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Version 5.0: 53-man roster projection
August, 16, 2010
By Tim MacMahon
We've got a few tweaks and the bonus of a practice squad projection this week.
QUARTERBACKS (3): Tony Romo, Jon Kitna, Stephen McGee
Can the Cowboys win with Kitna? They think so, but they definitely don’t want to find out.
RUNNING BACKS (3): Felix Jones, Marion Barber, Tashard Choice
Will Tashard Choice be given a chance to play a bigger role? It doesn’t appear so at this point, but it will be interesting to see what happens over the course of the season if Barber gets banged up or doesn’t produce.
FULLBACKS (2): Deon Anderson, Chris Gronkowski
John Phillips’ injury opens up an opportunity for Gronkowski as an H-back, the role he played in college. But Gronkowski didn’t wow during Thursday’s preseason loss.
TIGHT ENDS (2): Jason Witten, Martellus Bennett
Scott Sicko (concussion) hasn’t practiced since the Hall of Fame Game. It’s impossible for an undrafted rookie to make the team from the trainers’ room.
WIDE RECEIVERS (6): Miles Austin, Roy Williams, Dez Bryant, Patrick Crayton, Kevin Ogletree, Sam Hurd
Cutting Sam Hurd is a serious consideration. Jesse Holley, who is almost $1.5 million cheaper, is a threat to take his job. Wade Phillips referred to Holley as a “dominant special teams player” so far this preseason. But Holley strained his hamstring Sunday, so let’s see how he recovers from that before dropping Hurd off the roster.
OFFENSIVE LINE (9): Andre Gurode, Leonard Davis, Kyle Kosier, Marc Colombo, Doug Free, Alex Barron, Robert Brewster, Montrae Holland, Sam Young
The Travis Bright experiment at center is over, which drastically reduces his chances of making the roster. Phil Costa is getting the second-team reps now. The Cowboys could opt to try to get Costa through waivers onto the practice squad and keep only nine offensive linemen, creating room for an extra player at another position.
NOSE TACKLES (2): Jay Ratliff, Josh Brent
Brent got the coaches’ attention by running down Raiders running back Michael Bennett 30 yards downfield. Wade Phillips figures he can coach a talented guy who plays with that kind of effort.
DEFENSIVE ENDS (4): Igor Olshansky, Marcus Spears, Stephen Bowen, Jason Hatcher
Stephen Bowen has starred during the preseason, but the coaches aren’t considering using him as a starter. They think Spears and Hatcher are better suited to battle right tackles, and they like the Olshansky-Bowen combination as it is.
OUTSIDE LINEBACKERS (5): DeMarcus Ware, Anthony Spencer, Victor Butler, Brandon Williams, Steve Octavien
Butler has been more impressive than Williams in the two preseason games. Octavien has a chance to stick because of special teams.
INSIDE LINEBACKERS (4): Bradie James, Keith Brooking, Sean Lee, Jason Williams
There has been speculation about keeping Leon Williams instead of Jason Williams. But it’s too early to give up on a 2009 third-round pick the Cowboys knew was a project when they drafted him.
CORNERBACKS (5): Mike Jenkins, Terence Newman, Orlando Scandrick, Cletis Gordon, Bryan McCann
The Cowboys could opt to keep only four corners, but McCann is making a strong case for a roster spot. He’s gotten more aggressive throughout the course of training camp.
SAFETIES (5): Gerald Sensabaugh, Alan Ball, Michael Hamlin, Akwasi Owusu-Ansah, Danny McCray
McCray has been the team’s best special teams performer in the preseason and has been better than expected. Owusu-Ansah will get a chance this weekend in San Diego to show off his return skills, which could be the key to him being active on game days.
SPECIALISTS (3): Mat McBriar, David Buehler, L.P. Ladouceur
So far, pretty good for Buehler. The Cowboys don’t have any reason to dial Matt Stover or John Carney at this point.
PRACTICE SQUAD: C Phil Costa, G Travis Bright, WR Jesse Holley, RB Herb Donaldson, TE Scott Sicko, CB Jamar Wall, DL Sean Lissemore, S Barry Church.
