How many DL can we keep on the 53-man roster

[Woods]

this year?

It's going to be difficult to keep more than 8 I'd guess.

We've got

Ellis
Glover
Fergy
Coleman (who's looked very good thus far)
Canty
Spears
Ratliff (we could lose him if he's on the PS, and he's shown flashes)
T. Johnson (had an excellent scrimmage with 3 sacks. Let's see what he can do against someone not name Torrin Tucker, however.)

L. Carson (Haven't heard too much about him this year, but he has been a solid back-up for us the previous 2 years)

Brooks (think that's his name. He seems to be doing well this TC and is suited for the 3-4 as well.)

I'd guess Ratliff, Johnson, Carson, and Brooks are battling it out for the final 1-2 spots.

(I'm including Ware as part of the LB corps for now.)

 

[Hostile]

this year?

It's going to be difficult to keep more than 8 I'd guess.

We've got

Ellis
Glover
Fergy
Coleman (who's looked very good thus far)
Canty
Spears
Ratliff (we could lose him if he's on the PS, and he's shown flashes)
T. Johnson (had an excellent scrimmage with 3 sacks. Let's see what he can do against someone not name Torrin Tucker, however.)

L. Carson (Haven't heard too much about him this year, but he has been a solid back-up for us the previous 2 years)

Brooks (think that's his name. He seems to be doing well this TC and is suited for the 3-4 as well.)

I'd guess Ratliff, Johnson, Carson, and Brooks are battling it out for the final 1-2 spots.

(I'm including Ware as part of the LB corps for now.)

No more than 53, that's for sure.

J/K

I think we will keep 7 or 8 DL. My gues would be...

DE's
Canty
Spears
Ellis
Coleman

DTs
Ferguson
Glover
Ratliff

I think Coleman could play some DT in the 4-3 looks. As well as Ratliff some DE. Even Spears can play DT in the 4-3 for a play or 2.

Versatility is the key. You also have Ware and Thornton who could play some spot DE in Nickel looks.

A lot is going to depend on how smooth the transition to the 3-4 is. We went with 6 LBs last year for much of the year. In a 3-4 that isn't enough. That means thinner somewhere else.

 

[Dayton Cowboy]

I'd really like to see Ratliff up against Vollers or Rogers to get a guage on how effective he can be.. I think with his ability to play both DE and NT/DT, he'll be on the 53 man roster...

I definately agree on Johnson. He'll definately have to show more against someone not named Tucker.. Hopefully, Tucker will have played his last game with our beloved Cowboys!!

 

[JackMagist]

No more than 53, that's for sure.

J/K

I think we will keep 7 or 8 DL. My gues would be...

DE's
Canty
Spears
Ellis
Coleman

DTs
Ferguson
Glover
Ratliff

I think Coleman could play some DT in the 4-3 looks. As well as Ratliff some DE. Even Spears can play DT in the 4-3 for a play or 2.

Versatility is the key. You also have Ware and Thornton who could play some spot DE in Nickel looks.

A lot is going to depend on how smooth the transition to the 3-4 is. We went with 6 LBs last year for much of the year. In a 3-4 that isn't enough. That means thinner somewhere else.

good take Hos. that's the way it seems to be shaping up in my book too. Johnson probably made the PS with his spanking of Tucker (who probably made the bus station).

 

[VACowboy]

I think Brooks or Johnson makes it. Just a hunch.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Regardless but we'll be having dbs.

 

[Cowboy from New York]

The problem I see with Parcells still saying that the defense will still run 4-3 as well as the new 3-4 is that how ae they going to carry as many d-lineman as we have historically carried to run the 4-3 and to keep a rotation of fresh quality lineman AND YET still be able to stock the LBer ranks with enough guys since we will obviously need more depth at that position due to the 3-4 change? A sacrifice needs to be made somewhere and this year I think we have some d-line depth which will mean we will see a cut there that most here will find atleast a little painful.

 

[JackMagist]

Regardless but we'll be having dbs.

And who will that be besides the big three. Frazier will make it most likely but who else? I haven't heard much about any of the rest of them.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

The problem I see with Parcells still saying that the defense will still run 4-3 as well as the new 3-4 is that how ae they going to carry as many d-lineman as we have historically carried to run the 4-3 and to keep a rotation of fresh quality lineman AND YET still be able to stock the LBer ranks with enough guys since we will obviously need more depth at that position due to the 3-4 change? A sacrifice needs to be made somewhere and this year I think we have some d-line depth which will mean we will see a cut there that most here will find atleast a little painful.

The problem with that logic is Spears.

If he can't go at full speed that almost necessitates another DL on the roster.

And I'm not seeing our LB corps outside of Ware, Burnett and Dat being better than the reserves we have at DL. Fowler, Thornton, O'Neal? Even Singleton doesn't knock my socks off.

 

[JackMagist]

The problem I see with Parcells still saying that the defense will still run 4-3 as well as the new 3-4 is that how ae they going to carry as many d-lineman as we have historically carried to run the 4-3 and to keep a rotation of fresh quality lineman AND YET still be able to stock the LBer ranks with enough guys since we will obviously need more depth at that position due to the 3-4 change? A sacrifice needs to be made somewhere and this year I think we have some d-line depth which will mean we will see a cut there that most here will find atleast a little painful.

