cowboyjoe
Well-Known Member
- Messages
- 28,433
- Reaction score
- 753
Joe’s 53 Man roster projection with practice squad.
Quarterbacks;
QB: Tony Romo, Jon Kitna, Stephen McGee
Romo is the Cowboys leader with experience now, but must improve in December and January. Kitna is a very good backup with experience, while at same time mentoring to Romo things about leadership, audibles, things that he sees on the field and relay those thoughts to Romo while at same time being a good influence in the locker room. Stephen McGee is a very good young prospect to be tutored by Romo and Kitna.
Running Backs; (This is the first strength of the team at running back!)
RB: Marion Barber. Felix Jones, Tashard Choice;
As of right now looks like Jason Garrett will start out Marion the Barbarian as the starter in the 1st quarter and to finish up in the 4th quarter. That is exactly whom Barber is, a finisher. Felix the cat, will touch the football with elusiveness and speed. Reminding fans how fast and quick that Tony Dorsett was in the late 70’s and early 80’s. Choice will spell Barber some in the 2nd and 3rd quarters.
FB: Deon Anderson * I would rather have a extra TE, but Wade will keep Deon!
This is where I feel Wade Phillips has a problem with judging talent and projecting players somewhat. However, Wade did say he is a very good fullback and wasn’t going to be guaranteed his starter job but most likely will. This is where I disagree with Coach Wade Phillips. I agree with something that former Head Coach Bill Parcells said, you are what you are. Anderson has been injured each year that he has been here. Losing several games due to injuries. In fact, we lost one game, due to no fullback being able to block. Plus that, the fullback won’t be used as much this year, due to the usage of the double tight end formation that the Dallas Cowboys plan to use with Bennett and Witten. If the Cowboys do plan to use that formation, then extra TE’s are needed. Most likely TE John Phillips will be the 3rd string TE, which I totally agree with. Yet, if the Cowboys do plan to use double TE formation, they need backups more at TE than fullback, especially if the fullback is hurt most of the time. Most of you Dallas Cowboys fans are aware of whom Matt Mosley is, a very decent writer with knowledge of football. Mosley was asked the other day what he thought about TE Tony Curtis being signed by the Eagles. Mosley said that he thought Curtis was a more polished TE than Rodney Hannah at this time, but Rodney Hannah in his opinion had more potential, etc.
I sincerely doubt that Hannah will be able to sneak through waivers for the Cowboys to put him back on the practice squad. So, I would rather have Hannah on the roster because if you remember last year, Witten was hurt some last year.
Wide Receivers;
WR: Roy Williams, Patrick Crayton, Sam Hurd, Miles Austin, Kevin Ogletree
Roy Williams will be the Cowboys number one WR, while Crayton will be the 2nd WR, the possession WR. Hurd is starting to beat out Austin at the 3rd wide receiver slot, but the Cowboys do need Austin wide receiver due to his deep speed. Which brings us to the 5th wr slot, with the battle at that WR slot between Stanback and Ogletree. This is where it gets dicey with the Cowboys keeping a fullback or not. If you didn’t keep that fullback since you aren’t going to use a fullback that much, you would have another position open at either WR or TE.
First whom is going to call the shots at that position, Coach Wade Phillips or Jerry Jones? Remember Jerry stated earlier this year due to the Dan Reeves issue that Jerry Jones always had total control over the 53 man roster. However, we know that isn’t true because former coach Jimmy Johnson said in his contract, that he had total control over trades, cuts, and the 53 man roster. I would say that the Cowboys need to keep Ogletree over Stanback, due to several reasons. Stanback has always been hurt the 3 years that he has been with the Cowboys. Again, you are what you are! Ogletree has superior speed, running the 40 in 4.37 at the combine. We all have seen the passes that Ogletree has caught in practices, training camp and games, while Stanback hasn’t come through in critical game situations, but gotten injured. Granted, Stanback could come through this in the last 2 games, but he had better step it up. Former Head Coach Tom Landry told Parcells one time, 4 main things, one of them was, you should give a football player 3 years if you think you see something in that player to step up and become whom you think he can be. This is Stanback’s 3rd year!
