MacMahon: Premature 53-man roster projection

[PosterChild]

Who needs the preseason to project the 53-man roster? Follow the jump for one man's educated guesses.

QB
Tony Romo
Brad Johnson
Comment: Will Tampa Bay ever cut Chris Simms?

RB
Marion Barber
Felix Jones
Tashard Choice
Comment: Alonzo Coleman might be an NFL back, but it'll be awfully tough for him to bump a fourth-rounder off the roster.

FB
Deon "Cricket" Anderson
Comment: There will be games that he won't play many snaps on offense, but he's a special teams star in the making.

TE
Jason Witten
Martellus Bennett
Tony Curtis
Comment: The competition for the No. 2 spot could last all summer.

WR
Terrell Owens
Patrick Crayton
Sam Hurd
Miles Austin
Isaiah Stanback
Danny Amendola
Comment: Is Amendola's potential worth keeping six receivers?

OL
LT Flozell Adams
LG Kyle Kosier
C Andre Gurode
RG Leonard "Bigg" Davis
RT Marc Colombo
T/G Pat McQuistan
T/G Doug Free
G/C Cory Procter
G Joe Berger
G/T James Marten
Comment: None of the backups are pushing for starting jobs.

DL
Chris Canty
Jay Ratliff
Marcus Spears
Tank Johnson
Jason Hatcher
Stephen Bowen
Comment: Versatility adds to this unit's depth.

ILB
Bradie James
Zach Thomas
Kevin Burnett
Bobby Carpenter
Comment: They all have well-defined roles except the guy that the Cowboys drafted in the first round.

OLB
DeMarcus Ware
Greg Ellis
Anthony Spencer
Justin Rogers
Erik Walden
Comment: Walden hasn't shown much yet, but they like his potential as a pass-rusher.

CB
Terence Newman
Adam "Pacman" Jones
Anthony Henry
Mike Jenkins
Orlando Scandrick
Evan Oglesby
Comment: Oglesby has performed well while Alan Ball has been sidelined by a sprained ankle.

S
Ken Hamlin
Roy Williams
Courtney Brown
Pat Watkins
Comment: Brown, a phenomenal athlete with playmaking potential, is pushing for playing time in the substitution packages. Dowayne Davis needs to take advantage of special teams opportunities in the preseason.

SPEC.
P Mat McBriar
K Nick Folk
LS L.P. Ladouceur

http://cowboysblog.***BANNED-URL***/archives/2008/08/premature-53man-roster-projection.html

 

[PosterChild]

Sees it about the way I do.

One slot at each of the S,CB, and OLB positions in play. Pretty competitive yet we know from past exp there could be an injury which could help shake it out. So far mostly good battles in TC and waiting for some game action to sort it all...

 

[ddh33]

I haven't been able to see the practices - only go by what is said and written. But I had those exact 53.

Edit: Actually, I think I had Ball ahead of Oglesby, but his injury is hurting him. Wouldn't be surprised to see one of those guys get traded.

 

[Bizwah]

Who needs the preseason to project the 53-man roster? Follow the jump for one man's educated guesses.

QB
Tony Romo
Brad Johnson
Comment: Will Tampa Bay ever cut Chris Simms?

RB
Marion Barber
Felix Jones
Tashard Choice
Comment: Alonzo Coleman might be an NFL back, but it'll be awfully tough for him to bump a fourth-rounder off the roster.

FB
Deon "Cricket" Anderson
Comment: There will be games that he won't play many snaps on offense, but he's a special teams star in the making.

TE
Jason Witten
Martellus Bennett
Tony Curtis
Comment: The competition for the No. 2 spot could last all summer.

WR
Terrell Owens
Patrick Crayton
Sam Hurd
Miles Austin
Isaiah Stanback
Danny Amendola
Comment: Is Amendola's potential worth keeping six receivers?

