TheCount's Early 53-Man Roster

[TheCount]

QB (3) - Tony Romo, Jon Kitna, Stephen McGee

Pretty much set, McGee will see extended reps in the preseason. I'm excited to see what he's got, I'd like to be set at backup for the foreseeable future and shake Kitna loose next year.

RB (3) - Felix Jones, Marion Barber, Tashard Choice

You can write this one in ink.

FB (1) - Deon Anderson (unless he's suspended, if so then Scott Sicko)

I hope Deon stays, people hate him for whatever reason, but all he's done is bust his tail. You all forgot about him throwing his body with reckless abandon into wedges? Doing all the dirty special teams work he needed to do to make this team? He's also a pretty good FB. That being said, he's not irreplaceable.

WR (6) - Miles Austin, Roy Williams, Patrick Crayton, Dez Bryant, Kevin Ogletree, Sam Hurd

I don't see a market for either Hurd or Crayton so I see them coming back. I don't think Dez will start the season at #3, but he'll see the field plenty.

TE (3) - Jason Witten, Martellus Bennett, John Phillips

OL (9) - Doug Free, Kyle Kosier, Andre Gurode, Leonard Davis, Marc Colombo, Montrae Holland, Sam Young, Alex Barron, Robert Brewster

I'm really hoping Brewster and Free pan out, if they do, and with the addition of Barron, our line depth looks pretty darn good, actually.

DL (7) - Marcus Spears, Jay Ratliff, Igor Olshansky, Jason Hatcher, Stephen Bowen, Junior Siavii, Sean Lissemore

I don't see how all these guys will see the field. If Lissemore makes the team, I think he'll be inactive pretty often.

OLB (4) - DeMarcus Ware, Anthony Spencer, Brandon Williams, Victor Butler

ILB (4) - Bradie James, Keith Brooking, Sean Lee, Jason Williams

CB (5) - Terence Newman, Mike Jenkins, Orlando Scandrick, Jamar Wall, Bryan McCann

It's impossible to judge any of these guys based on the minicamps, they are drills meant for the offense. I love McCann's athletic ability and Wall is supposed to be a very good cover guy, I guess we'll see.

S (5) - Gerald Sensabaugh, Alan Ball, Mike Hamlin, Akwasi Owusu-Ansah, Barry Church

I think our future here may very well be Mike Hamlin at SS and AOA at FS, but let's see what happens. I was one of those guys that would have been fine with Hamlin getting a shot at FS, but I was VERY excited with the AOA pick. No need to rush him though.

Specialist (3) - David Buehler, Mat McBriar, L.P. Ladouceur

This would be easier if we just like Buehler snap, hold and kick for himself.

 

[Hoofbite]

I think your avatar would be much better if you went Chocula instead of Dracula.

Nice lineup. I like the idea of Crayton staying.

 

[TheCount]

I think your avatar would be much better if you went Chocula instead of Dracula.

Nice lineup. I like the idea of Crayton staying.

Uh, there's only one Count von Count!

 

[THUMPER]

The only change I would make is at OL & DB. I think we will keep 10 OLs and only 9 DBs since Ball can play either Safety or Corner.

It is likely either Bright or, as much as I hate to say it, Proctor will be on the roster as the backup Center. Maybe they try to put Young on the PS and keep Bright on the roster, in that case we can keep it at 9 OLs.

I'm still not sure that Beeler will be the placekicker. If he isn't then it costs us a roster spot at another position.

 

[CCBoy]

Beat me to it, Thumper....and I think either one of your corners or Church is the loser for the 53 roster. The loser will hit the practice squad, as will a lineman or two and a defensive lineman.

There will be some good camp competition in this year's defensive lineman mix...as Marcus Dixon and an interesting none drafted free agent, Lorenzo Washington will be battling Lissemore as well. Junior Siavii will have to take yet another step if he wishes to retain his spot also. I'm looking for Lissemore to be the swing player for both DE and NT. That might allow Dixon to sneak into the final roster there.

