gimmesix
Fat, drunk and stupid is no way to go through life
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Although it's possible that Dallas is still looking at some free agents to add, here's my breakdown of offensive side of the 55-man roster if it stays as is (with comments on where it shouldn't stay as is). The players in parenthesis are practice squad players who could be brought up each week to fill out the 55.
OFFENSE
QB (3)
Dak Prescott, Cooper Rush, Ben DiNucci
Comments It would be best if Dallas upgraded its No. 2 spot for now with a veteran to allow time to see if DiNucci will at least develop into a competent backup. No one can feel good about the possibility of putting Rush in if something happened to Prescott. We'd have to be hoping that DiNucci is a great find who can step in immediately if needed, and that's a lot to hope for.
RB (2)
Ezekiel Elliott, Tony Pollard (Darius Anderson, Sewo Olonilua)
Comments If there's any position where Dallas might go short, it's tailback because of the quality there in Elliott and Pollard. My feeling is that Anderson and/or Olonilua will be kept on the practice spot and possibly be among the players brought up during the week, especially if either can play special teams. Olonilua can be a short-yardage back as he learns how to play fullback. I thought last year that Jordan Chunn might be a fullback conversion project because he doesn't offer much as a tailback.
FB (1)
Jamize Olawale
Comments Although Olawale is not a bad fullback if utilized properly in the passing game, the hope would be to improve this position with a better run blocker and runner. Sewo Olonilua would be a good choice for that as far as the running goes (and he has good hands out of the backfield), but we don't know much about him as a blocker. Charlie Taumoepeau could end up being an H-back/tight end conversion product here like Olawale was, but he seems far more effective as a receiver than a blocker. A practice squad spot could give him time to develop.
TE (3)
Blake Jarwin, Blake Bell, Dalton Schultz (Charlie Taumoepeau)
Comments I'm not completely sold on Jarwin's ability to be a full-time tight end. I think the West Coast offense style of play will better suit him, but this is one spot where I wouldn't mind getting a veteran to compete with him, just in case he can't handle it. Bell gives us a blocking tight end/gadget player because of what he brings as a holder on special teams. Maybe Schultz will step up this year, but if he doesn't and we don't get a veteran, Taumoepeau or Sean McKeon or maybe even Cole Hikutini might steal this spot.
OL (9)
Tyron Smith, Connor Williams, Joe Looney, Zack Martin, La'el Collins, Brandon Knight, Connor McGovern, Tyler Biadasz, Adam Redmond (Mitch Hyeatt)
Comments We have a lot of competition for the left guard and center spots with Williams, Looney, McGovern and Biadasz. Knight could even find himself in the mix. What we don't have is a quality backup tackle. Williams might can do it if he loses the guard spot and Knight looked OK when he had to step in at right tackle last year, but that left tackle spot is scary with Tyron's ongoing back issues. Hyeatt could beat out Redmond for the ninth spot on the line, but it would be in Dallas' best interest to go out and get a bona fide backup tackle.
WR (6)
Amari Cooper, CeeDee Lamb, Michael Gallup, Jon'Vea Johnson, Devin Smith, Cedrick Wilson (Stephen Guidry, Kendrick Rogers)
Comments The first three spots are locks, the second three could change hands, especially if Johnson's hands are as bad as they were last year. I don't think we can even count out the other undrafted rookie Aaron Parker, although I do think Smith and Wilson have the upperhand for retaining their spots and Johnson has that speed dimension. I'm counting out Noah Brown at this point.
That gives me 24 players and six practice squad players on offense.
OFFENSE
QB (3)
Dak Prescott, Cooper Rush, Ben DiNucci
Comments It would be best if Dallas upgraded its No. 2 spot for now with a veteran to allow time to see if DiNucci will at least develop into a competent backup. No one can feel good about the possibility of putting Rush in if something happened to Prescott. We'd have to be hoping that DiNucci is a great find who can step in immediately if needed, and that's a lot to hope for.
RB (2)
Ezekiel Elliott, Tony Pollard (Darius Anderson, Sewo Olonilua)
Comments If there's any position where Dallas might go short, it's tailback because of the quality there in Elliott and Pollard. My feeling is that Anderson and/or Olonilua will be kept on the practice spot and possibly be among the players brought up during the week, especially if either can play special teams. Olonilua can be a short-yardage back as he learns how to play fullback. I thought last year that Jordan Chunn might be a fullback conversion project because he doesn't offer much as a tailback.
FB (1)
Jamize Olawale
Comments Although Olawale is not a bad fullback if utilized properly in the passing game, the hope would be to improve this position with a better run blocker and runner. Sewo Olonilua would be a good choice for that as far as the running goes (and he has good hands out of the backfield), but we don't know much about him as a blocker. Charlie Taumoepeau could end up being an H-back/tight end conversion product here like Olawale was, but he seems far more effective as a receiver than a blocker. A practice squad spot could give him time to develop.
TE (3)
Blake Jarwin, Blake Bell, Dalton Schultz (Charlie Taumoepeau)
Comments I'm not completely sold on Jarwin's ability to be a full-time tight end. I think the West Coast offense style of play will better suit him, but this is one spot where I wouldn't mind getting a veteran to compete with him, just in case he can't handle it. Bell gives us a blocking tight end/gadget player because of what he brings as a holder on special teams. Maybe Schultz will step up this year, but if he doesn't and we don't get a veteran, Taumoepeau or Sean McKeon or maybe even Cole Hikutini might steal this spot.
OL (9)
Tyron Smith, Connor Williams, Joe Looney, Zack Martin, La'el Collins, Brandon Knight, Connor McGovern, Tyler Biadasz, Adam Redmond (Mitch Hyeatt)
Comments We have a lot of competition for the left guard and center spots with Williams, Looney, McGovern and Biadasz. Knight could even find himself in the mix. What we don't have is a quality backup tackle. Williams might can do it if he loses the guard spot and Knight looked OK when he had to step in at right tackle last year, but that left tackle spot is scary with Tyron's ongoing back issues. Hyeatt could beat out Redmond for the ninth spot on the line, but it would be in Dallas' best interest to go out and get a bona fide backup tackle.
WR (6)
Amari Cooper, CeeDee Lamb, Michael Gallup, Jon'Vea Johnson, Devin Smith, Cedrick Wilson (Stephen Guidry, Kendrick Rogers)
Comments The first three spots are locks, the second three could change hands, especially if Johnson's hands are as bad as they were last year. I don't think we can even count out the other undrafted rookie Aaron Parker, although I do think Smith and Wilson have the upperhand for retaining their spots and Johnson has that speed dimension. I'm counting out Noah Brown at this point.
That gives me 24 players and six practice squad players on offense.