OL
LT Flozell Adams
LG Kyle Kosier
C Andre Gurode
RG Leonard "Bigg" Davis
RT Marc Colombo
T/G Pat McQuistan
T/G Doug Free
G/C Cory Procter
G Joe Berger
G/T James Marten
Comment: None of the backups are pushing for starting jobs.

DL
Chris Canty
Jay Ratliff
Marcus Spears
Tank Johnson
Jason Hatcher
Stephen Bowen
Comment: Versatility adds to this unit's depth.

ILB
Bradie James
Zach Thomas
Kevin Burnett
Bobby Carpenter
Comment: They all have well-defined roles except the guy that the Cowboys drafted in the first round.

OLB
DeMarcus Ware
Greg Ellis
Anthony Spencer
Justin Rogers
Erik Walden
Comment: Walden hasn't shown much yet, but they like his potential as a pass-rusher.

CB
Terence Newman
Adam "Pacman" Jones
Anthony Henry
Mike Jenkins
Orlando Scandrick
Evan Oglesby
Comment: Oglesby has performed well while Alan Ball has been sidelined by a sprained ankle.

S
Ken Hamlin
Roy Williams
Courtney Brown
Pat Watkins
Comment: Brown, a phenomenal athlete with playmaking potential, is pushing for playing time in the substitution packages. Dowayne Davis needs to take advantage of special teams opportunities in the preseason.

SPEC.
P Mat McBriar
K Nick Folk
LS L.P. Ladouceur

http://cowboysblog.***BANNED-URL***/archives/2008/08/premature-53man-roster-projection.html

Not a bad list.

I could live with this.

 

[speedkilz88]

Ball was ahead of Oglesby before the injury and I have the feeling that he'll get that spot back in preseason play.

 

[Achozen]

A surprise cut will happen, even though that looks like a solid list.

 

[Bizwah]

Not to beat a dead horse here....

But this is what I was trying to talk about.

Amendola's a great story. But is he a better player than Ball, Dowayne Davis, or Marcus Dixon?

Will he contribute more than those players?

Maybe....Again, I feel the fringe guys need to show something on STs.

But....I wouldn't cry if this was our list.

 

[PosterChild]

A surprise cut will happen, even though that looks like a solid list.

Justin Rodgers? Or would that leave that unit too shallow? He's a good ST guy but does he really have a future starting role?

 

[Hostile]

A surprise cut will happen, even though that looks like a solid list.

Or a surprise trade.

:wink2:

 

[tomson75]

I've got a very similar 53.

I could see Walden go to the PS though, in favor of Ball or a quality special teamer.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

Ball was ahead of Oglesby before the injury and I have the feeling that he'll get that spot back in preseason play.

I agree. Plus I think Ball can be a good gunner, or other position on coverage. Maybe Oglesby can do that, too, but we haven't seen it yet.

And I think Walden will make it unless he doesn't do a thing on special teams. Vela and Grizz said he's looked pretty quick as a passrusher, though he needs to get stronger.

 

[bbgun]

It's amazing how there's very little competition for starting jobs. A good sign, no doubt.

 

[cowboyjoe]

I think your pretty close; for a few exceptions

I do think the Cowboys will either pick up Chris Simms or trade for him, at least by 1st week of September.

On offensive line, Joe Berger might beat out Proctor, and due to McQuistan really not making a big move, you might see either McQuistan traded to Miami or RAvens.

As you know if you can get 2 teams interested your trade value goes up, and we all know how Parcells loved McQuistan, just different style blockers and line coaches in Sparano and Houck. Also, I am hearing that, say they keep McQuistan, I am hearing that James Marten is on thin ice. So, one of those will be gone for sure I am guessing, along with Proctor, heck you might even get to trade Proctor to Miami.

Walden might or not make it, I think it will come down to Walden or Davis the safety.

BAck to the high quality of DBs you might see Alan Ball traded to, since Olgesby just shows up more than Ball.

I am taking a gamble here, and say they might keep 6 wide receivers for sure, they miight even keep 7, the dark horse to me is Todd Lobher, # 16. Not sure I have spelled his name right, but he is 6-3,, 205 with 4.34 in 40 with 41 inch vertical leap, with hardly any college or high school experience.