Tight Ends; (This is the 2nd strength of the team at TE!)
TE: Jason Witten, Martellus Bennett, John Phillips, Rodney Hannah
What more can you say about our starting TE, all pro, a leader on the team, has heart, grit and determination wanting to win. Martellus Bennett is starting to come on as our 2nd TE. In some formations the Cowboys even put Bennnett at the WR slot due to his height, speed and size. John Phillips should be the 3rd string TE, due to his size too, and his blocking ability, along with his learning the position of snapping the football on special teams as the primary backup for field goals, and punting. This is where you might need an extra TE if you don’t keep Anderson at fullback. I would rather have a player that produces and isn’t injured as much. So, I say keep Rodney Hannah and let him develop. Hannah is huge too, at 6-6 260 with 4.73 in the 40 speed.
Offensive line; (This is one of the weakest positions of the team due to poor backup offensive linemen.)
OL: Flozell Adams, Kyle Kosier, Andre Gurode, Leonard Davis, Marc Colombo, Doug Free, Montrae Holland, Ryan Gibbons, Duke Preston
With pro bowlers Flozell Adams, Andre Gurode, Leonard Davis, with the mean nasty disposition of Marc Columbo and the reliability of Kosier, this is the one of the biggest offensive lines in pro football, but one of the oldest groups too. The backups are the weak line to this team, with Holland being an adequate backup at OG. Doug Free has played somewhat better this year at OT. One of our weak links though if backups are needed is at center with Proctor. Way too many times we have seen Proctor pushed back into the QB’s face or allow a sack, just standing there looking silly. I don’t have too much hope for McQuistan, he just isn’t getting the job done at OT or OG. Reports are that the Cowboys might play Ryan Gibbons some at center these last 2 preseason games to see if he can beat out Proctor, which would save the team about a million and half in cap money. That’s exactly what I would do. I would also keep my eye out on some of the good offensive lines like the Packers, Patriots and Titans have. Those teams are loaded at the offensive line. You might be able to get a very good decent backup that can replace Gibbons or Proctor and give the Cowboys some depth.
I updated and added Duke Preston OG!
Defensive line;
DL: Igor Olshansky, Jay Ratliff, Marcus Spears, Stephen Bowen, Jason Hatcher, Junior Siavii,
Again, this is another position of weakness as backups goes for the defensive line. With Ratliff having a another pro bowl year, meaner and quicker this year, Marcus Spears losing some weight at LDE, being quicker he might be able to help the Cowboys in pass rush some. Igor will be the strength of this team in the running game. This guy is simply huge, one of the strongest players in the National Football league. Bowen and Hatcher are adequate backups. Siavii is starting to look like he is getting the NT position down, to be able to spell Ratliff some snaps. So, when the game is on the line in the 4th quarter, Siavii will have spelled Ratliff in the ball game to keep Ratliff fresh when needed.
Linebackers; (This is the 3rd strength of the team.)
LB: Demarcus Ware, Anthony Spencer, Steve Octavien, Victor Butler, Bradie James, Keith Brooking, Bobby Carpenter, Jason Williams, Stephen Hodge
What can you say about all world defensive player Ware. Yet, Spencer must produce on the other side to keep pressure off of ware in pass rushing and sacks. The strength of this team though will be at middle linebacker with Bradie and Brooking due to 2 things. First, Bradie is coming off a stellar year last year, and should improve on that. Brooking who is bigger and faster than Zach Thomas is very experienced linebacker, with solid team leadership qualities will help the defense this year. Bobby Carpenter will fill in adequately at the coverage linebacker replacing Burnett. Jason Williams is the unsung hero rookie this year in my mind. With superior speed, 4.49 in the 40 at 6-1, 245, while causing fumbles with a devastating hand swipe move much like Lawrence Taylor did. I am not saying Jason Williams will be another Lawrence Taylor, what I am saying is that Jason Williams will be as just as good as Thomas Henderson was and maybe better. Stephen Hodge will be the guru on special teams about mid season, with the ability to cover some at inside linebacker on dime defenses, etc… Octavien will get to play due to the injury of Brandon Williams, while Butler takes over as backup for Ware and Spencer.
