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Cowboys' 53-man roster prediction, take four
Posted at 12:05 PM on Sun., Aug. 22, 2010 | Permalink | Yahoo! Buzz
Todd Archer / Reporter Bio | E-mail | News tips
Three preseason games down, two to go and the fight for the final few roster spots is starting to come into focus.
Among the group I see on the bubble: Stephen McGee, Deon Anderson , Chris Gronkowski, Martin Rucker , Sam Young, Junior Siavii, Josh Brent, Leon Williams , Steve Octavien, Curtis Johnson, Mike Hamlin, Barry Church, Bryan McCann, Jamar Wall, Danny McCray and Pat Watkins.
Injuries play a factor, too, with Kyle Kosier and Marc Colombo out with knee injuries and Hamlin (concussion) and Watkins (knee) unable to do much the last couple of weeks. For the Sam Hurd fans, I have him back on the roster. I'm heavy at safety with six guys and maybe offensive line, too.
The fights are down to 10 offensive linemen vs. seven defensive linemen, five corners or six safeties and five wide outs or six.
Here we go (bold means change from the last prediction):
QB (3) - Tony Romo , Jon Kitna, Stephen McGee
I wavered here on keeping McGee. He is practice squad eligible and if the Cowboys want to have a roster spot somewhere else this is something they might consider.
RB (4) - Marion Barber, Felix Jones , Tashard Choice, Chris Gronkowski
Gronkowski took some work with the first team during the game and missed a blitz pickup that led to an early throw from Romo. Deon Anderson still has a chance and I wouldn't rule out two fullbacks
WR (6) - Miles Austin , Roy Williams, Patrick Crayton, Dez Bryant, Kevin Ogletree, Sam Hurd
I'm putting Hurd back on the roster after leaving him off the last time. I think special teams coach Joe DeCamillis goes to the mat for him because there will be inexperience elsewhere.
TE (3) - Jason Witten, Martellus Bennett, Martin Rucker
Rucker hasn't even practiced yet, but the other guys - Scott Sicko, Jason Pociask, DajLeon Farr - haven't set themselves apart. This is why they could go with two fullbacks. And you saw what kind of effect Bennett can have with his game vs. San Diego.
OL (10) - Doug Free, Kyle Kosier, Andre Gurode , Leonard Davis , Marc Colombo, Montrae Holland, Alex Barron, Sam Young, Robert Brewster, Phil Costa
Brewster was OK at right tackle vs. San Diego. He did get some help but there wasn't anything glaring about his performance. Costa makes the team even if Kosier doesn't hurt his knee the other day. Young was on the first-team kick return unit on Saturday but I can see them keeping nine linemen.
DL (6) - Marcus Spears , Jay Ratliff , Igor Olshansky, Jason Hatcher, Stephen Bowen, Josh Brent
Wade Phillips mentioned keeping seven defensive linemen the other day but there are too many needs elsewhere to go heavy there. I went with Brent over Junior Siavii again but that's still up in the air.
OLB (4) - DeMarcus Ware , Anthony Spencer, Brandon Williams, Victor Butler
Steve Octavien is among the final cuts here. He's a core special teams' guy and a Phillips favorite but he doesn't have the potential of Williams and Butler.
ILB (4) - Bradie James , Keith Brooking, Sean Lee, Jason Williams
Lee had some good and bad moments against the Chargers. Not sure about that illegal contact penalty so much, but that's going to happen. He was around the play a lot. Leon Williams was the last guy I cut but I think he still has a chance. But he can't miss a tackle like he did Saturday but he got better as the game went on.
CB (4) - Terence Newman , Mike Jenkins , Orlando Scandrick, Cletis Gordon
I understand you can never have enough corners, but they can still turn to Alan Ball or even Akwasi Owusu-Ansah in a pinch if necessary. Bryan McCann would be the fifth corner. He's played well but he's caught in a numbers' game.
S (6) - Gerald Sensabaugh, Alan Ball, Akwasi Owusu-Ansah, Barry Church, Danny McCray, Mike Hamlin
Probably too heavy on this spot, but McCray has been too good on special teams to let go. Church played well when Sensabaugh went out and is decent on special teams. Owusu-Ansah could be a return guy. Hamlin needs to get back as soon as possible and the same goes with Pat Watkins.
Specialists (3) - David Buehler, Mat McBriar, L.P. Ladouceur
Buehler didn't have a field goal try Saturday and he's coming off a bad outing in his last practice with four misses. His kickoffs remain strong. He's just about sewn the job up.
