Archives
CBS analyst Phil Simms won’t call a game this week while he recovers from back surgery. Dan Fouts will fill in alongside play-by-play voice Jim Nantz for the Oakland-San Diego game on Sunday. The Super Bowl-winning former New York Giants quarterback is…
Q: How did Travis Bright perform against the Raiders? Did his run blocking get any better? How about his pass blocking? For the strongest guy on the team, he wasn’t explosive against the Bengals.
Dusty McGuire
A: Bright struggled quite a bit against Oakland. I credited him with giving up a sack, and he was dominated on a few other plays. He was also over-matched in the run game. Overall, I gave him a “D” for the game.
Bright’s struggles forced me to leave him off of my latest 53-man roster projection. Instead, I opted for Phil Costa, whose versatility could be an asset to a Dallas team without a true backup center. Kyle Kosier was the backup center before he went down with an MCL sprain, but even he never took a snap at the position in his career.
Q: Who are some sleepers who could make the roster or players who are expected to make it but might not?
Kerry Delmas, Plano, TX
A: There are actually quite a few roster spots up for grabs. I don’t know how many players are “sleepers” per se, but a few unheralded guys I expect to make the team are supplemental seventh-round nose tackle Jose Brent, cornerback Bryan McCann, tight end Scott Sicko, and guard Phil Costa.
Brent is a high-energy player who reminds me of Jay Ratliff. I have personally guaranteed he earns a roster spot. McCann is another one of my favorite players. Behind the “big three” cornerbacks, he has the best cover skills. Sicko is almost a necessity after John Phillips season-ending ACL tear, and like I said above, Costa has a great opportunity after Kosier’s injury.
There are also a few players I am not projecting to make the roster, yet still could sneak in with good play over the final three preseason games. These would be fullback Chris Gronkowski, wide receiver Jesse Holley, safety Danny McCray, and cornerback Teddy Williams.
Gronkowski’s versatility is his biggest asset, although I’m not sure the Cowboys can retain fullback Deon Anderson, Sicko, and him. Two fullbacks and three tight ends on a pass-first team would be strange. Holley has been great on special teams and could take Sam Hurd’s roster spot. I haven’t been as high on McCray as others, but he’s performed well in practice. Finally, it will be tough for the Cowboys to part ways with the freaky athleticism, speed, and upside of Williams.
As far as big-time “surprise” cuts, don’t expect too many. However, you could see wide receiver Kevin Ogletree, wide receiver Sam Hurd, safety Michael Hamlin, inside linebacker Jason Williams, and up to three draft picks not make the squad.
Ogletree has looked terrible over the first two preseason games, although he has apparently turned up the intensity as of late. If the Cowboys deem Holley ready for prime time, Hurd and his $1.75 million salary will walk. Hamlin is very unlikely to get released, but he hasn’t shown much in the first two preseason games and there are talented rookies (McCray and Barry Church) breathing down his neck. Jason Williams looked better in the second preseason game, but the Cowboys may opt to keep another Williams–Leon–over him. Finally, don’t be surprised to see cornerback Jamar Wall, defensive tackle Sean Lissemore, and right tackle Sam Young not make the team, although Young has the best shot.
Q: Do you think we will see more screen passes from the Cowboys this season?
Mark Owens, Jacksonville, FL
A: Yes I do, and for a few reasons. First, the offensive line is obviously a bit suspect right now. Left guard Kyle Kosier is already going to be out for the first couple of regular season games. The unit does have the potential to play well, but they also have the potential to implode. Screen passes are a great way to compensate for a struggling line.
Further, the Cowboys will try to get running back Felix Jones in the open field as much as possible. While he has yet to show he is a totally natural pass-catcher, screen passes could be an effective way to get him the ball in a non-traditional way, if he can handle it.
The Cowboys also like to run screens to their wide receivers, and with great run-after-catch receivers like Miles Austin and Dez Bryant, why not? You could see even more smoke, bubble, and quick screens this season to combat the blitz, particularly against teams like the Eagles.
