DMN: BLOG: Not-too-premature 53-man roster projection

[Cbz40]

Not-too-premature 53-man roster projection

9:26 PM Sun, Aug 17, 2008 | Permalink | Yahoo! Buzz
Tim MacMahon


Made a few changes since last week's projection. Miles Austin's knee injury caused a couple adjustments to be made, and a shift was made in the battle for the sixth CB spot.


This also marks the first practice squad projection of the year!!! Didn't figure that merited its own post, so I tacked eight names to the bottom of this one. Follow the jump to see for yourself.



QB
Tony Romo
Brad Johnson
Comment: The QB TBD is gone, because I had to make room for a sixth WR with Miles Austin injured. Plus, Brad Johnson looked pretty darn good working behind the starting OL vs. the Broncos.


RB
Marion Barber
Felix Jones
Tashard Choice
Comment: You could make the case that this is the Cowboys' strongest position.


FB
Deon "Cricket" Anderson
Comment: You know a guy loves the game if he gets knocked out on the opening kickoff of a preseason game and talks his way back onto the field.


TE
Jason Witten
Tony Curtis
Martellus Bennett
Comment: Bennett might look like a fool on Hard Knocks, but there's no way the Cowboys are cutting a second-round pick. The question is whether he'll be mature enough to contribute significantly this season.


WR
Terrell Owens
Patrick Crayton
Sam Hurd
Miles Austin
Isaiah Stanback
Danny Amendola
Comment: Amendola makes it because of Austin's injury. Whether he'll remain on the 53-man roster once Austin returns is another question.


OL
LT Flozell Adams
LG Kyle Kosier
C Andre Gurode
RG Leonard "Bigg" Davis
RT Marc Colombo
T/G Pat McQuistan
T/G Doug Free
G/C Cory Procter
G Joe Berger
G/T James Marten
Comment: The backups looked better in Denver than San Diego, but that's not saying much.


DL
Chris Canty
Jay Ratliff
Marcus Spears
Tank Johnson
Jason Hatcher
Stephen Bowen
Comment: Bowen failed to take advantage of an opportunity with Canty getting injured on the first play. However, Marcus Smith probably hasn't shown enough to bump Bowen from the roster.


ILB
Bradie James
Zach Thomas
Kevin Burnett
Bobby Carpenter
Comment: I was somewhat surprised that James played in the Dime package with Burnett recovering from knee surgery. Carpenter can't be pleased about that.


OLB
DeMarcus Ware
Greg Ellis
Anthony Spencer
Justin Rogers
Comment: Sixth-rounder Erik Walden could get a roster spot instead of S Dowayne Davis.


CB
Terence Newman
Anthony Henry
Adam "Pacman" Jones
Mike Jenkins
Orlando Scandrick
Evan Oglesby
Comment: Oglesby played the slot in the first-team substitution packages, a role Ball filled during the preseason opener. Oglesby outperformed Ball all camp, and that continued in the game against the Broncos. Ball, the taller and faster of the two, might have more potential. Oglesby, who has a knack for being around the ball, is better prepared to contribute right now.


S
Ken Hamlin
Roy Williams
Pat Watkins
Courtney Brown
Dowayne Davis
Comment: Watkins played next to Hamlin in the substitution packages against Denver. Brown filled that role in San Diego. Their special teams ability should make both locks, and kick/punt coverage is the reason Davis has a shot.


SPEC.
P Mat McBriar
K Nick Folk
LS L.P. Ladouceur
Comment: The Jay Ottovegio era will end soon.


PRACTICE SQUAD
CB Alan Ball
RB Alonzo Coleman
TE Rodney Hannah
RB/FB Keon Lattimore
WR Todd Lowber
DE Marcus Smith
OLB Erik Walden
QB TBD

 

[CrazyCowboy]

I agree with this list......good job

 

[DaBoys4Life]

I would want us to keep Lowber if we keep a 6th WR.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

I would want us to keep Lowber if we keep a 6th WR.

Well considering your track record when it comes to whom the Cowboys select, I'd be packing my bags now if I were Lowber.

 

[DaBoys4Life]

Well considering your track record when it comes to whom the Cowboys select, I'd be packing my bags now if I were Lowber.

true.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

true.

:laugh2:

 

[Hailmary]

Bartels' growing on me wouldn't mind bringing him back to the PS, but if the Jets expose Ainge to waivers, I'd seriously take a look at him. I don't think he has the tools to wow anyone in this league, but has the makeup to be a solid backup for years.

 

[DanTanna]

So he does not think Bartel will even make the practice squad?

Even Matt Baker is on an NFL team.

I like what Amendola brings to the team. Lowber will be another Stanback for years to come. So Amen[strike]dil[/strike]dola should be the choice.

The Texans should pick or practice squad clean. Every single one of those guys would be in the two deep on the Texans except for maybe Hannah.

 

[silver]

I would keep Hannah on the roster. I just don't see anything special with Amendola or Stanback for that matter.

 

[ThreeSportStar80]

I think the light will come on for Stanback next year...

 

[DeepBleu]

is alan ball still practice squad eligible?

 

[Sandyf]

I will have to respectfully disagree on some positions.

