Take 3: David Moore’s 53-man roster projection

[Irving Cowboy]

Take 3: David Moore’s 53-man roster projection
By David Moore/ Reporter
12:28 am on August 22, 2012

Here’s the third in our installment. Will the final, 53-man roster look exactly like this? Probably not. Injuries make this a moving target. But here’s the latest stab on what the roster will look like on opening night.

Quarterbacks (2)
Tony Romo
Kyle Orton
Comment: Can the Cowboys afford to carry a third quarterback with there injury issues at so many other positions? It’s unlikely.

Running backs (4)
DeMarco Murray
Felix Jones
Lawrence Vickers
Lance Dunbar
Comment: Jamize Olawale has made the most of his opportunity with Dunbar and Phillip Tanner out. He’s an intriguing prospect. But Dunbar has looked good in his two days back and intrigued the coaches before Olawale was on the radar screen.

Wide receiver (6)
Dez Bryant
Miles Austin
Kevin Ogletree
Andre Holmes
Cole Beasley
Danny Coale
Comment: Still believe the No. 3 receiver will come off the waiver wire. That will reduce this list by one.

Tight ends (4)
Jason Witten
John Phillips
James Hanna
Andrew Szczerba
Comment: Witten’s injury creates a scenario where the team carries an extra player here for the first week or two of the regular season.

Offensive line (9)
Tyron Smith
Doug Free
Mackenzy Bernadeau
Nate Livings
Phil Costa
David Arkin
Ronald Leary
Jermey Parnell
Pat McQuistan
Comment: Going with 10 remains a possibility here.

Defensive line (7)
Jay Ratliff
Jason Hatcher
Kenyon Coleman
Tyrone Crawford
Sean Lissemore
Josh Brent
Clifton Geathers
Comment: Hard to envision a scenario where Coleman and Marcus Spears both make this group. If the coaches see enough promise in another young player, it’s not out of the question that both are gone.

Linebackers (9)
DeMarcus Ware
Anthony Spencer
Sean Lee
Bruce Carter
Dan Connor
Victor Butler
Alex Albright
Kyle Wilber
Adrian Hamilton
Comment: You haven’t heard a lot about Hamilton. But the Cowboys like his upside.

Secondary (9)
Brandon Carr
Morris Claiborne
Barry Church
Gerald Sensabaugh
Orlando Scandrick
Mike Jenkins
Mario Butler
Matt Johnson
Danny McCray
Comment: Butler’s versatility is a big plus here.

Specialists (3)
Dan Bailey
Chris Jones
LP Ladouceur
Comment: If the Cowboys want to save money and get younger, Charley Hughlett has a chance.

 

[Midswat]

Don't like the idea of Coleman making the team over Spears or Dunbar making the team over Tanner.

 

[LAZARUS_LOGAN]

Don't like the idea of Coleman making the team over Spears or Dunbar making the team over Tanner.

Or Coale making the team over Harris.

 

[Midswat]

Or Coale making the team over Harris.

Didn't even see that, but yeah. Actually though, I take exception to Beasley making it over Harris.

Coale ought to make it based on his draft status. And I think he's a good player.

I agree that our 3rd receiver likely isn't on the team yet. I think we end up with Briscoe if the Redskins release him. Or someone from the Jaguars like cmd suggested.

And I think Ogletree ends up getting traded. I think we use the next two games to showcase him a little, and then trade him (nothing fancy - a conditional late rounder) to a team needing a receiver. There's been talk we'll do more trading than in years past.

 

[LAZARUS_LOGAN]

Didn't even see that, but yeah. Actually though, I take exception to Beasley making it over Harris.

Coale ought to make it based on his draft status. And I think he's a good player.

Yeha, but Coale has not played or even practiced really. Harris was a 6th rounder last year and he particpated in OTAs, TC, and preseason, and yet was still placed on the PS. We were lucky that he was not snagged. Now is there really much of a difference between a 6th rounder like Harris last year that particpated fully being placed on the PS and that of Coale a 5th rounder who hasn't participated, and SHOULD be placed on the PS? If Harris's draft status last year with full participation didn't earn him a roster spot, then how can it be justified for Coale who hasn't participated, and was a 5th rounder, be justifed in making it over Harris, who has TWO OTAs, TWO training camps, and TWO preseasons to Coale's ZERO?

I agree that our 3rd receiver likely isn't on the team yet. I think we end up with Briscoe if the Redskins release him. Or someone from the Jaguars like cmd suggested. And I think Ogletree ends up getting traded. I think we use the next two games to showcase him a little, and then trade him (nothing fancy - a conditional late rounder) to a team needing a receiver. There's been talk we'll do more trading than in years past.

Do many trades take place around this time? Who would trade when teams can choose from the many cuts?

 

[Everlastingxxx]

And I think Ogletree ends up getting traded. I think we use the next two games to showcase him a little, and then trade him (nothing fancy - a conditional late rounder) to a team needing a receiver. There's been talk we'll do more trading than in years past.

The kids starts looking like a real wide receiver and the Cowboys decide to trade him? lol Come on.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

Dwayne Harris is JAG. Forget about him already.

I think Orie Lemon might make the team over Adrian Hamilton.