thevalleyranchreport
08-25-2007, 01:48 AM
Several Players Looking To Make Final Case For Jobs
Rob Phillips - DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
http://www.dallascowboys.com/images/moore1_080907_330.jpg
Matt Moore (5) is competing to earn a spot as the Cowboys' third quarterback.
IRVING, Texas - For an 85-player capacity, the Cowboys' roster has been surprisingly stable this summer.
In the four weeks since training camp began, the Cowboys have waived only four players. Well, five if you count punter Sam Paulescu twice.
But that total will double by next Tuesday when the club must trim to 75 players. Nearly two dozen more final cuts will be made by the Sept. 1 deadline to reach the league-mandated 53-man limit.
With all but perhaps one or two starting positions settled, it's crunch time for those still competing for a precious few remaining backup spots.
Saturday's third preseason game at Houston (7 p.m. CDT) is considered the proverbial dress rehearsal for the Cowboys' starters, who are expected to play into the third quarter against the Texans. But the next couple of practices and certainly next Thursday's preseason finale at Minnesota will provide "bubble" players a chance to make a final impression on head coach Wade Phillips.
"There's still a evaluation here and especially the guys that they call 'on the bubble'," Phillips said. "We need to see guys playing special teams because that's a real important part of making the team. I'd like to see some of these guys get some playing time. We won't get as much this game with those guys I don't think, but maybe the last game some of the guys.
"We want to see if they can really play in the NFL and we're going to give them a little more time."
The following is a list of players hoping to secure a roster spot in the next 10 days:
QB Matt Moore: The Cowboys kept only two quarterbacks, Drew Bledsoe and Tony Romo, on the active roster last season. Moore is out to prove he's worthy of a third spot behind Romo and Brad Johnson.
The rookie free agent looked poised in the preseason opener when he led the third-team offense on a touchdown drive to open the second half against Indianapolis. He did not attempt a pass in two short drives against Denver and won't play much, if at all, Saturday night.
But Minnesota is where Moore will make his final case. He could play as much as an entire half against the Vikings, and the Cowboys coaching staff will want to see how he commands the offense with extended snaps.
"I think if I just execute the plays that are called, have command and control, be confident out there, that'll speak for itself," Moore said.
WR Jerheme Urban: Urban had an outstanding camp in San Antonio, but his chances of making the roster dimmed when rookie Isaiah Stanback was activated from the active/non-football injury list on Aug. 11. Had Stanback (shin splints) not returned to preseason practice, the Cowboys could have kept him on NFI for the first six weeks of the season and earned a roster exemption.
Instead, Stanback's return could cost Urban a job at final cuts. The Cowboys kept six receivers on their initial roster last year, and five of them are in line for spots. Terrell Owens, Terry Glenn and Patrick Crayton are locks, and Sam Hurd appears to have a firm grasp on a spot.
Stanback makes five. If the Cowboys keep six wideouts again, Urban might have to beat out second-year veteran Miles Austin, who is two years younger and did a solid job as the primary kickoff returner the final eight games of last season.
C Cory Procter: The Cowboys have rotated Procter and third-year veteran Joe Berger at backup center in preseason. One, not both, likely will make the team.
Procter has a longer tenure with the team, having been signed off Detroit's practice squad as a guard in 2005. But he or Berger must convince Phillips they're capable of backing up Andre Gurode and sliding back over to guard if needed.
S Courtney Brown: One of two cornerbacks taken in the seventh round, Brown was quickly moved to safety because of his size (6-1, 203) and range. Brown's experience at corner makes him versatile, but Phillips has said the Cal Poly product must make the team as a safety.
"I wouldn't say he could go back and play corner for us, though," Phillips said. "I think he has to make it as a safety and a special teamer and possibly say at some time in the future you might could use him at corner."
That probably means beating out solid special teams contributor Abram Elam, if the Cowboys keep a fifth safety at all. Only four made the initial roster last year, and Roy Williams, Ken Hamlin, Pat Watkins and Keith Davis all appear safe.