The key for Dallas will be being unpredictable in their usage of screen passes. Last season, the rate of screens more than tripled following playaction passes. If the Cowboys can utilize them in the right situations, such as when they anticipate a blitz or a heavy pass rush, screens could become an effective tool in their offensive arsenal.
Q: How do you come up with your overall player grades for each game?
Jonathan Bales (I just wanted to answer this question)
A: Well self, the overall grades (as seen here) are a combination of grades from different components of each position. For example, I give linemen a run blocking grade and a pass blocking grade. Because the Cowboys pass 60 percent of the time, I have decided to weight the pass protection 1.5 times as much as the run blocking grade (to represent the 3:2 pass-to-run ratio). I do a similar thing for each position, and the methodology is basically the same as that which I use for my yearly grades.
—————————————
Follow Dallas Cowboys Times on Twitter.
Sign up for free e-mail updates.
Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com
The Oakland Raiders are undefeated thus far. Yes, I know it’s pre-season and they have only played one game. But damn it, it feels good to hear. Furthermore, when was the last time you heard it.
On Saturday, Darren McFadden will be non-existent—with a hamstring injury. And Darrius Heyward Bey is a question mark because of exhaustion.
McFadden, non-existent? Bey, a question mark? What’s new? In 2009, when they were healthy they were both non-existent question marks.
Against the Chicago Bears, these are the other question marks that will be answered.
On Thursday it was reported that the Minnesota Vikings were scheduled to workout former Titans and 49ers wide receiver Brandon Jones.
Following up on that report, former Pro Bowl wide receiver, Javon Walker, is also scheduled for a workout today (Friday) for the Vikings.
With the injuries to Sidney Rice (hip) and Percy Harvin (migraine) becoming somewhat of an issue, Minnesota will need depth if the two are expected to miss a certain amount of time.
Currently, Greg Lewis and Bernard Berrian are Minnesota’s two wide receiver’s. Although they are not a terrible duo together, the Vikings clearly need Rice and Harvin back as soon as possible.
Despite neither Jones or Walker being a “big deal” right now, both at one point in their careers were to signed to big contracts.
However, when Brandon signed with the 49ers, he hardly even saw the field. Recently, San Francisco’s front office admitted that they made an incredible mistake when they signed him to a 5-year, $16.5 million deal.
Jones was cut on that very day.
As for Walker, he has definitely received his fair share of ups-and-downs during his eight-year career.
His best season came with the Green Bay Packers in 2004 where he caught 89 balls for 1,382 yards, and 12 touchdowns. Walker was selected to the Pro Bowl that year.
In the first game of the 2005 season, Javon suffered an ACL injury that ended his season and career with the Green Bay Packers.
On April 29, 2006, Green Bay traded Walker to the Denver Broncos for a second-round-pick in that years draft. He signed a five-year deal worth more than $40 million, which included roster bonuses totaling $15 million in 2007 and 2008.
In his first season with the Broncos, Walker recorded 69 receptions for 1,084 yards, and eight touchdowns.
The following year, he managed only 287 yards on 26 catches. With that said, he only played in eight games that year.
On February 29, 2008, the Broncos decided to cut Walker after failing to find a trade-partner for the injury-prone receiver.
Four days later, Javon signed a ridiculous six-year, $55 million deal that included $16 million in guaranteed money with the Oakland Raiders.
Walker rarely ever saw the field with Oakland. Injuries and personal issues caused him to have some of the worst games in his entire career.
He was finally released on March 8, 2010.
Brandon Jones was taken with the 96th overall pick by the Tennessee Titans in the 2005 draft.
In his rookie season with the Titans, Jones totaled 23 catches for 299 yards, and two touchdowns in ten games played, including eight starts.
During his next three years with Tennessee, Brandon recorded 89 receptions for 1,081 yards, and seven touchdowns.
Despite these being very mediocre numbers, San Francisco thought that they had something special when they signed him to a five-year, $16.5 million deal on February 28, 2009.
In his one and only season with the 49ers, Brandon Jones caught a total of one pass.
