that the difference is so great that you would want to risk running short or losing talent at another position - especially with a few of the injury concerns.
So Matt Moore, I like you. I really do. I think he's a good developmental prospect, and I would like to keep him on the team, but the numbers crunch gets him on my final 53.
Alonzo Coleman, after the injury to Jackie Battle especially, just made the practice squad.
I thought it was kind of interesting that Lousaka Polite seemed to be the thid full back to play tonight. Maybe I missed something though. And, of course, there could be explanations for that. I'm betting that Lou ends up the odd man out though. Hoyte and Anderson make the team.
Miles Austin looked good tonight. He was finally able to flash some of his ability. He's a guy I would hate to give up on, and despite some of the talk in the media, I don't think he's been in nearly as much danger as others do. He's on the team.
Jerame Urban is the guy who has done everything asked of him. He even had a great moment tonight when he returned a punt 95 yards for a touchdown. Who expected that? Still, I don't think he's going to make it. I expect him to catch on somewhere, but I don't think it's going to be here. Once again, I think the numbers get him.
Tony Curtis has really impressed me this preseason. His blocking has been better than I remembered it, and he looks even better with his receiving. He and Moore really seem to be on the same level. Even though Adam Bergen had several catches tonight too, I don't think this race is that close.
I don't think the team keeps 10 offensive lineman either. After your five starters, I think you keep your two rookies and McQuistan. The last spot goes to either Procter or Berger. Procter might have had a bad snap tonight, but I would still tend to give him the edge. I don't think there's much difference there though.
You know, if I was going to harp on something about the offensive line, I would talk about McQuistan a little bit. I have been very high on him, but he's had a couple of bad moments in the last two games. I wonder if jumping from left to right and back again has messed with him a little bit?
So there are 25 offensive player. 2 QB, 3 RB, 2 FB, 6 WR, 3 TE, 9 OL.
I thought the most interesting battles were always going to be on the defensive side of the ball.
On the defensive line, you know 5 of the keepers. What you don't know are how many guys you are going to keep at all. Will you keep 6 or 7? I thought Stephen Bowen made a pretty strong claim to get one of those spots tonight. He shows some pass rush ability from the end, and I have to believe that appeals to Wade quite a bit. At the same time, Remi Ayodele hasn't done anything to lose a spot. As far as I am concerned, Remi is the best pure NT on the team not named Ferguson. Oh, I know that Ratliff is a better player, but I don't know that Ratliff can play that position long term. I think Remi would have a better chance of doing that. Unfortunately, I'm not sure that you can sneak Remi onto the practice squad. It's not like teams aren't out there looking for NTs.
By the way, Jason Hatcher is a monster in the making.
By the way part two, I don't know that everyone should be worried about Spears being on the field in the 4th preseason game. Someone has to play it, and he probably needed a little more work than Canty. His story is going to be written starting against the Giants. No reason to worry just yet about that...
The LBs are quietly becoming a bigger concern. I think about all of the belly-aching heard from fans about all the LBs this team had, and I look out and see a need for more. Sure, if and when everyone gets healthy it won't be an issue. But it's not like everyone is healthy.
I think the team keeps at least 8 LBs, and we can all pretty much guess who they are. But I don't think it's out of the real of possibility to keep 9. Ellis and Burnett are a little nicked up at the moment, and even Carp was gimpy. A guy like Saldi jumped out a little bit tonight. I would think his ability to play inside and outside would help him be the 9th LB if it came to it.
Speaking of those LBs, I have a growing concern about Bobby Carpenter. As mentioned a few times, I thought he looked a little run down. Maybe he was tired from all of the snaps, or maybe he was hurting. But the thing that really stood out to me tonight was how Carp just isn't as physical as you might think. Like I said, I wonder what the reason for that is? And no, folks. I didn't call him a bust either. I just thought he could have made more of an impression than he did tonight.
And finally, the secondary. Once again, you know your starters. After that, things get hazy.
I thought it was very interesting that Aaron Glenn was on the field tonight to start the game. Whether many realized it or not, I think he needed to show something. He probably showed enough tonight, and the injury to Newman makes it all the more likely that he makes this team. So there are three corners.
Jacques Reeves probably played the best of all the other corners, but Reeves made a mistake tonight that cost the team points. With 8 seconds left and no timeouts, he allowed the receiver to catch a ball and get out of bounds in time to allow the Vikings to kick a field goal that gave them the lead. I don't think you want to be the guy who makes mistakes that lead to points.
Joey Thomas inspires me with absolutely no confidence. I know some people on the board love him, and I don't get it. Sure he can run and seems confident, but he terrifies me. He seems like one of those guys who, for every play he makes, gives up a bigger one. I don't trust him. I don't like the huge cushion he gives. I don't like his tackling. Maybe Stew and Wade see something they like. He scares me though.