Cornerbacks;
CB: Terence Newman, Mike Jenkins, Orlando Scandrick, Alan Ball; Mike Mickens
This is the 4th strength of the team due to experience of Newman, ball hawking skills of Scandrick and Jenkins. By midseason teams will not want to throw on this defense, you read it here first. Alan Ball will be a mixture of safety and cornerback. Mickens will be the 2nd coming of Scandrick. Mickens I know you all say, yeah but he gets beat, trust me this guy can play and after a couple of months settling down in the defense he will come on.
Safeties:
Ken Hamlin, Gerald Sensabaugh, DeAngelo Smith, Michael Hamlin
With the arrival of Sensabaugh, this will help Hamlin to step up his play, DeAngelo will be an adequate backup at safety, with Mike Hamlin roaming at strong safety and growing as a player this year under the radar. Mike Hamlin just makes plays and will hit you.
Special Teams;
Kicker: Nick Folk, David Buehler
Folk is coming off an injury with hip surgery so expect some lost field goals this year, till about mid season. Buehler will help the Cowboys with an average of 7.4 points a game due to his kicking the ball deep on kickoffs. Wade Phillips finally woke up on special teams.
P: Mat McBriar
What can you say about our all pro punter, just super player.
LS: L.P. Ladouceur; (backup John Phillips) You might see L P traded next year if John Phillips improves as a deep snapper.
PS: RB Keon Lattimore, FB Julius Crosslin, WR Jesse Holley, DT Jonas Seawright, OG Travis Bright, Marcus Dixon
I say the Cowboys will keep Mickens the first week of the regular season , then sign a veteran CB like McAllister or another CB week 2 , then put Mickens back on the practice squad signing a veteran cb or R W McQuatters a decent punt reutrner and cb.
Quarterbacks;
QB: Tony Romo, Jon Kitna, Stephen McGee
Romo is the Cowboys leader with experience now, but must improve in December and January. Kitna is a very good backup with experience, while at same time mentoring to Romo things about leadership, audibles, things that he sees on the field and relay those thoughts to Romo while at same time being a good influence in the locker room. Stephen McGee is a very good young prospect to be tutored by Romo and Kitna.
Running Backs; (This is the first strength of the team at running back!)
RB: Marion Barber. Felix Jones, Tashard Choice;
As of right now looks like Jason Garrett will start out Marion the Barbarian as the starter in the 1st quarter and to finish up in the 4th quarter. That is exactly whom Barber is, a finisher. Felix the cat, will touch the football with elusiveness and speed. Reminding fans how fast and quick that Tony Dorsett was in the late 70’s and early 80’s. Choice will spell Barber some in the 2nd and 3rd quarters.
FB: Deon Anderson * I would rather have a extra TE, but Wade will keep Deon!
This is where I feel Wade Phillips has a problem with judging talent and projecting players somewhat. However, Wade did say he is a very good fullback and wasn’t going to be guaranteed his starter job but most likely will. This is where I disagree with Coach Wade Phillips. I agree with something that former Head Coach Bill Parcells said, you are what you are. Anderson has been injured each year that he has been here. Losing several games due to injuries. In fact, we lost one game, due to no fullback being able to block. Plus that, the fullback won’t be used as much this year, due to the usage of the double tight end formation that the Dallas Cowboys plan to use with Bennett and Witten. If the Cowboys do plan to use that formation, then extra TE’s are needed. Most likely TE John Phillips will be the 3rd string TE, which I totally agree with. Yet, if the Cowboys do plan to use double TE formation, they need backups more at TE than fullback, especially if the fullback is hurt most of the time. Most of you Dallas Cowboys fans are aware of whom Matt Mosley is, a very decent writer with knowledge of football. Mosley was asked the other day what he thought about TE Tony Curtis being signed by the Eagles. Mosley said that he thought Curtis was a more polished TE than Rodney Hannah at this time, but Rodney Hannah in his opinion had more potential, etc.
