DMN: BLOG: Revised really ridiculously premature 53-man roster projection

[Cbz40]

Revised really ridiculously premature 53-man roster projection

11:31 AM Wed, May 27, 2009 | Permalink | Yahoo! Buzz
Tim MacMahon


After watching two OTA workouts -- and getting the news that Greg Ellis is as good as gone -- it's time to tweak the 53-man roster projection.

QB (3)
Tony Romo
Jon Kitna
Stephen McGee

McGee's development will be an intriguing preseason storyline, then he'll spend the rest of the year running the scout team.

RB (3)
Marion Barber
Felix Jones
Tashard Choice

Jason Garrett's challenge is figuring out how to maximize the talents of one of the NFL's deepest RB corps.

FB (1)
Deon "Cricket" Anderson

Julius Crosslin, an Oklahoma State product who spent last season on the practice squad, got first-team reps yesterday and could take this spot.

TE (3)
Jason Witten
Martellus Bennett
John Phillips

Practice squad vet Rodney Hannah will have a hard time beating out sixth-rounder Phillips, a sound-blocking technician with sure hands and special teams experience.

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

Stanback's spot is in serious jeopardy after yet another injury, but he has more upside than his competitors (Travis Wilson, Manuel Johnson, Kevin Ogletree).

OL (10)
Flozell Adams
Kyle Kosier
Andre Gurode
Leonard Davis
Marc Colombo
Montrae Holland
Cory Procter
Robert Brewster
Pat McQuistan
Doug Free

Procter ($1.5 million salary) could be expendable if Holland or practice squadder Ryan Gibbons proves capable of serving as a backup center.

NT (2)
Jay Ratliff
Junior Siavii

Cowboys seem convinced that Siavii, who hasn't played a non-preseason down since 2005, is capable of playing about 15 snaps per game.

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

Marcus Dixon might play his way onto the team, but it's hard to see the Cowboys keeping five ends.

OLB (4)
DeMarcus Ware
Anthony Spencer
Brandon Williams
Victor Butler

At least one of the fourth-round picks better be ready to contribute as a pass rusher.

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

Hodge's potential to be a special teams star justifies keeping five inside backers.

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

Courtney Brown, a phenomenal athlete who didn't fit at safety, could play his way into the mix.

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

Pat Watkins, who has had problems staying healthy, will have a hard time beating out one of the fifth-rounders.

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

Not sure that there's another legitimate deep-snapping candidate on the roster.

 

[Cowboys22]

They have been raving about Dixon. I doubt he is going anywhere. With all the other DEs being in contract years, they have to keep him for depth in future years. If they can't fit 5 DEs on the roster, look for Hatcher or Bowen to be traded.

 

[Zaxor]

I'm not sure we keep a Fullback this year

 

[cobra]

That looks pretty close.

I think we only keep 9 O-linemen with probably Proctor gone after we teach Holland or someone else to snap. I'd give that roster spot to Dixon. And I'd use the 5 ends to help rotate at NT, which is why we can afford having only 2 legit NTs.

The other thing is that I think we may go no FB and add a WR to the mix. Ultimately I'm not terribly concerned about having only 5 WRs, but I am concerned if one of those is the Glass Man Stanback. But given the ability of Felix and Witten and Bennett to line up split out, I'm not worried about depth at WR. Matt Jones may be that 5th WR instead of Stanback.



Also, we have to find a way to get rid of Alan Ball. That guy sucks the sweat off a dead man's balls. I'm praying Mickens is our 4th CB and we use DeAngelo Smith as a swinging safety/5th CB.

 

[TNCowboy]

They have been raving about Dixon.

They have?

 

[tecolote]

So 11 rookies make the team.

 

[Vinnie2u]

5 rookies made it last year.. If 11 make it this year thats 30% of the roster.. Seems like there is a master plan at the Valley Ranch..

 

[Woods]

They have been raving about Dixon. I doubt he is going anywhere. With all the other DEs being in contract years, they have to keep him for depth in future years. If they can't fit 5 DEs on the roster, look for Hatcher or Bowen to be traded.

I agree.

There is no way JJ is going to spend Igor-type money on 2 DEs next off-season when he's got a guy like Dixon who is cheap as chips.

