Post-minicamp 53-man roster projection

[UnoDallas]

http://espn.go.com/blog/dallas/cowb...st-minicamp-53-man-roster-projection#comments
By Tim MacMahon

Here are educated guesses on the 53 players who will be on the roster after the dust settles in early September, including one who isn't currently Cowboys' property:

QUARTERBACKS (3): Tony Romo, Jon Kitna, Stephen McGee.

The Cowboys have confidence in Romo and Kitna and curiosity about McGee.

RUNNING BACKS (3): Felix Jones, Marion Barber, Tashard Choice.

Jerry Jones and the coaching staff bent over backwards to praise Barber this offseason, but it’d still be surprising if Felix Jones doesn’t emerge as the lead back.

FULLBACK (1): Deon Anderson

Nothing we saw this offseason suggests that the Cowboys plan to scrap a traditional fullback in favor of a fourth tight end.

WIDE RECEIVERS (5): Miles Austin, Roy Williams, Dez Bryant, Kevin Ogletree, Sam Hurd

I can’t see the Cowboys keeping both Patrick Crayton ($2 million salary) and Hurd ($1.7 million). If the top three receivers stay healthy and Ogletree progresses, Crayton is expendable. Hurd might be the team’s best special teams player.

TIGHT ENDS (3): Jason Witten, Martellus Bennett, John Phillips

If Bennett plays to his potential, the Cowboys will have the league’s top tight end tandem.

OFFENSIVE LINEMEN (9): Doug Free, Kyle Kosier, Andre Gurode, Leonard Davis, Marc Colombo, Alex Barron, Montrae Holland, Robert Brewster, Travis Bright

Pat McQuistan, a four-year veteran, is likely the odd man out if the Cowboys don’t decide to keep a 10th offensive lineman. Bright earns a promotion from the practice squad.

DEFENSIVE ENDS (5): Igor Olshansky, Marcus Spears, Stephen Bowen, Jason Hatcher, Sean Lissemore

Just a hunch that the Cowboys end up going heavy at end, where three players are on one-year tenders. The coaches believe seventh-rounder Lissemore can also play nose tackle, but he’s focusing on end for now.

NOSE TACKLES (2): Jay Ratliff, Junior Siavii

After reviewing all the game film after the season, Wade Phillips felt better about Siavii, a big body who performed pretty well when giving the All-Pro Ratliff a breather.

OUTSIDE LINEBACKERS (4): DeMarcus Ware, Anthony Spencer, Brandon Williams, Victor Butler

There isn’t a better duo than Ware and Spencer. The Cowboys hope at least one of the second-year players can contribute in a limited role to give the stars some rest.

INSIDE LINEBACKERS (5): Keith Brooking, Bradie James, Sean Lee, Jason Williams, Stephen Hodge

Phillips is a big fan of Hodge, a potential special teams stud who has excellent instincts in pass coverage. The hope is that Hodge, who is recovering from microfracture knee surgery, will be healthy at the beginning of training camp.

CORNERBACKS (4): Mike Jenkins, Terence Newman, Orlando Scandrick, Bryan McCann

The versatility of Alan Ball and Akwasi Owusu-Ansah allows the Cowboys to go light at cornerback. Nobody has separated themselves from the pack competing for the fourth spot.

SAFETIES (5): Gerald Sensabaugh, Alan Ball, Mike Hamlin, Akwasi Owusu-Ansah, Pat Watkins

Undrafted free agents Barry Church and Danny McCray will challenge Watkins.

SPECIALISTS (4): L.P. Ladouceur, Mat McBriar, David Buehler, Kicker TBD

The Cowboys want Buehler to handle all the aspects of the kicking job, and Jerry Jones swears he likes what he sees from the strong-legged one. Sorry, I’m skeptical, expecting the Cowboys to sign a veteran kicker (Matt Stover?) in early September

 

[Staggerlee]

Looking at the CB depth i found myself saying outloud "wow thats thin!" Hopefully im wrong.

 

[VACowboy]

Looking at the CB depth i found myself saying outloud "wow thats thin!" Hopefully im wrong.

I agree, at first glance. Four corners is way slim. But as the article says, Ball and AOA both play corner. I think it depends on Hamlin's ability to cover the safety spot as anything.

