MySA.COM: Blog: Phillips faced with roster decisions

[Cbz40]

September 26, 2008
Phillips faced with roster decisions


With receiver Sam Hurd expected to return Sunday against Washington, Cowboys coach Wade Phillips must make some tough calls regarding the 45-man roster.



Phillips was noncommittal about whether Hurd and Isaiah Stanback would both be active. Stanback has been returning kicks with Felix Jones, but Hurd is a dependable member of the kick coverage team.


If Stanback is inactive, the Cowboys likely would turn to rookie Orlando Scandrick as Jones' return partner.


Hurd missed the first three games with an ankle injury.


In other injury news, Phillips said backup nose tackle Tank Johnson will practice today after sitting out Thursday's workout with an ankle issue.

 

[tomson75]

Inactivate the QB, IMO.

 

[adamknite]

Inactivate the QB, IMO.

Bollinger? He has been on the inactive list. He's allowed to dress for the game as the emergency third QB.

 

[tomson75]

Bollinger? He has been on the inactive list. He's allowed to dress for the game as the emergency third QB.

Stanback. He's no WR. At least not yet. His return against Philly would suggest he's not much better on special teams.

 

[adamknite]

Stanback. He's no WR. At least not yet. His return against Philly would suggest he's not much better on special teams.

Ahhhhhhh, gotcha. Didn't catch what you were saying there.


I kinda want to see Stanback on the active list, I don't think it'll help his progression if he doesn't see some sort of game time, with that said... I don't see a roster spot that he can take from somebody, so he's probably more likely to end up on the inactive list than anybody. Hurd is just a much better WR right now.

 

[ThreeSportStar80]

Yeah I don't believe in carrying a 3rd string QB to a game...

 

[Eskimo]

Yeah I don't believe in carrying a 3rd string QB to a game...

3rd string QB doesn't take up an active roster spot so you still get 45 other players. He can only come in an emergency when both QBs are out.

 

[TellerMorrow34]

I imagine Stanback will now return to not being active a lot of times.

 

[theebs]

I imagine Stanback will now return to not being active a lot of times.

Me too.

Personally, if hurd is healthy I dont see any reason stanback is ever active.

The only thing he has going for him is anderson is injured and maybe they decide they need an extra wr and sit a tight end.

However, I dont see any scenario where curtis is inactive and stanback is active.

Scandrick and jenkins can return kicks in a pinch along with austin, so I dont see stanback being active again for a long time.

 

[theogt]

Even at this point Stanback's probably more of a threat than Hurd. But seniority will win out.

 

[Idgit]

Even at this point Stanback's probably more of a threat than Hurd. But seniority will win out.

Stanback's not even close to Hurd at this point. He's got a good prospect, but he's got a long way to go. Hurd's ready to contribute and would be pushing for a a number two job on some teams.

 

[DaBoys4Life]

Even at this point Stanback's probably more of a threat than Hurd. But seniority will win out.

More of a threat to do what get hurt ???

 

[Big Dakota]

Pretty clear, Hurd over Stanback.

 

[mmohican29]

I smell a proverbial rat. I think the team has a vested interest in Stanback's progression. Another setback makes it very difficult to justify a third round selection for a player with what 5 career catches? The Cowboys may roll the dice on Stanback's health and upside and Hurd may find himself inactive with Miles passing him as the 3rd WR and Isaiah getting more reps.

I dunno about this one. Personally I would prefer Hurd in there, but it's getting tougher and tougher to justify his OR Stanback's roster spot IMO. If healthy Hurd brings more value on ST's because Felix can clearly handle the KR duties over Isaiah.

 

[sbark]

Hurd similar to Crayton.....not alot of deep speed, based on Crayton ..a couple catches per game each......either really got Romo's eye....doubtful.

why have 2.........heck Felix can fill that role via a Preston Pearson look, he breaks one or two from there, the LB's drop gonna shorten up dramatically-----Witten, Bennet and Curtis would love it......

Romo becoming much like Aikman.....drop a pass, run a wrong route --doghouse....I see Crayton slowly heading there...gotta beat 1 on 1.

Coaches gotta see the need & Luxery of speed opposite of TO......Give me Austin & Stanback active....and use em'....get the dang safety out of TO's lap......

establish that Dallas got a deep threat opposite TO, establish Felix as a receiver..........

 

[reddyuta]

I smell a proverbial rat. I think the team has a vested interest in Stanback's progression. Another setback makes it very difficult to justify a third round selection for a player with what 5 career catches? The Cowboys may roll the dice on Stanback's health and upside and Hurd may find himself inactive with Miles passing him as the 3rd WR and Isaiah getting more reps.

I dunno about this one. Personally I would prefer Hurd in there, but it's getting tougher and tougher to justify his OR Stanback's roster spot IMO. If healthy Hurd brings more value on ST's because Felix can clearly handle the KR duties over Isaiah.

we have to see what Hurd can do this season especially after the injury,so i think he will be active.

 

[AdamJT13]

Hurd similar to Crayton.....not alot of deep speed, based on Crayton ..a couple catches per game each......either really got Romo's eye....doubtful.

why have 2.........heck Felix can fill that role via a Preston Pearson look, he breaks one or two from there, the LB's drop gonna shorten up dramatically-----Witten, Bennet and Curtis would love it......

Romo becoming much like Aikman.....drop a pass, run a wrong route --doghouse....I see Crayton slowly heading there...gotta beat 1 on 1.

Coaches gotta see the need & Luxery of speed opposite of TO......Give me Austin & Stanback active....and use em'....get the dang safety out of TO's lap......

establish that Dallas got a deep threat opposite TO, establish Felix as a receiver..........

Is that a telegram?

 

[sbark]

Is that a telegram?

more of a habit than a vice........

 

[WG5516]

Hurd similar to Crayton.....not alot of deep speed, based on Crayton ..a couple catches per game each......either really got Romo's eye....doubtful.

why have 2.........heck Felix can fill that role via a Preston Pearson look, he breaks one or two from there, the LB's drop gonna shorten up dramatically-----Witten, Bennet and Curtis would love it......

Romo becoming much like Aikman.....drop a pass, run a wrong route --doghouse....I see Crayton slowly heading there...gotta beat 1 on 1.

Coaches gotta see the need & Luxery of speed opposite of TO......Give me Austin & Stanback active....and use em'....get the dang safety out of TO's lap......

establish that Dallas got a deep threat opposite TO, establish Felix as a receiver..........

I have to agree with you. I would much rather have speed opposite TO. We already have guys that can catch the ball besides TO in Witten, Barber, High & Tight & TCurtis... Honestly, I'm sick of Crayton's mouth and I have yet to see anything from Sam that impressed me. Well besides this:

http://i61.***BLOCKED***/albums/h51/wg5516/lol-2.gif
​

 

[ChrisCanty99]

Yeah, hard to remember back to last year when Hurd caught that 50 yard TD to seal the win over the Giants. Or the tip of the onside kick at Buffalo that was recovered by Curtis.

I'm not saying Hurd is some kind of phenom. He's the same kind of player as Crayton- typically reliable, solid, dependable. He's got a lot more playing time than Stanback, and while Sam will never be a TO type gamebreaker, he can make plays. He's valuable and I'm glad he's on the team.

But it's hard to keep 5 WRs active every week, and if one is inactive, it's Stanback right now based on production as a WR. Isaiah's made good progress, but he's still a year away from performing like Austin or Hurd.