 

[reddyuta]

i think just one of lissimore and Siavii will make the team.also dont count out Dizon,he might have improved tremendously for all we know.

 

[THUMPER]

Beat me to it, Thumper....and I think either one of your corners or Church is the loser for the 53 roster. The loser will hit the practice squad, as will a lineman or two and a defensive lineman.

There will be some good camp competition in this year's defensive lineman mix...as Marcus Dixon and an interesting none drafted free agent, Lorenzo Washington will be battling Lissemore as well. Junior Siavii will have to take yet another step if he wishes to retain his spot also. I'm looking for Lissemore to be the swing player for both DE and NT. That might allow Dixon to sneak into the final roster there.

I agree on your D-Line take. I don't think Siavii has done enough to warrant keeping his roster spot unless he has improved and can beat out Lissemore and Dixon.

Dixon had some skills coming out but has had some setbacks along the way. If he can get it together he could turn out to be a nice player for us. Lissemore's athleticism is intriguing and he could be a very nice surprise for us.

I don't know anything about Lorenzo Washington but I don't think he will make the team unless it is on the PS just from a numbers standpoint. Obviously, if he can beat out the other guys ahead of him then that would change.

 

[Apluz]

Nice roster bro could turn out a lot like that.

I don't think we will keep 6 WR's so Crayton or Hurd is likely out.

I could be wrong but I don't think Jamar Wall (love the name btw) makes the team he would be better off on a cover 2 team like the Tampa, Chicago, or Indianapolis. He would have to shine like Bill Bates did on special teams to make our squad this season.

Also I feel Watkins sticks at safety if the team dose not sign an experienced veteran because he just may be our best special teams player.

 

[AtlCB]

Sam Young probably goes to the PS. Proctor will make it as the backup center again.

I think we keep six wide receivers, but one of the receivers will be a new receiver with a lot of upside who is a great special teams player. Hurd may be the odd man out.

 

[UnoDallas]

nice except I take Gronkowski as FB

and Bright instead of Holland

 

[TheCount]

nice except I take Gronkowski as FB

and Bright instead of Holland

They just signed Holland to a two year deal, so I don't think they'll cut him now unless someone blows them away in camp. And if you dump Holland for Bright, then Barron is the only experienced depth we have, and he doesn't play guard.

I agree on your D-Line take. I don't think Siavii has done enough to warrant keeping his roster spot unless he has improved and can beat out Lissemore and Dixon.

Dixon had some skills coming out but has had some setbacks along the way. If he can get it together he could turn out to be a nice player for us. Lissemore's athleticism is intriguing and he could be a very nice surprise for us.

I don't know anything about Lorenzo Washington but I don't think he will make the team unless it is on the PS just from a numbers standpoint. Obviously, if he can beat out the other guys ahead of him then that would change.

I kept Siavii for pretty much his size and the fact that I haven't seen a lick of Lissemore at NT or DE for that matter. If he does enough to beat out Jr, I'm all for it but I'd like to keep a large backup NT to spell Ratliff. Ratliff excels at NT as more of an exception than the rule, in my book.

Dixon, I hear a lot about because of his story but haven't actually seen him do much of anything.

 

[Biggems]

Offense (25)
QB (3) - Romo, Kitna, McGee
RB (3) - Jones, Barber, Choice
FB (1) - Gronkowski
WR (5) - Austin, Williams, Bryant, Crayton, Ogletree
TE (3) - Witten, Bennett, Phillips
OL (10) - Free, Kosier, Gurode, Davis, Colombo, Barron, Brewster, Bright, Holland, Young

Defense (25)
DE (4) - Spears, Olshansky, Bowen, Lissemore
DT (2) - Ratliff, Siavii
LB (9) - Ware, Spencer, Brooking, James, J. Williams, B. Williams, Lee, Butler, Hodge
CB (5) - Jenkins, Newman, Scandrick, McCann, Wall
S (5) - Ball, Hamlin, Sensabaugh, AOA, Church

Specialists (3)
K (1) - Beuhler
P (1) - McBriar
LS (1) - LPL

However, if we sign Atogwe, I see Church or Wall as the odd man out.

