DC: Broaddus: 12 Thoughts From Houston Game Focus On Who Makes The Cut

[jobberone]

Broaddus: 12 Thoughts From Houston Game Focus On Who Makes The Cut
Friday, September 04, 2015 12:18 AM CDT

By Bryan Broaddus Football Analyst/Scout @BryanBroaddus

ARLINGTON, Texas – At long last, the preseason is behind us and we can begin to focus on the regular season. Before we do that, there’s one last matter of getting down to 53 players – and that’s where my thoughts center tonight.

Here are my top 12 thoughts about the game and the roster cuts to come:

1) It appears that Davon Coleman is finally taking football seriously, and it is showing in his play. I had plenty of questions coming into this season about whether he was willing to be the type of player that he was capable of being, or whether he was he going to be a clown and give this staff no reason to keep him around. Coleman has been a force in the middle at both defensive tackle spots and there is no reason to believe that, if they need him to play, he can’t give these coaches what they need.

2) I had my questions about Lucky Whitehead as the fifth receiver on this squad if he was not the returner, but it appears that will not be a problem. Whitehead showed he was dependable catching punts from one of the best punters in the league -- and with little or no blocking at times. And he was able to tilt the field on his own with a return. Whitehead can be a difference-maker on this special teams if given a chance. Against the Texans, I believe he earned that.

3) I continue to struggle with keeping four tight ends on this roster. I understand what I have with Jason Witten, James Hanna and Gavin Escobar, but I am not sure what I have with Geoff Swaim. What bothers me the most is that he is more similar to Escobar than he is to Hanna. I was hopeful that there was going to be a game this preseason where he was able to separate himself, and I just didn't see it. There are just too many other players on this roster that could give me more.

4) Not knowing what other running backs around the league might be available for practice squad duty, at this time I am going with Ben Malena as my guy. His height is not ideal, but I believe there are more things you can do with him offensively in order to develop him. He has me interested.

http://www.dallascowboys.com/news/2...ts-houston-game-focus-who-makes-it-who-doesnt

 

[Bungarian]

ARLINGTON, Texas – At long last, the preseason is behind us and we can begin to focus on the regular season. Before we do that, there’s one last matter of getting down to 53 players – and that’s where my thoughts center tonight.

Here are my top 12 thoughts about the game and the roster cuts to come:



1) It appears that Davon Coleman is finally taking football seriously, and it is showing in his play. I had plenty of questions coming into this season about whether he was willing to be the type of player that he was capable of being, or whether he was he going to be a clown and give this staff no reason to keep him around. Coleman has been a force in the middle at both defensive tackle spots and there is no reason to believe that, if they need him to play, he can’t give these coaches what they need.

2) I had my questions about Lucky Whitehead as the fifth receiver on this squad if he was not the returner, but it appears that will not be a problem. Whitehead showed he was dependable catching punts from one of the best punters in the league -- and with little or no blocking at times. And he was able to tilt the field on his own with a return. Whitehead can be a difference-maker on this special teams if given a chance. Against the Texans, I believe he earned that.

3) I continue to struggle with keeping four tight ends on this roster. I understand what I have with Jason Witten, James Hanna and Gavin Escobar, but I am not sure what I have with Geoff Swaim. What bothers me the most is that he is more similar to Escobar than he is to Hanna. I was hopeful that there was going to be a game this preseason where he was able to separate himself, and I just didn't see it. There are just too many other players on this roster that could give me more.

4) Not knowing what other running backs around the league might be available for practice squad duty, at this time I am going with Ben Malena as my guy. His height is not ideal, but I believe there are more things you can do with him offensively in order to develop him. He has me interested.

5) In my scouting career I was not asked to evaluate many kickers or punters, but from what I am seeing from Chris Jones, he appears to have picked up from where he left off last season. He has been outstanding in these games with his hang time and directional punting. Three of his five punts ended up inside the 20-yard line and his net of nearing 43 held the Texans in check the majority of the night.

6) The last time I saw Corey White play extensive snaps as the slot corner was in the Blue-White scrimmage, and that was a rough day against Cole Beasley. With limited defensive backs available, White was pressed into duty and more than held his own playing out of the slot. Where there might have been some questions before about whether he or Byron Jones would be the backup if something were to happen to Tyler Patmon -- the defensive staff should feel much better with him as an option.

http://www.dallascowboys.com/news/2...snt?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

 

[Bungarian]

Oops double post. Delete this one.

 

[jobberone]

Oops double post. Delete this one.

It's ok. We get them all the time plus the format is different. Might consider keeping the articles to a few paragraphs though.

 

[Fletch]

Broadass still wants to get rid of Swaim. That would be dumb. Hannah has never lived up to what little expectations we've had.

 

[jazzcat22]

Broadass still wants to get rid of Swaim. That would be dumb. Hannah has never lived up to what little expectations we've had.

Yes for some reason Broaddus does not lke Swaim. And it is certainaly not about his play. I think he has looked good.
And Hanna in the last year of his contract. Do you think for what he has done, they would give him a big contract as a 3rd TE. I don't think so.

Broaddus over all has been pretty dang good with these articles this year. Except his deal against Swaim.

He has been pretty spot on with most other players.