If you look at his game practices, he always get open on deep balls with his elite speed. You just cant overlook deep deep speed. Now, the Cowboys might try to sneak him onto practice squads, thats where he has been last year in NFL, on giants and I think vikings practice squads, but due to no football experience he has struggled.

Another player that may surface is Rodney Hannah, I think he is about a year away, again the Cowboys might try to put him on practice squad again.

The player I think might take over and Walden get cut is dewayne robertson, he is a big defensive, but a linebackers body.

so, i think in the before the final cut, you will see all of these players there,
McQuistan, Marten, Proctor, Lobher, Hannah, Bartel, Davis, Ball, with some of these players being traded. Other tried to place on practice squad. Coleman might show some stuff at the end of preseason games and be traded, as well as Ray Lewis cousin, the rb, cant think of his name right now.

So, all in all, thats what you want, your roster pretty loaded, so you do have depth and you can make trades to improve your team.

If we can trade at least 3 of these players and get something for them, along with our picks next year
1 Dallas
2 Dallas
3 Cleveland
3 Dallas
4 Dallas
4 Detroit
5 Dallas
5 Possible Compesation pick for Julius Jones
6 Miami's pick
we lost our 6th pick to Tennessee for Adam Jones
6 compensation pick for Jacquee Reeves
7 Dallas
7 Compensation pick for Nate Jones
I dont think we can get a pick for Keith Davis since he was a free agent originally

So, if we can pick up another 3rd to 5th rounders for 3 players, then we can really move up in the draft to go get at least 2 impact players for sure, and some quality players, this time in next years draft we need Quality impact players, not quanity. Possibly even trade some picks away for future picks.

Just my thoughts;

 

[Hostile]

It's amazing how there's very little competition for starting jobs. A good sign, no doubt.

Very nice point.

 

[Rampage]

Or a surprise trade.

:wink2:

just stop messing with us man!

 

[BIGDen]

I've got a very similar 53.
I could see Walden go to the PS though, in favor of Ball or a quality special teamer.

:signmast:

 

[big dog cowboy]

Good list. But...

OL
LT Flozell Adams
LG Kyle Kosier
C Andre Gurode
RG Leonard "Bigg" Davis
RT Marc Colombo
T/G Pat McQuistan
T/G Doug Free
G/C Cory Procter
G Joe Berger
G/T James Marten
Comment: None of the backups are pushing for starting jobs.


ILB
Bradie James
Zach Thomas
Kevin Burnett
Bobby Carpenter
Comment: They all have well-defined roles except the guy that the Cowboys drafted in the first round.

Kosier might be getting pushed.

Carp is Zach's backup. I'm not sure how much more defined his role could be.

 

[Hostile]

I'll take a stab at it.

QB...Romo, Johnson (2)
I've given up on a viable 3rd for this year and don't believe Bartel is it. Still pissed about losing Matt Moore.

RB...Barber, Jones, Choice (3)
No doubt about it.

FB...Anderson, Cruz (2)
Cruz not likely to be active any game.

TE...Witten, Bennett, Curtis (3)
Again, no doubt.

WR...Owens, Crayton, Hurd, Miles, Stanback, Amendola (6)
Until I see us make a trade for a WR these are the 6 guys who are gettig the pub and that counts.

OL...Adams, Kosier, Gurode, Davis, Columbo, Free, Marten, McQuistan, Berger (9)
I predict OL will be a focus on the 2009 draft.

That is 25.

DL...Ratliff, Johnson, Canty, Spears, Hatcher, Dixon, Bowen (7)
Dixon or Robertson are my surprise D picks.

OLB...Ware, Ellis, Spencer, Burnett (4)
Maybe they move Rogers back outside...

ILB...Thomas, James, Rogers, Carpenter (4)
...and keep Burnett inside.

