Stephen Jones talks upcoming roster decisions

[DCBoysfan]

I can see, easily 4 or 5 moves after the roster is supposedly set, including after week 1.

I can see this also, I expect a number of changes after the final 53 is set.

 

[Gaede]

I hate to see us make a trade.

Just pick up a body that you think can get us through some games until some of these guys are healthy.

I agree. A trade of a good pick is a waste considering the roster; one player is not going to make this team playoff caliber

 

[KDM256]

At this point I would keep Romo & Weeden going into the season. No need to carry a 3rd QB when that spot can go towards the Defense. If Romo goes down, then pick up someone when its time to cross that bridge.

 

[CATCH17]

At this point I would keep Romo & Weeden going into the season. No need to carry a 3rd QB when that spot can go towards the Defense. If Romo goes down, then pick up someone when its time to cross that bridge.

I would rather keep Vaughn then carry Weeden.

I do see some upside with Vaughn and Weeden is still hurling the ball into heavy traffic which is what got him dropped from the Browns.

 

[Fla Cowpoke]

I agree we could end up signing 4-5 players even after the first game. In a couple spots I think we have guys we could end up keeping that aren't as good as players at other positions due to injury and suspension. We won't have Scandrick so we might end up keeping a corner that isn't as talented as a WR that we cut, or RB, or even OL. A couple DL will make the team that probably shouldn't due to the inj and lack of bodies there.

Just the way it goes.

 

[pancakeman]

I agree. Which really shows you the lack of talent on this roster.

So other teams' 54th/55th/56th best players are better than the Cowboys' 51st/52nd/53rd? Not that big of a deal.

 

[JakeCamp12]

What? You don't like finding your edge rusher in August final camp cuts?

What could possibly go wrong with that?

They found him in the draft, but he was hurt in camp. They addressed the position, the player is hurt.

 

[Doomsday101]

What? You don't like finding your edge rusher in August final camp cuts?

What could possibly go wrong with that?

They have that is Demarcus Lawrence that is why he was drafted, you really think they knew in April that he would suffer a broken foot? I would think Dallas will look to released players some with experience to help fill in until we can get Lawrence back. But to make it out as if Dallas did not do anything to address the outside rusher is false, they did so in the draft.

 

[Doomsday101]

They found him in the draft, but he was hurt in camp. They addressed the position, the player is hurt.

Exactly, He sit there and acts as if Dallas did nothing, BS they did. Of course it is spun as Dallas did nothing to address the position leaving out certain facts that do not fit the agenda

 

[Idgit]

They found him in the draft, but he was hurt in camp. They addressed the position, the player is hurt.

Obviously. Though it is pretty silly that we had one guy on the roster capable of filling that role. Well, two, if you count Mincey, which I try not to.

I still think Selvie could play it. Apparently, the team disagrees.

 

[xwalker]

• The running backs. DeMarco Murray and Lance Dunbar are locks. Joseph Randle and Ryan Williams are battling for the third spot. Or is it possible that the Cowboys will carry all four of them? “I wouldn’t rule it out,” Jones said.
The Cowboys need to focus on acquiring talent. It appears that the 4th RB is more talented than the 10th DL, or the 7th LB or the 10th OL.

• Third quarterback. Considering the state of Tony Romo’s back, it might seem logical that the Cowboys carry three quarterbacks again. Brandon Weeden is the backup with Caleb Hanie and Dustin Vaughan being the options for the third quarterback. But Jones said Romo’s health does “not necessarily” force the team to carry three.
Please don't carry 3. They've lost 1 QB that they tried to get to the PS (Matt Moore) that ended up starting NFL games and he wasn't elite. He's now a backup at age 30.

• Injured players. The Cowboys are in need of pass rushers and face decisions with Anthony Spencer and DeMarcus Lawrence. Spencer is on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list and would have to be placed on the 53-man roster before the season opener in order to play before Week 7. Lawrence, meanwhile, would have to be on the 53-man or be forced to miss the first eight weeks on short-term injured reserve. “We’ll work through that [by Friday],” Jones said.
Please keep Spencer on PUP. If he's not practicing at this point, he's not going to be up to speed for several weeks.