 

[ShiningStar]

Broadass still wants to get rid of Swaim. That would be dumb. Hannah has never lived up to what little expectations we've had.

idk i dont think its always the right thing to do to blame the player when Dallas, sans really really good TE's tend to let tight ends go that seem to help other teams. We dont use all tight ends correctly. Why Gavin is not being used in end zones more with his height irks me off. But thats Dallas for you. Hannah can do stuff, but Dallas wants to keep running Witten til he breaks down. Why he has to start, i dont know, we arent going to win a contest over it. There will be no prize for it, but we still do it. Id rather have a fresh Witten that uses his finesse to get the yards we need and the would rather wear him down.

With a few positions, for whatever reason, Dallas just goes blank on.

 

[speedkilz88]

Yes for some reason Broaddus does not lke Swaim. And it is certainaly not about his play. I think he has looked good.
And Hanna in the last year of his contract. Do you think for what he has done, they would give him a big contract as a 3rd TE. I don't think so.

Broaddus over all has been pretty dang good with these articles this year. Except his deal against Swaim.

He has been pretty spot on with most other players.

I don't think Broaddus liked the pick from day 1. And he's wrong, they were right.

And on Malena, I would take Johnson over him on the practice squad. Its not even close in my mind.

 

[conner01]

I don't think it's about swain
It's just numbers and it's hard to justify a 4th TE
I like swain and ideally to me you trade Hanna before he leaves in free agency but being injured a big part of camp has made that less likely
Never understood why so many people have always wanted chris jones cut
He has been a solid punter since he got here
Any thought of cutting lucky is just nuts
He is a huge weapon in the return game and has some potential to develope into a WR who can help some too

 

[jazzcat22]

I don't think Broaddus liked the pick from day 1. And he's wrong, they were right.

And on Malena, I would take Johnson over him on the practice squad. Its not even close in my mind.

I liked Johnson as he seemed more physical of a runner, get those tough yards. Malena looked decent, but reminded me of Dunbar.
I liked what I seen of Swaim. I was critical on draft day. Not against Swaim, but for trading next years 6th round for him. Though that is showing it may be a wise trade. However, I think they should have picked Swaim over Nzeocha and / or Gibson. As they could have got both of them as FA's.

But what is done, is done. Hope they do the right thing no matter what. Keep Swaim, Eventually IR Nzeocha, see what he can do next year. Probably put Gibson on the PS.

 

[Roadtrip635]

Honestly, I don't get all the Swaim love either. There are players that will be cut that I would much rather have than Swaim as a 4th TE. He isn't special enough to keep, imo.

 

[jazzcat22]

Honestly, I don't get all the Swaim love either. There are players that will be cut that I would much rather have than Swaim as a 4th TE. He isn't special enough to keep, imo.

This is true. I won't be upset if he is cut, but hope he could make it to the PS. But I have liked what I seen. Even if against other teams bubble players as well.
I think he could be of some value, but agree, not at the expense of a better player. Like on the DL.
But for sure, keep him over Vaughan.

 

[Roadtrip635]

This is true. I won't be upset if he is cut, but hope he could make it to the PS. But I have liked what I seen. Even if against other teams bubble players as well.
I think he could be of some value, but agree, not at the expense of a better player. Like on the DL.
But for sure, keep him over Vaughan.

Exactly DL and LB. With the frailness of some of our LB's, wouldn't mind keeping an extra, especially over a 4th TE

 

[reddyuta]

They are going to keep Swain,they invested 2 draft picks in him.

 

[Thefeelofcotton]

I think the Cowboys cut Vaughn and keep Showers. They didn't play him because they know what he can do and wanted Vaughn to have a chance to change their minds. Just my 2 cents

 

[RS12]

12) It would not surprise me one bit to see this front office get very aggressive when it comes to working this waiver wire and also making possible trades. One of the strengths of this scouting department is to evaluate pro players from other teams. If someone tries to sneak a player through, I have faith that these scouts will be on it.

I predict at least two and maybe three guys currently on other teams will be on this roster on the 13th.

 

[RS12]

They are going to keep Swain,they invested 2 draft picks in him.

He was taking first team snaps in the 12 package the other day. Somebody on the staff likes him.

 

[Seven]

Wonder if Hardy getting on Coleman early in OTA's lit a fire..........

 

[jrumann59]

I think that Gavin is more of space player, as in its easier for him to get open with more field around him and in the redzone with the coverages more compressed he may not be able to get the necessary separation. This is an assumption of course.

 

[Idgit]

Wonder if Hardy getting on Coleman early in OTA's lit a fire..........

I was wondering that, as well. Ultimately, I don't think getting put on the PS last season sat very well with Coleman. There were reports when it happened that he was 'considering his options' before coming back to the active roster, whatever that meant. My best guess is that he just worked his tail off in the offseason to make sure he wasn't in the same position this year, and that the dust up with Hardy was probably just testosterone talking b/c he didn't like losing snaps to Hardy inside.

Coleman's supposed to be a bit of a loose cannon and a pot stirrer (not necessarily in a bad way) in the locker room, too. More than one of the guys answered 'Coleman' in those interview questions where they ask who the biggest trickster or funniest guy in the locker room is this offseason.

Either way, I suspect Broaddus is overplaying the concern the team has about this player because he was a little slow to get onboard with him as a player. Like the Swaim, thing, or saying that Randy Gregory only had one move coming out of college: I don't know what he's looking at sometimes.

Then again, he's also on air suggesting we're going to cough up a 3rd rounder for a fourth RB to fit on this roster, which I think has about a '0' chance of happening. Maybe he knows something I don't, but just looking at how rosters get built, I can't imagine that happening, either.