S...Williams, Hamlin, Brown, Watkins (4)
Little doubt here.

CB...Newman, Jones, Henry, Jenkins, Scandrick, Ball (6)
They pulled Ball of the PS last year so no one could claim him. If as I think we trade for a WR I believe it will be from the CBs and Oglesby could be the 6th.

That's 25.

K...Folk
P...McBriar
LS...LaDoucer

That's 3.

That's my best shot.

 

[reddyuta]

i agree with hostile on the OL-get ready for a tackle in the 1st rd next year.
seriuosly-I am dissapointed with marten and to some extent free.I had hoped they would have progressed a lot more.If one our tackles goes down than we are in trouble.

 

[jobberone]

I think your pretty close; for a few exceptions

I do think the Cowboys will either pick up Chris Simms or trade for him, at least by 1st week of September.

On offensive line, Joe Berger might beat out Proctor, and due to McQuistan really not making a big move, you might see either McQuistan traded to Miami or RAvens.

As you know if you can get 2 teams interested your trade value goes up, and we all know how Parcells loved McQuistan, just different style blockers and line coaches in Sparano and Houck. Also, I am hearing that, say they keep McQuistan, I am hearing that James Marten is on thin ice. So, one of those will be gone for sure I am guessing, along with Proctor, heck you might even get to trade Proctor to Miami.

Walden might or not make it, I think it will come down to Walden or Davis the safety.

BAck to the high quality of DBs you might see Alan Ball traded to, since Olgesby just shows up more than Ball.

I am taking a gamble here, and say they might keep 6 wide receivers for sure, they miight even keep 7, the dark horse to me is Todd Lobher, # 16. Not sure I have spelled his name right, but he is 6-3,, 205 with 4.34 in 40 with 41 inch vertical leap, with hardly any college or high school experience.

If you look at his game practices, he always get open on deep balls with his elite speed. You just cant overlook deep deep speed. Now, the Cowboys might try to sneak him onto practice squads, thats where he has been last year in NFL, on giants and I think vikings practice squads, but due to no football experience he has struggled.

Another player that may surface is Rodney Hannah, I think he is about a year away, again the Cowboys might try to put him on practice squad again.

The player I think might take over and Walden get cut is dewayne robertson, he is a big defensive, but a linebackers body.

so, i think in the before the final cut, you will see all of these players there,
McQuistan, Marten, Proctor, Lobher, Hannah, Bartel, Davis, Ball, with some of these players being traded. Other tried to place on practice squad. Coleman might show some stuff at the end of preseason games and be traded, as well as Ray Lewis cousin, the rb, cant think of his name right now.

So, all in all, thats what you want, your roster pretty loaded, so you do have depth and you can make trades to improve your team.

If we can trade at least 3 of these players and get something for them, along with our picks next year
1 Dallas
2 Dallas
3 Cleveland
3 Dallas
4 Dallas
4 Detroit
5 Dallas
5 Possible Compesation pick for Julius Jones
6 Miami's pick
we lost our 6th pick to Tennessee for Adam Jones
6 compensation pick for Jacquee Reeves
7 Dallas
7 Compensation pick for Nate Jones
I dont think we can get a pick for Keith Davis since he was a free agent originally

So, if we can pick up another 3rd to 5th rounders for 3 players, then we can really move up in the draft to go get at least 2 impact players for sure, and some quality players, this time in next years draft we need Quality impact players, not quanity. Possibly even trade some picks away for future picks.

Just my thoughts;

Interesting thread and right on about getting quality over quanity. The roster is so tight right now its getting difficult to cut players. We do need to look for impact players.

I'm interested in Davis. If he looks promising and Brown works out we don't need to look at safety so hard next year like we did CB this year.

Walden is a long shot but if he could work out as a pass rusher that would ease that problem a little. Make us not be quite as pushed to find that next pass rusher. I'm getting concerned that Ellis could tail off and I don't want to be caught with only two pass rushers. One injury and you're a lot less effective.

Nice post.