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Vol. 2: Premature 53-man roster projection
August, 8, 2011
By Tim MacMahon
This is the second of our weekly educated guess at what the Cowboys' 53-man roster will look like after final cuts.
QUARTERBACKS (3)
Tony Romo
Jon Kitna
Stephen McGee
McGee might be ready for the backup role next season, but there’s no question about the QB depth chart for now.
RUNNING BACKS (3)
Felix Jones
DeMarco Murray
Lonyae Miller
Miller is bigger, faster, more versatile and cheaper than Tashard Choice. Maybe the Cowboys can get a late pick for Choice.
FULLBACKS (1)
Shaun Chapas
The seventh-round rookie is the better lead blocker, but Chris Gronkowski is still getting the majority of the work with the first team.
TIGHT ENDS (3)
Jason Witten
Martellus Bennett
John Phillips
Bennett is having a good camp, quieting speculation about Phillips moving up the depth chart. Bennett, whose big-play potential has gone untapped, finally seems to grasp the importance of the little things.
WIDE RECEIVERS (5)
Miles Austin
Dez Bryant
Kevin Ogletree
Dwayne Harris
Jesse Holley
It’s up to Ogletree to keep the Cowboys from looking for a veteran third receiver. Undrafted rookie Raymond Radway has intriguing potential as a 6-foot-3 former track star, and he’s performed well enough to merit strong consideration. Ideally, he’d spend the season on the practice squad.
OFFENSIVE LINEMEN (9)
Doug Free
Kyle Kosier
Andre Gurode
Montrae Holland
Tyron Smith
Sam Young
David Arkin
Phil Costa
Bill Nagy
Jerry Jones insists he won’t sign a veteran guard to compete with Holland. The Cowboys might need to reconsider after a preseason game or two.
DEFENSIVE LINEMEN (6)
Jay Ratliff
Marcus Spears
Kenyon Coleman
Josh Brent
Jason Hatcher
Sean Lissemore
Coleman’s arrival makes Igor Olshansky and his $3.4 million salary expendable. They’re both run stoppers with little value as pass rushers, but Coleman is a Rob Ryan guy.
INSIDE LINEBACKERS (5)
Bradie James
Keith Brooking
Sean Lee
Bruce Carter
Kenwin Cummings
Carter, who is recovering from a torn ACL suffered in December, could begin the season on the Physically Unable to Perform list. With durability concerns for Lee and Carter, the Cowboys should keep an extra inside linebacker. Undrafted rookie Orie Lemon is also an option.
OUTSIDE LINEBACKERS (5)
DeMarcus Ware
Anthony Spencer
Victor Butler
Brandon Williams
Alex Albright
Albright, an undrafted rookie from Boston College, has consistently dominated the backup offensive tackles. He’s certainly been one of the best 53 players on the roster, and with all Ryan’s crazy schemes, it makes sense to go heavy at outside linebacker.
CORNERBACKS (6)
Terence Newman
Mike Jenkins
Orlando Scandrick
Alan Ball
Bryan McCann
Josh Thomas
Newman’s injury makes this a glaring need, but the Cowboys don’t like the options on the open market. They’ll keep a close eye on the waiver wire.
SAFETIES (4)
Abram Elam
Gerald Sensabaugh
Barry Church
Danny McCray
Is it too early to give up on 2010 fourth-round project Akwasi Owusu-Ansah? He was a Wade Phillips pick and has looked lost in training camp.
SPECIALISTS (3)
Mat McBriar
David Buehler
L.P. Ladouceur
Dan Bailey, Buehler’s competition, is suddenly struggling. Buehler certainly hasn’t solidified that job. Maybe the Cowboys’ kicker isn’t in this camp.
August, 8, 2011
By Tim MacMahon
This is the second of our weekly educated guess at what the Cowboys' 53-man roster will look like after final cuts.
QUARTERBACKS (3)
Tony Romo
Jon Kitna
Stephen McGee
McGee might be ready for the backup role next season, but there’s no question about the QB depth chart for now.
RUNNING BACKS (3)
Felix Jones
DeMarco Murray
Lonyae Miller
Miller is bigger, faster, more versatile and cheaper than Tashard Choice. Maybe the Cowboys can get a late pick for Choice.
FULLBACKS (1)
Shaun Chapas
The seventh-round rookie is the better lead blocker, but Chris Gronkowski is still getting the majority of the work with the first team.
TIGHT ENDS (3)
Jason Witten
Martellus Bennett
John Phillips
Bennett is having a good camp, quieting speculation about Phillips moving up the depth chart. Bennett, whose big-play potential has gone untapped, finally seems to grasp the importance of the little things.
WIDE RECEIVERS (5)
Miles Austin
Dez Bryant
Kevin Ogletree
Dwayne Harris
Jesse Holley
It’s up to Ogletree to keep the Cowboys from looking for a veteran third receiver. Undrafted rookie Raymond Radway has intriguing potential as a 6-foot-3 former track star, and he’s performed well enough to merit strong consideration. Ideally, he’d spend the season on the practice squad.
OFFENSIVE LINEMEN (9)
Doug Free
Kyle Kosier
Andre Gurode
Montrae Holland
Tyron Smith
Sam Young
David Arkin
Phil Costa
Bill Nagy
Jerry Jones insists he won’t sign a veteran guard to compete with Holland. The Cowboys might need to reconsider after a preseason game or two.
DEFENSIVE LINEMEN (6)
Jay Ratliff
Marcus Spears
Kenyon Coleman
Josh Brent
Jason Hatcher
Sean Lissemore
Coleman’s arrival makes Igor Olshansky and his $3.4 million salary expendable. They’re both run stoppers with little value as pass rushers, but Coleman is a Rob Ryan guy.
INSIDE LINEBACKERS (5)
Bradie James
Keith Brooking
Sean Lee
Bruce Carter
Kenwin Cummings
Carter, who is recovering from a torn ACL suffered in December, could begin the season on the Physically Unable to Perform list. With durability concerns for Lee and Carter, the Cowboys should keep an extra inside linebacker. Undrafted rookie Orie Lemon is also an option.
OUTSIDE LINEBACKERS (5)
DeMarcus Ware
Anthony Spencer
Victor Butler
Brandon Williams
Alex Albright
Albright, an undrafted rookie from Boston College, has consistently dominated the backup offensive tackles. He’s certainly been one of the best 53 players on the roster, and with all Ryan’s crazy schemes, it makes sense to go heavy at outside linebacker.
CORNERBACKS (6)
Terence Newman
Mike Jenkins
Orlando Scandrick
Alan Ball
Bryan McCann
Josh Thomas
Newman’s injury makes this a glaring need, but the Cowboys don’t like the options on the open market. They’ll keep a close eye on the waiver wire.
SAFETIES (4)
Abram Elam
Gerald Sensabaugh
Barry Church
Danny McCray
Is it too early to give up on 2010 fourth-round project Akwasi Owusu-Ansah? He was a Wade Phillips pick and has looked lost in training camp.
SPECIALISTS (3)
Mat McBriar
David Buehler
L.P. Ladouceur
Dan Bailey, Buehler’s competition, is suddenly struggling. Buehler certainly hasn’t solidified that job. Maybe the Cowboys’ kicker isn’t in this camp.
