DC.com Predicts The 53-man Roster *merge*

[brymatt94]

http://www.dallascowboys.com/news/news.cfm?id=FC27D3FF-A329-4B9A-0A0D2AAF809078B5

IRVING, Texas - Hopeful as they may be, the start of training camp is only the beginning of the end for 27 members of the 80-man roster.
Survivors of the final cut date, Sept.4, will make up the nucleus for what the Cowboys hope becomes their sixth Super Bowl championship team. The road to a title begins Saturday at 2 p.m., when the first whistle shrieks through San Antonio's Alamodome, the team's home away from home for these next two weeks. They'll relocate to Oxnard, Calif. for the second leg of camp, practices beginning there on Aug. 14.
Near perfect attendance is anticipated for Saturday's opening session, except, perhaps, for a still-unsigned rookie or two, or the potential for players with lingering injuries to be placed on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list. In the 40 some-odd workouts of training camp, plus five preseason games, coaches will do what they can to determine the best 53 players.
Here DallasCowboys.com's editorial panel of Nick Eatman, Rob Phillips and Josh Ellis did just that, combining to project the makeup of the roster heading into the season opener on Sept. 12 at Washington. Of the selections, 48 were unanimous choices, with the remaining players voted onto the list via split decision denoted by an asterisk (*).
Injuries and future transactions are bound to have their effect on the final decision of coaches, but ahead of that uncertain certainty, here is an educated guess.
Quarterbacks (3)
Tony Romo
Jon Kitna
Stephen McGee
Running Backs (4)
Marion Barber
Felix Jones
Tashard Choice
Deon Anderson*
Wide Receivers (6)
Miles Austin
Roy Williams
Dez Bryant
Patrick Crayton
Sam Hurd
Kevin Ogletree
Tight Ends (3)
Jason Witten
Martellus Bennett
John Phillips
Offensive Linemen (10)
Doug Free
Kyle Kosier
Andre Gurode
Leonard Davis
Marc Colombo
Alex Barron
Robert Brewster
Sam Young
Travis Bright
Montrae Holland
Defensive Linemen (7)
Igor Olshansky
Jay Ratliff
Marcus Spears
Jason Hatcher
Stephen Bowen
Josh Brent*
Sean Lissemore*
Linebackers (8)
DeMarcus Ware
Bradie James
Keith Brooking
Anthony Spencer
Sean Lee
Jason Williams
Victor Butler
Brandon Williams
Defensive Backs (9)
Terence Newman
Mike Jenkins
Gerald Sensabaugh
Alan Ball
Orlando Scandrick
Mike Hamlin
Akwasi Owusu-Ansah
Bryan McCann*
Pat Watkins*
Specialists (3)
Mat McBriar
David Buehler
L.P. Ladouceur
Also Receiving Votes
FB Chris Gronkowski
DL Junior Siavii
DL Marcus Dixon
LB Stephen Hodge
DB Jamar Wall
DB Barry Church

 

[67CowboysFan]

I thought it was hard for a rookie to make this team a couple years ago. It has gotten a lot harder.

 

[VACowboy]

Looks right to me.

 

[RS12]

Hurd, Young, dont make it. Sicko and Church do.

 

[ThreeSportStar80]

I don't think Dallas will keep 6 wide receivers in 2010.

 

[Teague31]

No way wade only keeps 8 LB's

 

[htownboyzfan]

No way wade only keeps 8 LB's

I agree. I believe Lissemore or Brent make it but not both. The extra spot will be taken up by a lb --maybe Octavien or Hodge.

 

[AsthmaField]

I thought it was hard for a rookie to make this team a couple years ago. It has gotten a lot harder.

Yes it has, but it is a credit to the personnel and scouting departments that we continue to find players who are good enough to continue upgrading the roster.

Just looking at the names on that list, there are 27 first, second or third year players on it. Of course, if you don't count those six who they listed as "also receiving votes", that still leaves 23 guys in their first three years making the team.

