Some Depth Chart thoughts in May
Posted: May 26, 2006 @ 10:00 am
I know, this most likely won’t serve any purpose but killing time, so I’ll aim at a leg and hope for a slow death…..
QB:
Drew Bledsoe, Tony Romo, Drew Henson and Jeff Mroz.
This one is easy, we all know who the starter is going to be and we all know that he’s going to be healthy…. I mean, how many times he’s been hitted (not just sacked) in the last few years and the guy just bends, never breaks…. Romo and Henson battle the backup role and it’s going to be close, Henson numbers were really good considering that he didn’t played with the 2 starters at WR for a couple of games before going down with the knee injury and that even his starters dropped a staggering amount of balls. Mroz is a project.
RB:
Julius Jones, Marion Barber and Tyson Thompson.
After seeing highlights of Jones in 2004 and seeing the film I have from this past season, there were a couple of things that popped inmediatelly, the first one is that he wasn’t hitting the hole as fast as before as he was looking to contain the ball in both of his arm before getting there, that took some of his quickness early in the season, by the Philly game he adjusted as he was less cautious. The second was that he was hitted behind the LOS too often, but most important, is that many of those hits were by Allen and Rivera, as they were supposed to open holes, failed and Jones went anywhere. I expect a big season from Jones. I also expect big things from Barber, but the main one, is that I expect him to be bigger, close to 230 pounds, that’s going to aid his runing style. Thompson’s going to be important in the return game, I read somewhere that the FO was thinking on putting Thompson with Skyler Green in KRs and force teams to prepare for both returners, another spin of the versatility subject?
TE:
Jason Witten, Anthony Fasano, Ryan Hannam, Brett Pierce, Sean Ryan, Danny Young and Tony Curtis.
Another pie…. Witten and Fasano are the starters as the team won’t have a FB and both will alternate as HBs when they aren’t on the Tackles sides and while I don’t believe that Fasano’s going to be a Fantasy Football TE in catches, he’s going to have a big role in the Red Zone, while he’s handed single coverage, if someone covers him…. Hannam gets the role that Spears started getting past season, the one of the 3rd TE in the Red Zone and in short yardage sits, but there’s one major diference, this guy can catch the ball. A 4th TE is going to make the team and he’s going to be active on gamedays, most likely it’s going to be Pierce, but there’s a wildcard and he’s Danny Young as he’s also a Long Snapper, I heard that Parcells wasn’t happy that his LS wasn’t capable of doing anything else but snap, that’s what happens when you have one that plays DE…. If Young can snap in a consistent enough basis (even if it’s a little less than Ladouceur), that along with his STs play and whatever he gets as a TE could be enough for him to get the nod.
WR:
Terrell Owens, Terry Glenn, Patrick Crayton, Skyler Green, Terrance Copper, Ahmad Merritt, Jamaica Rector, Sam Hurd et al.
The top 4 are a pie, Owens, Glenn, Crayton and Green are locks, but predicting the 5th receiver is going to be a cr@p shoot as Copper should compete for the 2nd year in a row with Merritt and who knows? Last season Merritt went down injured. Hadn’t he, prolly he would have taken Copper’s role. Rector and Hurd (the Undrafted FA signed to a 3 year deal) are going to be good competition.
OLine:
Flozell Adams, Kyle Kosier, Al Johnson, Marco Rivera, Rob Petitti, Jason Fabini, Andre Gurode, Stephen Peterman, Marc Colombo, et al.
Here Adams and Johnson make up for the 2 only no brainers, Adams as an elite LT and Johnson as a more consistent C, from there you have to question Kosier’s hability to perform at a high level in the running and passing game, Rivera’s health, Petitti’s growth over last season, Gurode’s limited potential due to his head limitations, Peterman’s limitations due to his injury and his limitations of only playing on the left side and Colombo’s perception of being soft. So, there are 6 questionable players on the OLine, if Parcells bats for .500 we shall have our 3 starters, what are the chances of bating for less? Procter (T/G), Snell (G), Tarullo (C/G), Whitley (C/G/T) and McQuistan (G/T) bring good depth all over the Line.
