Post preseason game #3 roster projection
QB: Tony Romo, Brandon Weeden
-I really don't see any need to carry a third QB on the 53. Neither Vaughan or Showers will help us win a game and neither has much upside imo. Historically speaking mobile QBs tend to do better in preseason against 2nd/3rd stringers due to the lack of discipline younger inexperienced players usually have, so I am not surprised that Showers looks better than Vaughan, but imo he wasn't even that good. I think who ever the last guy to make the roster likely has more upside at their position than Showers does at his AND is more prepared to contribute now.
RB: Joseph Randle, Darren McFadden, Lance Dunbar
-The only thing that is debatable is who starts. McFadden certainly looked better last night, but Randle has been the one on the field throughout training camp. Either way I think the amount of carries will be similar.
FB: Tyler Clutts
-I'd love a more physical FB, but to be honest, they just don't make em' like they use to...#MooseJohnston
WR: Dez Bryant, Terrence Williams, Cole Beasley, Devin Street, Lucky Whitehead
-I wasn't surprised to see Beasley return the first punt, since in essence this was a dress rehearsal and was not surprised to see him get good yardage one one, but I do not think that spells the end for Whitehead. It was a long shot for him to be the week 1 PR and would have been a near reckless decision to put him back there week 1 against the Giants in prime time. One fumble early on could put us in a hole that eventually costs us the game and could ruin him for the foreseeable future. The best plan by far was to have a sure handed guy back there with experience like Beasley or maybe even Wilcox and sprinkle in Dez situationally. Once Whitehead is earns a spot on the coverage team as a starter, then you can start mixing him in as well to build his confidence, but even Dwayne Harris did not return punts week 1 of his rookie season.
TE: Jason Witten, Gavin Escobar, James Hanna, Geoff Swaim
-I would still like to eventually move Hanna for a pick. Escobar looks like he will be a much bigger part of the offense this year and while Hanna is still the better blocker, Escobar does seem improved. I'd likely carry an extra d-linemen if I could move Hanna, however, depending on how special teams looks the first few weeks, we may be forced to keep him.
OT: Tyron Smith, Doug Free, Darrion Weems, Laurence Gibson
-I really hope the plan is not to use Weems as the swing tackle, but we likely won't know till week 1. Ideally we will carry 7 linemen like we usually do, but there would be La'el Collins and Mackenzie Bernadeau, who both play interior positions. This would mean Zack Martin would move to tackle if either Smith or Free goes down and La'el would play at his spot. As far as Gibson goes, he would be one of the bottom of the roster guys I would keep over a third QB.
OG: Ron Leary, Zack Martin, La'el Collins
-Leary didn't play much this preseason, so I'm interested to see how much La'el Collins's presence pushed him. I do think it's just a matter of time before Collins beats him out, but Leary could still make himself quite a bit of money.
C: Travis Frederick, Mackenzie Bernadeau
-Hopefully one of the other centers can develop on the practice squad because this is likely Bernadeua's last season with us. He's a free agent and given the success of the o-line, he may get one last decent pay day or at least more than we want to pay a back up.
DE: Demarcus Lawrence, Randy Gregory, Jeremy Mincey, Ryan Russell, Ben Gardner
-Not sure who wins the job between Edwards and Gardner, so I'll just guess Gardner. Either way I think the winner is released after Hardy is reinstated. And I guess I shouldn't be surprised at how good Gregory is now, considering he was a lock to go top 5/10 before the drug issues came to light, but I am. What I expected was a DE who had great athletic ability to get after the QB, who needed more moves and was likely a liability versus the run. What we got was a guy that is ready to not only contribute immediately, but is three down player on day 1.
DT: Tyrone Crawford, Nick Hayden, Jack Crawford, Davon Coleman, Ken Bishop
-Davon Coleman had a really good camp and preseason, but was it good enough to make McClain expendable? I hope so, but some how doubt it. Unlike Coleman, I don't think Bishop is as good as McClain now, so he'll need some help making the roster. He'll need the coaches to feel that Coleman is ready to take on the oft injured McClain's role.
LB: Sean Lee, Anthony Hitchens, Damien Wilson, Andrew Gachkar, Jasper Brinkley, Kyle Wilbur, Keith Smith
-Due to the injuries to Rolondo McClain, Anthony Hitchens and the potential for injury in Sean Lee, I think we are better served going a bit deep at this position. I think Smith would be released when Rolondo is back, but to be honest, I would not be surprised to see any of our starting LBers on IR. I'd like to see Smith stick to the PS when McClain comes back, but I'm not sure.
CB: Brandon Carr, Morris Claiborne, Byron Jones, Tyler Patmon, Corey White
-Despite the injury to Scandrick I still feel good about this position, but I have to admit I am a bit lost when it comes to expectations for Byron Jones. I guess it seems that barring an injury to Brandon Carr (who just came back from a broken hand) and Morris Claiborne (Mr. Glass) that Jones will be used primarily as a Nickle LB/Dime CB covering TEs, which is fine I guess, as long as Claiborne is up to starting. I do have confidence in the group as all have shown the ability to play well, with Patmon and White being very pleasant surprises, but their roles will be interesting to see.
S: JJ Wilcox, Barry Church, Danny McCray, Jeff Heath
-No point crying now, but I would have loved to see Byron Jones as the starting FS and Barry Church as the starting SS, but hopefully with an improved pass rush, Wilcox can make more plays. I do think Heath gets a bad rap based off his rookie season, and while I would not want him as a starter, I do think he's a good 3rd safety. McCray is here for special teams only, so hopefully one the full unit get a chance to play together, he shows why he was brought back.
K: Dan Bailey
P: Chris Jones
LS: LP LaDouceur
