gimmesix
Fat, drunk and stupid is no way to go through life
- Messages
- 40,036
- Reaction score
- 37,194
With OTAs and the minicamps completed, here's a look at Dallas' roster as we wait on training camp:
QUARTERBACKS Tony Romo, Brad Johnson, Richard Bartel
Romo has taken steps to improve his game, such as standing taller and setting his feet better in the pocket, and the reports out of minicamp were that he was throwing the ball really well. Not much was reported on Johnson, and the information on Bartel was mixed. He dropped weight, shortened his release and worked on his footwork during the offseason, but it seemed like almost every time an interception was mentioned, he was throwing it.
OUTLOOK Right now, it's apparent that Romo's game could be getting even better than it's been (which in some ways should be expected since he's a "young" starter), while Johnson will continue in the backup role despite not doing anything impressive. Although it could change, it doesn't appear that Bartel is ready to demand a roster spot as Dallas should be able to get him back to the practice squad and go with Patrick Crayton (or Isaiah Stanback) and his 65- to 70-yard inaccurate arm as the emergency guy. It certainly wouldn't be a surprise, though, for Dallas to snatch up a cut young veteran to compete with Johnson and possibly be the third QB this year.
FULLBACKS Deon Anderson, Ronnie Cruz and Julius Crosslin
It's good to hear that Anderson's rehab from a torn rotator cuff took less time than expected, and the fact that he was playing with a partially torn rotator cuff (along with typical second-year progress) should give us hope that he'll be a better player. And even though it appears he has some weight and food (and sanity) issues, it sounds like he was able to drop to around his playing weight before minicamp and also was able to pick up some useful information on technique and work habits from Daryl Johnston. Not much was reported on the other two fullbacks, although I remember reading about Cruz at least catching a pass or two.
OUTLOOK The starting job has been clearly placed in Anderson's hands, but how much we actually use a fullback (instead of a second tight end) most likely depends on his development. He's got the hands and attitude to handle the position, but can he show enough dependability as a blocker to be needed on the field? That will be determined at training camp, along with whether Cruz or Crosslin can give us reason to keep two fullbacks on the roster (which I don't think they will).
RUNNING BACKS Marion Barber, Felix Jones, Tashard Choice, Alonzo Coleman, Keon Lattimore
Coach Wade Phillips has made it clear that Barber is the starter and his expected workload is going to be about what he received in the playoff game, with Jones and Choice receiving the remaining (8 to 10) carries. But that doesn't mean Jones won't receive more playing time than that, sometimes lining up in the backfield with Barber and motioning wide or sometimes being the only back in the backfield and motioning wide. Jones wasn't known for his receiving skills at Arkansas (didn't really get a chance to show them), but Dallas seems eager to get him involved in the passing game. Not much has been said about Choice, although it was reported that he showed a good burst to the outside, which is a good thing to hear about a slower back. Coleman has gotten some praise from Jerry Jones, but Phillips hasn't really mentioned him, and Lattimore only gets press for being Ray Lewis' brother.
OUTLOOK I don't think Barber will be used quite as much as Phillips says, but will be the starter and finisher. Jones' role appears to be, and has been described as, similar to Reggie Bush's in New Orleans. We can expect him to be motioning into and out of the backfield, being involved in screens and being used some even to stretch the field. I don't think much will be left over for Choice to do in the running game, but I do think his attitude gives him a chance to be a strong special-teams contributor. And, my surprise pick for the roster, is Coleman. It's not smart to buy into Jerry Jones' hyperbole, but I think Coleman will prove to be too hard to cut because of his "4.3" speed and toughmindedness. His ankle sprain didn't allow us to see what he could do last preseason, so the test will be whether he can stay healthy and show that he's worth keeping on the roster. If not, he'll likely at least earn a return trip to the practice squad, something I don't expect Lattimore to do.
