My shot at the 53 man roster

[Stautner]

Yes, and we'll also have an LB who doesn't fit the system.

If that's what the coaches decide - so be it.

Read again and you will notice I used the words "IF he sticks at LB" .......

The fact is there is NO system in which EVERYONE on a particular roster is an ideal fit. The coaches have to make decisions, and while Hoyte is by no means a certainty to make the team, his flexibility to play both LB and FB and his ST teams play give him a shot.

 

[AbeBeta]

If that's what the coaches decide - so be it.

Read again and you will notice I used the words "IF he sticks at LB" .......

The fact is there is NO system in which EVERYONE on a particular roster is an ideal fit. The coaches have to make decisions, and while Hoyte is by no means a certainty to make the team, his flexibility to play both LB and FB and his ST teams play give him a shot.

Very few players are going to be able to contribute as two-way players. There are two new systems in place -- one on O and one on D -- he's not going to have the chance to learn both.

This isn't some CB who gets to play WR on a couple of plays nor is it the Arena league -- the idea of a LB-FB isn't realistic given the responsibilities of each position.

 

[Alexander]

You can Google "Jason Garrett Fullback" and find more information.

I did.

All I got was this:

Cowboys | Garrett to use fullback more
Tue, 15 May 2007 12:09:19 -0700
Mickey Spagnola, of DallasCowboys.com, reports Dallas Cowboys offensive coordinator Jason Garrett is expected to use a fullback more in his offensive packages. Last season, former head coach Bill Parcells used more two-tight end formations.

And this states nothing about the two-TE offense being dropped completely out, which is what you stated.

Once again, we were supposed to be a 2-TE offense last year. Yet, for some strange reason, we saw an awful lot of Polite and Hoyte.

Well, who exactly on the Cowboys roster can play that besides Witten? Well, we have Polite whom can't catch. We have Fasano, but he can't block.

He struggled as a blocker from the fullback position. Any TE will tell you how hard that is to do, Dan Campbell complained about that all the time.

As a "move" or second TE, he was at least acceptable.

 

[Stautner]

Very few players are going to be able to contribute as two-way players. There are two new systems in place -- one on O and one on D -- he's not going to have the chance to learn both.

This isn't some CB who gets to play WR on a couple of plays nor is it the Arena league -- the idea of a LB-FB isn't realistic given the responsibilities of each position.

I'm not talking about a regular 2-way player, I'm talking about keeping only one FB on the roster and having Hoyte as an emergency backup only.

Hell, I believe there was a year or two in the 90's where we didn't even have a backup FB behind Moose.

Besides, apparently you have forgotten that Hoyte proved last year he could make the move mid-season if need be.

Obviously it's not the ideal situation, but neither is using two full roster spots on FB's.

What I'm talking about is a compromise that the coaches may concievably consider.

 

[Alexander]

I'm not talking about a regular 2-way player, I'm talking about keeping only one FB on the roster and having Hoyte as an emergency backup.

Hell, I believe there was a year or two in the 90's where we didn't even have a backup FB behind Moose.

Besides, apparently you have forgotten that Hoyte proved last year he could make the move mid-season if need be.

Obviously it's not the ideal situation, but neither is using two full roster spots on FB's.

What I'm talking about is a compromise that the coaches may concievably consider.

Our linebackers are talented and flexible enough to move around.

Carpenter and Burnett could play inside or outside. So could Ayodele.

If we want to save a roster spot, Hoyte would be a nice option as a fourth or fifth option behind the other linebackers we already have.

I don't believe in "slotting". Just because we have a "slot" for a third string inside linebacker doesn't mean we have to keep a lesser player around just to fill it as their natural position.

We worked Hoyte at ILB in the first minicamp. And then back to fullback.

It is all about options and at linebacker, we have them.

 

[Stautner]

Our linebackers are talented and flexible enough to move around.

Carpenter and Burnett could play inside or outside. So could Ayodele.

If we want to save a roster spot, Hoyte would be a nice option as a fourth or fifth option behind the other linebackers we already have.

I don't believe in "slotting". Just because we have a "slot" for a third string inside linebacker doesn't mean we have to keep a lesser player around just to fill it as their natural position.

We worked Hoyte at ILB in the first minicamp. And then back to fullback.

It is all about options and at linebacker, we have them.

I agree with this completely. LB's are not restricted to one slot only, and with that flexibility Hoyte could fit in the LB group AND still be available for emergency FB duty if necessary.

That's the kind of flexibility that is incredibly valuable when it come down to making difficult roster decisions.

 

[AbeBeta]

I'm not talking about a regular 2-way player, I'm talking about keeping only one FB on the roster and having Hoyte as an emergency backup only.

Hell, I believe there was a year or two in the 90's where we didn't even have a backup FB behind Moose.

Besides, apparently you have forgotten that Hoyte proved last year he could make the move mid-season if need be.

