Training Camp, which begins on July 24th in Oxnard, California, will have a lot to say about who will make the final 53 man roster for the Dallas Cowboys. There are a lot of guys, however, who are going to be on the roster after the final cuts.
The chart below represents the names I think are etched on the stone tablet depth chart in Jason Garrett’s office.
By my count that is 39 players that I’m 99.99% sure will be on the roster when the team gets ready to play the New York Giants in week one.
Several things you may notice about who’s missing:
- While I think it’s a good bet that Jaylon Smith will be on the opening day roster, I think there is also a good chance he starts the season on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list. He’s been making strides, but why push it if he’s not ready.
- Kellen Moore to me is no sure thing at backup quarterback. There are many of you, out there, including Mauricio Rodriguez, who are certain of his talents, but I think there is a possibility the team can find a more experienced backup after cut-down day. Kevin Brady thinks the team needs to address the backup quarterback position and Brian Martin asks if the backup situation is a cause for concern.
- DeMarcus Lawrence’s back issues have been well documented and staff writer Jess Haynie speculated here if 2017 could be his last season in Dallas. I see Lawrence as a P.U.P. candidate as well.
- Another defensive end that has a job on the roster, just not week one, is David Irving. He has been suspended for four games by the NFL for violating the league’s substance abuse policy. By week five he’ll be on the roster.
- Defensive end will be a position that needs to be worked out throughout training camp as there are question marks beyond on the depth chart; Taco Charlton, Benson Mayowa, and Charles Tapper.
- Tight end, behind Jason Witten, is a HUGE question mark. Health and readiness will determine the depth chart here. Geoff Swaim and James Hanna are still recovering from season ending injuries from 2016. Rico Gathers has to prove he’s ready to play during the preseason to warrant a roster spot.
- The team showed how they felt about Alfred Morris in the second half of last season. Morris was a non-factor leaving his job security in doubt.
- The offensive line will be much of the talk of training camp. It remains to be seen just how they will line up at left guard and right tackle, but I’m pretty sure eight of the nine or 10 roster spots are already spoken for.
- The fifth wide receiver spot (and sixth, if they decide to keep that many) will be an interesting battle in training camp. As you can see above, I believe Ryan Switzer is on the roster. Fourth round draft picks may have to earn it, but a fourth is an investment they would hate to part ways with this quickly. So it comes down to Lucky Whitehead, Brice Butler, Noah Brown, and Andy Jones for the fifth spot. My money is on Butler.
- Cornerback doesn’t provide a lot of questions on who will be on the depth chart come week one. The question is how will they be deployed?
- Safety, on the other hand, does have a major question mark. Who will start alongside Byron Jones? Jeff Heath seems to be the favorite, but he’ll have to produce with an increased snap count. To me Xavier Woods will be Heath’s biggest competition for playing time.
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With 14 roster spots available for the remaining 51 guys who will be at training camp, the competition will be hot and heavy in Oxnard to fill out the roster.
We are now just three weeks away from the beginning of football season. Speculation will soon be drawing to an end.
I am a Kellen Moore fan and have followed him his whole career and read just about everything said about him. This is what I think from following him and reading what S Linehan has said:
The only way Kellen Moore is not the 2nd team backup is if he starts screwing up. He is the incumbent 2nd team backup, will get all the reps for the 2nd team backup, and will play all the preseason game minutes for the 2nd team backup. It is important for the coaches to get him ready to play and for him to prove himself beyond his season game work in 2015. If they were to have competition for this position, it would take reps/playing time away from K Moore. S Linehan is confident in K Moore and wants to give him the opportunity to get himself ready and to prove himself in preseason against 1st and 2nd team defenses. I don’t see K Moore screwing up. He should be very ready at this point, much more so then in 2015 and is likely to play well in preseason. He has a lot to prove and as usual needs to shut up his critics by playing better than anyone thinks he can play which is typical for K Moore. I would go so far as to say it wouldn’t surprise me if he outplayed D Prescott.
I don’t think they will bring anyone for Moore to compete with, but I do see the possibility of signing someone after the final cut down day if they see a better option out there.
His spot isn’t guaranteed at this point.
I disagree. If K Moore doesn’t play that well or mediocre, then yes your scenario makes sense. If K Moore plays well or good, then I think the 2nd team position is settled, no matter who is available.
But the assumption is that he will play well. We just don’t know enough about Moore to assume such things.
