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Updated: September 4, 2010, 6:11 PM
Waiting To Exhale
Saturday's Close Calls Realize Roster Could Change
Josh Ellis
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
Email | Follow DCStarJEllis on Twitter
IRVING, Texas - After living through the earthquake, fear of aftershocks starts to set in. That's the feeling a number of players still on the bubble must have after the Cowboys trimmed their roster to 53 on Saturday.
There may be as many as six or eight players who can't afford to breathe easy just yet. As the front office processes cuts from around the league they'll weigh whether the 52nd or 53rd players on the roster can help as much as a just-released free agent or two. A signing happens the day after cuts almost every season, so invariable that in 2009 the Cowboys simply went ahead and trimmed to 52 at the roster reduction deadline, knowing there would be someone out there better able to contribute.
Count four undrafted free agents in that category of who may find their NFL life tenuous until they become at least somewhat proven in the league. The Cowboys kept two rookie free agents at safety, Barry Church of Toledo and Danny McCray of LSU, as well as Arizona fullback Chris Gronkowski and Maryland guard/center Phil Costa.
In keeping the two safeties the Cowboys went long at the position, with six on the roster compared to only three cornerbacks. Perhaps the most surprising release of Saturday was that of cornerback Cletis Gordon, who led the team in training camp interceptions. Unfortunately for Gordon, he was made expendable by the versatility of free safety starter Alan Ball, who moved from cornerback in 2009. The Cowboys have also played rookie safety Akwasi Owusu-Ansah as a slot corner at times this preseason, but the club may still want to add depth to the position with a newcomer from elsewhere.
Offensive line (10 players) and linebacker (nine) are also well-stocked. Costa's use to the team will diminish when starting left guard Kyle Kosier returns from a sprained MCL sometime in the next few weeks. Kosier is the team's first choice to back up center Andre Gurode, but for at least next Sunday's opener at Washington there's an excellent chance Costa is on the 45-man active roster as the primary backup to all three interior line positions. It's possible sixth-round offensive tackle Sam Young, who missed Thursday's preseason finale with a sprained knee, could be placed on the season ending Injured Reserve if the team needs an extra spot. He is likely third in line at backup tackle behind veteran Alex Barron and second-year player Robert Brewster.
Inside linebacker Leon Williams, a 2006 fourth-round pick, spent three seasons in Cleveland but was out of the NFL in 2008. He played in the upstart United Football League in 2009 before signing with the Cowboys as a futures free agent in January. He'll have a shot to contribute on special teams immediately, but the Cowboys also have two young inside linebackers they're expecting to see this season in Sean Lee and Jason Williams.
Another position group more expanded than in years past is the defensive line, where two rookie seventh-round picks made the final cut. Defensive end Sean Lissemore, drafted in April out of William & Mary with pick No. 234 overall, missed the first two preseason games and half of training camp with a groin injury, but apparently made a strong case late. A pleasant surprise throughout camp was nose tackle Josh Brent, who the team chose in the seventh round of the July supplemental draft.
As the season progresses more needs may arise because of injury. The Cowboys' Plan A was never to keep two fullbacks, Gronkowski and fourth-year veteran Deon Anderson, but the season-ending injury to tight end John Phillips created a need for a hybrid blocker-pass catcher, opening room for Gronkowski, who played some H-back in college.
And though kicker David Buehler has created confidence in teammates and coaches with a solid preseason, he is still unproven on field goals. If repeated misses force the Cowboys to sign a more experienced leg, Buehler would likely remain on the roster for kickoffs, which would force the team to let go of a player at another position.
On Friday the Cowboys made their roster decisions a bit easier by trading off two veterans, wide receiver Patrick Crayton and offensive lineman Pat McQuistan. Let go with 10 Cowboys seasons between them, Crayton and McQuistan are an excellent example of how quickly the team is forced to move on from familiar faces in trying to fit its changing needs.
Come Sunday, it's quite possible another player or two will meet the same end.