August, 16, 2010
By Tim MacMahon
We've got a few tweaks and the bonus of a practice squad projection this week.
QUARTERBACKS (3): Tony Romo, Jon Kitna, Stephen McGee
Can the Cowboys win with Kitna? They think so, but they definitely don’t want to find out.
RUNNING BACKS (3): Felix Jones, Marion Barber, Tashard Choice
Will Tashard Choice be given a chance to play a bigger role? It doesn’t appear so at this point, but it will be interesting to see what happens over the course of the season if Barber gets banged up or doesn’t produce.
FULLBACKS (2): Deon Anderson, Chris Gronkowski
John Phillips’ injury opens up an opportunity for Gronkowski as an H-back, the role he played in college. But Gronkowski didn’t wow during Thursday’s preseason loss.
TIGHT ENDS (2): Jason Witten, Martellus Bennett
Scott Sicko (concussion) hasn’t practiced since the Hall of Fame Game. It’s impossible for an undrafted rookie to make the team from the trainers’ room.
WIDE RECEIVERS (6): Miles Austin, Roy Williams, Dez Bryant, Patrick Crayton, Kevin Ogletree, Sam Hurd
Cutting Sam Hurd is a serious consideration. Jesse Holley, who is almost $1.5 million cheaper, is a threat to take his job. Wade Phillips referred to Holley as a “dominant special teams player” so far this preseason. But Holley strained his hamstring Sunday, so let’s see how he recovers from that before dropping Hurd off the roster.
OFFENSIVE LINE (9): Andre Gurode, Leonard Davis, Kyle Kosier, Marc Colombo, Doug Free, Alex Barron, Robert Brewster, Montrae Holland, Sam Young
The Travis Bright experiment at center is over, which drastically reduces his chances of making the roster. Phil Costa is getting the second-team reps now. The Cowboys could opt to try to get Costa through waivers onto the practice squad and keep only nine offensive linemen, creating room for an extra player at another position.
NOSE TACKLES (2): Jay Ratliff, Josh Brent
Brent got the coaches’ attention by running down Raiders running back Michael Bennett 30 yards downfield. Wade Phillips figures he can coach a talented guy who plays with that kind of effort.
DEFENSIVE ENDS (4): Igor Olshansky, Marcus Spears, Stephen Bowen, Jason Hatcher
Stephen Bowen has starred during the preseason, but the coaches aren’t considering using him as a starter. They think Spears and Hatcher are better suited to battle right tackles, and they like the Olshansky-Bowen combination as it is.
OUTSIDE LINEBACKERS (5): DeMarcus Ware, Anthony Spencer, Victor Butler, Brandon Williams, Steve Octavien
Butler has been more impressive than Williams in the two preseason games. Octavien has a chance to stick because of special teams.
INSIDE LINEBACKERS (4): Bradie James, Keith Brooking, Sean Lee, Jason Williams
There has been speculation about keeping Leon Williams instead of Jason Williams. But it’s too early to give up on a 2009 third-round pick the Cowboys knew was a project when they drafted him.
CORNERBACKS (5): Mike Jenkins, Terence Newman, Orlando Scandrick, Cletis Gordon, Bryan McCann
The Cowboys could opt to keep only four corners, but McCann is making a strong case for a roster spot. He’s gotten more aggressive throughout the course of training camp.
SAFETIES (5): Gerald Sensabaugh, Alan Ball, Michael Hamlin, Akwasi Owusu-Ansah, Danny McCray
McCray has been the team’s best special teams performer in the preseason and has been better than expected. Owusu-Ansah will get a chance this weekend in San Diego to show off his return skills, which could be the key to him being active on game days.
SPECIALISTS (3): Mat McBriar, David Buehler, L.P. Ladouceur
So far, pretty good for Buehler. The Cowboys don’t have any reason to dial Matt Stover or John Carney at this point.
PRACTICE SQUAD: C Phil Costa, G Travis Bright, WR Jesse Holley, RB Herb Donaldson, TE Scott Sicko, CB Jamar Wall, DL Sean Lissemore, S Barry Church.