Assuming this list is actually the 53 man roster the team ends up with, that means that the team has added 23 players to the 2007 Cowboys that went 13-3 and won the division. (They also added players like Brooking and Olshansky but lost guys like T.O., but for our purposes, I will just look at the draft.)

To that 13-3 division winning team, they have added the likes of (in no particular order):

Felix Jones
Mike Jenkins
Tashard Choice
Dez Bryant
Martellus Bennett
Kevin Ogletree
Orlando Scandrick
Sean Lee

Much of that talent is Blue chip-ish.

The team has done a fantastic job of bringing in young talent and upgrading an already very good team.

Along with 27 first, second or third year guys, that list has:

21 first or second year players.
10 rookies, including 3 which were not drafted.

... and that is cutting some guys who I think are pretty decent like Steve Octavien, Lonyae Miller, Titus Ryan, Scott Sicko, etc.

Regardless of if this is the exact roster and practice squad Dallas ends up with, it is pretty clear the team now has a very good handle on judging players and talent acquisition.

The future is bright.

 

[BourbonBalz]

No way wade only keeps 8 LB's

I agree. Absolutely no way we only keep 8 LBs.

 

[UnoDallas]

I don't see Watkins making it

I put Gronkowski in there instead of Anderson

Crayton or Hurd one gets traded

 

[pancakeman]

To that 13-3 division winning team, they have added the likes of (in no particular order):

Felix Jones
Mike Jenkins
Tashard Choice
Dez Bryant
Martellus Bennett
Kevin Ogletree
Orlando Scandrick
Sean Lee

...

The future is bright.

:toast2:

 

[Number82]

I like Church over Watkins, but other than that, I have the same 53.

At this point Watkins is what he is.

 

[Alexander]

I put Gronkowski in there instead of Anderson

I keep seeing this.

What on earth has Gronkowski done to justify this? It certainly could not have been his collegiate career.

 

[Alexander]

I agree. Absolutely no way we only keep 8 LBs.

You keep your best 53.

If you look at WR and the DL, we not only have better players there, but some who can contribute in some fashion either now or in the future.

What ninth linebacker would be worth keeping the rights to? Octavien? Hodge and his knee? Curtis Johnson? Leon Williams?

Playing some sort of numbers game with a roster is how you lose good young players. It was one of the reasons why we lost Matt Moore. I would hate to have to give up Crayton or even Hurd for any of them. I would not be happy keeping this extra linebacker and give up a developmental player like Lissemore, Bright, Young or Brent.

 

[VACowboy]

You keep your best 53.

If you look at WR and the DL, we not only have better players there, but some who can contribute in some fashion either now or in the future.

What ninth linebacker would be worth keeping the rights to? Octavien? Hodge and his knee? Curtis Johnson? Leon Williams?

Playing some sort of numbers game with a roster is how you lose good young players. It was one of the reasons why we lost Matt Moore. I would hate to have to give up Crayton or even Hurd for any of them. I would not be happy keeping this extra linebacker and give up a developmental player like Lissemore, Bright, Young or Brent.

Well-put, top to bottom.

 

[Stash]

You keep your best 53.

If you look at WR and the DL, we not only have better players there, but some who can contribute in some fashion either now or in the future.

What ninth linebacker would be worth keeping the rights to? Octavien? Hodge and his knee? Curtis Johnson? Leon Williams?

Playing some sort of numbers game with a roster is how you lose good young players. It was one of the reasons why we lost Matt Moore. I would hate to have to give up Crayton or even Hurd for any of them. I would not be happy keeping this extra linebacker and give up a developmental player like Lissemore, Bright, Young or Brent.

Perfectly said.

And the only two spots where I might disagree with their list are:

1) Hurd as the 6th receiver - I can see a speed guy like Titus Ryan taking his spot if he shows well in camp

2) Patrick Watkins at safety - I think if Barry Church has even an OK camp that he'll get the nod over Watkins who is likely heading towards free agency and has likely reached the ceiling in his development

 

[Alexander]

Perfectly said.

