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Ranking the Cowboys at season's end
By Calvin Watkins
ESPNDallas.com
Archive
The Cowboys finished one of their worst seasons in recent years at 6-10. It was a season that began with high expectations but ended in failure. In our final roster rankings, we realize there were plenty of underachieving players. The rankings are based on 2010 performance and expectations and future potential. Players must have played a minimum of five games to be ranked and currently be on the team.
2010 Cowboys End-Of-Season Player Rankings
Top 10
You could flip-flop Ware (left) and Witten if you like, but considering Ware faced double-teams and chip blocks on a weekly basis, to have another season with double-digit sacks tells you how good he is. Kitna moved into the Top 10 based on how he performed and managed the team in Romo's absence. Bryant was the Cowboys' best receiving threat until he got hurt in December. Jones will start next season, and it will be good to see that.
1. DeMarcus Ware, OLB 6. Dez Bryant, WR
2. Jason Witten, TE 7. Miles Austin, WR
3. Doug Free, LT 8. Bradie James, ILB
4. Mat McBriar, P 9. Jon Kitna, QB
5. Tony Romo, QB 10. Felix Jones, RB
Nos. 11-20
Ratliff (left) -- with two healthy elbows -- didn't make as many plays in 2010 as he did last season. He was close on several plays but didn't make them. Gurode and Kosier had good seasons. You can say what you want about Gurode, but he allowed just 1.5 sacks this season. Jenkins had an average season after a Pro Bowl year in 2009. He's expected to bounce back. Brooking had a strong start, but foot and shoulder injuries slowed him down.
11. Jay Ratliff, DT 16. Keith Brooking, ILB
12. Stephen Bowen, DE 17. Mike Jenkins, CB
13. Kyle Kosier, G 18. Josh Brent, DT
14. Andre Gurode, C 19. Anthony Spencer, LB
15. Orlando Scandrick, CB 20. Terence Newman, CB
Nos. 21-30
Williams, Hatcher, Colombo and Spears might not return in 2011 for a number of reasons. Sensabaugh most likely will test the free agent market and might not return, especially if the Cowboys get a safety. Lee played well at times, but he needs to stay healthy. If Barber is released, Choice (left) becomes the No. 2 guy, a spot he performed well in at the end of the year.
21. Leonard Davis, G 26. L.P. Ladouceur, LS
22. Gerald Sensabaugh, S 27. Roy Williams, WR
23. Igor Olshansky, DE 28. Marc Colombo, OT
24. Jason Hatcher, DE 29. Marcus Spears, DE
25. Sean Lee, LB 30. Tashard Choice, RB
Nos. 31-40
Bennett will have a chance to move up the ranks when he battles John Phillips in training camp for playing time. Bennett improved as a route runner and a guy who can make people miss. McCray and Church did good things on special teams; now let's see if they can make an impact on defense in 2011. Buehler (left) and Ball were too inconsistent. The Cowboys' signing of Kris Brown indicated Buehler is on notice. Ball could return because he's a restricted free agent.
31. Sam Hurd, WR 36. Danny McCray, S
32. Alan Ball, CB 37. Bryan McCann, CB
33. Marion Barber, RB 38. Montrae Holland, G
34. Martellus Bennett, TE 39. Barry Church, S
35. David Buehler, K 40. Chris Gronkowski, FB
Nos. 41-48
Interim coach Jason Garrett said Ogletree (left) improved as a receiver, but an injury slowed his development. He should get plenty of reps in training camp next season to show what he can do. Owusu-Ansah showed some flashes as a returner, but McCann and Bryant are better. Barron's three holding calls in the season opener set the tone for his year.
41. Victor Butler, OLB 45. Leon Williams, LB
42. Martin Rucker, TE 46. Kevin Ogletree, WR
43. Jesse Holley, WR 47. Akwasi Owusu-Ansah, S
44. Brandon Williams, LB 48. Alex Barron, OT
Players of note
Sam Young, Phil Costa, Martin Rucker, Andrew Sendejo, Kenwin Cummings, Clifton Geathers, Sean Lissemore, Robert Brewster, Teddy Williams, Lonyae Miller, Stephen McGee (left), Manuel Johnson, Jermey Parnell and Kris Brown didn't play enough games to be included. Young and Costa might get a chance to start next year, and Miller might be the No. 3 back if Barber is let go.