WIDE RECEIVERS Terrell Owens, Terry Glenn, Patrick Crayton, Sam Hurd, Miles Austin, Isaiah Stanback, Danny Amendola, Mark Bradford, Mike Jefferson, Daniel Polk
Despite missing minicamp, Owens has shown no reason to expect a slip in his play this season. He's got a good attitude and is even being looked to as a leader. The bad attitude at the position has ceom from a different source - Glenn. It's somewhat understandable that he is bothered by any attempt to reduce his pay, but the attempt being made by Dallas shows that the Cowboys don't have a lot of faith in his knee holding up for the entire season. With Owens away, Hurd and Austin have shown they are ready to play. Austin has gotten the most praise for his ability to get open (and provide a deep threat) and because he has shown better hands than in the past. Hurd has gained some weight and seems to be making good use of his bigger body. Not much has been said about Crayton, other than we can watch for him attempting a wide receiver pass. Stanback has shown progress, but isn't consistent enough to be on the same level as Hurd and Austin. Amendola seems to be doing the most of the other four, showing the quickness to get some separation, while injuries and a change of position seem to be making it slow going for Polk.
OUTLOOK Expect the same group to be kept as last year, unless something can't be worked out with Glenn (I think a compromise will be reached). I see Owens putting up similar numbers as last year, but it should be interesting to see what Dallas does at the other starting spot. I think Glenn will get limited snaps with a mixture of Crayton, Austin and possibly Hurd stepping in as the No. 2. We might even see Felix Jones and Adam Jones as the second receiver at times. Stanback could be put in there for specific plays, but unless he earns a kick returning job (which looks doubtful), he probably won't be active very often. Amendola might can take a spot if Glenn refuses to compromise or shows he can't go in training camp, but it's more likely Dallas tries to put him on the practice squad. Polk could prove intriguing enough to make the practice squad, and I'm interested in seeing what Bradford can do, despite not much being reported about him.
TIGHT ENDS Jason Witten, Tony Curtis, Martellus Bennett, Rodney Hannah, Drew Atchison
It doesn't seem like much has been written about Witten, other than him being vastly underrated nationally and him showing a good attitude about striving to be better as a player and team. I don't think there's any doubt about his role and importance to this team, though. The focus of the media attention has been on Bennett not looking real good overall. Bennett has admitted to overthinking his job, leading to him not running plays at full speed or consistently handling his assignments and to Curtis being ahead of him on the depth chart. Some of that has to do with the development of Curtis, who made a few notable plays in minicamp (as did Bennett, who was more noted for his mistakes, though). I expected to hear more about Hannah after he received some good reports in the rookie minicamp, but not much else has been said, and Atchison isn't getting any press.
OUTLOOK I think we can expect Witten to continue being Dallas' true No. 2 receiver, even possibly getting more plays split wide. It won't surprise me, though, for Curtis to hold the No. 2 tight end role throughout the season. Dallas was comfortable trading Anthony Fasano because of Curtis' play, and it appears it's going to take time for Bennett to get up to speed and have any shot of overtaking him. Bennett shows flashes of ability, so there's no need to panic while he figures things out, especially with Curtis showing he can handle being the second tight end. Maybe Hannah can make an argument for a fourth tight end being kept, especially since the Cowboys won't likely keep more than one fullback, but I think either he or Atchison ends up on the practice squad and Dallas sticks with just three on the roster.
LINE Flozell Adams, Kyle Kosier, Andre Gurode, Leonard Davis, Marc Colombo, Doug Free, Joe Berger, Cory Proctor, James Marten, Pat McQuistan, Cory Lekkerkerker, Adam Stenavich, Ryan Gibbons
Not much can be gleaned about the line from minicamp workouts. The biggest news is that Marten got some playing time at guard and it appears that the backup tackles are set to be Free and McQuistan, whom many expected to be moved inside. The Cowboys did cut their only rookie lineman, Brandon Hale, and replaced him with a versatile former Jacksonville Jaguars practice squadder.
OUTLOOK With the same cast returning from last year, the Cowboys could go with 10 linemen again. But if Marten shows well at guard (the only report I remember seeing was about him getting tossed aside by Chris Canty), the Cowboys could let go of Berger, who will be an unrestricted free agent next offseason anyway. Berger could also just get beat out by one of the young vets, especially Lekkerkerker, who has some history with line coach Hudson Houck. Although we won't know much about the development of our starting line until camp, it does appear that some tweaks are being made to things Houck prefers, which could be a good thing based on the New York Giants showing Dallas' line isn't quite as good as the hype.