And the only two spots where I might disagree with their list are:

1) Hurd as the 6th receiver - I can see a speed guy like Titus Ryan taking his spot if he shows well in camp

I am no Hurd fan. But even he has more use than some ninth linebacker to do what exactly? Play special teams? Wait, he already does that and it is his specialty.

2) Patrick Watkins at safety - I think if Barry Church has even an OK camp that he'll get the nod over Watkins who is likely heading towards free agency and has likely reached the ceiling in his development

Watkins might disappoint a lot of people. I know he is on everyone's short list out of town on a Greyhound, but he is a good special teams player. Church is going to have to make some plays in the games. I don't see this staff as being overly eager to choose the rookie over the veteran if things are equal.

 

[Stash]

I am no Hurd fan. But even he has more use than some ninth linebacker to do what exactly? Play special teams? Wait, he already does that and it is his specialty.

Agreed. And unless this ninth linebacker isn't currently on this roster, I don't see any candidates. After all of the "cujo" talk about Curtis Johnson, I didn't see so much as a single flash that would make me think there was anything there to develop. As for Hodge, he's still not healthy and may never be. I don't see why he's being mentioned as sticking at this point. I think another year of PUP to IR is more likely.

Hurd is a solid special teams guy and unless another receiver can contribute there in some form, I think he has a decent chance to stick around. But I think if a player like Ryan with rare speed can show anything on special teams, he might displace Hurd for length of contract and potential upside.

Watkins might disappoint a lot of people. I know he is on everyone's short list out of town on a Greyhound, but he is a good special teams player. Church is going to have to make some plays in the games. I don't see this staff as being overly eager to choose the rookie over the veteran if things are equal.

He's a 'good' special teamer only, but that combined with the fact that he's likely approaching free agency (haven't bothered to check), I think if Church can show something, he'll displace him for two reasons - longer time under contract and potential upside - whereas you get neither of those from Watkins.

My two cents anyway.

 

[Alexander]

After all of the "cujo" talk about Curtis Johnson, I didn't see so much as a single flash that would make me think there was anything there to develop.

I think there is a tendency to inflate the value of the player based on how long that they have simply been around.

Hurd has done very little but somehow "could be" a third WR. Montrae Holland sat on his rear for an entire season. That did not stop some from saying he is ready to take Kosier's job. It is only reasonable to assume that "Cujo" is going to push Ware or Spencer soon. About the only time we do not see this effect is if the player actually gets on the field to show they really are not that good. Then you have the Carpenters, Watkins and Procter situations where people can't wait to be rid of them.

 

[baj1dallas]

You keep your best 53.

If you look at WR and the DL, we not only have better players there, but some who can contribute in some fashion either now or in the future.

What ninth linebacker would be worth keeping the rights to? Octavien? Hodge and his knee? Curtis Johnson? Leon Williams?

Playing some sort of numbers game with a roster is how you lose good young players. It was one of the reasons why we lost Matt Moore. I would hate to have to give up Crayton or even Hurd for any of them. I would not be happy keeping this extra linebacker and give up a developmental player like Lissemore, Bright, Young or Brent.

Octavien and possibly Hodge are pretty good special teamers. We think Lissemore might be able to play them but we'll really find out in the preseason. You say you keep your best 53 but then you want to keep "developmental player(s)". Well if those guys can't really play ST then they're not really among the top 53.

I agree with most other posters that we may keep one less OT, and one less WR. I think there's a good chance that Owusu-Ansah goes on the PUP list and that Church makes the team over Watkins. That gives use one extra ST specializing LB at least which I think would be something that is going to make the team better over 16 games. And I also believe that even if we start the season with Buehler as the kicker, we may add one after the first 3 games if he isn't kicking >70% from inside 40.