This defense is solid if they can stay healthy

I'd like to see a top safety in there if you're going to run the Tampa. Right now they seem too thin and they've got several starters still out and missing practice. Claiborne, Spencer. Who knows when Ratliff comes back.

I'd say "a lot of impact starters," before "solid." Still several holes and too many depth issues, and they're transitioning to a new scheme.

They have Ware, Spencer, and Hatcher on the front line. Lee and Carter in the middle. Claiborne and Carr at corner. That's 7 out of 11 (+) starters on defense. I know its lol preseason but has their starting unit even given up a TD? Also they were actually quite good last year before the injuries started in week 6 or whatever.

Their backup D just got absolutely shredded on that first HOU series.

That was pretty bad. I didn't see anybody make a case for a roster spot that didn't already have one.

It looks to me like the Cowboys would be better to pick up a couple castoffs. Or just cut to maybe 50 and leave a few open spots for post-Game 1 signings. Tanney looks like practice squad material but has some potential. Not worth a roster spot though, maybe next year.

Bottom of the Cowboys roster seems more trash than usual. Hopefully we never see them outside of special teams.

Cuts coming later today (Saturday). The following reportedly didn't make it, a couple tweeted as much:

Alex Tanney
Jakar Hamilton
Tank Reed
Anthony Armstrong

I could see any of the first three on the practice squad.

Armstrong would probably get called first if any WR goes down as he had a pretty good camp. Not PS eligible obviously. Unfortunately with the injury situations and stacking 4 at both TE and RB, they can only really go 5 deep at receiver. Pretty clear Dez/Miles/Williams/Harris/Beasley all make it, only question is whether Coale and Benford return to the practice squad again. Not sure they do.

Pellerin (TE) and Smith (CB) could wind up there if they don't make the team outright, then there's Tanney and Jakar Hamilton. With 4 backs making it can you stash a 5th on your squad? I don't think so.

We know they're going to pick up a couple guys after the cuts come in just depends which positions. There's enough weakness at the bottom of the roster that anybody who stood out would have room somewhere on the team, so not sure the practice squad is all that interesting this year. Tanney sticks I think but he could get a #3 spot somewhere too.

Going to be an interesting two weeks. I could see 6 or 7 roster spots changed out between the after the cuts tomorrow and Sept 10th. Maybe more.

So did this TE we drafted do anything at all this preseason?

No way we can give Michael Robinson a 1 year deal right? Hawks cut him. Anything to open a running lane somewhere.

No place for Robinson. Dallas abandoned the fullback position and there were better ones available anyway. This is a 4 TE team now.

Escobar did okay enough. Last two preseason games he played he was #1 and #2 in receptions, plus a TD. Best case for him is some red zone work for now as a receiver. He's obviously a good pass catcher but needs a good solid year with the strength coaches. Seems useful but kinda weak and needs to learn how to block. He's basically a reverse of Martellus Bennett, hopefully he develops better.

Keep in mind we're talking about a mid-2nd type that's been in the league just 4 months. If he came in a strong blocker and could mow people down running he'd have gone in the first. That said, if drafting a TE that high I'd much rather draft a receiving TE that high and work on his blocking, rather than the other way around. If you can run good routes and catch, that's enough to contribute right away which I think he will. But you'll want to give him some time.

Matt Johnson is going on IR, non-recallable. Essentially paying an extra $300k more* than cutting him would cost to preserve his rights for 2014 and 2015. Not PuP eligible so I'm not sure I see a better plan. People are sweating this hard for some reason reading the various comments. Why? Way better than wasting a roster spot while he heals, and that kind of money isn't enough to put me off keeping him locked up. He had a good showing in OTA...I could see if he had some $1.5m salary but $300k difference isn't worth crying over.

And it's not like they're swimming in safety talent. Having Johnson's rights will free up a Day 2 or 3 pick next draft for something else. Will Allen's on a 1-year deal and he's old, not to mention the fact that he's a career backup. We don't know about Wilcox and haven't seen much of Church as a starter. McCray is coming back on a reduced salary but you don't really want him on defense much.

*Also: you can't cut an injured player without an injury settlement, which would cost cap space as well. There's basically little to nothing to be saved by getting rid of Johnson in terms of cap space. I wouldn't use the recall-IR on him this year either. Just hope he heals up and doesn't run bad next year.

So here's who--for now--did make the cut:

-The 2 QBs and 4RBs everyone expected

-The 5 WRs everyone expected, but only 5, so Coale and Armstrong cut

-All 5 tight ends, including Rosario and Smith (Smith is probably 53rd on the roster)

-Arkin, Parnell, Costa held on, Livings and Bernadeau, and Weems made it - most in jeopardy though going forward. 10 deep, at least one heavy given weak talent imo.