I know a lot about K Moore. He has almost always played way better than anyone including coaches thinks he can play. From high school until now. This is because he does not look like or throw like an NFL QB. He is a master at pocket passing but with physical limitations. He is also very consistent and is not known for making mistakes. He almost set a new NCAA record for fewest interceptions (28) in a four year career. He is known, even in the NFL for his pocket passing knowledge/instincts/smarts so he is likely to learn and improve with more reps/experience. S Linehan has confidence in him and has said he can play in the NFL and that his arm is strong enough. He has also said he compensates for his physical limitations with his outstanding pocket passing skills/abilities to get the job done. His 2015 season play was mixed (per S Linehan he did a lot of good things but made too many mistakes). However, this was his first time playing against first team defenses, he had limited reps to get ready to play, he was still new and learning the Dallas offense/playbook, he wasn’t very familiar with the players/receivers, and he missed TC and preseason. I bet he stacked up pretty good to most QBs in the NFL for his first two and one half games. If he doesn’t play well in the five preseason games overall I will be surprised. Not only could his 2nd team job be in jeopardy but his career in the NFL could. He would be running out of excuses.
Man, I’m sorry, but I just don’t get it. If it weren’t for Scott Linehan’s facination with Kellen, he’d probably be a QB coach back at Boise by now.
I agree if it weren’t for Scott Linehan I am not sure K Moore would have been given a chance to prove himself in the NFL. It could be that K Moore has a combination of skills/abilities that might be as good any anyone who has ever played. These skills/abilities are pocket passing smarts/knowledge/instincts, accuracy, uncanny anticipation, quick release and poise/composure. This combination may allow him to play in the NFL and overcome a lot of his physical weaknesses. We will soon know more.
George, I want to give you the benefit of the doubt, but statements like this make it difficult for me.
” It could be that K Moore has a combination of skills/abilities that might be as good any anyone who has ever played.”
He may be a good backup in the league. Emphasis on the word “may”. We have yet to see him in a game that matters for the Cowboys and even in the games that didn’t matter, he wasn’t good. He was average.
I was just trying to explain how he might be able to play when he doesn’t have any of the requisite physical abilities. The skills/abilities I listed are his top strengths and why he was a star in college and given a chance in the NFL. If he can play in the NFL, even at 2nd team it is probably because this COMBINATION of strengths are really strong, beyond most and maybe one of the best ever. I don’t know for sure but feel this statement is reasonable. Also, if he becomes a solid NFL QB the sports writers will need to research/study how he can do this with these serious physical limitations. This may be a first for the NFL and he may be very unique. There is a story there and it has something to do with his dad being a coach and his being in a constant football environment from the time he could walk. He also evidently studied/practiced/played QB relentlessly all his life. There may not be any other QB in the NFL that had this level of absorption while he was growing up. Some receivers have described an ability to know where the receiver is going to be, almost as a sixth sense. What caught my attention was his college coach, Peterson, who is not known to be outspoken, said and I quote, ” HE IS THE BEST POCKET PASSER I HAVE EVER SEEN.”
George, you make good points but then go and say things like “it wouldn’t surprise me if he outplayed Prescott.” Come on, bruh.
My point was I think he will play well. This is his only time to shine and he should be very ready in terms of knowing the plays/offense/game plans, what S Linehan wants, knowing the other players and receivers, having more reps/experience in the Dallas system, understanding the defenses better, etc. D Prescott on the other hand will be trying to improve or work on certain things, getting ready for the season games and trying to not get hurt. The preseason doesn’t mean a lot to the starter and he may not even play very much or as much as K Moore. So I am serious as can be that K Moore could out play D Prescott. I didn’t say he would I just set it wouldn’t surprise me.
I love the chaos on the TE depth chart, and I can’t argue with your logic. I think all three of Hanna/Swaim/Gathers are going to make it and competition will continue all through the season, but someone might have to be the fall guy if injuries create numbers problems at another position. It really is hard to know how that will shake out.
One issue I have is your dismissal of Kavon Frazier. Seems like Xavier Woods is getting a lot of “shiny new toy” love from people, but Frazier was Woods last year. Stephen Jones put Frazier and Anthony Brown in the same sentence as guys they had higher grades on and thought they got as steals in the sixth. The difference is that Brown got to play because of injuries at corner, while Frazier was buried behind the veteran safeties. I think putting Woods over Frazier is a flawed assumption.
Yeah, I could be overlooking Frazier for sure. I think what has me intrigued by him is that he could have very well been a fourth round draft pick had they not gone defense the first three rounds.
I love the depth they have all over the roster, but especially Tight end. Hanna, Swaim both are solid backups with blocking and pass catching ability when called upon. Rico is sooooo intriguing.