Posted at 12:05 PM on Sun., Aug. 22, 2010 | Permalink | Yahoo! Buzz
Todd Archer / Reporter Bio | E-mail | News tips
Three preseason games down, two to go and the fight for the final few roster spots is starting to come into focus.
Among the group I see on the bubble: Stephen McGee, Deon Anderson , Chris Gronkowski, Martin Rucker , Sam Young, Junior Siavii, Josh Brent, Leon Williams , Steve Octavien, Curtis Johnson, Mike Hamlin, Barry Church, Bryan McCann, Jamar Wall, Danny McCray and Pat Watkins.
Injuries play a factor, too, with Kyle Kosier and Marc Colombo out with knee injuries and Hamlin (concussion) and Watkins (knee) unable to do much the last couple of weeks. For the Sam Hurd fans, I have him back on the roster. I'm heavy at safety with six guys and maybe offensive line, too.
The fights are down to 10 offensive linemen vs. seven defensive linemen, five corners or six safeties and five wide outs or six.
Here we go (bold means change from the last prediction):
QB (3) - Tony Romo , Jon Kitna, Stephen McGee
I wavered here on keeping McGee. He is practice squad eligible and if the Cowboys want to have a roster spot somewhere else this is something they might consider.
RB (4) - Marion Barber, Felix Jones , Tashard Choice, Chris Gronkowski
Gronkowski took some work with the first team during the game and missed a blitz pickup that led to an early throw from Romo. Deon Anderson still has a chance and I wouldn't rule out two fullbacks
WR (6) - Miles Austin , Roy Williams, Patrick Crayton, Dez Bryant, Kevin Ogletree, Sam Hurd
I'm putting Hurd back on the roster after leaving him off the last time. I think special teams coach Joe DeCamillis goes to the mat for him because there will be inexperience elsewhere.
TE (3) - Jason Witten, Martellus Bennett, Martin Rucker
Rucker hasn't even practiced yet, but the other guys - Scott Sicko, Jason Pociask, DajLeon Farr - haven't set themselves apart. This is why they could go with two fullbacks. And you saw what kind of effect Bennett can have with his game vs. San Diego.
OL (10) - Doug Free, Kyle Kosier, Andre Gurode , Leonard Davis , Marc Colombo, Montrae Holland, Alex Barron, Sam Young, Robert Brewster, Phil Costa
Brewster was OK at right tackle vs. San Diego. He did get some help but there wasn't anything glaring about his performance. Costa makes the team even if Kosier doesn't hurt his knee the other day. Young was on the first-team kick return unit on Saturday but I can see them keeping nine linemen.
DL (6) - Marcus Spears , Jay Ratliff , Igor Olshansky, Jason Hatcher, Stephen Bowen, Josh Brent
Wade Phillips mentioned keeping seven defensive linemen the other day but there are too many needs elsewhere to go heavy there. I went with Brent over Junior Siavii again but that's still up in the air.
OLB (4) - DeMarcus Ware , Anthony Spencer, Brandon Williams, Victor Butler
Steve Octavien is among the final cuts here. He's a core special teams' guy and a Phillips favorite but he doesn't have the potential of Williams and Butler.
ILB (4) - Bradie James , Keith Brooking, Sean Lee, Jason Williams
Lee had some good and bad moments against the Chargers. Not sure about that illegal contact penalty so much, but that's going to happen. He was around the play a lot. Leon Williams was the last guy I cut but I think he still has a chance. But he can't miss a tackle like he did Saturday but he got better as the game went on.
CB (4) - Terence Newman , Mike Jenkins , Orlando Scandrick, Cletis Gordon
I understand you can never have enough corners, but they can still turn to Alan Ball or even Akwasi Owusu-Ansah in a pinch if necessary. Bryan McCann would be the fifth corner. He's played well but he's caught in a numbers' game.
S (6) - Gerald Sensabaugh, Alan Ball, Akwasi Owusu-Ansah, Barry Church, Danny McCray, Mike Hamlin
Probably too heavy on this spot, but McCray has been too good on special teams to let go. Church played well when Sensabaugh went out and is decent on special teams. Owusu-Ansah could be a return guy. Hamlin needs to get back as soon as possible and the same goes with Pat Watkins.
Specialists (3) - David Buehler, Mat McBriar, L.P. Ladouceur
Buehler didn't have a field goal try Saturday and he's coming off a bad outing in his last practice with four misses. His kickoffs remain strong. He's just about sewn the job up.
