Depth Chart updated

[Stash]

Ah, this from DC.com explains it:

No, it’s not a typo to see Tavon Austin nowhere to be found. This position was listed according to the guys likely to field punts in the game.

“Yeah, I don’t think you’ll be seeing Tavon out there in the preseason – maybe one or two but not many,” special teams coordinator Keith O’Quinn said. “He’s got a pretty good body of work out there. I don’t think we need to see him right now.”

Austin has three career touchdowns from punt returns, including a 98-yarder as a rookie in 2013 with the Rams.

Expect that in the regular season but in the meantime, the Cowboys will likely give receiver Lance Lenoir and cornerback Duke Thomas will get some returns, along with cornerback Jourdan Lewis.

At kickoff return, Deonte Thompson isn’t expected to play but would be the first option. Lewis, Thomas and running back Darius Jackson should get some work for this first game.

I'm more concerned than excited about the possibly of Austin on returns. The guy had 5 fumbles last year and was removed from the job.

 

[Kaiser]

Ugh. I hope they don't make the mistake of putting Collins at 1-tech again this year.

Who would you start at 1T? Unless Woods dominates the preseason Collins is our best option IMO. I do think Collins was hampered a lot by the foot injury in 2017.

 

[Kaiser]

We usually only keep 4 defensive tackles but sometimes we go long with 5.

If it comes down to cutting a guy out of Tapper, Armstrong, Woods and Jones - I think Jones is cut and they go with 4 DTs. A long time until the final cutdown, but I do think we keep the top six DEs since Taco and Crawford can play DT on passing downs. Plus you have to think about next season where you likely won't have Crawford and may not have DLaw.

 

[Stash]

Who would you start at 1T? Unless Woods dominates the preseason Collins is our best option IMO. I do think Collins was hampered a lot by the foot injury in 2017.

If it were me? I'd go with Price or Woods if they continue to show out. I think Collins is a very good penetrating 3-technique but I think he's a poor foot at 1-technique and at times a liability against the run. I think they did him a disservice playing him at 1-tech last year and I attributed it to necessity rather than by design. Paea was forced to retire and Price was on IR.

I'm curious, if you're lining up Collins at the 1T, who's your starter at 3T?

 

[Stash]

If it comes down to cutting a guy out of Tapper, Armstrong, Woods and Jones - I think Jones is cut and they go with 4 DTs. A long time until the final cutdown, but I do think we keep the top six DEs since Taco and Crawford can play DT on passing downs. Plus you have to think about next season where you likely won't have Crawford and may not have DLaw.

I agree about the defensive ends. Lots of moving parts there. And part of that is why I wonder if they go long on the defensive line with 11?

If Woods keeps showing up and making this push, maybe he forces their hand to keep 5 DT's?

I don't hate to lose Datone Jones as I liked what I saw from him down the stretch last year and think he might be a "poor man's" more stable replacement for Irving.

 

[Kaiser]

I'm curious, if you're lining up Collins at the 1T, who's your starter at 3T?

Jihad Ward for sure. At this point he is our best penetrating DT by a wide margin. We need to see the preseason games but he has the potential to be a great fit for that spot in Marinelli's scheme.

I do think Collins is an above average 3T but if you expect Irving to come back and start at 3T so Collins would be the 1T, I would keep him there all year.

If Price has improved over last year, I wouldn't have a problem starting him at 1T though. He was solid last year and it sounds like he has improved with coaching and conditioning.

 

[Kaiser]

I don't hate to lose Datone Jones as I liked what I saw from him down the stretch last year and think he might be a "poor man's" more stable replacement for Irving.

Yup. No matter what we are going to lose good players at DT, WR and OL in the final cutdowns. Its a good problem to have, you only do that when you have the depth of a playoff caliber team.

 

[Stash]

Jihad Ward for sure. At this point he is our best penetrating DT by a wide margin. We need to see the preseason games but he has the potential to be a great fit for that spot in Marinelli's scheme.

I need to see that in actual game conditions before I think of playing him over Collins.

I do think Collins is an above average 3T but if you expect Irving to come back and start at 3T so Collins would be the 1T, I would keep him there all year.

If Price has improved over last year, I wouldn't have a problem starting him at 1T though. He was solid last year and it sounds like he has improved with coaching and conditioning.

Give me a starting combo of Price and Collins with Ward rotating in until he shows me otherwise.

 

[Stash]

Yup. No matter what we are going to lose good players at DT, WR and OL in the final cutdowns. Its a good problem to have, you only do that when you have the depth of a playoff caliber team.

