DMN: Blog: Really ridiculously premature 53-man roster projection

[Cbz40]

Really ridiculously premature 53-man roster projection

3:00 PM Tue, Apr 28, 2009 | Permalink | Yahoo! Buzz
Tim MacMahon

Who needs minicamps, OTAs, training camp and a preseason to project the 53-man roster? Follow the jump for a semi-educated guess on who will make the final cut a little more than five months from now.

QB (3)
Tony Romo
Jon Kitna
Stephen McGee

Undrafted free agent Rudy Carpenter would have to be really, really impressive to convince the Cowboys to keep four quarterbacks, which is how Romo stuck around his rookie year.

RB (3)
Marion Barber
Felix Jones
Tashard Choice

An injury is Alonzo Coleman's only chance to crack the roster.

FB (1)
Deon "Cricket" Anderson

He's a good special teams player who won't let an undrafted rookie take his spot.

TE (3)
Jason Witten
Martellus Bennett
John Phillips

Rodney Hannah, the ex-University of Houston basketball player who spent the last two seasons on the practice squad, has intriguing receiving potential. But the Cowboys need a solid blocker as the No. 3 TE, and Phillips fits the bill.

WR (5)
Roy Williams
Miles Austin
Patrick Crayton
Sam Hurd
Isaiah Stanback

Stanback, who has potential as a Wildcat QB, is bigger and faster than seventh-round pick Manuel Johnson. Can Stanback stay healthy?

OL (9)
Flozell Adams
Kyle Kosier
Andre Gurode
Leonard Davis
Marc Colombo
Cory Procter
Robert Brewster
Pat McQuistan
Doug Free

Procter is the best candidate to back up Gurode at center. If Montrae Holland is cut, it'd create about $2 million in salary cap space.

NT (2)
Jay Ratliff
Junior Siavii

The Cowboys believe the 6-5, 330-pound Siavii, who hasn't played a regular-season down since 2005, is better than any nose tackle they could have drafted in the late rounds.

DE (4)
Igor Olshansky
Marcus Spears
Stephen Bowen
Jason Hatcher

Jerry Jones mentioned Marcus Dixon's development without prompting, so he could push for a roster spot. It's hard to see the Cowboys keeping more than four DEs, though.

OLB (5)
DeMarcus Ware
Anthony Spencer
Greg Ellis
Brandon Williams
Victor Butler

Do the Cowboys really want to rely on fourth-round picks right away? Keeping Ellis would be costly, but it'd give Williams and Butler a year to develop. Don't count out Justin Rogers beating out one of the rookies.

ILB (5)
Bradie James
Keith Brooking
Bobby Carpenter
Jason Williams
Stephen Hodge

Hodge's special teams prowess justifies keeping five at this position.

CB (5)
Terence Newman
Orlando Scandrick
Mike Jenkins
Alan Ball
Mike Mickens

Mike Hawkins, a spectacular athlete who hasn't been able to stick in the NFL, is a sleeper.

S (4)
Ken Hamlin
Gerald Sensabaugh
Michael Hamlin
DeAngelo Smith

Pat Watkins can't stay healthy and has been a disappointment on defense. Courtney Brown is a great athlete, but football is a contact sport.

SPEC. (4)
P Mat McBriar
K Nick Folk
K David Buehler
LS L.P. Ladouceur

Buehler will fit right in with this fun-loving bunch.

 

[Rampage]

The Cowboys believe the 6-5, 330-pound Siavii, who hasn't played a regular-season down since 2005, is better than any nose tackle they could have drafted in the late rounds.


funny how teams who run the 3-4 with the best of them like Pitt and NE who already have mammoth nose tackles each chose a rookie NT in this years draft.

 

[Chief]

He has 11 of the 12 draftees making it.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

i would be pissed at cutting Holland for McQuistan.

 

[btcutter]

i would be pissed at cutting Holland for McQuistan.

I thought Holland may have a chance to unseat Kozier with a full year with the Boys. He's bigger and stronger at point of attack. We also gave up next year's 5th for him.

I don't see him cut.

 

[anava]

It's sad that Ellis is still on the roster

 

[Arch Stanton]

Didn't they just pay Holland a 500k roster bonus?

 

[TD-33]

i would be pissed at cutting Holland for McQuistan.

Holland looked good when he came in, I see no reason to cut him especially if the Cowboys emphasize the running game this year. He's a better run blocker if I remember correctly.

 

[pancakeman]

Yup, I know it's starter vs. backup but I think I'd rather keep Holland than Ellis.

 

[Woods]

Didn't they just pay Holland a 500k roster bonus?

Yes, I believe so.

I think Holland sticks.

 

[btcutter]

Yup, I know it's starter vs. backup but I think I'd rather keep Holland than Ellis.

Unless there is some miraculous advancement among the rookies, Ellis won't be cut. There's simply not enough proven depth at that position.