-Bass, Cohen, Hayden, Lissemore and Selvie all made it for the D-Line. 9 deep.

-Holloman and Sims made it, no surprise there. 5 deep at LB. Happy.

-Frampton and Heath stick, and McCray cut down to the minimum to hang on. I'm mildly surprised here, I was under the impression Pellerin and Moore would make it. 10 deep in the secondary with only 4 corners (9 deep really, as McCray is there for special teams). I don't think there's enough safety talent to carry that many at the position.

-K, P, long snapper as expected.

Livings to IR. Probably won't see him in another game for the Cowboys.

Made a trade with KC for a utility player with special teams skills. Probably a 7th or cond 7th.

So is the OL fixed yet? Been my prayer since forever.

Think Gavin Escobar is not going to do much this year. Variance: if he does turn into a player Jerry will give him 40 mil.

It's going to be Smith-Leary-Fredbeard-Bernadeau-Free by the looks of it. If Free keeps it up and Leary gets back soon, that should be enough to get by with for as long as they can stay healthy. They're just going to have to adjust to the idea that they can't have Romo back there waiting for on long routes. That ball needs to GTFO.

I don't really see anybody else out there who's all that interesting. They're four tackles deep which is odd for them, especially while 3 guards deep (4, if you count Costa). They should be desperate to sign a guard after Week 1 or trade for one.

Sean Lissemore traded to Chargers for a 7th.

So far Cowboys short a 6th and have three 7ths next years' draft, plus as many as four more 7th-rounders they're most likely getting as compensatory picks. Might get 2 or 3 contributors out of that.

Lissemore is a conditional 2015 7th fwiw.

Kyle Bosworth (LB, NYG) claimed off waivers, in addition to Edgar Jones they traded for yesterday. They also kept Frampton and McCray. These names may not excite anybody but all four are very good special teams players who can help a lot. And judging by preseason they need all the help they can get.

I imagine they're already picking Bosworth's brain pretty hard for some of the Giants' plays. And from what I'm reading he's not a total lost cause at linebacker. He did get 5 starts last year and was active all 16 games, albeit for the Jaguars, after sitting out his rookie season injured. Young, cheap, some experience, healthy, and good at special teams - that's about all you can ask out of a waiver wire pickup.

I'm pretty happy with the way the LB corps looks with Holloman making it and a guy like Bosworth added. That's the right mix of youngish good veterans and special-teamer young guys. Ernie Sims is actually the oldest there at 28. Secondary is very young also, excepting Will Allen at safety.

Really the team is young everywhere outside of the d-line and quarterback.

Anyway-

Practice Squad

QB Alex Tanney
WR Danny Coale
WR Tim Benford
G Ray Dominguez
DL Jason Vega
LB Cam Lawrence
CB Micah Pellerin
S Jakar Hamilton

Magee picked up by Browns. That saves $70,000 for what that's worth. Dominguez and Vega I didn't expect. Taylor Reed I did expect but too many at that position already.

Dante rosario traded, kept Andre Smith, down to 4 tight ends. Roster spot open. They may leave it that way over the weekend or cut another (cap reason)

Jay Ratliff restructuring def making me rage

The nonsense with him is even worse. At least if he could play and wasn't being a head case you'd have that. But it's almost all the players they restructured, all are at risk of replacement or just dropping off with age. It's going to take a 2-year plan just to unload when they're forced to do it (good thing they're racking up those 7th round picks).

I hope for the best, but if they flop this season for the fourth straight year they have to make an honest assessment of their cap strategy. Meanwhile I'm watching NYG absorb a $21m cap charge on Eli rather than restructure. They know he won't play forever and want to have options open should that happen sooner rather than later. That will make a big difference for them next year even if he stays. They'll be in better shape, PHI will make cuts and open lots of room for replacements, and WAS has lots of room coming back to them.

Another trade for a conditional 7th

Cowboys pick up some Arena League OLB/DE from the Colts, had a good camp but apparently he doesn't fit their 3-4 scheme. Pretty unremarkable save for the fact that he had 5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles and 11 tackles this preseason.

EDIT: And Brian Waters was just signed. I imagine it will be a couple weeks before he sees his way onto the field. They worked him out today so I guess he's still in some kind of football shape.

So errr .. how bout dem cowboys?

I am still all in

We all need "secret sauce" shirts for this season. I should get that on a back of a jersey.

If you missed it:
http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/eye-on-...-championships


Hey mods, can we have "secret sauce" in the thread title?

In secret sauce we trust