Who are you worried about losing on the offensive line? The other areas I agree, but I think they only go with 8 on the offensive line and I don't see anyone they'd truly miss.

I have the starters and Fleming, Looney, and Martin or Edwards as my 8.

 

[Kaiser]

I need to see that in actual game conditions before I think of playing him over Collins.

I think Ward will win you over. He really does have the size of a DT with the movement of a DE. One day of training camp is meaningless but when I saw him last week it really jumped out at me. I do think he would already be an above average starter already if he hadn't gone to a 5T position in Oakland.

 

[Kaiser]

Who are you worried about losing on the offensive line?

CHAZ GREEN BABY!!!

Kidding, I think we will cut guys like Martin or Kadeem Edwards and they will stick with other teams. Not a big loss, but my main point is that we aren't scanning other rosters for pickups at the end like most teams are (with the exception of Safety, though I don't rule out Jameil Showers winning a job).

 

[Stash]

I think Ward will win you over. He really does have the size of a DT with the movement of a DE. One day of training camp is meaningless but when I saw him last week it really jumped out at me. I do think he would already be an above average starter already if he hadn't gone to a 5T position in Oakland.

I hope you're right and that he does win me over. But I still have doubts. For one thing, his history as an NFL player thus far has not been good. And he's was traded away for very little while his former team drafted several new defensive tackles.

Secondly, at 6'5" he'll always be at a leverage disadvantage playing inside. 6'5" and 290 lbs is far from what I would consider ideal size inside. For pass rushing? Maybe. Run stopping? No.

But I hope that I'm pleasantly surprised.

 

[Stash]

CHAZ GREEN BABY!!!

Kidding, I think we will cut guys like Martin or Kadeem Edwards and they will stick with other teams. Not a big loss, but my main point is that we aren't scanning other rosters for pickups at the end like most teams are (with the exception of Safety, though I don't rule out Jameil Showers winning a job).

I think you're right in that one or more of our cuts might make another team. We're as well built on the offensive lines as any team in football.

But I would rule out Showers winning a job. If it comes down to it, I can see them keeping just three safeties before using a roster spot on him. But bless the kid for trying.

 

[Silver N Blue]

At this time, it seems he'll need another year of development to live up to NFL expectations. He does look the part, though.

Wouldn't shock me at all but will be watching for him tomorrow.

 

[Silver N Blue]

Interesting that we brought in two former college QB's that turned to LB's to end their collegiate careers.

Chris C and Joel Lanning.

Yeah interesting for sure will be fun to see how they develop.

 

[Silver N Blue]

Reggie Bush really wanted #5 coming out of Southern Cal but the league denied him. I wonder if he would have been listed at QB, P or K for a year while wearing #5 and then moved to RB if the league would have allowed him to keep the number.

Montgomery occasionally lined up at RB his rookie year while being a WR primarily until he made his full move to RB due to injury. I’m surprised they let him keep it.

I agree I was very surprised he was able to keep the number. It just didn't look right either.

 

[QuincyCarterEra]

I do not understand Wilson starting at SLB with Jaylon and LVE both at MLB (I realize it's early).

I definitely do not understand Anthony Brown over Jourdan Lewis.

Brown is not a bad player and has had an incredible camp so far.

 

[Doomsday]

Interesting to see Gallup and Brown behind Hurns, would like to see them pushing Williams on the other side.

 

[gimmesix]

I'm more concerned than excited about the possibly of Austin on returns. The guy had 5 fumbles last year and was removed from the job.

I agree that it's a concern, which is why I don't agree with Dallas not using him on punt returns during the preseason. If the Cowboys are thinking about using him there during the season, then he needs to show that he's overcome his failures to field the punt.

There are some problems that can be fixed with fielding punts (such as taking your eyes off the ball) and some that can't (such as not being able to judge spin/trajectory). I'm not sure where Austin has had problems with it, or that we have the staff to fix it at this point, considering our special teams coach is certainly no expert.

 

[OmerV]

I agree that it's a concern, which is why I don't agree with Dallas not using him on punt returns during the preseason. If the Cowboys are thinking about using him there during the season, then he needs to show that he's overcome his failures to field the punt.

There are some problems that can be fixed with fielding punts and some that can. I'm not sure where Austin has had problems with it, or that we have the staff to fix it at this point, considering our special teams coach is certainly no expert.

Did they say they weren't going to let him return punts throughout the preseason? And did they say he was going to return punts in the regular season?

I'm not calling your comments into question, I just haven't heard or read anything about this.