Kaiser
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The year was 2013. The Cowboys were coming off two 8-8 seasons and Katy Perry topped the charts. Dallas had a big offseason hole to fill at LG because the year before they had thrown money at Nate Livings with a 5 year, 18MM free agent contract only to see him struggle through one injury-filled season and retire. (Probably part of the reason they don’t pay above average FA salaries to average players any more).
In the offseason many Dallas fans wanted to double down on a free agent. Dallas did nothing.
Leading up to the draft, fans zeroed in on the OGs they wanted to draft to fill the gaping hole in the lineup. Dallas did nothing.
Dallas fans screamed about the possibility of playing backups like Derrick Dockery as the starter. Dallas said in interviews they liked a practice squad guy they were developing.
Mickey Spagnola trotted out the usual team apologies writing this poor excuse for a sports article:
He looks strong as bull.
Built like one of those top-loading deep freezers.
And to most out there, he's a forgotten man, and understandably.
But around here, when so many want to throw jab after jab at the Cowboys for failing to do enough this offseason to improve their offensive line, they must snicker quietly to themselves. They know better. They know they've got a real shot at multiple upgrades to the interior of this offensive line.
But here is the most silent shot being loaded, and let me be one of the first to pull back the under-the-radar curtain on …
Ronald Leary.
https://www.dallascowboys.com/news/spagnola-this-guy-on-the-cowboys-offensive-line-radar-337496
Leary went on to start the next four years and play well. Beyond Leary they have had other Practice Squad players like Dwayne Harris contribute (he later made the Pro Bowl for NYG as a ST player). They have also had late adds or futures players like Antwuan Woods start after joining the team off waivers in camp. The early version of David Irving came from another team’s PS late in the season.
Fortunately Dallas has drafted well enough that they only have one obvious hole in the starting lineup at the moment IMO at Cornerback. So who is this year’s Ron Leary? Who could surprise? We have a long list of Practice Squad, Injured Reserve and back of the roster players who could move into significant roles on the team in a Ron Leary type surprise:
WR:
Noah Brown is still only 24 and has a ton of physical talent
Cedric Wilson has flashed and got reps late in the season
JonVea Johnson had a lot of buzz in training camp but was very raw. He has excellent deep speed.
Devin Smith played well in games 2 & 3, then never played again for reasons unknown.
TE:
I don’t see it, but Dalton Schulz could improve
Swing Tackle:
If either one of Brandon Knight or Mitch Hyatt steps up to win the Swing Tackle spot it would be a real bonus. Knight played better than expected last year as a UDFA.
RDE:
Aldon Smith and Randy Gregory are the lottery tickets but Dorance Armstrong actually played well in limited reps. If he took a big jump forward he could conceivably start.
Joe Jackson made the roster and is more of a LDE, but could easily improve.
Jalen Jelks has physical skills and bend, he was good enough to stash on the IR with a fake injury to avoid exposing him to waivers.
LB:
Luke Gifford flashed at times and could step up into a bigger role
CB:
Chris Westry is a 6’4” CB from the practice squad but it’s the longest of longshots to think he could start. Jourdan Lewis taking over as a starter and playing well is the more likely surprise if you look at internal candidates. If we don’t draft a CB high, look for that to be a big topic of discussion.
Safety:
Donovan Wilson was like a Ron Leary with great physical skills but in need of the “the game slowing down”. He could step up in the Jeff Heath role as a hard hitting 3rd safety.
So would be your picks for a breakout player from the back of the roster?
Mine would be Devin Smith on offense and Donovan Wilson on defense.
In the offseason many Dallas fans wanted to double down on a free agent. Dallas did nothing.
Leading up to the draft, fans zeroed in on the OGs they wanted to draft to fill the gaping hole in the lineup. Dallas did nothing.
Dallas fans screamed about the possibility of playing backups like Derrick Dockery as the starter. Dallas said in interviews they liked a practice squad guy they were developing.
Mickey Spagnola trotted out the usual team apologies writing this poor excuse for a sports article:
He looks strong as bull.
Built like one of those top-loading deep freezers.
And to most out there, he's a forgotten man, and understandably.
But around here, when so many want to throw jab after jab at the Cowboys for failing to do enough this offseason to improve their offensive line, they must snicker quietly to themselves. They know better. They know they've got a real shot at multiple upgrades to the interior of this offensive line.
But here is the most silent shot being loaded, and let me be one of the first to pull back the under-the-radar curtain on …
Ronald Leary.
https://www.dallascowboys.com/news/spagnola-this-guy-on-the-cowboys-offensive-line-radar-337496
Leary went on to start the next four years and play well. Beyond Leary they have had other Practice Squad players like Dwayne Harris contribute (he later made the Pro Bowl for NYG as a ST player). They have also had late adds or futures players like Antwuan Woods start after joining the team off waivers in camp. The early version of David Irving came from another team’s PS late in the season.
Fortunately Dallas has drafted well enough that they only have one obvious hole in the starting lineup at the moment IMO at Cornerback. So who is this year’s Ron Leary? Who could surprise? We have a long list of Practice Squad, Injured Reserve and back of the roster players who could move into significant roles on the team in a Ron Leary type surprise:
WR:
Noah Brown is still only 24 and has a ton of physical talent
Cedric Wilson has flashed and got reps late in the season
JonVea Johnson had a lot of buzz in training camp but was very raw. He has excellent deep speed.
Devin Smith played well in games 2 & 3, then never played again for reasons unknown.
TE:
I don’t see it, but Dalton Schulz could improve
Swing Tackle:
If either one of Brandon Knight or Mitch Hyatt steps up to win the Swing Tackle spot it would be a real bonus. Knight played better than expected last year as a UDFA.
RDE:
Aldon Smith and Randy Gregory are the lottery tickets but Dorance Armstrong actually played well in limited reps. If he took a big jump forward he could conceivably start.
Joe Jackson made the roster and is more of a LDE, but could easily improve.
Jalen Jelks has physical skills and bend, he was good enough to stash on the IR with a fake injury to avoid exposing him to waivers.
LB:
Luke Gifford flashed at times and could step up into a bigger role
CB:
Chris Westry is a 6’4” CB from the practice squad but it’s the longest of longshots to think he could start. Jourdan Lewis taking over as a starter and playing well is the more likely surprise if you look at internal candidates. If we don’t draft a CB high, look for that to be a big topic of discussion.
Safety:
Donovan Wilson was like a Ron Leary with great physical skills but in need of the “the game slowing down”. He could step up in the Jeff Heath role as a hard hitting 3rd safety.
So would be your picks for a breakout player from the back of the roster?
Mine would be Devin Smith on offense and Donovan Wilson on defense.
CB JEFF OKUDAH