DT Remi Ayodele: Ayodele has outplayed Ola Dagunduro and Montavious Stanley in preseason, but his job might come down to whether he can beat out backup defensive end Stephen Bowen, not his fellow backup nose tackles.
Defensive end Jay Ratliff will get extended time at nose tackle against Houston. Phillips knows Ratliff can play both spots, so Ayodele will have to make a real difference in the final two preseason games. His performance could decide whether the Cowboys keep three backup ends. Ratliff and Jason Hatcher are safe; Bowen might be on the fence.
The Sixths: The Cowboys invested sixth-round draft picks in fullback Deon Anderson and kicker Nick Folk, but both are still competing for spots.
The Cowboys likely will keep two fullbacks, meaning Anderson needs to separate himself from Lousaka Polite. Anderson will get extra reps Saturday if last year's starter Oliver Hoyte (stinger) indeed sits out Saturday's game as a precaution.
Phillips reiterated this week that he's not opposed to keeping two kickers. That's good news for Folk and Martin Gramatica, though injuries at other positions could decide if there's room for both.
Backup Corners: Anyone not named Terence Newman, Anthony Henry or Aaron Glenn still has some work to do. Jacques Reeves and Nate Jones have been solid special teams players in past but are getting pushed by Quincy Butler, Joey Thomas and rookie Alan Ball.
"When you can't tell which one is good enough, maybe none of them are," Phillips said. "I hope that somebody steps up. I like what some of the things they're doing, certainly. But I don't have a good feeling that we've got four corners or five corners that can really play."
Jones might have an advantage because he and Glenn are the only two besides Newman who have experience playing in the slot.
Glenn will start in Newman's place (heel) against Houston, but Reeves, Jones, Thomas and Ball all should get extended playing time in the final two games. Phillips said Butler will be restricted to special teams in his first game back from a pulled leg muscle.
Thomas intercepted a pass against the Colts and said he is working on three of the four major special teams units. But he'll have to keep playing well against Houston and Minnesota, just like the other candidates.
"My goal is to make plays," Thomas said. "And as long as you make plays and try to do it their way, you'll be OK."
Rob Phillips - DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
http://www.dallascowboys.com/images/moore1_080907_330.jpg
Matt Moore (5) is competing to earn a spot as the Cowboys' third quarterback.
IRVING, Texas - For an 85-player capacity, the Cowboys' roster has been surprisingly stable this summer.
In the four weeks since training camp began, the Cowboys have waived only four players. Well, five if you count punter Sam Paulescu twice.
But that total will double by next Tuesday when the club must trim to 75 players. Nearly two dozen more final cuts will be made by the Sept. 1 deadline to reach the league-mandated 53-man limit.
With all but perhaps one or two starting positions settled, it's crunch time for those still competing for a precious few remaining backup spots.
Saturday's third preseason game at Houston (7 p.m. CDT) is considered the proverbial dress rehearsal for the Cowboys' starters, who are expected to play into the third quarter against the Texans. But the next couple of practices and certainly next Thursday's preseason finale at Minnesota will provide "bubble" players a chance to make a final impression on head coach Wade Phillips.
"There's still a evaluation here and especially the guys that they call 'on the bubble'," Phillips said. "We need to see guys playing special teams because that's a real important part of making the team. I'd like to see some of these guys get some playing time. We won't get as much this game with those guys I don't think, but maybe the last game some of the guys.
"We want to see if they can really play in the NFL and we're going to give them a little more time."
The following is a list of players hoping to secure a roster spot in the next 10 days:
QB Matt Moore: The Cowboys kept only two quarterbacks, Drew Bledsoe and Tony Romo, on the active roster last season. Moore is out to prove he's worthy of a third spot behind Romo and Brad Johnson.
The rookie free agent looked poised in the preseason opener when he led the third-team offense on a touchdown drive to open the second half against Indianapolis. He did not attempt a pass in two short drives against Denver and won't play much, if at all, Saturday night.
But Minnesota is where Moore will make his final case. He could play as much as an entire half against the Vikings, and the Cowboys coaching staff will want to see how he commands the offense with extended snaps.