QB
Tony Romo
Brad Johnson
Comment: We keep Johnson only because there is no other option. Was he sharp Saturday? Not really, no movement, passes not leading the WR, low passes. Did he play better, yes, but there was no where to go but up. We did offer Miami a pick for Beck but they declined but it was before Pennington so I would not discount it yet.


RB
Marion Barber
Felix Jones
Tashard Choice
Comment: Both Lattimore and Coleman should go to the PS.


FB
Deon "Cricket" Anderson
Comment: His injury may cause a concern but the kid it tough.


TE
Jason Witten
Tony Curtis
Martellus Bennett
Comment: Bennett, Curtis, and Hannah all played fairly well Saturday enough so that the final two weeks will be interesting. I would watch for something with Miami on Curtis especially since the TEs in Miami were awful except for Fasano.


WR
Terrell Owens
Patrick Crayton
Sam Hurd
Miles Austin
Isaiah Stanback
Mike Jefferson
Comment: With Austin injury, it does force us to go with six but Jefferson might have the better chance because he is a better gunner on ST.


OL
LT Flozell Adams
LG Kyle Kosier
C Andre Gurode
RG Leonard "Bigg" Davis
RT Marc Colombo
T/G Pat McQuistan
T/G Doug Free
G/C Cory Procter
T/G Cory Lekkerker
G/T James Marten
Comment: Berger could be there, again anyone guess on the backups except Free and Procter.


DL
Chris Canty
Jay Ratliff
Marcus Spears
Tank Johnson
Jason Hatcher
Stephen Bowen
Comment: Interesting case coming down with Bowen and Smith but I wouldn't count Dixon out just yet.


ILB
Bradie James
Zach Thomas
Kevin Burnett
Bobby Carpenter
Comment: Wonder what the decision will be here if Burnett is out longer.


OLB
DeMarcus Ware
Greg Ellis
Anthony Spencer
Justin Rogers
Erik Walden
Comment: Rogers can play inside so this becomes a decision to watch.


CB
Terence Newman
Anthony Henry
Adam "Pacman" Jones
Mike Jenkins
Orlando Scandrick
Evan Oglesby
Comment: Ball will never make it to the PS but have to agree he is being out played by Oglesby.


S
Ken Hamlin
Roy Williams
Pat Watkins
Courtney Brown
Comment: Because of Burnett, see keeping Walden before Davis.


SPEC.
P Mat McBriar
K Nick Folk
LS L.P. Ladouceur
Comment: Was there a doubt here.


PRACTICE SQUAD
CB Alan Ball
RB Alonzo Coleman
TE Rodney Hannah
RB/FB Keon Lattimore
WR Todd Lowber
DE Marcus Smith
WR Danny Amendola
DE Marcus Dixon
S Dowayne Davis
QB Richard Bartel.
Comment: Believe we can have 10 PS now and sure that a couple of these will be picked by other teams and we will pick from some of theirs. Have to believe that Polk and Bradford might be IR candidates if they get a toenail hang. Same with LB Robertson. Currently no one on IR from training camp of guys we want another look at, but it will happen.

1st five to be cut:
P Jay Ottovegio
QB Jeff Terrell
DT Remi Ayodele
CB Tyler Everett
C Ryan Gibbons

__________________

 

[ddh33]

I've got three specialists with Ladouceur, Folk, and McBriar.

I've got 2 QBs with Bartel going to the practice squad.

I've got three running backs and one full back.

I think the team keeps six receivers, but I don't know who number six is. I don't think Amendola has shown enough. Lowber is a guy I want on the practice squad. Even Jefferson seems to have had his moments. And I wouldn't be completely surprised if Jerry went out and got someone.

I think you keep 3 TEs.

I think 10 OL stay.

Six DL stay.

I've got 9 LBs staying, and Walden is one of them.

I think the team keeps 10 DBs. If Oglesby and Ball don't play better, Davis may get the tenth spot, but I'd still bet on 6 corners at this point.

 

[JPM]

is alan ball still practice squad eligible?

I didn't think he was.

 

[zrinkill]

I would want us to keep Lowber if we keep a 6th WR.

What a shock

 

[JPM]

What a shock

Wouldn't you ? He does fire lightning bolts from his arse.

 

[cowboyz]

i'd keep 5 wrs, then keep ball. ball is better than the other wrs.

also walden is better than davis

 

[dogunwo]

Bartels' growing on me wouldn't mind bringing him back to the PS, but if the Jets expose Ainge to waivers, I'd seriously take a look at him. I don't think he has the tools to wow anyone in this league, but has the makeup to be a solid backup for years.

Why???

 

[jobberone]

I don't know about Ainge. Why would someone want him to groom? His arm isn't that strong is it? And he isn't a master at mastering games.

 

[Hailmary]

I don't know about Ainge. Why would someone want him to groom? His arm isn't that strong is it? And he isn't a master at mastering games.

He doesn't have a gun, but I'd say his arm is slightly above average. That's just fine for a backup imo. I think he can eventually be very effective in the short and intermediate game. The thing I'm not crazy about Ainge is that he has zero mobility.

He's basically Brad Johnson, but a lot younger.