QUARTERBACKS Tony Romo, Brad Johnson, Richard Bartel
Romo has taken steps to improve his game, such as standing taller and setting his feet better in the pocket, and the reports out of minicamp were that he was throwing the ball really well. Not much was reported on Johnson, and the information on Bartel was mixed. He dropped weight, shortened his release and worked on his footwork during the offseason, but it seemed like almost every time an interception was mentioned, he was throwing it.
OUTLOOK Right now, it's apparent that Romo's game could be getting even better than it's been (which in some ways should be expected since he's a "young" starter), while Johnson will continue in the backup role despite not doing anything impressive. Although it could change, it doesn't appear that Bartel is ready to demand a roster spot as Dallas should be able to get him back to the practice squad and go with Patrick Crayton (or Isaiah Stanback) and his 65- to 70-yard inaccurate arm as the emergency guy. It certainly wouldn't be a surprise, though, for Dallas to snatch up a cut young veteran to compete with Johnson and possibly be the third QB this year.
FULLBACKS Deon Anderson, Ronnie Cruz and Julius Crosslin
It's good to hear that Anderson's rehab from a torn rotator cuff took less time than expected, and the fact that he was playing with a partially torn rotator cuff (along with typical second-year progress) should give us hope that he'll be a better player. And even though it appears he has some weight and food (and sanity) issues, it sounds like he was able to drop to around his playing weight before minicamp and also was able to pick up some useful information on technique and work habits from Daryl Johnston. Not much was reported on the other two fullbacks, although I remember reading about Cruz at least catching a pass or two.
OUTLOOK The starting job has been clearly placed in Anderson's hands, but how much we actually use a fullback (instead of a second tight end) most likely depends on his development. He's got the hands and attitude to handle the position, but can he show enough dependability as a blocker to be needed on the field? That will be determined at training camp, along with whether Cruz or Crosslin can give us reason to keep two fullbacks on the roster (which I don't think they will).
RUNNING BACKS Marion Barber, Felix Jones, Tashard Choice, Alonzo Coleman, Keon Lattimore
Coach Wade Phillips has made it clear that Barber is the starter and his expected workload is going to be about what he received in the playoff game, with Jones and Choice receiving the remaining (8 to 10) carries. But that doesn't mean Jones won't receive more playing time than that, sometimes lining up in the backfield with Barber and motioning wide or sometimes being the only back in the backfield and motioning wide. Jones wasn't known for his receiving skills at Arkansas (didn't really get a chance to show them), but Dallas seems eager to get him involved in the passing game. Not much has been said about Choice, although it was reported that he showed a good burst to the outside, which is a good thing to hear about a slower back. Coleman has gotten some praise from Jerry Jones, but Phillips hasn't really mentioned him, and Lattimore only gets press for being Ray Lewis' brother.
OUTLOOK I don't think Barber will be used quite as much as Phillips says, but will be the starter and finisher. Jones' role appears to be, and has been described as, similar to Reggie Bush's in New Orleans. We can expect him to be motioning into and out of the backfield, being involved in screens and being used some even to stretch the field. I don't think much will be left over for Choice to do in the running game, but I do think his attitude gives him a chance to be a strong special-teams contributor. And, my surprise pick for the roster, is Coleman. It's not smart to buy into Jerry Jones' hyperbole, but I think Coleman will prove to be too hard to cut because of his "4.3" speed and toughmindedness. His ankle sprain didn't allow us to see what he could do last preseason, so the test will be whether he can stay healthy and show that he's worth keeping on the roster. If not, he'll likely at least earn a return trip to the practice squad, something I don't expect Lattimore to do.