I sincerely doubt that Hannah will be able to sneak through waivers for the Cowboys to put him back on the practice squad. So, I would rather have Hannah on the roster because if you remember last year, Witten was hurt some last year.
Wide Receivers;
WR: Roy Williams, Patrick Crayton, Sam Hurd, Miles Austin, Kevin Ogletree
Roy Williams will be the Cowboys number one WR, while Crayton will be the 2nd WR, the possession WR. Hurd is starting to beat out Austin at the 3rd wide receiver slot, but the Cowboys do need Austin wide receiver due to his deep speed. Which brings us to the 5th wr slot, with the battle at that WR slot between Stanback and Ogletree. This is where it gets dicey with the Cowboys keeping a fullback or not. If you didn’t keep that fullback since you aren’t going to use a fullback that much, you would have another position open at either WR or TE.
First whom is going to call the shots at that position, Coach Wade Phillips or Jerry Jones? Remember Jerry stated earlier this year due to the Dan Reeves issue that Jerry Jones always had total control over the 53 man roster. However, we know that isn’t true because former coach Jimmy Johnson said in his contract, that he had total control over trades, cuts, and the 53 man roster. I would say that the Cowboys need to keep Ogletree over Stanback, due to several reasons. Stanback has always been hurt the 3 years that he has been with the Cowboys. Again, you are what you are! Ogletree has superior speed, running the 40 in 4.37 at the combine. We all have seen the passes that Ogletree has caught in practices, training camp and games, while Stanback hasn’t come through in critical game situations, but gotten injured. Granted, Stanback could come through this in the last 2 games, but he had better step it up. Former Head Coach Tom Landry told Parcells one time, 4 main things, one of them was, you should give a football player 3 years if you think you see something in that player to step up and become whom you think he can be. This is Stanback’s 3rd year!
Tight Ends; (This is the 2nd strength of the team at TE!)
TE: Jason Witten, Martellus Bennett, John Phillips, Rodney Hannah
What more can you say about our starting TE, all pro, a leader on the team, has heart, grit and determination wanting to win. Martellus Bennett is starting to come on as our 2nd TE. In some formations the Cowboys even put Bennnett at the WR slot due to his height, speed and size. John Phillips should be the 3rd string TE, due to his size too, and his blocking ability, along with his learning the position of snapping the football on special teams as the primary backup for field goals, and punting. This is where you might need an extra TE if you don’t keep Anderson at fullback. I would rather have a player that produces and isn’t injured as much. So, I say keep Rodney Hannah and let him develop. Hannah is huge too, at 6-6 260 with 4.73 in the 40 speed.
Offensive line; (This is one of the weakest positions of the team due to poor backup offensive linemen.)
OL: Flozell Adams, Kyle Kosier, Andre Gurode, Leonard Davis, Marc Colombo, Doug Free, Montrae Holland, Ryan Gibbons, Duke Preston
With pro bowlers Flozell Adams, Andre Gurode, Leonard Davis, with the mean nasty disposition of Marc Columbo and the reliability of Kosier, this is the one of the biggest offensive lines in pro football, but one of the oldest groups too. The backups are the weak line to this team, with Holland being an adequate backup at OG. Doug Free has played somewhat better this year at OT. One of our weak links though if backups are needed is at center with Proctor. Way too many times we have seen Proctor pushed back into the QB’s face or allow a sack, just standing there looking silly. I don’t have too much hope for McQuistan, he just isn’t getting the job done at OT or OG. Reports are that the Cowboys might play Ryan Gibbons some at center these last 2 preseason games to see if he can beat out Proctor, which would save the team about a million and half in cap money. That’s exactly what I would do. I would also keep my eye out on some of the good offensive lines like the Packers, Patriots and Titans have. Those teams are loaded at the offensive line. You might be able to get a very good decent backup that can replace Gibbons or Proctor and give the Cowboys some depth.