They have to keep Lawrence on the 53 for the initial cuts and can then put him on DFR-IR and bring back another player that clears waivers. They can't prevent that player from being exposed to waivers.

• Offensive line. Could the team opt to only go with eight instead of the normal nine or 10? “That’s a reach. You’re getting real thin,” Jones said.
They basically only had 8 last season. I don't think Weems was ready to contribute as the 9th guy. Parnell has been the only backup OT for most of the past 3 years. Costa and Arkin were the backup interior guys last season and they cut Arkin at some point. Keeping 8 would be plenty to play the season. The 9th or 10th would be a developmental player(s). Weems is the only developmental guy that might not make the Practice Squad, IMO.

 

[Risen Star]

They found him in the draft, but he was hurt in camp. They addressed the position, the player is hurt.

When your contingency plan at such a critical position is the August cut list in the event the rookie from Boise St. isn't immediately productive, you might not know what you're doing.

 

[Phoenix]

Among the competitions that Jones weighed in on:

• The running backs. DeMarco Murray and Lance Dunbar are locks. Joseph Randle and Ryan Williams are battling for the third spot. Or is it possible that the Cowboys will carry all four of them? “I wouldn’t rule it out,” Jones said.

• Third quarterback. Considering the state of Tony Romo’s back, it might seem logical that the Cowboys carry three quarterbacks again. Brandon Weeden is the backup with Caleb Hanie and Dustin Vaughan being the options for the third quarterback. But Jones said Romo’s health does “not necessarily” force the team to carry three.

• Injured players. The Cowboys are in need of pass rushers and face decisions with Anthony Spencer and DeMarcus Lawrence. Spencer is on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list and would have to be placed on the 53-man roster before the season opener in order to play before Week 7. Lawrence, meanwhile, would have to be on the 53-man or be forced to miss the first eight weeks on short-term injured reserve. “We’ll work through that [by Friday],” Jones said.

• Offensive line. Could the team opt to only go with eight instead of the normal nine or 10? “That’s a reach. You’re getting real thin,” Jones said.

http://www.star-telegram.com/2014/08/25/6067325/stephen-jones-talks-upcoming-roster.html?rh=1


Read more here: http://www.star-telegram.com/2014/0...talks-upcoming-roster.html?rh=1#storylink=cpy

So basically no information whatsoever. Cool. Thanks Junior.

 

[Idgit]

• Injured players. The Cowboys are in need of pass rushers and face decisions with Anthony Spencer and DeMarcus Lawrence. Spencer is on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list and would have to be placed on the 53-man roster before the season opener in order to play before Week 7. Lawrence, meanwhile, would have to be on the 53-man or be forced to miss the first eight weeks on short-term injured reserve. “We’ll work through that [by Friday],” Jones said.
Please keep Spencer on PUP. If he's not practicing at this point, he's not going to be up to speed for several weeks.

Maybe a dumb question to ask, but the Cowboys have a good relationship with Spencer's agent. He signed an incentive-laden deal in the offseason....what are the chances that they err on the side of getting him some playing time as a goodwill gesture here when it's not really in the best interest of the team to take the chance? That seems unlikely, but I can't understand keeping the guy available if he's yet to put on pads in any other circumstance.

 

[Verdict]

• The running backs. DeMarco Murray and Lance Dunbar are locks. Joseph Randle and Ryan Williams are battling for the third spot. Or is it possible that the Cowboys will carry all four of them? “I wouldn’t rule it out,” Jones said.
The Cowboys need to focus on acquiring talent. It appears that the 4th RB is more talented than the 10th DL, or the 7th LB or the 10th OL.

• Third quarterback. Considering the state of Tony Romo’s back, it might seem logical that the Cowboys carry three quarterbacks again. Brandon Weeden is the backup with Caleb Hanie and Dustin Vaughan being the options for the third quarterback. But Jones said Romo’s health does “not necessarily” force the team to carry three.
Please don't carry 3. They've lost 1 QB that they tried to get to the PS (Matt Moore) that ended up starting NFL games and he wasn't elite. He's now a backup at age 30.