Waiting To Exhale
Saturday's Close Calls Realize Roster Could Change
Josh Ellis
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
Email | Follow DCStarJEllis on Twitter
IRVING, Texas - After living through the earthquake, fear of aftershocks starts to set in. That's the feeling a number of players still on the bubble must have after the Cowboys trimmed their roster to 53 on Saturday.
There may be as many as six or eight players who can't afford to breathe easy just yet. As the front office processes cuts from around the league they'll weigh whether the 52nd or 53rd players on the roster can help as much as a just-released free agent or two. A signing happens the day after cuts almost every season, so invariable that in 2009 the Cowboys simply went ahead and trimmed to 52 at the roster reduction deadline, knowing there would be someone out there better able to contribute.
Count four undrafted free agents in that category of who may find their NFL life tenuous until they become at least somewhat proven in the league. The Cowboys kept two rookie free agents at safety, Barry Church of Toledo and Danny McCray of LSU, as well as Arizona fullback Chris Gronkowski and Maryland guard/center Phil Costa.
In keeping the two safeties the Cowboys went long at the position, with six on the roster compared to only three cornerbacks. Perhaps the most surprising release of Saturday was that of cornerback Cletis Gordon, who led the team in training camp interceptions. Unfortunately for Gordon, he was made expendable by the versatility of free safety starter Alan Ball, who moved from cornerback in 2009. The Cowboys have also played rookie safety Akwasi Owusu-Ansah as a slot corner at times this preseason, but the club may still want to add depth to the position with a newcomer from elsewhere.
Offensive line (10 players) and linebacker (nine) are also well-stocked. Costa's use to the team will diminish when starting left guard Kyle Kosier returns from a sprained MCL sometime in the next few weeks. Kosier is the team's first choice to back up center Andre Gurode, but for at least next Sunday's opener at Washington there's an excellent chance Costa is on the 45-man active roster as the primary backup to all three interior line positions. It's possible sixth-round offensive tackle Sam Young, who missed Thursday's preseason finale with a sprained knee, could be placed on the season ending Injured Reserve if the team needs an extra spot. He is likely third in line at backup tackle behind veteran Alex Barron and second-year player Robert Brewster.
Inside linebacker Leon Williams, a 2006 fourth-round pick, spent three seasons in Cleveland but was out of the NFL in 2008. He played in the upstart United Football League in 2009 before signing with the Cowboys as a futures free agent in January. He'll have a shot to contribute on special teams immediately, but the Cowboys also have two young inside linebackers they're expecting to see this season in Sean Lee and Jason Williams.
Another position group more expanded than in years past is the defensive line, where two rookie seventh-round picks made the final cut. Defensive end Sean Lissemore, drafted in April out of William & Mary with pick No. 234 overall, missed the first two preseason games and half of training camp with a groin injury, but apparently made a strong case late. A pleasant surprise throughout camp was nose tackle Josh Brent, who the team chose in the seventh round of the July supplemental draft.
As the season progresses more needs may arise because of injury. The Cowboys' Plan A was never to keep two fullbacks, Gronkowski and fourth-year veteran Deon Anderson, but the season-ending injury to tight end John Phillips created a need for a hybrid blocker-pass catcher, opening room for Gronkowski, who played some H-back in college.
And though kicker David Buehler has created confidence in teammates and coaches with a solid preseason, he is still unproven on field goals. If repeated misses force the Cowboys to sign a more experienced leg, Buehler would likely remain on the roster for kickoffs, which would force the team to let go of a player at another position.
On Friday the Cowboys made their roster decisions a bit easier by trading off two veterans, wide receiver Patrick Crayton and offensive lineman Pat McQuistan. Let go with 10 Cowboys seasons between them, Crayton and McQuistan are an excellent example of how quickly the team is forced to move on from familiar faces in trying to fit its changing needs.
Come Sunday, it's quite possible another player or two will meet the same end.