Observations from watching the Game - replay

[Wood]

Bobby Carpenter - looks leaner and makes more plays but still isnt physical when running back breaks thru interior line. He is improved and just have to live with him not being a physical linebacker...he does make plays.

Patrick Crayton - is as confident as I have ever seen him. Looks more elusive.

Doug Free - Is filling out and exhibits some aggression but sometimes is caught chasing the defender who gives him speed rush to outside. Does not look ready to fill in due to injury to a starter.

Isaiah Stanback - finally can take a hit and looks dangerous with room to run. Still looks unrefined catching the ball but routes have improved.

John Phillips - is a player and could probably be 2nd TE on some teams.

Anthony Spencer - looks legit. Will give dallas everything Ellis did last year and more.

Keith Brooking - more firely than I expected and can still run better than I thought due to number years in league. Definite upgrade.

Jason Hatcher - looks like he did two years ago in preseason....exhibiting starting material...until he had that hematoma to his leg.

Deangelo Smith - isnt fast enough

Courtney Brown - looks out of place and doesnt belong on the team. Looks like he has given up.

 

[proline]

I agree on Spencer. I thought #93 had a really good game tonight. He showed speed, burst through the line, and good instincts.

I'm still not sold on Miles Austin.

Ogletree looked really good!

OL gave Romo all kinds of time in the pocket.

I really didn't see Stanback do much, other than a fumble and a "shoulda-been-called" block in the back.

 

[speedkilz88]

Keith Brooking looks great at that spot.

DeAngelo Smith will be a better FS and can be decent to good depth in the nickel and dime packages.

 

[dbair1967]

Bobby Carpenter - looks leaner and makes more plays but still isnt physical when running back breaks thru interior line. He is improved and just have to live with him not being a physical linebacker...he does make plays.

Patrick Crayton - is as confident as I have ever seen him. Looks more elusive.

Doug Free - Is filling out and exhibits some aggression but sometimes is caught chasing the defender who gives him speed rush to outside. Does not look ready to fill in due to injury to a starter.

Isaiah Stanback - finally can take a hit and looks dangerous with room to run. Still looks unrefined catching the ball but routes have improved.

John Phillips - is a player and could probably be 2nd TE on some teams.

Anthony Spencer - looks legit. Will give dallas everything Ellis did last year and more.

Keith Brooking - more firely than I expected and can still run better than I thought due to number years in league. Definite upgrade.

Jason Hatcher - looks like he did two years ago in preseason....exhibiting starting material...until he had that hematoma to his leg.

Deangelo Smith - isnt fast enough

Courtney Brown - looks out of place and doesnt belong on the team. Looks like he has given up.

Pretty much my thoughts as well, though I do think Free could spot-play/start if needed, and I seem to recall Mosley and one of the other Cowboy reporters saying the Cowboy coaches are now thinking the same thing, hence the Leonard Davis reps in practice at LT ceased some time ago.

The other thing I'd prob disagree on is Stanback. He looks like he still a long ways away from being an NFL player. I think he's gone for sure.

 

[ThreeSportStar80]

Spencer played very well... I'm happy with what he's doing out there... John Phillips is a very solid player with good hands.

 

[RCowboyFan]

Doug Free - Is filling out and exhibits some aggression but sometimes is caught chasing the defender who gives him speed rush to outside. Does not look ready to fill in due to injury to a starter.

Isaiah Stanback - finally can take a hit and looks dangerous with room to run. Still looks unrefined catching the ball but routes have improved.

.

Maybe I haven't watched closely this previous game, but from what I have seen of Doug Free, its not the speed move that is problem for him. He seems to take them out wide or has enough footwork to handle them. Heck he did that good against Dwight Freeny in his rookie season.

However, I think he has some ways to go, to probably handle a Good Bull Rush, from likes of maybe Osi or Tuck. I think another Off season and some more strength and conditioning ( as long as he doesn't regress, I think we probably have good LT for future, he might not be a pro-bowler, but I think he can be more than adequate).

STanback is done and kaput. I really hoped that he would work out, but I don't think he will.

Rest observations, I agree.

 

[DatNguyen59]

I agree with what you said about Spencer. He looked like he was making plays and very active.

 

[ejthedj]

You couldn't be more wrong about Free and Stanback.

I have been watching him closely all preseason, Free looks like a future starter. His weakness is bull rushes in the run game, not speed rushes at all. He is very quick and able to handle speed.

Stanback's routes look bad. Even the one he caught was a pitiful route. I could run them better. I think he's too long of a strider to be a WR.

 

[BrassCowboy]

Stanback has got to be done by now, how many breaks can a guy get?

 

[TD-33]

Spencer played very well... I'm happy with what he's doing out there... John Phillips is a very solid player with good hands.

:signmast:
That was a vicious helmet to helmet hit he took and it knocked the DB that did it silly.

 

[BAT]

Bobby Carpenter - looks leaner and makes more plays but still isnt physical when running back breaks thru interior line. He is improved and just have to live with him not being a physical linebacker...he does make plays.

Carpenter always looks tentative attacking running plays, just not physical at the POA, at all. He was absolutely trucked on the last 9er TD, bouncing off Kory Sheets inside the 10. Watkins went for a ride on the same play, but at least he held on.

Courtney Brown - looks out of place and doesnt belong on the team. Looks like he has given up.

Yet another softie who lacks instints in man to man. The guy is clearly a Tampa 2 corner, AT BEST.

 

[big dog cowboy]

Nice list Wood.

Not much to disagree with.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

Nice list Wood.

Not much to disagree with.

I agree.

Also agree with BAT on Carp.

 

[mmillman]

The Stanback pick was a joke. I watched him play a lot of college ball and he would have been a better developmental QB. I don't know what the scouts told Jones on that one but I never saw it.

 

[Jay]

If Stanback makes the team, I'll be furious. He's had enough chances and it's time to stop wasting a roster spot on him. You do see from him from time to time that he could be dangerous in the open field, but that's not enough to keep him around IMO.

Time to cut him loose and give his roster spot to someone deserving.