My 5 players to watch Sunday

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you wont hear me mention Doug Free or Alan Ball...these guys have started before...i dont know what the hysteria was before training camp about them. No the players I wanna look at go little deeper:

1) Buehler - he has to be the top of list here. Was part-time FG in collge and never kicked FG for Dallas yet. He has alot to prove. Potential is thru the roof and his kicks are booming and get alot of height...this will actually serve him well on long FG that other kickers tend to hit low for more distance but get blocked. Buehler has potential to be special....pro bowl potential if Chris B continues to guide him. My gut tells me he is pro bowl player within 2 years. If he goes "folk" on us...u bring in Matt Stover. Starter implications.

2) Jason Hatcher - with Spears down...Hatcher could grab starting position over next few weeks. Natural pass rush skills but hasnt really been tested in running game as he usually only plays on passing downs. I believe he has 5 kids...so what better way to ensure financial stability for your family than to run with this opportunity. My gut tells me we see mixed results on Hatcher and he goes back to backing up Spears when he gets back. Starter implications.

3) Brandon Williams/Victor Butler - these two really go together as they will back up Ware/Spencer. Both players have impressed in camp. They play opposite ends so they really are not in competition with each other...but as we saw with Spencer little injury....u better have depth here. I really like these two and my gut tells me Williams turns out to be starter type player but in log jam (ie see Choice with RB situation). Williams age is 22 and Butler is 23. Backup implications.

4) Josh Brent - Most were suprised when Dallas made this supplemental pick..heck even dallas was suprised he was still there for equivalent of 7th round pick next year. He has impressed in short time. We have heard Wade & Ratliff really talk about his strenth and athletisim. We have been waiting forever for someone to push Junior Siavii (who ironically has started to play better once Josh started making plays). This is similar to having some depth behind a key starter in Ratliff. Back up implications.


5) Stephan McGee - This will really be first time many of us see him play on pro level. I will be honest...when i hear Wade talk about him...u sense a certain level of uneasiness. When i listen to McGee he sounds like intelligent guy....I would be suprised if he doesnt show some improvement in speed of going thru progressions. My gut tells me he could be natural leader and has good arm strength and will develop into NFL type starter but my gut also senses Dallas won't be patient enough as it is widely believed that this is make or break preseason for him. Since he was hurt last training camp...this really is his rookie preseason. Back up implications

Honorable Mention: Teddy Williams, Akwasi Owusu-Ansah, Barry Church, Robert Brewster
 
I agree with all of those.

Some other player key players I'll be interested in:

-Nickel LB: (Jason Williams, Leon Williams, Sean Lee) - Can Jason Williams get the mental part of the game down and prove he can contribute in nickel packages this year? He has the speed to cover TE's and RB's no doubt.

-4th CB: (Gordon, Wall, McCann) - 4th corners still see quite a bit of snaps in the regular season with as much passing as teams do in today's game. Hopefully one of these guys can instill confidence in us fans, especially since they're one injury away from being the nickel CB.

-Stephen Bowen. You mentioned Hatcher but I really like think Bowen is more gifted as a pass rusher. I think he would give us an added dimension in the base 3-4 since he's a better disruptor than Spears, but can he prove to be effective against the run too?
 
Buehler probably won't get many opportunities, and a small sample of kicks probably won't tell us much one way or the other. And we've already seen Hatcher for several years.

I agree with you on the others, but I'd probably put Free and Ball at the top of the list, just because they're the two new starters. It will be interesting to watch Lee, too.
 
I think most Cowboys fans that follow the team religiously will be looking at Free, arguably way too much, but I understand. I'll probably be doing the same thing.
 
JBell523;3485136 said:
I agree with all of those.

Some other player key players I'll be interested in:

-Nickel LB: (Jason Williams, Leon Williams, Sean Lee) - Can Jason Williams get the mental part of the game down and prove he can contribute in nickel packages this year? He has the speed to cover TE's and RB's no doubt.

-4th CB: (Gordon, Wall, McCann) - 4th corners still see quite a bit of snaps in the regular season with as much passing as teams do in today's game. Hopefully one of these guys can instill confidence in us fans, especially since they're one injury away from being the nickel CB.

-Stephen Bowen. You mentioned Hatcher but I really like think Bowen is more gifted as a pass rusher. I think he would give us an added dimension in the base 3-4 since he's a better disruptor than Spears, but can he prove to be effective against the run too?


your right...lot of players to watch...and when we put all these names together...u suddenly realize this team might actually have alot of depth. We have heard so much about Jason Williams speed...will definitely be watching that.....and Gordon will be key to watch.
 