Nate Jones is steady. Unfortunately, I don't think he's good enough. I think his time might have run out. An embarrassing missed tackle didn't help his cause either. If he makes this team I think he does so on the basis of being able to play the slot. I'm not sure that's going to be enough though.
Alan Ball didn't seem to get a ton of chances, and that kind of tells me what the team thinks of him. I'm betting he's a practice squad guy. If not, he makes the team as your 5th or 6th corner with the likely expectation that he won't be active on game days.
I actually like Quincy Butler. Unlike every other backup corner, I swore I saw him pressing his man quite a bit. He also showed some good speed and quickness on his returns. He ranks higher on my list than some of the other corners who have gotten more ink.
All of this leads to the most obvious point. The Cowboys are going to be watching the waiver wire. And no, Dallas media, they won't be expecting to find any "shut down" corners. They will be looking for someone who can come in and cover as a third or fourth corner.
The safeties go right along with this discussion. Roy and Hamlin are your starters. Watkins is there too. Keith Davis probably is, but he's another guy who scares me. Was he the guy who lost his man in the end zone? Honestly, if I were the Cowboys, he would be a guy I was shopping. They may not like their backups behind Roy, and they might worry some about losing a key special teamer. But the reason why is that I like the potential of Courtney Brown. He showed some of it tonight on that athletic interception down the field. He really covers a lot of ground, and I think he's someone who could even eventually move back and play some corner for you in a pinch. He's also a guy who has shown up on special teams a few times. He hasn't always made the play, but he's been down field getting in someone's way for a block, or he's forced a returner to cut and allowed help to get there. He helped himself tonight, I thought. I really like Abe Elam too. That guy really flies around the football field. He looks like he can play either safety spot, and he is a key special teamer as well. I think he's on the team. And so was my point about Keith Davis - I'm not sure Davis does anything that Elam doesn't.
I've said from Day One that this team keeps at least 10 DBs. I'm betting that we all know at least 7-8 of them. Who do those last few spots go to?
The biggest thing to come out of tonight's game is that no one seemed to get injured. I saw Bobby Carpenter look a little ginger with an ice pack on his knee, and I saw Tyson Thompson tweak an ankle. Nothing seemed very serious though on that front, so we can all breathe a momentary sigh of relief.
As far as the game goes, there isn't much point in talking about the scheme or calls or anything else. This game, like the last, was about evaluation. Some guys showed well for themselves, and others didn't. The final cuts should be very interesting.
Let's start with special teams. McBriar is obviously your punter. Ladouceur is your long snapper. Folk is your kicker - your only kicker. I don't see the team spending two roster spots for kickers. Folk has been just as good, if not better. He's also younger and cheaper.
I know that Matt Moore has a big following on the board, but I didn't think he showed enough to take a roster spot from someone else. I think the team would be elated if he slipped through waivers and made it onto the practice squad, and I suspect that is exactly what they will try to do with him. If not, a guy like Bartel wasn't that far behind him, and I don't know that the difference is so great that you would want to risk running short or losing talent at another position - especially with a few of the injury concerns.
So Matt Moore, I like you. I really do. I think he's a good developmental prospect, and I would like to keep him on the team, but the numbers crunch gets him on my final 53.
Alonzo Coleman, after the injury to Jackie Battle especially, just made the practice squad.
I thought it was kind of interesting that Lousaka Polite seemed to be the thid full back to play tonight. Maybe I missed something though. And, of course, there could be explanations for that. I'm betting that Lou ends up the odd man out though. Hoyte and Anderson make the team.
Miles Austin looked good tonight. He was finally able to flash some of his ability. He's a guy I would hate to give up on, and despite some of the talk in the media, I don't think he's been in nearly as much danger as others do. He's on the team.
Jerame Urban is the guy who has done everything asked of him. He even had a great moment tonight when he returned a punt 95 yards for a touchdown. Who expected that? Still, I don't think he's going to make it. I expect him to catch on somewhere, but I don't think it's going to be here. Once again, I think the numbers get him.
Tony Curtis has really impressed me this preseason. His blocking has been better than I remembered it, and he looks even better with his receiving. He and Moore really seem to be on the same level. Even though Adam Bergen had several catches tonight too, I don't think this race is that close.
I don't think the team keeps 10 offensive lineman either. After your five starters, I think you keep your two rookies and McQuistan. The last spot goes to either Procter or Berger. Procter might have had a bad snap tonight, but I would still tend to give him the edge. I don't think there's much difference there though.
You know, if I was going to harp on something about the offensive line, I would talk about McQuistan a little bit. I have been very high on him, but he's had a couple of bad moments in the last two games. I wonder if jumping from left to right and back again has messed with him a little bit?
So there are 25 offensive player. 2 QB, 3 RB, 2 FB, 6 WR, 3 TE, 9 OL.
I thought the most interesting battles were always going to be on the defensive side of the ball.