DLine:
Marcus Spears, Jason Ferguson, Chris Canty, Greg Ellis, Jason Hatcher, MounTavious Stanley, Pepper Johnson, Jay Ratliff, Kenyon Coleman et al.
Spears and Canty are no-brainers, they should be the starters if the team starts in the 3-4 and not in the Nickel. Jason Ferguson doesn’t gets the respect he should, after all the video that I’ve reviewed, teams didn’t ran through him for much, 3 or 4 yards was the most they could get, mostly they got no-gainers, against the 3-4 teams ran through Glover, Spears, Canty, Coleman (which was the reason behind him being sitting for the most part of the 2nd half of the season) and Ellis. Ferguson made his job even when he was nicked early in the season (sprained ankle?). Ellis’ going to play a lot in 4 man fronts. Hatcher too, but behind Spears, not behind Canty as that’s Ellis’ spot. Considering that Hatcher is expected to be above 290 pounds in TC, he’s going to be suited to play on the Strong side. I’m expecting big things from Ratliff, he has the potential of making us forget about Glover while he plays inside in 4 man fronts. Stanley and Johnson should battle for the backup NT role. Coleman is on his way out.
LB:
Demarcus Ware, Bradie James, Akin Ayodele, Al Singleton, Bobby Carpenter, Kevin Burnett, Rocky Boiman, Ryan Fowler, Scott Shanle, Kalen Thornton, JJ Horne, Kai Parham et al.
Ware, James and Ayodele shouldn’t surprize anyone as the starters in the 3-4, Singleton should be the starter early on the season while Carpenter gets comfortable with the speed of the game, though I won’t be surprized if he gets used to the speed in TC and starts in the Opener in Jax…. Boiman is an interesting prospect as he should be big enough to play OLB in the 3-4. Burnett’s injury concerns should make him a multi-position backup until he proves to be capable of staying healthy (the reason behind the team’s signings of Ayodele and Carpenter). And surprize! Surprize! I’m not high on Thornton and Shanle, though last season I was wrong with Bradie James…. But I can’t see the team keeping more than 8 LBs and Ware, James, Ayodele, Singleton, Carpenter, Boiman and Burnett count for 7 voids and I expect that the 8th is occupied by Fowler.
CB:
Terence Newman, Anthony Henry, Aaron Glenn, Jacques Reeves, Nate Jones, Lenny Williams, et al.
The only surprize that I could see here would be if Williams builds on his Europe experience and takes the depth and STs roles that last season belonged to Jones. That and Reeves taking some of the Nickel role away from Glenn, I think that he already is good enough to take some time out of the veteran.
S:
Roy Williams, Keith Davis, Pat Watkins, Justin Beriault, Marcus Coleman, Willie Pile, Quincy Butler, et al.
I don’t see Coleman making the team, to me Davis should build from last season through film reviews to become a better Strong Safety (he won’t ever be true FS as he lacks range). Beriault’s offseason progress and Watkins pass defender potential should be enough along with Davis to make Coleman expendable, along with Pile. Butler is an interesting project for the Practice Squad.
So, I’ll take a nab at the 53 man depth chart:
Main Offense:
QB: Bledsoe, Romo, Henson
RB: Jones, Barber, Thompson
TE: Witten, Pierce
TE: Fasano, Hannam
WR: Glenn, Green
WR: Owens, Crayton, Hurd
LT: Adams, Fabini, Colombo
LG: Kosier, Peterman, Tarullo
C: Johnson, Gurode, Tarullo
RG: Rivera, Peterman, Gurode
RT: Petitti, Fabini, Colombo
3-4 Main Defense:
LDE: Spears, Hatcher, Ratliff
NT: Ferguson, Stanley, Johnson
RDE: Canty, Ellis
SLB: Singleton, Carpenter
JLB: Ayodele, Burnett, Fowler
MLB: James, Boiman
WLB: Ware, Boiman, Burnett
LCB: Newman, Glenn, Reeves
RCB: Henry, Reeves, Jones
FS: Davis, Watkins
SS: Williams, Beriault
Special Teams:
K: Mike Vanderjagt
P: Mat McBriar
LS: L.P. Ladouceur
KR: Thompson, Green
PR: Green, Crayton, Newman
Did I left someone out?
