Keep An Eye On Josh Ball This Preseason

[McMicah]

If you look at the new unofficial depth chart the Cowboys published, you will see Josh Ball listed as the primary backup RG, ahead of Beebe. He’s not even on the depth chart as a tackle anymore

Why?
1. Because he’s a terrible tackle (sorry Josh)

2. ALSO Because before he got hurt playing tackle due to injuries to Waletzgo in the last preseason game, he played RG in game 3 and absolutely dominated. I mean DOMINATED. McCarthy even mentioned him in the presser afterwards. In my analysis for game 3 he was my top rated OL for the game by a wide margin. Sadly, that was the only game he played OG, so small sample size.

Keep an eye out for him this weekend. He might be a random guy that impresses as an OG going forward. Then again…he’s injury prone

 

[Teague31]

Dude is a dead man walking. Zero chance he makes the 53 barring injuries

 

[The Quest for Six]

Ball would be hard pressed to even make the team....

Cowboys keep ten

Edoga, Smith, Hoffman, Martin, Steele

Beebe, Bass, Richards, Guyton, Thomas.

 

[glimmerman]

How many years has Ball been here. Walenzco is injury prone.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

Wally and Ball are at put up or shut up. I will keep an eye out for them but I will not hold my breath.

The second half of preseason games can be trainwrecks because of the lack of OL and QB talent in the NFL overall. If the line when those two are playing is cohesive, it should stand out.

Or Lance could be running for his life.

 

[John813]

Yea, he isn't a NFL tackle.

What may hurt him this year is if he can only play one position, a la RG, and someone line Bass that is "position flex" that can play both LG and LT.
If he can show in preseason he looks like a starter in waiting, he'll make it, but I could see the regime just move on from him if he doesn't impress. 4th year here. Make or break time.

 

[Chuck 54]

1. He’s really coming on, finally.
2. Moved up the depth chart in hopes he has a decent preseason outing so we can trade him for a 7th.

 

[speedkilz88]

Ball so dominated yet TJ Bass and Hoffman were the active depth on gameday and actually played some games. I don't think you know what that word means. Ball is going to be released when they cut down to 53. So will Waletzgo.

 

[Risen Star]

Dude is a dead man walking. Zero chance he makes the 53 barring injuries

But he DOMINATED.

 

[jterrell]

Josh Ball is getting cut.
That is what you can watch for with him.

 

[big dog cowboy]

Bass > Ball

 

[McMicah]

Ball so dominated yet TJ Bass and Hoffman were the active depth on gameday and actually played some games. I don't think you know what that word means. Ball is going to be released when they cut down to 53. So will Waletzgo.

He was on IR…That’s a pretty good reason why he wouldn’t be active on game days. We will see

 

[jterrell]

FWIW, Josh is on the last year of his rookie deal.
He is an UFA next year. So, he would need to be in the top 8 to get a roster spot.
He is definitely not.

 

[McMicah]

Yea, he isn't a NFL tackle.

What may hurt him this year is if he can only play one position, a la RG, and someone line Bass that is "position flex" that can play both LG and LT.
If he can show in preseason he looks like a starter in waiting, he'll make it, but I could see the regime just move on from him if he doesn't impress. 4th year here. Make or break time.

certainly. But if anyone has the skill to play tackle, they will just be the swing tackle because we don’t really have one. Chuma is awful and has been from day 1. Asim is the closest thing we have at the moment (I actually graded him very high last preseason as an OT, and not high as an OG).

 

[gtb1943]

if you cannot stay healthy does not matter how good you are
and Ball has been putrid
for one game he was good; but then every dog has his day

 

[Bobhaze]

Ball has had every opportunity to show us what he can do at this level. Between injuries and just plain underachievement, he has not shown enough to keep.

 

[thunderpimp91]

FWIW, Josh is on the last year of his rookie deal.
He is an UFA next year. So, he would need to be in the top 8 to get a roster spot.
He is definitely not.

Yeah this is a very important detail. Ball is in year 4 and can walk after this season. Unless the difference between Ball and the next guy down the depth chart is major you're probably going to go with the guy who still has multiple years of control.

Its flipped when a player has an opportunity to start for you as this team loves to play the guy who can net them a comp pick as a free agent then already have a replacement in house for the next year, but the guys filling out the bottom of the roster you'd prefer to be guys with time to still develop.

 

[MoistMayonnaise]

I read the thread title and thought the OP was being facetious. Whoops.

 

[exciter]

Dominated? Guess that’s why left him on IR long after they could have activated him last season!

 

[Montanalo]

It is unlikely he will make the team. That said, he has a reputation as a mean player or bully... which seems to be the direction the OL is going - tough guys with an attitude