1. Doug Free

2. Sean Lee

3. Sean Lissemore

4. Alan Ball

5. Michael Hamlin
 
The Emperor;3485151 said:
1. Doug Free

2. Sean Lee

3. Sean Lissemore

4. Alan Ball

5. Michael Hamlin

Good list, particularly 1, 2 and 4. I am hoping those three are good enough to nail down starting roles on this team for quite a few years (Lee after this season of course).
 
It starts and ends with Sean Lee for me. I want to see what he's all about.

I hope to hear some good things from Michael Hamlin too.
 
AOA isn't playing on Sunday, probably not the next preseason game either. But he is someone that I think, at least this season, can be a special teams coverage guy, and a kickoff return guy as well.
 
I'm wacthing everyone that survived the 09 draft. Most of those guys made zero impact last season. It's time for them to produce. I hate to see a draft with 13 picks go to waste.
 
The camera angles are usually too limited to be picky when watching players. I'll watch who is visible, so a lot of the lines and backs.
 
Ball and Free will be in and out of the game before you know it. It will be impossible to get a read on either player unless something spectacular(good or bad) happens.

The key guys for me are Brent, Brandon Williams, Butler and Hamlin. Each player will play a lot tomorrow and has a legitimate chance to play 10-15 snaps/game during the regular season.

I'd include Lee but i cant imagine they'll play him after being so cautious with his return from injury last week. Same goes for Kwasi - dont think they're going to play him.
 
Pretty much everyone to me, though I am anxious to see how last years rookie crop fares this yr. We really didnt get to see much from most of our guys, and some of them can definitely play roles this year.

I guess if I had to pick 5 specific players, I'd go with these guys below. Dez would be #1 on this list, but we most likely wont see him till opening night at Washington, and maybe not till the home opener vs Chicago.

1) Sean Lee...could be an integral part of the nickel defense this yr and a fixture at ILB for the next decade

2) Brandon Williams...could play a key role spelling Ware and Spencer

3) Robert Brewster...does he show encouraging traits to think he could be a future starter at either RT or inside at G

4) McGee...does he show progress from rookie preseason that was cut short due to injury. Needs to show something positive, albeit his pure numbers migh not be the measuring stick because of the guys he plays with. But showing some quality decision making, quicker release and some accuracy would be a major positive IMO. If he plays well, he could be the backup next yr and potentially yield us some draft pick return. If he looks lost, he could be replaced in 2011.

5 a+b) M Hamlin/AOA...could be the future at the two safety positions, and AOA could provide some impact this year in the return game.
 
I can't argue with any of the names given thus far...They are all going to be on my list for sure.

Here is my top 5:

1. Bright

2. Gordon

3. Curtis Johnson

4. Brent

5. Ogletree



Again, these are the newer players I am most interested in seeing for various reasons.

For instance, with Bright, he did outstanding last preseason as a guard, but they have now been using him at center as well. I'm really interested to see how he does in both of these positions.

Gordon has been getting a lot of praise as a 4th corner possibility... I'm excited to see him play.

Johnson has been talked about for his pass rushing ability, beating names like Free, Bennett, and Barron. I am very interested in seeing how he performs against players on other teams.

Brent has been given high praise from the best NT in the league. When Ratliff mentions how powerful a player is...it speaks volumes. I'll be watching him for sure!

And Ogletree...One of my favorite rookies last season who has been struggling by most accounts thus far in training camp. I want to see if he plays well in preseason or if there really is reason for concern.
 
Im interested in last years picks....and .Brent.....Dixon....Bowen.....
 
Joe Rod;3485160 said:
Good list, particularly 1, 2 and 4. I am hoping those three are good enough to nail down starting roles on this team for quite a few years (Lee after this season of course).

Offensive linemen aren't that spectacular to watch for a layman like me. I have to be honest. So, as long as Romo's not getting sacked, I'll think Free's doing a good job.

As far as Lee and Ball go, I'd be happy to see them make a big hit or tip a pass or make a play on the pigskin. I hope to heck they don't play like Bobby Carpenter and Tra Battle or something. I'd like to see a little confirmation that things are shored up at those positions.
 
I started to make a list, but it's too hard to pick just five.

I can't remember ever being excited to watch all these depth guys play a preseason game. For the first time in forever, it seems like our backups and third teamers aren't a bunch of career JAGs, but young guys who actually might have some talent.
 

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