No, you are not reading that wrong. In eight games, Jones caught just one pass for 18 yards.
It’s safe to say that this is one of the worst free agent signings in NFL history. The mystery of what San Francisco saw in Jones during the 2008 offseason still remains.
On August 18, 2010, Jones was released from the 49ers, like I mentioned earlier in the article.
With Minnesota slightly thin at wide receiver right now it’s really no surprise that they are working-out wide receiver’s.
There’s a great chance that neither Javon Walker or Brandon Jones will make the roster. If I had to guess, I would say that Jones would have the better chance of the two to make the team.
Personally, I don’t feel like either one of these guys is needed whatsoever. Bernard Berrian, Greg Lewis, Logan Payne, and Marko Mitchell should do just fine if Sidney and Percy aren’t healthy anytime soon.
You’ll likely find out how both of their workouts went later on today.
Stay tuned!
Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com
There is a fine line between blind optimism and reality, especially when it comes to the preseason in the National Football League. The Oakland Raiders have made headlines this offseason by staying out of the news for a change.
With the exception of trading for Jason Campbell, Quentin Groves and Kamerion Wimbley the Raiders have made very few personnel moves and managed to steer clear of signing the perennial underachieving, aging veteran with nothing left in the tank.
The draft was widely regarded as a complete success, and things have been looking up for the Silver and Black. Organized Team Activities saw an increase in participation and a disappearing act of the negativity that perpetuated itself throughout the locker room for the past seven years.
Training camp kicked off with Richard Seymour riding the bus into camp with the rookies, and making it clear that this year is going to be different.
Coach Cable’s soft approach to the beginning of training camp has kept his players happy, and healthier than in years past. Apparently, somewhere along the line, the coaching staff decided to carry this past the first few days of two-a-days and implement a more “injury-friendly” format for fine-tuning this year’s squad. Cable has frequently rested veteran players, and rookies alike, leaving some wondering whether the Raiders new approach will prepare them for the grueling 17 week regular season.
Even with the drastic reduction in contact during this year’s training camp, the nucleus of the Raider offense cannot seem to stay on the field. Chaz Schillens has been held out of over 50 percent of the practices, and is clearly not ready to go.
Darren McFadden is once again showing that he cannot stay away from the training room on a consistent basis and is in eminent danger of losing his starting job to Michael Bush. The Raiders are hopeful that he can have a breakout year and better utilize his dynamic skill set as a weapon in Hue Jackson’s offense.
Darrius Heyward-Bey is being held out of practice for fatigue, and sources close to the organization say that the “fatigue” is actually the return of the nagging hamstring injury that sidelined him in 2009. Of course the organization is mum on the speedster’s injury status, but the tape around his upper leg would point to the obvious.
Louis Murphy’s suffered a concussion at the beginning of camp, and has since been on the field and semi-productive.
If the Raiders are going to make a run at the division, they are going to need to find a way to keep this already thin group of receivers healthy.
The Raiders look to be drastically improved in the passing game, but still are a long way from presenting a formidable attack. Receivers have continued to drop far too many passes and this poses a legitimate reason to be concerned. The receiving corps must learn to attack the football and run crisper routes. If Coach Cable doesn’t start making his players practice through fatigue and minor injury, the receiver will struggle to get on the same page as Jason Campbell.
The defensive line looked stellar in the first preseason game and it was nice to see. The Raider run defense has seemingly been addressed, but the linebackers were seemingly exposed in pass coverage.
During the Dallas game, nickel cornerback Stanford Routt was victimized, and that has to leave you wondering how a sixth year player of his caliber warranted a first and third round tender during the free agency period. Tom Cable has nothing but positive things to say about Routt’s work ethic, but must be delusional if he is actually considering letting Routt start over Chris Johnson.
The bottom line is: This team is close to being a contender in the AFC West. The lack of depth and proved production from the wide receiving corps could be a stumbling block, but if Cable’s rest ‘em, don’t ruin ‘em philosophy pays off this team will give it’s steadfast fan base plenty to be excited about.
Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com