"I think if I just execute the plays that are called, have command and control, be confident out there, that'll speak for itself," Moore said.
WR Jerheme Urban: Urban had an outstanding camp in San Antonio, but his chances of making the roster dimmed when rookie Isaiah Stanback was activated from the active/non-football injury list on Aug. 11. Had Stanback (shin splints) not returned to preseason practice, the Cowboys could have kept him on NFI for the first six weeks of the season and earned a roster exemption.
Instead, Stanback's return could cost Urban a job at final cuts. The Cowboys kept six receivers on their initial roster last year, and five of them are in line for spots. Terrell Owens, Terry Glenn and Patrick Crayton are locks, and Sam Hurd appears to have a firm grasp on a spot.
Stanback makes five. If the Cowboys keep six wideouts again, Urban might have to beat out second-year veteran Miles Austin, who is two years younger and did a solid job as the primary kickoff returner the final eight games of last season.
C Cory Procter: The Cowboys have rotated Procter and third-year veteran Joe Berger at backup center in preseason. One, not both, likely will make the team.
Procter has a longer tenure with the team, having been signed off Detroit's practice squad as a guard in 2005. But he or Berger must convince Phillips they're capable of backing up Andre Gurode and sliding back over to guard if needed.
S Courtney Brown: One of two cornerbacks taken in the seventh round, Brown was quickly moved to safety because of his size (6-1, 203) and range. Brown's experience at corner makes him versatile, but Phillips has said the Cal Poly product must make the team as a safety.
"I wouldn't say he could go back and play corner for us, though," Phillips said. "I think he has to make it as a safety and a special teamer and possibly say at some time in the future you might could use him at corner."
That probably means beating out solid special teams contributor Abram Elam, if the Cowboys keep a fifth safety at all. Only four made the initial roster last year, and Roy Williams, Ken Hamlin, Pat Watkins and Keith Davis all appear safe.
DT Remi Ayodele: Ayodele has outplayed Ola Dagunduro and Montavious Stanley in preseason, but his job might come down to whether he can beat out backup defensive end Stephen Bowen, not his fellow backup nose tackles.
Defensive end Jay Ratliff will get extended time at nose tackle against Houston. Phillips knows Ratliff can play both spots, so Ayodele will have to make a real difference in the final two preseason games. His performance could decide whether the Cowboys keep three backup ends. Ratliff and Jason Hatcher are safe; Bowen might be on the fence.
The Sixths: The Cowboys invested sixth-round draft picks in fullback Deon Anderson and kicker Nick Folk, but both are still competing for spots.
The Cowboys likely will keep two fullbacks, meaning Anderson needs to separate himself from Lousaka Polite. Anderson will get extra reps Saturday if last year's starter Oliver Hoyte (stinger) indeed sits out Saturday's game as a precaution.
Phillips reiterated this week that he's not opposed to keeping two kickers. That's good news for Folk and Martin Gramatica, though injuries at other positions could decide if there's room for both.
Backup Corners: Anyone not named Terence Newman, Anthony Henry or Aaron Glenn still has some work to do. Jacques Reeves and Nate Jones have been solid special teams players in past but are getting pushed by Quincy Butler, Joey Thomas and rookie Alan Ball.
"When you can't tell which one is good enough, maybe none of them are," Phillips said. "I hope that somebody steps up. I like what some of the things they're doing, certainly. But I don't have a good feeling that we've got four corners or five corners that can really play."
Jones might have an advantage because he and Glenn are the only two besides Newman who have experience playing in the slot.
Glenn will start in Newman's place (heel) against Houston, but Reeves, Jones, Thomas and Ball all should get extended playing time in the final two games. Phillips said Butler will be restricted to special teams in his first game back from a pulled leg muscle.
Thomas intercepted a pass against the Colts and said he is working on three of the four major special teams units. But he'll have to keep playing well against Houston and Minnesota, just like the other candidates.
"My goal is to make plays," Thomas said. "And as long as you make plays and try to do it their way, you'll be OK."