DC: Roster Hopefuls On Deep Defensive Line Make Strong Final Impression

[jobberone]

Roster Hopefuls On Deep Defensive Line Make Strong Final Impression
Thursday, September 03, 2015 11:56 PM CDT

By Rob Phillips @robphillips3

ARLINGTON, Texas – The regulars on the Cowboys’ revamped defensive line watched Thursday’s preseason finale against the Houston Texans, but the players fighting to be part of that rotation cemented what became evident in training camp:

The defensive line is the deepest area on the roster.

The Cowboys rested several projected starters and key contributors in their 21-14 win at AT&T Stadium: Tyrone Crawford, DeMarcus Lawrence, Nick Hayden, Jeremy Mincey, rookie Randy Gregory and Jack Crawford. Greg Hardy also was granted an excused absence to be with his pregnant girlfriend during labor, Garrett said.

Several other linemen gave Garrett, defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli and other Cowboys officials a strong final impression Thursday.

“It’s a very competitive position and there are a lot of guys that seem to do a good job in this ball game and show up to make some plays against the run, some plays affecting the quarterback,” Garrett said. “We’ll go watch that tape and that’ll definitely be one of the positions that we’ll have to make some hard decisions on.”

.Read

 

[Bungarian]

With the way they played no way they make the PS. Some team will grab them if cut.

 

[jobberone]

With the way they played no way they make the PS. Some team will grab them if cut.

I agree. Really tough decisions coming Saturday.

Lavar Edwards should take the last DE spot IMO. Gardner should go to the PS. I didn't watch Russell enough to have an opinion. Coleman made the team although I suspected he already had.

What a difference a year has made.

 

[starfrombirth]

I agree. Really tough decisions coming Saturday.

Lavar Edwards should take the last DE spot IMO. Gardner should go to the PS. I didn't watch Russell enough to have an opinion. Coleman made the team although I suspected he already had.

What a difference a year has made.

I agree but I hold some trepidation. He did the same thing last year to the tune of being the first opening day rookie dlineman to start since DWare(?) and then became an instant entitled knucklehead. I'm just hoping he keeps his head on straight because he has one of the best getoff's i've ever seen.

 

[Roadtrip635]

Solid DLine play last night, gonna be tough to make cuts. You just know, guys that get cut will be snatched up fairly quickly.

 

[Teague31]

Keep them all!!!!

 

[ElGatoGrande]

I dont know what to think about those guys. They got pushed around, stymied, and gashed by the other team's backups for the other 3 games this preaseason. Relative to eachother there is strong competition, but how well they will play against starters in real games is still a big question mark for me.

 

[jazzcat22]

This will be the toughest area for the final decisions. As we all known that for some time now. This is a good problem to have.
I don't think losing 1 or 2 players here in the final cut downs, unless a trade can take place, that will make some other team a SB contender. most likely a bottom type team would be claiming them. So that should not worry anyone. But we know we will have a very good, and hopefully great 8 man rotation. And some depth.

Think they will keep 10 DL to start out.
Lawrence, Gregory, Mincey, T. Crawford, J. Crawford, Russell, Hayden, Coleman, how do they not keep Coleman, These are 8 players for sure.
Hardy of course, but until he returns, someone will get a roster spot, then depending other factors, does he stay or go.

Gardner supposedly had a good game according to Babe last nigt. I didn't see it. A agree he probably will go on the PS.
Bishop, to me looked a bit slow, but he was supposed to have been disruptive last night too. I am still not sold on him
T. McClain, seemed to play well last night, but was it enough to keep him. Right now, I would go with him over Bishop. Just my opinion for no real reason.
Edwards, I think he has played well, he will make it most likely, at least until Hardy returns.

I think 2 or 3 of these guys are on the roster for at least the 1st 4 games. Unless trades happen.

 

[conner01]

Tough decisions
Great problem to have

 

[Frosty]

I dont know what to think about those guys. They got pushed around, stymied, and gashed by the other team's backups for the other 3 games this preaseason. Relative to eachother there is strong competition, but how well they will play against starters in real games is still a big question mark for me.

Exactly, The 4th preseason game is the... ALL JAGs game.. There was not starters on the field or game planning in place. Bottom end players fighting for a NFL roster spot. Its nothing but a player putting on an audition to make a NFL practice squad.

That does't take away their effort, but 80% of those players won't be heard of again tell next preseason.

 

[Zimmy Lives]

I know it sounds trite to say it but the last few rosters spots will be decided by special teams play. This includes d-linemen who are on the bubble.

 

[jazzcat22]

In the pregame show on TV, Jason Garrett said no player or roster determination are given to an outstanding performance in this game. They still look at the entire body of work, from the games and throughout TC.

So there is a lot of other stuff to consider that we fans aren't even aware of. However, we all will still be surprised at some moves. and scratch our heads on others.
A mix of fans will have opposite opinions on some moves. Some will agree, some will disagree.

How many of us will be checking alerts and news over the next few days on a regular basis....

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Here are the guys that played on the defensive in '13 (other than Hatcher- who had a good season and Ware- who was 'meh' after September)...

DL Nick Hayden
DL Jason Hatcher
DL George Selvie
DL DeMarcus Ware
DL Kyle Wilber
DL Jarius Wynn
DL Drake Nevis
DL Everette Brown
DL Caesar Rayford
DL Corvey Irvin
DL Edgar Jones
DL David Carter
DL Jason Vega
DL Jerome Long
DL Landon Cohen
DL Anthony Spencer
DL Martez Wilson
DL Frank Kearse
DL Everett Dawkins
DL Marvin Austin

Pretty freaking scary list that Monte and Marinelli had to deal with...

 

[big dog cowboy]

How did we get here.....

The defensive line is the deepest area on the roster.

From here in just one year?

Here are the guys that played on the defensive in '13 (other than Hatcher- who had a good season and Ware- who was 'meh' after September)...

DL Nick Hayden
DL Jason Hatcher
DL George Selvie
DL DeMarcus Ware
DL Kyle Wilber
DL Jarius Wynn
DL Drake Nevis
DL Everette Brown
DL Caesar Rayford
DL Corvey Irvin
DL Edgar Jones
DL David Carter
DL Jason Vega
DL Jerome Long
DL Landon Cohen
DL Anthony Spencer
DL Martez Wilson
DL Frank Kearse
DL Everett Dawkins
DL Marvin Austin

Pretty freaking scary list that Monte and Marinelli had to deal with...

Clearly Jerry/Stephen and the rest of the front office worked very hard and deserve a ton of credit.

There is no way these changes won't have a big impact on the field this year and many more years down the road.

 

[Roadtrip635]

How did we get here.....

From here in just one year?

Clearly Jerry/Stephen and the rest of the front office worked very hard and deserve a ton of credit.

There is no way these changes won't have a big impact on the field this year and many more years down the road.

Such a huge turn around. So glad Marinelli stayed.

 

[hornitosmonster]

Some tough cuts coming up. I'm all for an expanded roster