I'm hoping Church beats Watkins out.

 

[Irvinite]

I think they'll Give Buehler at least till the by week before considering making a change and that will let them keep a 6th receiver(Crayton).

 

[Smith22]

I'm hoping Church beats Watkins out.

You aren't the only one.

 

[big dog cowboy]

Seeing Deon Anderson's name surprises me a little.

Overall it looks like a Super Bowl winning roster to me. D:

 

[Alexander]

I agree, at first glance. Four corners is way slim. But as the article says, Ball and AOA both play corner. I think it depends on Hamlin's ability to cover the safety spot as anything.

It bothers me that we are relying on two players to possibly have to switch to CB mid-stream if injuries strike. If this is the plan, we need one to concentrate on playing CB more than safety. If Ball is the FS, leave him alone, let him get comfortable in his role and mature. Same goes for Ansah. It is going to be hard enough for him to get down one position let alone gum up the works with making him learn two. I don't feel comfortable with McCann, so I would rather just move Ansah to CB for this year or at the very least make that his primary concentration.

I'm hoping Church beats Watkins out.

Watkins has had his time. I would much rather keep Church or even McCray who could probably play special teams just as well. McCray in particular was getting time with the first unit coverage team as a gunner, so perhaps he is a keeper.

It is a little tiresome to keep hearing about how Watkins and Hurd are so indispensible because of what they do on special teams. I would much rather have hungry young (and cheap) talent at those spots than career special teamers who have already gotten comfortable and fat in their roles. Continuity at key spots is one thing, but when it bleeds all the way down to the bottom of the roster, I do not see the benefit.

 

[Sandyf]

I could see this but really think we will be making some tough decisions in training camp.

If Kitna doesn't shake the rust then we either go with two in Romo and McGee or pick up another vet.

Just don't think Anderson sticks and we go with either Sicko at TE/FB or Gronkowski at FB.

I could see six at DE/DT with Dixon making the team but seriously doubt we keep all the 1 year tender guys, one will get traded in TC.

Really don't see us keeping two kickers this year, Jerry is going to bet on Buehler.

If we don't pick up a vet CB as a backup then I see both Wall and McCann making the team.

Also I see Church as taking Watkins place and wouldn't surprise me to see Parcells trade for Watkins early in TC especially if they lose out on OJ Atowge.

 

[Alexander]

Also I see Church as taking Watkins place and wouldn't surprise me to see Parcells trade for Watkins early in TC especially if they lose out on OJ Atowge.

I strongly doubt Coach Parcells would trade for Watkins. First, he would likely be available as a free agent after cut. Second, he was not exactly in love with him (esp. his tackling technique) when he was a younger player. Also, he's not good enough as a safety to be much better than what the Dolphins already have.

 

[big dog cowboy]

we will be making some tough decisions in training camp.

I remember people saying that back in the 5-11 seasons. :

 

[Jon88]

You aren't the only one.

I am sick of Watkins.

How many more years does he need to prove he can only play special teams.

 

[Alexander]

I remember people saying that back in the 5-11 seasons. :

Those were brutal days deciding which elite talent to keep: Jermaine Copeland or Bashir Yamini.

 

[Jon88]

Those were brutal days deciding which elite talent to keep: Jermaine Copeland or Bashir Yamini.

Remember Campo's last team? The one that went 5-11. That team was flat out awesome. First game to the Texans, an expansion team. Butts handed to us.

 

[Alexander]

Remember Campo's last team? The one that went 5-11. That team was flat out awesome. First game to the Texans, an expansion team. Butts handed to us.

I remember that all too well unfortunately. David Carr and the rest of that team acting like they won the Super Bowl. Bryant Westbrook, a savior at CB, cut immediately after that game. Easily one of the worst moments in team history and an embarassment to this very day.

 

[Jon88]

I remember that all too well unfortunately. David Carr and the rest of that team acting like they won the Super Bowl. Bryant Westbrook, a savior at CB, cut immediately after that game. Easily one of the worst moments in team history and an embarassment to this very day.

That was horrible.

We had nothing but losers and thugs on that team. There were like maybe 7 good players. Allen, Flozell, Emmitt, Coakley, Ellis, RW, Gurode. That's it.