DC: Spagnola: Whole Lot Of Roster Shakin’ Going On To Get To 53-Man Limit

[jobberone]

Spagnola: Whole Lot Of Roster Shakin’ Going On To Get To 53-Man Limit
Friday, August 25, 2017 4:15 PM CDT

By Mickey Spagnola
DallasCowboys.com Columnist

FRISCO, Texas – Just 16 days until the season opener. Sixteen now. Things are getting serious around here.

A preseason game at AT&T Stadium Saturday night against the Raiders, and then hopefully, ol’ Harvey permitting, the final tune-up next Thursday in Houston. That’s it, and it will be time to play ball.

And from a practice standpoint, there will be only two practices next week, the game on Thursday, cuts coming down Friday and Saturday, and before we blink it will be game week come Labor Day.

But like probably every other team in the NFL, the Dallas Cowboys have a few issues to solve, or at least to continue working on solving before teeing it up at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 10, at home against the New York Football Giants.

And with the clock ticking away, the Cowboys must balance preparing their starters for the season opener with also making those critical final evaluations on the numerous guys trying to sneak onto the back end of the 53-man roster.

Being realistic, you can probably figure there’s right around 40 to 45 players sure to make the squad, leaving roughly like a dozen or so guys on the proverbial bubble. This game and next Thursday’s will go a long way toward helping the staff make those decisions.

***SNIP***

http://www.dallascowboys.com/news/2017/08/25/spagnola-whole-lot-roster-shakin’-going-get-53-man-limit

 

[jobberone]

Swing tackle and LB depth biggest decisions IMO. Rest is not too hard. There are a couple of UDFAs who play in the mix but my guess is they go to the PS.

 

[Idgit]

It'd be nice if we could find a serviceable veteran OT who could play swing in the cut downs. Maybe flip a TE for one.

 

[CowboyStar88]

Rush
Noah
Rico

Need to be on the 53 IMO

 

[Texas_Pete]

Sounds like Chaz "Glass Joe" Green is our starting LG. Ugh.

 

[ActualCowboysFan]

It'd be nice if we could find a serviceable veteran OT who could play swing in the cut downs. Maybe flip a TE for one.

Chaz Green not doing it for ya?

 

[erod]

Lol

Mickey, barring catastrophic injuries, about 2-3 spots are up for grabs. That's it.

 

[jobberone]

It'd be nice if we could find a serviceable veteran OT who could play swing in the cut downs. Maybe flip a TE for one.

I think between Cleary and Green we have a Swing Tackle. And we have backup C with Cooper.

Smith, Collins, Green, Cleary
Cooper, Martin
Fred

That leaves 2-3 to backup:

Cleary seems to be a near lock to me. That's 7.
Burbank is the best C prospect but he's greener than the vet depth. My guess is PS.
Bell may still make it but he's not impressed.
Not sure about Edwards (G)
Skipper goes to the PS. He can play G/T and even C in a pinch. (Never thought I'd see a 6-10 G much less C even backup to the backup.)
Not on the roster yet.

1 besides Cleary makes the roster. On the outside they could carry 9 but I doubt it. 7-8 dress for the 46 gameday.

 

[punit328]

Does Rico Definitely make the team? They can't let him get away

 

[Idgit]

Chaz Green not doing it for ya?

I really like him when he's in. I'd prefer he win the LG job and let Cooper back up the interior OL. But then we need a better swing OT.

 

[NorthwestDallas40]

I posted in roster zone, here's what I think (might swap Duke THomas for M White because he's healthy and we're banged up at CB):

QB (3)- Prescott, Moore, Rush
RB (4)- McFadden, Morris, R. Smith, K. Smith [Elliot suspension]
WR (6)- Bryant, T Will, Beasley, Butler, Switzer, N. Brown
TE (4)- Witten, Hanna, Swaim, Gathers
OL (8)- T. Smith, Cooper, T Fred, Martin, Collins, C. Green, J. Looney, B. Bell
= 25

DL (9)- D Law, Paea, M. Collins, T. Crawford, Mayowa, Taco, Thornton, L. Neal, Tapper [Irving, Moore suspension]
LB (6)- Lee, Hitchens, D. Wilson, J. Smith, Nzeocha, Wilber [no Durant]
CB (6)- O Scan, Carroll, A Brown, Awuzie, J. Lewis, M. White
S (4)- B. Jones, Heath, Frazier, X Woods
=25

K- Bailey
P- C. Jones
LS- Ladoucier
=3

PS = Ivie, Duke Thomas, Lenny Jones, A Jones, Nwachakchu, Cleary, Skipper

 

[Chuck 54]

Personally, I think Cooper has made Looney expendable.
Noah Brown can go PS. Potential, but what's he shown that will make a team want to use a roster spot on a rookie who doesn't know their offense.
Rico goes on IR, in my opinion.
Keith Smith stays as FB/ST
Marquez White also ends up on PS

Don't be surprised to see McFadden or Seamster on 53 for first quarter of season since the rookies have missed critical time.

 

[CowboyStar88]

Sounds like Chaz "Glass Joe" Green is our starting LG. Ugh.

He has the talent when healthy he is one of the top 5. As a Gator fan his problem has always been health. I've been hopeful he could shake that, but so far he's been suspect. But when he's played you can see his power

 

[Texas_Pete]

He has the talent when healthy he is one of the top 5. As a Gator fan his problem has always been health. I've been hopeful he could shake that, but so far he's been suspect. But when he's played you can see his power

Agreed. I read somewhere that he gave up < 3 sacks his whole Gator career (or something like that). He just can't stay healthy though.

 

[Texas_Pete]