DC.COM Blog: Gazing At The Unofficial Depth Chart

[WoodysGirl]

Posted by rphillips at 8/7/2008 2:39 PM CDT on truebluefanclub.com

The Cowboys have sent out their preseason opener release and included is the unofficial depth chart, with emphasis on "unofficial." No guarantee Saturday's actual lineup will mirror what the depth chart says. We'll get a better idea after Wade Phillips' daily press conference.

Here are a few highlights:

*The starting offense and defense are almost identical to last season, with Zach Thomas the only change at weak inside linebacker. Jay Ratliff is listed as the starting nose tackle (with Tank Johnson behind him) and Marcus Spears the starting left end.

*Sam Hurd is listed ahead of Miles Austin as the backup to Terrell Owens, with Isaiah Stanback playing behind Patrick Crayton.

*Mike Jenkins will start in place of Terence Newman (groin), with Adam Jones playing behind Anthony Henry.

*Kickoff returners are Austin, Felix Jones and Jenkins. Punt returners are Crayton, Adam Jones and Danny Amendola.

Again, this thing is unofficial. Just something to whet everyone's appetite 48 hours before kickoff.



-Rob Phillips

Comments (15) | Permanent Link

 

[panchucko]

Posted by rphillips at 8/7/2008 2:39 PM CDT on truebluefanclub.com

The Cowboys have sent out their preseason opener release and included is the unofficial depth chart, with emphasis on "unofficial." No guarantee Saturday's actual lineup will mirror what the depth chart says. We'll get a better idea after Wade Phillips' daily press conference.

Here are a few highlights:

*The starting offense and defense are almost identical to last season, with Zach Thomas the only change at weak inside linebacker. Jay Ratliff is listed as the starting nose tackle (with Tank Johnson behind him) and Marcus Spears the starting left end.

*Sam Hurd is listed ahead of Miles Austin as the backup to Terrell Owens, with Isaiah Stanback playing behind Patrick Crayton.

*Mike Jenkins will start in place of Terence Newman (groin), with Adam Jones playing behind Anthony Henry.

*Kickoff returners are Austin, Felix Jones and Jenkins. Punt returners are Crayton, Adam Jones and Danny Amendola.

Again, this thing is unofficial. Just something to whet everyone's appetite 48 hours before kickoff.



-Rob Phillips

Comments (15) | Permanent Link

I hear you that it is unofficial, but Hurd and Austin behind TO, aren't we looking for someone on the other side of TO to help stretch the field.
Just curious

 

[JonJon]

Why is Crayton still returning punts???

 

[lkelly]

Why is Crayton still returning punts???

Because he too can catch 6 balls at a time.

 

[JackMagist]

Why is Crayton still returning punts???

Because he can catch them without muffing them...Can't run with it after the catch but he can catch it.
:bang2:

 

[theogt]

It's too bad Bartel sucks arse. It'll be a complete waste trying to figure out if our receivers are any good.

 

[parchy]

I hear you that it is unofficial, but Hurd and Austin behind TO, aren't we looking for someone on the other side of TO to help stretch the field.
Just curious

Where'd you hear that, aside from here? The team has consistently said that TO is their vertical threat... the rest will be complements to his speed.

Reliable speed-demon No. 2's are luxuries in the NFL, not regulars. If I had to guess, I'd say Wade & Co. are looking for reliability and consistency opposite TO, not necessarily speed. I know the playoff game has blurred our vision from last year, but Crayton has been the model of consistency for pretty much his entire career. He's just not a burner.

 

[Brandon]

Where'd you hear that, aside from here? The team has consistently said that TO is their vertical threat... the rest will be complements to his speed.

Reliable speed-demon No. 2's are luxuries in the NFL, not regulars. If I had to guess, I'd say Wade & Co. are looking for reliability and consistency opposite TO, not necessarily speed. I know the playoff game has blurred our vision from last year, but Crayton has been the model of consistency for pretty much his entire career. He's just not a burner.

+1, the only teams I know of, that have speed demons as #2 receivers are Green Bay, Pittsburgh, Washington(Although Randle El blows), Cinncinati(I believe Chad is their #2) and thats it pretty much, so yes, luxury is the right word Only(According to my 4 teams) about 12% of the league have a speed #2. Interesting.

 

[masomenos]

It's too bad Bartel sucks arse. It'll be a complete waste trying to figure out if our receivers are any good.

Hey, he completed 85% of his passes in preseason last year. Granted, they weren't long passes but still...

 

[Carl23]

It's too bad Bartel sucks arse. It'll be a complete waste trying to figure out if our receivers are any good.

Haha. Too true. Too true.