Comments
39 Responses to “Some Depth Chart thoughts in May”
Got something to say?
You must be logged in to post a comment.
-
"The Sports Doctors"
iTunes/
Winamp
Windows
Media
RealOne -
Cowboy Up
Dedicated to providing the best Cowboys analysis anywhere, our efforts are free of charge but not free of expense. Your kind donation today will keep our drive alive.
Thank you
Or mail payment to:
RV2 Enterprises
P.O. Box 150093
Austin TX 78715-0093
Advertisers
-
Fave it!
-
SiteMeter
Burst Media
Watch out for Jamaica Rector. I have heard that he has really hit the weight room hard this year and BP thinks he can play. Also, I know the LB position is pretty full but look out for Kalen Thornton - I really like him.
Raf,
So your just showing us your thoughts on the depth chart, not on who you believe will make the team.
oh well never mind on that last post, but i think you got 54 guys and not 53, i’ll recount it.
okay i got it, i was counting reeves twice.
Chandus-
Very nice job. When I first saw the title of this blog topic, I thought it was a fool’s errand–to try to put together a depth chart in May? Puuuleease. But you have taken a nice stab at it, and I only have a few minor comments and nitpicks.
I agree Flozell should be a lock to start at LT, but am not so sure Al Johnson falls into that same category as a lock to win the starting C job. He has not managed to shake the job free from Gurode, and so the competition will continue.
Here’s how I would sum up the OL. It was a known “problem” area going into this offseason, but the options to fix it were somewhat limited. Dallas did not want to over-spending to aquire one or two new free agents or high draft selections on the OL. Instead, Dallas is taking an approach of sticking with some of our existing blue collar players, collecting lots of OL players with potential, and then hoping competition brings out the best.
For Safety, the situation is similar to the OL. Maybe it’s just me, but I can’t recall Dallas every carrying so many safeties during an offseason. Seems like an attempt to bring in some guys with potential, hoping thay might push past some of the blue collar guys. In the camps and preseason, Dallas will look at a lot of different options in their attempt to find a Safety who can “complement” the abilities of Roy Williams.
I basically like your review of the LB’s, but I do think Kalen Thornton has a good shot to make this team. Perhaps the competition to make the as the 7th and 8th LB is similar to what you describe for the 5th WR–lots of quality competition. I can see Dallas Rotating some with our LB’s to keep them fresh. We have some nice depth, which we will need, b/c it seems LB’s in the 3-4 take a beating during the season.
Again, nice review Chandus.
okay Chandus(sorry called you raf before) here’s my nab at it.