I updated and added Duke Preston OG!
Defensive line;
DL: Igor Olshansky, Jay Ratliff, Marcus Spears, Stephen Bowen, Jason Hatcher, Junior Siavii,
Again, this is another position of weakness as backups goes for the defensive line. With Ratliff having a another pro bowl year, meaner and quicker this year, Marcus Spears losing some weight at LDE, being quicker he might be able to help the Cowboys in pass rush some. Igor will be the strength of this team in the running game. This guy is simply huge, one of the strongest players in the National Football league. Bowen and Hatcher are adequate backups. Siavii is starting to look like he is getting the NT position down, to be able to spell Ratliff some snaps. So, when the game is on the line in the 4th quarter, Siavii will have spelled Ratliff in the ball game to keep Ratliff fresh when needed.
Linebackers; (This is the 3rd strength of the team.)
LB: Demarcus Ware, Anthony Spencer, Steve Octavien, Victor Butler, Bradie James, Keith Brooking, Bobby Carpenter, Jason Williams, Stephen Hodge
What can you say about all world defensive player Ware. Yet, Spencer must produce on the other side to keep pressure off of ware in pass rushing and sacks. The strength of this team though will be at middle linebacker with Bradie and Brooking due to 2 things. First, Bradie is coming off a stellar year last year, and should improve on that. Brooking who is bigger and faster than Zach Thomas is very experienced linebacker, with solid team leadership qualities will help the defense this year. Bobby Carpenter will fill in adequately at the coverage linebacker replacing Burnett. Jason Williams is the unsung hero rookie this year in my mind. With superior speed, 4.49 in the 40 at 6-1, 245, while causing fumbles with a devastating hand swipe move much like Lawrence Taylor did. I am not saying Jason Williams will be another Lawrence Taylor, what I am saying is that Jason Williams will be as just as good as Thomas Henderson was and maybe better. Stephen Hodge will be the guru on special teams about mid season, with the ability to cover some at inside linebacker on dime defenses, etc… Octavien will get to play due to the injury of Brandon Williams, while Butler takes over as backup for Ware and Spencer.
Cornerbacks;
CB: Terence Newman, Mike Jenkins, Orlando Scandrick, Alan Ball; Mike Mickens
This is the 4th strength of the team due to experience of Newman, ball hawking skills of Scandrick and Jenkins. By midseason teams will not want to throw on this defense, you read it here first. Alan Ball will be a mixture of safety and cornerback. Mickens will be the 2nd coming of Scandrick. Mickens I know you all say, yeah but he gets beat, trust me this guy can play and after a couple of months settling down in the defense he will come on.
Safeties:
Ken Hamlin, Gerald Sensabaugh, DeAngelo Smith, Michael Hamlin
With the arrival of Sensabaugh, this will help Hamlin to step up his play, DeAngelo will be an adequate backup at safety, with Mike Hamlin roaming at strong safety and growing as a player this year under the radar. Mike Hamlin just makes plays and will hit you.
Special Teams;
Kicker: Nick Folk, David Buehler
Folk is coming off an injury with hip surgery so expect some lost field goals this year, till about mid season. Buehler will help the Cowboys with an average of 7.4 points a game due to his kicking the ball deep on kickoffs. Wade Phillips finally woke up on special teams.
P: Mat McBriar
What can you say about our all pro punter, just super player.
LS: L.P. Ladouceur; (backup John Phillips) You might see L P traded next year if John Phillips improves as a deep snapper.
PS: RB Keon Lattimore, FB Julius Crosslin, WR Jesse Holley, DT Jonas Seawright, OG Travis Bright, Marcus Dixon
I say the Cowboys will keep Mickens the first week of the regular season , then sign a veteran CB like McAllister or another CB week 2 , then put Mickens back on the practice squad signing a veteran cb or R W McQuatters a decent punt reutrner and cb.