Obviously it's not the ideal situation, but neither is using two full roster spots on FB's.

What I'm talking about is a compromise that the coaches may concievably consider.

Hoyte did make the move last season -- and like so many converted LBs that we've seen in Cowboy history -- he had some success early but then started to suck.

 

[Alexander]

Hoyte did make the move last season -- and like so many converted LBs that we've seen in Cowboy history -- he had some success early but then started to suck.

Hoyte will still have to make a mark on special teams, no matter what else we do for him.

 

[AbeBeta]

Hoyte will still have to make a mark on special teams, no matter what else we do for him.

I just don't see moving him from FB to LB and then maybe back again helping him to make the roster.

 

[Stautner]

Hoyte did make the move last season -- and like so many converted LBs that we've seen in Cowboy history -- he had some success early but then started to suck.

While I agree that he didn't stay consistent, he was having to learn on the job, AND he was being counted on as the 1st team FB.

What I am talking about is an emergency backup that would help free a roster spot for other areas, and with a little FB experience under his belt he may even fare better this time around.

Again, I said it's not ideal, but then again neither is using two full roster spots on FB's.

It's merely going to be a consideration in the midst of the tough roster decisions that will have to be made, and flexibility is always a consideration in those cases.

 

[TheSport78]

Hoyte will still have to make a mark on special teams, no matter what else we do for him.

Ahh a flash of that forced fumble by Hoyte @ CAR last season just popped in my head. How did we not recover that fumble???

 

[Alexander]

I just don't see moving him from FB to LB and then maybe back again helping him to make the roster.

He could easily have a set position. For example, he makes the team as a fullback, but his existence allows us to carry one less ILB. Or vice versa.

 

[Alexander]

Ahh a flash of that forced fumble by Hoyte @ CAR last season just popped in my head. How did we not recover that fumble???

Was that one we recovered (Hurd), I cannot recall.

 

[Stautner]

He could easily have a set position. For example, he makes the team as a fullback, but his existence allows us to carry one less ILB. Or vice versa.

Exactly my point - the other spot would only come into play in emergency situations.

 

[theogt]

Hoyte is so incredibly slow, if we ever need to rely on him as an ILB, we're screwed. We won't, though, considering we have 4 starting quality ILBs already on the roster.

 

[Stautner]

Hoyte is so incredibly slow, if we ever need to rely on him as an ILB, we're screwed. We won't, though, considering we have 4 starting quality ILBs already on the roster.

I don't know that we've seen enough of Hoyte at ILB to make that call just yet - making the team as a LB last year has to count for at least a little something.

But even if that's true, like you say, the likelihood that we would need to use him is slim anyway, as is the case with most 3rd teamers, including anyone else we could keep in his place, so if he has the flexibility to fill backup slots at two positions and save us a roster spot, then that is a benefit.

Nevertheless, I don't advocate keeping Hoyte in that capacity at all costs. Obviously the coaches have to look at all options, and they shouldn't and I'm sure wont keep Hoyte, despite the flexibility, if it means cutting a guy that they think has a real future as a regualar player.

 

[TheSport78]

Was that one we recovered (Hurd), I cannot recall.

Nope, I believe it was before the Hurd recovery. About 4 or 5 Cowboys had to touch the ball before CAR recovered. I think it was Richard Marshall returning and Hoyte just nailed him..

 

[AbeBeta]

He could easily have a set position. For example, he makes the team as a fullback, but his existence allows us to carry one less ILB. Or vice versa.

One less ILB who actually fits the system the Phillips uses....

 

[theogt]

I don't know that we've seen enough of Hoyte at ILB to make that call just yet - making the team as a LB last year has to count for at least a little something.

He may be a player, but his physical abilities are extremely limited. That's all I'm saying. You can only do so much with so little.

40 Yrd Dash: 4.93
3-Cone Drill: 7.48

He went undrafted for a reason. And those eye-popping numbers were a big contributor.

 

[LeonDixson]

You can Google "Jason Garrett Fullback" and find more information.

As for an H-Back. (or F-Back depending on who you ask) Well, who exactly on the Cowboys roster can play that besides Witten? Well, we have Polite whom can't catch. We have Fasano, but he can't block. As for as I know Hoyte can't catch either. I see Hoyte and Anderson very similar in blocking. Neither will be great at it. Anderson like Hoyte explodes into people and that helps at first contact, but after first contact there will be trouble if you don't take out your man. Forget about sheading your man and taking another man out. The biggest difference is Anderson can catch out of the backfield. This is huge for the Cowboys because even their running backs can't catch very well out of the back field.

I suspect Anderson (providing everything goes well) will be the starting fullback and Hoyte will be the backup. We will still have and use the two TE set just for the fact that we have Witten and Fasano.

Actually, Polite is a pretty decent receiver out of the backfield. Not great, but servicible. He's caught five TD's for us the last two years. (combined).