QB-Bledsoe, Henson, Romo
RB-Jones, Barber, Thompson
TE-Witten, Pierce
TE-Fasano, Hannam
WR-Glenn, Green
WR-Owens, Crayton, Rector
LT-Adams, Pettiti
LG-Kosier, Peterman, Procter
C-Johnson, Gurode
RG-Rivera, Gurode, Procter
RT-Fabini, Pettiti
Defense
LE-Spears, Hatcher, Ratliff
NT-Ferguson, Johnson, Stanley
RE-Canty, Ellis, Hatcher
SOLB-Singleton, Carpenter(same thoughts on this position)
JLB-James, Boiman
WMLB-Ayodele, Shanle
WOLB-Ware, Burnett, Boiman
LCB-Newman, Glenn, Reeves
RCB-Henry, Glenn, Williams
FS-Davis, Coleman, Watkins
SS-Williams, Beriault
(Same on Special Teams)
I dont know about anyone else bti cant wait until this weekend is over to see how were going to gel in our first mini-camp this year…but i dont think Coleman is going to get cut, he’s the only vereran f.s we have. i do think p.watkinscould be the steal of the draft..most florida state guys come with tons of ego and have lots to prove. living in jacksonville i was fortunate to see a lot of this guy so dont be surprised if he starts..i’ve said b4 that even though we got burned last year with the upgrades at L.B and D-line we can afford to take another chance @ f.s
ART:
You know, you might be on to something, just like Rafael could be with his “Silly Season” post, if there’s someone whose place on the team seems to be a little shaky, it’s Singleton, but it’s totally dependant on Carpenter’s progress, if he porves to be capable of taking the Sam LB for the season opener, then someone else could make the team in Singleton’s place, though I’m still not so sure on Thornton.
Chandus,
Thanks for taking the time to put this together. I think you did a great job overall.
Like others on here, I have a few changes…here’s my spin
QB: Bledsoe, Romo, Henson (Henson may be 2 depending on TC)
RB: Jones, Barber, Thompson
TE: Witten, Pierce
TE: Fasano, Hannam
WR: Glenn, Green
WR: Owens, Crayton, Hurd
LT: Adams, Fabini, Colombo
LG: Kosier, Peterman, Proctor (I like him over Tarullo)
C: Johnson, Gurode
RG: Rivera, Gurode, Proctor
RT: Fabini, Petitti, Colombo (I think Fabini starts because of BPs comments)
3-4 Main Defense:
LDE: Spears, Hatcher, Ratliff
NT: Ferguson, Stanley, Johnson
RDE: Canty, Ellis
SLB: Carpenter, Singleton (I Carpenter starts, but you could be right on this one)
JLB: Ayodele, Burnett, Boiman
MLB: James, Boiman, Burnett
WLB: Ware, Thornton, Burnett (you know I had to put in Thornton lol)
LCB: Newman, Glenn, Reeves
RCB: Henry, Reeves, Coleman (Coleman’s the swing guy)
FS: Coleman, Davis, Watkins (Watkins is either 1st or second midseason)
SS: Williams, Beriault, Davis
(Same on Special Teams)
The biggest question mark is Coleman for me. If he goes, I can see either Jones or Williams becoming the 5th corner. Again, great job on the breakdown. Thanks!
Yeah I also think Coleman could very well make the team because of his experience. However i’ve debated whether we should let him go and keep either another linebacker or another linemen, or possibly a kickoff guy if Vandy can’t get the job done.
Just heard Micheal Irvin on NFL Live say the Cowboys will go either 12-4 or 13-3 this season and represent the NFC in the Super Bowl in Miami. I think he’s on the right track
I think Coleman definitely makes the team. He is a crafty veteran that can play CB or S. Of course he didn’t look too hot in Houston, but then again neither did Aaron Glenn. Plus he’s two years younger than Glenn. He can tutor Watkins for the future and hold down the fort at FS
Good write up but invest in a spell check. Just joking, I couldn’t resist.
I second the above on Coleman. I don’t see him going so easily. If you are right and he does go. I would take that as a very good sign on what we do have.
Can hardly wait to see how most of this plays out.
Some other points i’ve heard about Coleman that differs him from last year’s training camp FS Izell Reese is Coleman is Parcell’s guy, so he’ll probably give Coleman a fair chance. Also Coleman had like a supporting cast of none with the Texans, guys like Newman and Henry can help take some pressure Coleman was so use to playing with in Houston.
I think Coleman is just insurance in case Davis isn’t any better or Beriault and Watkins aren’t any good. It may be a looksee to check what’s left in the tank.
I’d be surprised he makes the opening day roster, as that would guarantee his contract for the year. I could see him floating around Valley Ranch on semi-permanent standby. Or, he could be resigned a few weeks into the season to protect the club against the salary guarantee.