WIDE RECEIVERS Terrell Owens, Terry Glenn, Patrick Crayton, Sam Hurd, Miles Austin, Isaiah Stanback, Danny Amendola, Mark Bradford, Mike Jefferson, Daniel Polk
Despite missing minicamp, Owens has shown no reason to expect a slip in his play this season. He's got a good attitude and is even being looked to as a leader. The bad attitude at the position has ceom from a different source - Glenn. It's somewhat understandable that he is bothered by any attempt to reduce his pay, but the attempt being made by Dallas shows that the Cowboys don't have a lot of faith in his knee holding up for the entire season. With Owens away, Hurd and Austin have shown they are ready to play. Austin has gotten the most praise for his ability to get open (and provide a deep threat) and because he has shown better hands than in the past. Hurd has gained some weight and seems to be making good use of his bigger body. Not much has been said about Crayton, other than we can watch for him attempting a wide receiver pass. Stanback has shown progress, but isn't consistent enough to be on the same level as Hurd and Austin. Amendola seems to be doing the most of the other four, showing the quickness to get some separation, while injuries and a change of position seem to be making it slow going for Polk.
OUTLOOK Expect the same group to be kept as last year, unless something can't be worked out with Glenn (I think a compromise will be reached). I see Owens putting up similar numbers as last year, but it should be interesting to see what Dallas does at the other starting spot. I think Glenn will get limited snaps with a mixture of Crayton, Austin and possibly Hurd stepping in as the No. 2. We might even see Felix Jones and Adam Jones as the second receiver at times. Stanback could be put in there for specific plays, but unless he earns a kick returning job (which looks doubtful), he probably won't be active very often. Amendola might can take a spot if Glenn refuses to compromise or shows he can't go in training camp, but it's more likely Dallas tries to put him on the practice squad. Polk could prove intriguing enough to make the practice squad, and I'm interested in seeing what Bradford can do, despite not much being reported about him.
TIGHT ENDS Jason Witten, Tony Curtis, Martellus Bennett, Rodney Hannah, Drew Atchison
It doesn't seem like much has been written about Witten, other than him being vastly underrated nationally and him showing a good attitude about striving to be better as a player and team. I don't think there's any doubt about his role and importance to this team, though. The focus of the media attention has been on Bennett not looking real good overall. Bennett has admitted to overthinking his job, leading to him not running plays at full speed or consistently handling his assignments and to Curtis being ahead of him on the depth chart. Some of that has to do with the development of Curtis, who made a few notable plays in minicamp (as did Bennett, who was more noted for his mistakes, though). I expected to hear more about Hannah after he received some good reports in the rookie minicamp, but not much else has been said, and Atchison isn't getting any press.
OUTLOOK I think we can expect Witten to continue being Dallas' true No. 2 receiver, even possibly getting more plays split wide. It won't surprise me, though, for Curtis to hold the No. 2 tight end role throughout the season. Dallas was comfortable trading Anthony Fasano because of Curtis' play, and it appears it's going to take time for Bennett to get up to speed and have any shot of overtaking him. Bennett shows flashes of ability, so there's no need to panic while he figures things out, especially with Curtis showing he can handle being the second tight end. Maybe Hannah can make an argument for a fourth tight end being kept, especially since the Cowboys won't likely keep more than one fullback, but I think either he or Atchison ends up on the practice squad and Dallas sticks with just three on the roster.
LINE Flozell Adams, Kyle Kosier, Andre Gurode, Leonard Davis, Marc Colombo, Doug Free, Joe Berger, Cory Proctor, James Marten, Pat McQuistan, Cory Lekkerkerker, Adam Stenavich, Ryan Gibbons
Not much can be gleaned about the line from minicamp workouts. The biggest news is that Marten got some playing time at guard and it appears that the backup tackles are set to be Free and McQuistan, whom many expected to be moved inside. The Cowboys did cut their only rookie lineman, Brandon Hale, and replaced him with a versatile former Jacksonville Jaguars practice squadder.
OUTLOOK With the same cast returning from last year, the Cowboys could go with 10 linemen again. But if Marten shows well at guard (the only report I remember seeing was about him getting tossed aside by Chris Canty), the Cowboys could let go of Berger, who will be an unrestricted free agent next offseason anyway. Berger could also just get beat out by one of the young vets, especially Lekkerkerker, who has some history with line coach Hudson Houck. Although we won't know much about the development of our starting line until camp, it does appear that some tweaks are being made to things Houck prefers, which could be a good thing based on the New York Giants showing Dallas' line isn't quite as good as the hype.