 

[FLcowboy]

QB (3) - Tony Romo, Jon Kitna, Stephen McGee

Pretty much set, McGee will see extended reps in the preseason. I'm excited to see what he's got, I'd like to be set at backup for the foreseeable future and shake Kitna loose next year.

McGee was a replacement for Moore who was signed off the practice squad. He is stop-gap at best. Cowboys need to really draft a QB in '11

FB (1) - Deon Anderson (unless he's suspended, if so then Scott Sicko)

I hope Deon stays, people hate him for whatever reason, but all he's done is bust his tail. You all forgot about him throwing his body with reckless abandon into wedges? Doing all the dirty special teams work he needed to do to make this team? He's also a pretty good FB. That being said, he's not irreplaceable.

Remember how Daryl Johnston used to catch passes out of the backfield? Cricket has stones for hands. If Sicko can block, I'm for him, and, Phillips proved last year he could block out of the backfield.

OL (9) - Doug Free, Kyle Kosier, Andre Gurode, Leonard Davis, Marc Colombo, Montrae Holland, Sam Young, Alex Barron, Robert Brewster

I'm really hoping Brewster and Free pan out, if they do, and with the addition of Barron, our line depth looks pretty darn good, actually.

I just hope Brewster pans out. I already know Free will. Barron makes this line a lot stronger, but Free played really well last year.

DL (7) - Marcus Spears, Jay Ratliff, Igor Olshansky, Jason Hatcher, Stephen Bowen, Junior Siavii, Sean Lissemore

I don't see how all these guys will see the field. If Lissemore makes the team, I think he'll be inactive pretty often.

I see Lissemore pushing Siavii out of the rotation with his speed. He probably needs to bulk up a little, and get stronger, but his speed could revolutionize the position.

S (5) - Gerald Sensabaugh, Alan Ball, Mike Hamlin, Akwasi Owusu-Ansah, Barry Church

I think our future here may very well be Mike Hamlin at SS and AOA at FS, but let's see what happens. I was one of those guys that would have been fine with Hamlin getting a shot at FS, but I was VERY excited with the AOA pick. No need to rush him though.

I totally agree here. AOL is going to surprise a lot of people.

 

[Everlastingxxx]

I don't see a market for either Hurd or Crayton so I see them coming back. I don't think Dez will start the season at #3, but he'll see the field plenty.

I think there is. But, wait till injuries happen during training camp. If there is a market for Carpenter there is a market for these two players. If Amendola cant find a spot on the Cowboys roster but can start somewhere else. No doubt both of these players can be useful to another team.

So who is playing #3 to start the season? The other possible options are two guys no other team would want according to your statement.

 

[speedkilz88]

McGee was a replacement for Moore who was signed off the practice squad. He is stop-gap at best. Cowboys need to really draft a QB in '11



Remember how Daryl Johnston used to catch passes out of the backfield? Cricket has stones for hands. If Sicko can block, I'm for him, and, Phillips proved last year he could block out of the backfield.



I just hope Brewster pans out. I already know Free will. Barron makes this line a lot stronger, but Free played really well last year.



I see Lissemore pushing Siavii out of the rotation with his speed. He probably needs to bulk up a little, and get stronger, but his speed could revolutionize the position.



I totally agree here. AOL is going to surprise a lot of people.

Stop gap? McGee was their 4th round pick last year(1st pick in that round).

I like Phillips, but I think it was DC.COM that pointed out that the Cowboys rushing average was much better with Anderson at FB than Phillips at H-Back.

Ever heard of Jay Ratliff? He's a really quick but undersized pro bowl NT. He's the guy that they are comparing Lissemore to(It's already been done and Wade has had a guy like that before in Denver I think.)

 

[THUMPER]

Stop gap? McGee was their 4th round pick last year(1st pick in that round).