 

[TDHND]

i can't wait to see Danny Amendola play

 

[YosemiteSam]

With Austin behind Hurd and Stanback behind Crayton does that put Stanback ahead of Austin in the WR lineup? Or is this solely based on the position (x, y, z) the receiver is learning / preparing for.

If Crayton goes down, that would put Stanback in the lineup before Austin or possible even Hurd for that matter. I guess it depends if Hurd is also learning the other positions.

 

[AbeBeta]

I hear you that it is unofficial, but Hurd and Austin behind TO, aren't we looking for someone on the other side of TO to help stretch the field.
Just curious

This is pretty much what we had last year isn't it? Seems like no real change. Hurd comes in as #2 and Austin rarely sees the field.

 

[theogt]

With Austin behind Hurd and Stanback behind Crayton does that put Stanback ahead of Austin in the WR lineup? Or is this solely based on the position (x, y, z) the receiver is learning / preparing for.

If Crayton goes down, that would put Stanback in the lineup before Austin or possible even Hurd for that matter. I guess it depends if Hurd is also learning the other positions.

Yeah, it doesn't really make sense. Another example, in a 3 WR set, Crayton moves into the slot -- so who moves into Crayton's spot? Stanback, since he's the only one behind him on the depth chart? I doubt that's true, which makes the current listing just nonsensical.

 

[YosemiteSam]

Yeah, it doesn't really make sense. Another example, in a 3 WR set, Crayton moves into the slot -- so who moves into Crayton's spot? Stanback, since he's the only one behind him on the depth chart? I doubt that's true, which makes the current listing just nonsensical.

As for the three WR set, from what I gather, Crayton moves to the slot and Hurd becomes the second wideout. So, I guess it kind of answers my second question.

My guess is it would play out like this. If TO goes down, Hurd enters the lineup with Austin and Stanback spliting duties as the third WR the way we expect Bennett and Curtis to do as the second TE. If Crayton goes down, Hurd takes Crayton's role and Austin and Stanback again split time as the third WR.

As for Austin and Stanback's role in that situation will more or less depend on the route called for on a specific play. If they want to really stretch the field, Austin. If they want an end around, open space, or possession type play they go with Stanback since he is bigger and stronger and just flat out has more potential in the open field..

 

[JohnnyHopkins]

Why is Crayton still returning punts???

No need to panic. Crayton is serving as primary for the same reason that Mike Jenkins is starting tonight; because Pacman has yet to be reinstated by the Commissioner. Once Pacman is reinstated, he will move up to primary returner on the depth-chart.

 

[theogt]

As for the three WR set, from what I gather, Crayton moves to the slot and Hurd becomes the second wideout. So, I guess it kind of answers my second question.

My guess is it would play out like this. If TO goes down, Hurd enters the lineup with Austin and Stanback spliting duties as the third WR the way we expect Bennett and Curtis to do as the second TE. If Crayton goes down, Hurd takes Crayton's role and Austin and Stanback again split time as the third WR.

Yeah, we all know how it plays out. I just don't understand why you'd list the depth chart like they do.

As for Austin and Stanback's role in that situation will more or less depend on the route called for on a specific play. If they want to really stretch the field, Austin. If they want an end around, open space, or possession type play they go with Stanback since he is bigger and stronger and just flat out has more potential in the open field..

That's a recipe for disaster. "Hey guys, Austin is on the field, so it's a go route!"

 

[YosemiteSam]

Yeah, we all know how it plays out. I just don't understand why you'd list the depth chart like they do.

That's a recipe for disaster. "Hey guys, Austin is on the field, so it's a go route!"

Well, I don't think the Cowboys are dumb enough dictate their plays like that. Just because Austin is in the game, doesn't mean he isn't the 5th option and when he is the 5th option, he could be just running a curl. Nothing more than a diversionary route / 5th option. Any defense that sees Austin out wide, will be looking to protect deep.

 

[cobra]

What's will all the hand-wringing over the WR depth chart?



Hey guys, did anyone here happen to catch any of the 2007 Dallas Cowboys season? The team went 13-3 and set franchise passing records with a recieving corps that suprisngly identical to the one just listed.







I swear. It's like half the board slept through last season.

 

[theogt]

What's will all the hand-wringing over the WR depth chart?



Hey guys, did anyone here happen to catch any of the 2007 Dallas Cowboys season? The team went 13-3 and set franchise passing records with a recieving corps that suprisngly identical to the one just listed.







I swear. It's like half the board slept through last season.

Gotta talk about something. Most of the team is pretty much set in stone other than backup WRs, backup ILB, and a little uncertainty at the D-line.