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8:00 AM Tue, Jul 21, 2009 | Permalink | Yahoo! Buzz
Tim MacMahon/Blogger Bio | E-mail | News tips
The seventh in a 10-part series.
Roster locks: Bradie James, Keith Brooking, Jason Williams, Bobby Carpenter
Safe bets: Stephen Hodge
On the bubble: NA
Long shots: Matt Stewart
What's worth watching: Bradie James, who is coming off the best season of his career, will have his third ILB partner in three seasons. As was the case last season with Zach Thomas, the Cowboys are counting on a former Pro Bowler in the twilight of his career to fill the weakside role.
There isn't any concern about 11-year veteran Keith Brooking getting comfortable in Wade Phillips' scheme, which never happened for Thomas. Brooking had two of his best seasons when Phillips was the Falcons' coordinator. But Brooking has to prove that he can still move well enough to be effective, especially in pass coverage.
While Phillips insists Brooking is still capable of playing all three downs, Bobby Carpenter is the favorite to replace free agent departure Kevin Burnett in the nickel and dime packages. Hope has been lost on Carpenter living up to his first-round billing for the Cowboys, but he's a good athlete whose finesse style is suited for playing coverage on passing downs.
Third-round pick Jason Williams is Carpenter's primary competition for the job. Williams is a workout warrior (4.49 40, 38-inch vertical), but he's extremely raw and has a lot to learn. He has the potential to be a three-down player in the not-too-distant future, but his rookie contributions could come solely on special teams.
Same goes for Stephen Hodge, who is learning a new position after playing strong safety at TCU. Hodge could be a darkhorse in the nickel/dime battle, but his development was stunted by a knee injury that caused him to miss almost all of OTAs and minicamp.
For Stewart to make the team, he'd likely have to take long snapper L.P. Ladouceur's job.
Tim MacMahon/Blogger Bio | E-mail | News tips
The seventh in a 10-part series.
Roster locks: Bradie James, Keith Brooking, Jason Williams, Bobby Carpenter
Safe bets: Stephen Hodge
On the bubble: NA
Long shots: Matt Stewart
What's worth watching: Bradie James, who is coming off the best season of his career, will have his third ILB partner in three seasons. As was the case last season with Zach Thomas, the Cowboys are counting on a former Pro Bowler in the twilight of his career to fill the weakside role.
There isn't any concern about 11-year veteran Keith Brooking getting comfortable in Wade Phillips' scheme, which never happened for Thomas. Brooking had two of his best seasons when Phillips was the Falcons' coordinator. But Brooking has to prove that he can still move well enough to be effective, especially in pass coverage.
While Phillips insists Brooking is still capable of playing all three downs, Bobby Carpenter is the favorite to replace free agent departure Kevin Burnett in the nickel and dime packages. Hope has been lost on Carpenter living up to his first-round billing for the Cowboys, but he's a good athlete whose finesse style is suited for playing coverage on passing downs.
Third-round pick Jason Williams is Carpenter's primary competition for the job. Williams is a workout warrior (4.49 40, 38-inch vertical), but he's extremely raw and has a lot to learn. He has the potential to be a three-down player in the not-too-distant future, but his rookie contributions could come solely on special teams.
Same goes for Stephen Hodge, who is learning a new position after playing strong safety at TCU. Hodge could be a darkhorse in the nickel/dime battle, but his development was stunted by a knee injury that caused him to miss almost all of OTAs and minicamp.
For Stewart to make the team, he'd likely have to take long snapper L.P. Ladouceur's job.