On the defensive line, you know 5 of the keepers. What you don't know are how many guys you are going to keep at all. Will you keep 6 or 7? I thought Stephen Bowen made a pretty strong claim to get one of those spots tonight. He shows some pass rush ability from the end, and I have to believe that appeals to Wade quite a bit. At the same time, Remi Ayodele hasn't done anything to lose a spot. As far as I am concerned, Remi is the best pure NT on the team not named Ferguson. Oh, I know that Ratliff is a better player, but I don't know that Ratliff can play that position long term. I think Remi would have a better chance of doing that. Unfortunately, I'm not sure that you can sneak Remi onto the practice squad. It's not like teams aren't out there looking for NTs.
By the way, Jason Hatcher is a monster in the making.
By the way part two, I don't know that everyone should be worried about Spears being on the field in the 4th preseason game. Someone has to play it, and he probably needed a little more work than Canty. His story is going to be written starting against the Giants. No reason to worry just yet about that...
The LBs are quietly becoming a bigger concern. I think about all of the belly-aching heard from fans about all the LBs this team had, and I look out and see a need for more. Sure, if and when everyone gets healthy it won't be an issue. But it's not like everyone is healthy.
I think the team keeps at least 8 LBs, and we can all pretty much guess who they are. But I don't think it's out of the real of possibility to keep 9. Ellis and Burnett are a little nicked up at the moment, and even Carp was gimpy. A guy like Saldi jumped out a little bit tonight. I would think his ability to play inside and outside would help him be the 9th LB if it came to it.
Speaking of those LBs, I have a growing concern about Bobby Carpenter. As mentioned a few times, I thought he looked a little run down. Maybe he was tired from all of the snaps, or maybe he was hurting. But the thing that really stood out to me tonight was how Carp just isn't as physical as you might think. Like I said, I wonder what the reason for that is? And no, folks. I didn't call him a bust either. I just thought he could have made more of an impression than he did tonight.
And finally, the secondary. Once again, you know your starters. After that, things get hazy.
I thought it was very interesting that Aaron Glenn was on the field tonight to start the game. Whether many realized it or not, I think he needed to show something. He probably showed enough tonight, and the injury to Newman makes it all the more likely that he makes this team. So there are three corners.
Jacques Reeves probably played the best of all the other corners, but Reeves made a mistake tonight that cost the team points. With 8 seconds left and no timeouts, he allowed the receiver to catch a ball and get out of bounds in time to allow the Vikings to kick a field goal that gave them the lead. I don't think you want to be the guy who makes mistakes that lead to points.
Joey Thomas inspires me with absolutely no confidence. I know some people on the board love him, and I don't get it. Sure he can run and seems confident, but he terrifies me. He seems like one of those guys who, for every play he makes, gives up a bigger one. I don't trust him. I don't like the huge cushion he gives. I don't like his tackling. Maybe Stew and Wade see something they like. He scares me though.
Nate Jones is steady. Unfortunately, I don't think he's good enough. I think his time might have run out. An embarrassing missed tackle didn't help his cause either. If he makes this team I think he does so on the basis of being able to play the slot. I'm not sure that's going to be enough though.
Alan Ball didn't seem to get a ton of chances, and that kind of tells me what the team thinks of him. I'm betting he's a practice squad guy. If not, he makes the team as your 5th or 6th corner with the likely expectation that he won't be active on game days.
I actually like Quincy Butler. Unlike every other backup corner, I swore I saw him pressing his man quite a bit. He also showed some good speed and quickness on his returns. He ranks higher on my list than some of the other corners who have gotten more ink.
All of this leads to the most obvious point. The Cowboys are going to be watching the waiver wire. And no, Dallas media, they won't be expecting to find any "shut down" corners. They will be looking for someone who can come in and cover as a third or fourth corner.
The safeties go right along with this discussion. Roy and Hamlin are your starters. Watkins is there too. Keith Davis probably is, but he's another guy who scares me. Was he the guy who lost his man in the end zone? Honestly, if I were the Cowboys, he would be a guy I was shopping. They may not like their backups behind Roy, and they might worry some about losing a key special teamer. But the reason why is that I like the potential of Courtney Brown. He showed some of it tonight on that athletic interception down the field. He really covers a lot of ground, and I think he's someone who could even eventually move back and play some corner for you in a pinch. He's also a guy who has shown up on special teams a few times. He hasn't always made the play, but he's been down field getting in someone's way for a block, or he's forced a returner to cut and allowed help to get there. He helped himself tonight, I thought. I really like Abe Elam too. That guy really flies around the football field. He looks like he can play either safety spot, and he is a key special teamer as well. I think he's on the team. And so was my point about Keith Davis - I'm not sure Davis does anything that Elam doesn't.
I've said from Day One that this team keeps at least 10 DBs. I'm betting that we all know at least 7-8 of them. Who do those last few spots go to?
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