 

[Stash]

i would be pissed at cutting Holland for McQuistan.

Absolutely agree.

What would you use that $2 million for anyway?

Surgery to put Romo back together after someone blows by McQ to nail him?

No thanks.

 

[ddh33]

Other than maybe Holland, I think he's got the same 53 I do.

 

[Woods]

* If Brewster can play RT and OG, I think it makes sense to keep Holland (over McQ).

* Keeping 10 LBs is a lot, but I think running a 34 defense, you have to have the LBs. Also, as the ST wedge rules have changed, you probably want more athletic LBs on STs.

* I still think the FB position is up for debate. Do we keep 4 TEs instead?
I think if R Hannah impresses, we may go with 4 TEs.

* On the DL, if Dixon doesn't make the 53 man roster, but he is showing real potential, I hope we can stash him away on our PS for one more year. Otherwise, we're going to have to make a tough decision.

* Finally, as for the WRs, I think Stanback is going to have to really show something this year. Remember, he was an Ireland pick. Can Stanback stay healthy? That's the $1mm question. One BIG advantage that Stanback does have over M Johnson is that Stanback plays STs (i.e., KR). Another advantage would be that Stanback can run the Wildcat on occasion. But still, this comes down to Stanback being physically able.

As of today I'd guess that M Johnson is stashed on the PS and develops for another year.

 

[mperfection]

i would be pissed at cutting Holland for McQuistan.

No doubt about it.

 

[cobra]

I'd rather keep Manuel Johnson over Stanback. I just don't think Stanback can stay healthy enough to keep a spot.

I'd also rather keep Hawkins over Ball at CB. I can't stand Ball.

The only way that Ellis stays on my roster is if he agrees to be a reserve player that plays situationally and agrees to sub in at DE if needed. I think Ellis can play DE in the 3-4 if needed and play some in 4 man fronts. But I'm thinking Ellis does not go for that, in which case he is gone and Holland stays. (I'd like to keep Holland over Proctor to begin with, but apparently he is the only who can figure out how to play center other than Gurode.) If Holland stays over Procter and Ellis goes, I'll open a spot for Marcus Dixon.

 

[Doomsday101]

I'd rather keep Manuel Johnson over Stanback. I just don't think Stanback can stay healthy enough to keep a spot.

I'd also rather keep Hawkins over Ball at CB. I can't stand Ball.

The only way that Ellis stays on my roster is if he agrees to be a reserve player that plays situationally and agrees to sub in at DE if needed. I think Ellis can play DE in the 3-4 if needed and play some in 4 man fronts. But I'm thinking Ellis does not go for that, in which case he is gone and Holland stays. (I'd like to keep Holland over Proctor to begin with, but apparently he is the only who can figure out how to play center other than Gurode.) If Holland stays over Procter and Ellis goes, I'll open a spot for Marcus Dixon.

I would expect Stanback to be part of the 80 man training camp roster but I think he has to show up big to remain on the team

 

[anava]

* Finally, as for the WRs, I think Stanback is going to have to really show something this year. Remember, he was an Ireland pick. Can Stanback stay healthy? That's the $1mm question. One BIG advantage that Stanback does have over M Johnson is that Stanback plays STs (i.e., KR). Another advantage would be that Stanback can run the Wildcat on occasion. But still, this comes down to Stanback being physically able.

As of today I'd guess that M Johnson is stashed on the PS and develops for another year.

I have noticed a few people saying Stanback can contribute on special teams, but just because he does it doesn't mean he does it well. He has 0 wiggle when it comes to special teams. I can only remember one one back last year that was good. The rest of them he seems like a pile magnet, especially when he kinda just jumps into the pile.

 

[Woods]

I'd rather keep Manuel Johnson over Stanback. I just don't think Stanback can stay healthy enough to keep a spot.

I'd also rather keep Hawkins over Ball at CB. I can't stand Ball.

The only way that Ellis stays on my roster is if he agrees to be a reserve player that plays situationally and agrees to sub in at DE if needed. I think Ellis can play DE in the 3-4 if needed and play some in 4 man fronts. But I'm thinking Ellis does not go for that, in which case he is gone and Holland stays. (I'd like to keep Holland over Proctor to begin with, but apparently he is the only who can figure out how to play center other than Gurode.) If Holland stays over Procter and Ellis goes, I'll open a spot for Marcus Dixon.

If Brewster can play RT, which he hopefully can, I think we can keep Holland and cut McQuisten.

I agree with your comment regarding Stanback and injuries.

Not sure about Hawkins. But I'd assume the last CB spot comes down to between Ball and Hawkins. If the staff thinks that Ball can also play some FS, that would help Ball's case, IMO.

If Dixon is starting to put it all together, I'd love to keep him. Not exactly sure how, though. Maybe we only keep 9 LBs?

 

[speedkilz88]

I think they need to see if Kosier can play center. He's the best candidate and they could give Procter the boot.