By Calvin Watkins
ESPNDallas.com
Archive
The Cowboys finished one of their worst seasons in recent years at 6-10. It was a season that began with high expectations but ended in failure. In our final roster rankings, we realize there were plenty of underachieving players. The rankings are based on 2010 performance and expectations and future potential. Players must have played a minimum of five games to be ranked and currently be on the team.
2010 Cowboys End-Of-Season Player Rankings
Top 10
You could flip-flop Ware (left) and Witten if you like, but considering Ware faced double-teams and chip blocks on a weekly basis, to have another season with double-digit sacks tells you how good he is. Kitna moved into the Top 10 based on how he performed and managed the team in Romo's absence. Bryant was the Cowboys' best receiving threat until he got hurt in December. Jones will start next season, and it will be good to see that.
1. DeMarcus Ware, OLB 6. Dez Bryant, WR
2. Jason Witten, TE 7. Miles Austin, WR
3. Doug Free, LT 8. Bradie James, ILB
4. Mat McBriar, P 9. Jon Kitna, QB
5. Tony Romo, QB 10. Felix Jones, RB
Nos. 11-20
Ratliff (left) -- with two healthy elbows -- didn't make as many plays in 2010 as he did last season. He was close on several plays but didn't make them. Gurode and Kosier had good seasons. You can say what you want about Gurode, but he allowed just 1.5 sacks this season. Jenkins had an average season after a Pro Bowl year in 2009. He's expected to bounce back. Brooking had a strong start, but foot and shoulder injuries slowed him down.
11. Jay Ratliff, DT 16. Keith Brooking, ILB
12. Stephen Bowen, DE 17. Mike Jenkins, CB
13. Kyle Kosier, G 18. Josh Brent, DT
14. Andre Gurode, C 19. Anthony Spencer, LB
15. Orlando Scandrick, CB 20. Terence Newman, CB
Nos. 21-30
Williams, Hatcher, Colombo and Spears might not return in 2011 for a number of reasons. Sensabaugh most likely will test the free agent market and might not return, especially if the Cowboys get a safety. Lee played well at times, but he needs to stay healthy. If Barber is released, Choice (left) becomes the No. 2 guy, a spot he performed well in at the end of the year.
21. Leonard Davis, G 26. L.P. Ladouceur, LS
22. Gerald Sensabaugh, S 27. Roy Williams, WR
23. Igor Olshansky, DE 28. Marc Colombo, OT
24. Jason Hatcher, DE 29. Marcus Spears, DE
25. Sean Lee, LB 30. Tashard Choice, RB
Nos. 31-40
Bennett will have a chance to move up the ranks when he battles John Phillips in training camp for playing time. Bennett improved as a route runner and a guy who can make people miss. McCray and Church did good things on special teams; now let's see if they can make an impact on defense in 2011. Buehler (left) and Ball were too inconsistent. The Cowboys' signing of Kris Brown indicated Buehler is on notice. Ball could return because he's a restricted free agent.
31. Sam Hurd, WR 36. Danny McCray, S
32. Alan Ball, CB 37. Bryan McCann, CB
33. Marion Barber, RB 38. Montrae Holland, G
34. Martellus Bennett, TE 39. Barry Church, S
35. David Buehler, K 40. Chris Gronkowski, FB
Nos. 41-48
Interim coach Jason Garrett said Ogletree (left) improved as a receiver, but an injury slowed his development. He should get plenty of reps in training camp next season to show what he can do. Owusu-Ansah showed some flashes as a returner, but McCann and Bryant are better. Barron's three holding calls in the season opener set the tone for his year.
41. Victor Butler, OLB 45. Leon Williams, LB
42. Martin Rucker, TE 46. Kevin Ogletree, WR
43. Jesse Holley, WR 47. Akwasi Owusu-Ansah, S
44. Brandon Williams, LB 48. Alex Barron, OT
Players of note
Sam Young, Phil Costa, Martin Rucker, Andrew Sendejo, Kenwin Cummings, Clifton Geathers, Sean Lissemore, Robert Brewster, Teddy Williams, Lonyae Miller, Stephen McGee (left), Manuel Johnson, Jermey Parnell and Kris Brown didn't play enough games to be included. Young and Costa might get a chance to start next year, and Miller might be the No. 3 back if Barber is let go.