I think our roster is pretty set otherwise.
Its usually a good idea to keep a wily old vet around just in case.
Greetings Raf and Raul and to all the gang who make this the best sports blog, period. I live in Boston and followed Bill from the Giants the the Pats to the Jest and now to America’s team. I’m no football expert and I am amazed by the level of knowledge of the sport displayed here so I will keep future posts short.
Coleman is a Parcells project, in the tradition of Ben Coates and Troy Brown. Coleman developed into an attention-getting corner with the Jets under Parcells and was lost in an expansion draft just as he was hitting his stride. As a Cowboy under Parcells Coleman could well be this year’s Arron Glenn.
parcells_fan and the joker:
Yeah, I’m hearing you guys, but…. Aaron Glenn, as a Parcells guy, as soon as was allowed to walk from Houston, he was signed by Parcells, Coleman was brought like 2 weeks after being allowed to walk and wasn’t signed.
That’s a huge neon question mark above the future of this guy, to me it means exactly what Sam.Iam and others have said, if Keith Davis progresses and one of the young guys does too, he won’t make the team. If Davis doesn’t shows progress, well… He’d need to look over his shoulder, if one of the rookies could play STs as good as him, he’s going to be allowed to walk.
No one has mentioned a 5th TE, which is a possibility as well. If the team truly goes with a two TE base offense, then it stands to reason you’d want three-deep on the chart. In this case it would either be Ryan if he’s healthy or Young for his LS skillz.
Chandus,
Sam Hurd might make the final roster, but it won’t be because he got a 3-year contract. All the undrafted rookie free agents, who are given a signing bonus, are signed to multi-year contracts to spread that bonus out and lower the hit on the rookie pool. Eric Gill signed a 3-year contract, and he didn’t even make it to the mini-camp.
Rather than hammer out the same 3-deep chart, here’s an eternal Cowboys optimist take on a few surprises:
QB: Henson takes #2 spot. Starts at least one game.
RB: Demetrius Summers beats out TT. Lousaka Polite also hangs around.
TE: Only 4 make it. Ryan vs. Pierce
WR: Our 5th receiver is not on the roster.
OL: Flo, Kosier, AJ, Rivera, Fabini will make a very good unit. Gurode or Peterman will not make the final roster. Colombo will be the surprise of camp.
DL: Ratliff or Pepper Jr. don’t make it. Kenyon’s gone.
LB: Carpenter starts day 1. No way a first round pick sits. Fowler is iffy. Burnett beats out Ayodele. Parham sends Shanle packing.
CB: Reeves and Glenn back up the best pair in football. Nate Jones gets beat out by someone.
S: Coleman wins easily. Watkins, Berriault, and Davis round out a highly improved group.
Other: Vanderjagt shows he can kickoff just fine. Frenchy’s on the bubble.
Len
We won’t need more than 4 TEs. If Witten or Fasano goes down then we won’t run that offense quite as often, atleast not in the way we would if they were both healthy. There won’t be a point in it with their pass catching ability.
Does anyone recall that Hatcher is just a couple years removed from playing some Tight End? Could he fill the fifth TE spot and play DE? He was a receiver in high school and went to Grambling to be a TE. They converted him to DE and TE for one season and then last season just DE. 290 pounds is a rather large TE but he is evidently quite an athlete so what does everyone think. Just whistling in the wind or a good question to hmmmm.
then, id like to know why it has had so much attention drawn to the fact Sam Hurd signed a 3 year contract. that distinction wasnt made for any of the other signees. and id like to see Summers return too. He would beat out either Polite, ot TT
i mean he would beat out TT, not polite(fullback)
Sharpgator,
hmmmm indeed, you mean like a goalline/redzone tightend type. If Spears could play goaline fullback why not Hatcher as third or forth goalline tightend? He would be a huge target, good athlete and must have ok hands if he was a WR and TE in his high school/colloge days. You might be onto something Sharpgator.
i agree with you, thejoker, Fabini will start over Petitti. A veteran like Fabini has no chance to lose the starting job to a rookie on the coach that drafted him’s team.