I like Phillips, but I think it was DC.COM that pointed out that the Cowboys rushing average was much better with Anderson at FB than Phillips at H-Back.

Ever heard of Jay Ratliff? He's a really quick but undersized pro bowl NT. He's the guy that they are comparing Lissemore to(It's already been done and Wade has had a guy like that before in Denver I think.)

I think he is thinking of Richard Bartel, who we had around the same time as Moore and he was the PS QB after Moore was picked up by the Panthers.

I still rue losing Moore BTW. Not that he would beat out Romo but he would have been infinitely better than Brad Johnson that year.

 

[TheCount]

I think there is. But, wait till injuries happen during training camp. If there is a market for Carpenter there is a market for these two players. If Amendola cant find a spot on the Cowboys roster but can start somewhere else. No doubt both of these players can be useful to another team.

So who is playing #3 to start the season? The other possible options are two guys no other team would want according to your statement.

Actually, I never said no other team would want them. I think you may have jumped to that conclusion on your own.

I think they are more valuable to us than they would be to most other teams. What would you, as a GM, give up for Patrick Crayton and/or Sam Hurd, out of curiosity?

McGee was a replacement for Moore who was signed off the practice squad. He is stop-gap at best. Cowboys need to really draft a QB in '11

We invested a pretty high pick in McGee considering we have a relatively young franchise QB, I don't think he's going anywhere.

 

[Apluz]

Stop gap? McGee was their 4th round pick last year(1st pick in that round).

I like Phillips, but I think it was DC.COM that pointed out that the Cowboys rushing average was much better with Anderson at FB than Phillips at H-Back.

Ever heard of Jay Ratliff? He's a really quick but undersized pro bowl NT. He's the guy that they are comparing Lissemore to(It's already been done and Wade has had a guy like that before in Denver I think.)

Speed I think your forgetting that as good as Ratliff is it took him a couple seasons to develop into a solid NT. He was the perfect compliment to Big Ferg because Jason was stout on run downs and Ratliff came in on passing downs The team will not count on Lissemore as a rookie in that role he will need time to get bigger and stronger just like Ratliff did.

Lissemore can find a role in our nickle and dime packages when we go to 4 down linemen and I'm sure he will see some time at DE for us if he makes the squad but NT is not in the cards for him this season.

I couldn't find anything stating that team ran better with Anderson at FB then Phillips at HB but there is evidence the team ran far better from 2 TE sets then any other formation we used.

Source

Phillips had a 3.8 run blocking grade and ranked 12th in the league in that area. Considering Phillips was a rookie that grade is outstanding and should get even better now that he has a clue. Without a doubt Dallas has 3 of the best blocking tightends in the NFL!

Anderson is on the bubble big time, his off field troubles only exacerbates that fact.

 

[BourbonBalz]

Offense (25)
QB (3) - Romo, Kitna, McGee
RB (3) - Jones, Barber, Choice
FB (1) - Gronkowski
WR (5) - Austin, Williams, Bryant, Crayton, Ogletree
TE (3) - Witten, Bennett, Phillips
OL (10) - Free, Kosier, Gurode, Davis, Colombo, Barron, Brewster, Bright, Holland, Young

Defense (25)
DE (4) - Spears, Olshansky, Bowen, Lissemore
DT (2) - Ratliff, Siavii
LB (9) - Ware, Spencer, Brooking, James, J. Williams, B. Williams, Lee, Butler, Hodge
CB (5) - Jenkins, Newman, Scandrick, McCann, Wall
S (5) - Ball, Hamlin, Sensabaugh, AOA, Church

Specialists (3)
K (1) - Beuhler
P (1) - McBriar
LS (1) - LPL

However, if we sign Atogwe, I see Church or Wall as the odd man out.

No Hatcher?????

 

[67CowboysFan]

No Hatcher?????

That was the first thing I noticed when I read that. Siavii is gone long before Hatcher. Lissemore can swing into the NT.