 

[Alexander]

FB (1)
Deon "Cricket" Anderson

Julius Crosslin, an Oklahoma State product who spent last season on the practice squad, got first-team reps yesterday and could take this spot.

Based on the fact he got some reps?

TE (3)
Jason Witten
Martellus Bennett
John Phillips

Practice squad vet Rodney Hannah will have a hard time beating out sixth-rounder Phillips, a sound-blocking technician with sure hands and special teams experience.

This won't even be close. Phillips has a history with Garrett and is about as solid as they come, one of our most underappreciated draft choices. I have a feeling he will show us how ineffective Tony Curtis was in that role.

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

Stanback's spot is in serious jeopardy after yet another injury, but he has more upside than his competitors (Travis Wilson, Manuel Johnson, Kevin Ogletree).

It would not shock me if that fifth spot is a revolving door. That fourth spot could also be an issue if Hurd can't keep healthy.

OL (10)
Flozell Adams
Kyle Kosier
Andre Gurode
Leonard Davis
Marc Colombo
Montrae Holland
Cory Procter
Robert Brewster
Pat McQuistan
Doug Free


Procter ($1.5 million salary) could be expendable if Holland or practice squadder Ryan Gibbons proves capable of serving as a backup center.

A great thing would happen if Holland could perform well enough snapping the football.

NT (2)
Jay Ratliff
Junior Siavii

Cowboys seem convinced that Siavii, who hasn't played a non-preseason down since 2005, is capable of playing about 15 snaps per game.

Yes, but could he do it better than someone else off the waiver wire?

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

Marcus Dixon might play his way onto the team, but it's hard to see the Cowboys keeping five ends.

Dixon could force our hand if what we keep hearing is true. If this happens, I wonder if we would just count on Spears as our nose tackle reserve.

OLB (4)
DeMarcus Ware
Anthony Spencer
Brandon Williams
Victor Butler

At least one of the fourth-round picks better be ready to contribute as a pass rusher.

No doubt here.

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

Hodge's potential to be a special teams star justifies keeping five inside backers.

Carpenter's ability or inability to play linebacker in the future is what should justify not being cute with Hodge.

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

Not sure that there's another legitimate deep-snapping candidate on the roster.

Why would there need to be? Ladouceur is one of the best in the league.

 

[ENGCowboy]

Based on the fact he got some reps?



This won't even be close. Phillips has a history with Garrett and is about as solid as they come, one of our most underappreciated draft choices. I have a feeling he will show us how ineffective Tony Curtis was in that role.



It would not shock me if that fifth spot is a revolving door. That fourth spot could also be an issue if Hurd can't keep healthy.


A great thing would happen if Holland could perform well enough snapping the football.



Yes, but could he do it better than someone else off the waiver wire?

Dixon could force our hand if what we keep hearing is true. If this happens, I wonder if we would just count on Spears as our nose tackle reserve.

No doubt here.


Carpenter's ability or inability to play linebacker in the future is what should justify not being cute with Hodge.


Why would there need to be? Ladouceur is one of the best in the league.

Bang on the :money: for me pretty much what went through my mind as I read it

 

[Cowboys22]

They have?

Yes they have.

 

[Plumfool]

Can holland be the next ray donaldson?

 

[jobberone]

Can holland be the next ray donaldson?

I doubt it but you never know. I hope we don't get to find out.

 

[jobberone]

I picked Phillips as the rookie to have the biggest contribution this year. Mostly blocking. It still may be hard to keep Hannah off the team esp if he has learned to block.

I think we will keep a FB but I'm not certain that's the right move. I'd rather have 4 TEs than a FB that plays so little. Maybe they plan on using one more. I like Cricket but he's not a very good FB IMO. Crosslin can beat him out IMO.

 

[28 Joker]

Pat Watkins
Pat McQuistan
Cory Proctor
Bobby Carpenter

The Cowboys know who these guys are.

It's time for them to go.

I say Marcus Dixon makes the team at DE.

Courtney Brown has to show he belongs, or he's gone. He has to tackle and play special teams.

The last 2 WR spots may be up for grabs, the last one for sure.

Hurd's special teams play should keep him on the team.

I expect some shake up at the bottom at WR.