That could be a good thought on Hatcher being a 5th/goaline tight end. Hatcher certainly fits the part, 6′6 285 lbs, I couldn’t see why not, and i’m sure he would be better than Spears.
itrustintuna,
I have no idea why Sam Hurd received more attention for his 3-year contract than any of the others.
In case you’re interested, though, Miles Austin, Stephen Bowen, Darrell Brooks, Eric Gill, Oliver Hoyte, Sam Hurd, Kai Parham, Dennis Roland, and John Saldi all signed 3-year contracts. Jeff Mroz signed a 2-year contract. Quincy Butler and J.J. Horne signed 1-year contracts, but they received no signing bonus. I believe those last two were signed after getting a tryout at the rookie camp, and probably had no offers from other teams.
The key to Hatcher (or any other big player) being successful as a goalline tight end, is the ability to block in space. When Spears was brought into the backfield, and/or was put in motion, he too often whiffed on his block.
That is one reason, by the way, why some tight ends are unsuited to be a ‘motion’ tight end or H-back. They can block in-line, but can’t hit anyone in space. For our 2-TE offense to work properly, especially in the running game, either Fasano has to show that ability, or Witten has to improve on it.
But you’re forgetting that Petitti was also drafted by Parcells.
Last season I saw more things from him than what I saw in the previous season from Tucker, it just seemed to me that too often he reacted slow to speed rush moves or to bull rushes.
Usually rookies struggle with those, especially rookies that moved from the Left side to the Right.
I guess that we shall hear from Raf on who starts at RT in TC and how’s he looking.
The RT job is obviously Fabini’s to lose, but if for a second he shows some weakness then Pettiti will get more work with the 1st team D. Who knows, maybe Pettiti will still get a good amount of work with them. I’ve never been to TC so I’m not sure how often those positions rotate between 1st and 2nd teams.
For those who care, Desperados are ahead 55-27 in 4th quarter.
Craig “Ironhead” Heyward died today after a 7 1/2 year fight with a brain tumor.
You’re right Chandus I did forget. But Fabini is the type of player that can get to the speed rushes and bull rushes and have no truoble with 300 pounders just running at him. Im just not so sure Pettiti can be able to cover all that Fabini can do in this offseason. But as you said, Raf will give an article on it soon enough.
Fighter, nothing you predict would strike me as overly surprising. Every year, bubble players make it, and other bubble players get cut. I would be amazed if Coleman, Johnson, and Ratliff all stuck another year. Shanle and Fowler are due to get beaten out if they don’t improve. Carpenter will start unless they wasted a draft pick. TT needs a good camp to stick again (he did last year because there wasn’t much else preventing it). Keeping lousy TEs to cut somebody good at another position doesn’t make sense, so only four will probably make it. Some of last year’s bubble guys will be replaced by some of this year’s bubble guys. I only count about 24 that I am sure will make it this year; the rest will have to prove or reprove they belong.
Chandus, nice job putting this together. I agree with most of your analysis.
I would like to point out, however, that Copper won’t be so easy to cut. Parcells loves his special teams play. In a press conference last year, BP said that Copper is a “core” type player. A guy who gets 25-30 snaps a game, doesn’t make noise and just does his job well.
Overall, I think it speaks well to the team we are assembling that some potentially very good players will get cut. Guys like Coleman (Marcus and Kenyon), Shanle, etc. will all likely find other teams if/when they get cut.
I think you need to add veteran QB to be named later to your depth chart. We’ve gone three straight years with the starter playing in all 16 games. Our luck will eventually run out and BP is not going to bet this year on Romo or Henson.
Chandus,
I agree pretty much with your roster, except Carpenter will start, and Rector makes the team.