I don't think we will have a rotation for the 4-3...at least not at DT. It will be Fergy and Glover in the middle though we will have enough to rotate the DE's still. But I just don't think we will be seeing that much of the 4-3 set.

Also, if you will recall last year we only had 3 DTs on the team for a good portion of the year. So if Ratliff goes as a DT there you have it.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

And who will that be besides the big three. Frazier will make it most likely but who else? I haven't heard much about any of the rest of them.

I think they try to sneak Thornton onto the PS.

I think maybe Reeves is the last guy because he can play safety too.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

I don't think we will have a rotation for the 4-3...at least not at DT. It will be Fergy and Glover in the middle though we will have enough to rotate the DE's still. But I just don't think we will be seeing that much of the 4-3 set.

Also, if you will recall last year we only had 3 DTs on the team for a good portion of the year. So if Ratliff goes as a DT there you have it.

I think you're going to be seeing Spears and maybe even Canty at DT on passing downs. I really do.

The 4-3 will be used on pure passing downs which is going to be a very high percentage. Ware, Glover, Spears, Ellis-- that will be your front 4.

 

[Hostile]

good take Hos. that's the way it seems to be shaping up in my book too. Johnson probably made the PS with his spanking of Tucker (who probably made the bus station).

I agree with both takes. I am disappointed in Tucker. He was someone I had high hopes for. I never heard of Johnson before yesterday. Got to admit I hope it isn't just a case of him having TT's number. I hope he has that kind of promise.

 

[big dog cowboy]

The 4-3 will be used on pure passing downs which is going to be a very high percentage. Ware, Glover, Spears, Ellis-- that will be your front 4.

With Roy also coming? We better be getting sacks or int's then.

 

[Cbz40]

With Roy also coming? We better be getting sacks or int's then.

We will be.......you can put it in the bank.

 

[AsthmaField]

I see:

DE:

Spears/Coleman
Ellis/Canty/Ratliff

NT/DT:

Ferguson/Glover/Carson


That's eight defensive linemen... Will we keep that many? I don't know, but I think all eight of those guys deserve a roster spot and have enough talent to take a spot.

I've been saying for a long time that there were going to be cuts that hurt this year.

Like someone already mentioned, we're going to need more linebacker's this year... but like someone else already said, after Ware, Burnett, Nguyen and James... I don't see anyone worth cutting a good DL for.

If Ratliff continues along the path that he's on and continues to impress the coaches and make plays in practice and pre-season games... will we cut him because we need to keep Keith O'Neil at LB so we have enough of those guys? Frankly, I hope not. A good DL rotation with plenty of bodies to run in and out of the lineup is a key component to having a dominating defense, I think. Moreso than LB's IMO... but I'm not used to a 3-4 lineup, so LB depth could be just as important.

We have enough versitile OL that we can keep fewer there than we normally would. Vollers can play either tackle position. Gurode can play C or G. Allen could play RT in a pinch.

If we take advantage of that though, we're going to end up cutting a good player on the OL. I think Noll is a guy Parcells really likes and if we try to put Pettiti on the practice squad, he'll get snatched up quickly.

So I guess what I'm saying is that I have no idea which cuts we're going to make and who we're going to keep and where.

Bottom line is though, we will put some guys on the street that are capable of playing some good football. No Cha-Ron Dorsey's this year... we've built a camp roster full of good players who have the heart, mind and ability to help a team. And they will... it just might not be the Dallas Cowboys.

 

[jobberone]

The problem I see with Parcells still saying that the defense will still run 4-3 as well as the new 3-4 is that how ae they going to carry as many d-lineman as we have historically carried to run the 4-3 and to keep a rotation of fresh quality lineman AND YET still be able to stock the LBer ranks with enough guys since we will obviously need more depth at that position due to the 3-4 change? A sacrifice needs to be made somewhere and this year I think we have some d-line depth which will mean we will see a cut there that most here will find atleast a little painful.

I think you are right. Double edged sword. At least we will have the depth to have to cut people who will land elsewhere. Hopefully we will cut and keep the right ones.

Who is this Johnson guy?

Mikey can Thorton go to the PS cause I think you will be right baring injury? He looks like he needs another year. Hopefully he can mature into the kind of 3-4 LB Parcells likes.

 

[Dallas4ever]

And I'm not seeing our LB corps outside of Ware, Burnett and Dat being better than the reserves we have at DL. Fowler, Thornton, O'Neal? Even Singleton doesn't knock my socks off.

Did you intentionally leave Bradie James off your list here? Just asking! I thought that maybe you were as unimpressed with him as I am at this point.

 

[Rick_Deckard]

I think Coleman could play some DT in the 4-3 looks. As well as Ratliff some DE. Even Spears can play DT in the 4-3 for a play or 2.

Everything I have been reading suggests that Coleman was out of his league (no pun intended) in the 4-3, but has been playing great in the 3-4. Reports were stating that he might have kept Spears playing 2nd string for a while (before the injury). Supposedly his strength makes him an excellent DE in a 3-4.