• Injured players. The Cowboys are in need of pass rushers and face decisions with Anthony Spencer and DeMarcus Lawrence. Spencer is on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list and would have to be placed on the 53-man roster before the season opener in order to play before Week 7. Lawrence, meanwhile, would have to be on the 53-man or be forced to miss the first eight weeks on short-term injured reserve. “We’ll work through that [by Friday],” Jones said.
Please keep Spencer on PUP. If he's not practicing at this point, he's not going to be up to speed for several weeks.

They have to keep Lawrence on the 53 for the initial cuts and can then put him on DFR-IR and bring back another player that clears waivers. They can't prevent that player from being exposed to waivers.

• Offensive line. Could the team opt to only go with eight instead of the normal nine or 10? “That’s a reach. You’re getting real thin,” Jones said.
They basically only had 8 last season. I don't think Weems was ready to contribute as the 9th guy. Parnell has been the only backup OT for most of the past 3 years. Costa and Arkin were the backup interior guys last season and they cut Arkin at some point. Keeping 8 would be plenty to play the season. The 9th or 10th would be a developmental player(s). Weems is the only developmental guy that might not make the Practice Squad, IMO.

I agree that the Cowboys should make talent acquisition more important than just filling a hole with a body, which they can do over and over at ant point in the season.

I don't think they should keep a third QB unless they have a pretty good idea that he can be the next franchise QB. If Romo gets IR'ed we are probably done anyway, and we might as well tank the season and look for his successor at that point.

I agree on putting Spencer on PUP too. The odds of him contributing more than a fully healthy player for the first six weeks of the season is remote AND if we rush him back too soon, we might lose him for the year. Maybe this happened to Sam Bradford.

I would only keep more than 8 OL if the level of the talent and their level of play justified it.

 

[xwalker]

When Stephen is throwing out the # 7.......I'm thinking you might see some trades. That is a lot of moves to be picking guys up off the street. And probably not the best way to be building a playoff contender.

Did anybody think they were building a playoff contender this season back the spring when they cut Ware. The cutting of Ware was an obvious admission that this is a rebuilding season.

They don't need to be making any short term moves at this point unless there is no cost associated with it.

 

[TwoCentPlain]

I agree. Which really shows you the lack of talent on this roster.

"Lack of talent on this roster?" I see a lot of talent.

WR - So talented our cuts will be picked up by other teams.
OL - Talent there, no doubt. 3 count'em 1st rd picks
QB - Talent
TE - Talent. One of the best to ever play the game.
RB - Talent. 4 deep, what more do you want?
K - Talent. One of the best in the game today.
CB - Talent (Claiborne, Oscan, Carr) and Mitchell, Patmon, Webb have some talent to work with.
S - Church has talent, Wilcox is showing a little something
LB - Talent there with Durant and McClain. Looks like Hitchens is a keeper. Carter has talent. Sean Lee.
DL - Has talent with Melton, McClain, Crawford, Lawrence, Mincey.

Sorry, the roster is talented. You just choose not to see it. And it doesn't go well with your usual Whine-fest. The starting roster is talented. There are some question marks with depth and the DL is a huge mystery. Lee's and Lawrence's injury hurt. Oscan's suspension hurts. It's not like these players aren't talented though.

Every team in the league has issues with depth. Every team in the NFL needs their starters to stay healthy. Ain't nobody out there stacked top to bottom.

 

[Bullflop]

Think they both subscribe to the All-22?

I'm not sure either of them can actually read, much less subscribe to anything. Besides, I've got no clue what that is.

 

[Jerryrage]

When Stephen is throwing out the # 7.......I'm thinking you might see some trades. That is a lot of moves to be picking guys up off the street. And probably not the best way to be building a playoff contender.

When you draft poorly, that's what happens.

 

[Wolfpack]

When your contingency plan at such a critical position is the August cut list in the event the rookie from Boise St. isn't immediately productive, you might not know what you're doing.

Every vet they lowballed walked on them thus the panic trade up for Lawrence. It must take nerves of steel to be "able to do what ever you want" in free agency but have the discipline to lowball Pro-Bowl linemen. That Stephen is a hard nose man of football for sure.