Well I was thinking about doing another good bad thread but there were so many players on the field that won't make the 53 it's not worth viewing it in that aspect. That was really a try out fest for not only the Cowboys and Dolphins but other teams around the league. I was somewhat surprised that we didn't play really any of our starters, other than Misi, Hartline, Reshad Jones/Chris Clemons. I thought I'd list the guys that impressed me vs the ones that didn't, in the hopes that I get these guys correct in whether they make the team or not. I'm not going to list any of the OL, positive or negative in that they've been so inconsistent all preseason long that I wouldn't be surprised that none of the guys outside the usual starting five (plus Jake) do not end up making the team. Although we finally saw Chisolm, maybe he'd make the PS? Was interesting when the game ended with the Dolphins / Cowboys shaking hands at midfield and realizing just how many of these guys know each other and have played with each other before. Colombo, Berger, Polite, Fasano, Daboll giving Ryan a hug, Sparano doing the same with Garrett.
Guys I liked
Pat Devlin. Saw him briefly, liked what little I saw of him. He seems to have a calming influence about him. Stands very well in the shotgun (to be expected considering what he ran in college). Reminiscent of a former #9, and that's not a bad thing.
Will Allen. Gotta make the team. Broke up a pass in the endzone and caused the INT because of it.
Quentin Spears. I say put him on the 53. He had a monster series in the 4th quarter. He doesn't have the strength at the POA yet, so he's a bit like the "young" Cameron Wake when he came here a few years ago. But his quickness and ability as a pass rusher is special. He can only get better
Clyde Gates. Got loose and caught it this time
Phil Livas. not only is he doing well on special team returns with his decision making (he also hasn't bobbled one yet), he caught a key fourth and five to keep a drive going in the 4th quarter from Devlin.
Daniel Thomas. Made a beautiful catch and turned it up for a nice run after. He's got great natural hands. The team really seems to rally around him when he makes a big play. They know he has ability.
Guys I didn't like
Jason Trusnik. He's just another guy at OLB. Does nothing for me. If he makes it over Spears due to his ST ability, it'll be a crime.
Nolan Carroll. Just seems to have regressed defensively. And he doesn't do anything on special teams.
Austin Spitler. Same as Carroll. Doesn't do diddly on special teams. They combined for some terrible tackling on one particular punt return that I can recall.
Now lets see what happens in the next few days. I have a feeling we'll see a few guys on the 53 that weren't in camp with us. I also think we'll keep the depth we have at certain positions Dline and Secondary rather than go with the standard of so many players at each position. Better to be deep in certain positions rather than one hit away from being thin at those same positions. You keep Sapp, Allen, Wilson at corner even if you keep Carroll or not. Keep six corners. So what. Keep 9 d linemen if you want to. Don't go crazy with the bottom of the roster again. We should have learned our lesson last year with regards to that and what effect it has on special teams. Certainly with the Pats up in week one. Need I remind you all of that game last year vs NE with all those return TDs? I think the only position we'd trade for would be guard. And I don't see us even doing that. Rather sign O'Hara after week 1. Take a look at Waters. And go from there.
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MrClean Inglourious Basterd Club Member
Ray Feinga impressed me at LT especially considering he never played there in games before.
Larry Johnson impressed me with his TD run, but overall, he would just take what was there, and not try to get cute to make a big play and risk a likely loss.
Marlon Moore...to me he is not far behind Hartline as worthy of being one of the top 3 WRs.
Ryan Baker made some nice plays. Tackling a runner while being blocked, not to mention his sack. Saw him whipping Dallas blockers on several plays.
All the ones you said Paul. :up:Larry Little and Paul 13 like this. -
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I thought Edds played decently at times. He was at least there consistently to get carried.
Will Allen is so much better than Sapp. I just worry about his health. but still worth the gamble, IMO. -
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Just wait, I'm sure someone will be in with something Henne did wrong while standing on the sideline.
"he didn't look poised over there"
"he could've listened to this playcall in his helmet but he didn't"
"i don't think he shaved today!"dwhorton, 5thAmendment, unluckyluciano and 1 other person like this. -
MrClean Inglourious Basterd Club Member
If you feel up to it, go back and watch Kopa in the past few games. I think he blocks really well and hope we can at least get him on our PS. I'm curious if you see anything noticeably positive about him. Like does he catch your eye, or as Tony says, do ya feel Kopa out there. ;) I was feeling him, especially in the Carolina game. :up:
Checked Feinga's BYU bio and his parents are from Tonga.MikeHoncho and Paul 13 like this. -
MrClean Inglourious Basterd Club Member
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Devlin was great 3/3 would have been 4/4, but the penalty. Was poised and had a perfect pass over the middle to Livas in stride on 4th down.
Livas is an outstanding punt/kickoff returner. Makes the right decisions and never makes mistakes. I know he will be a good receiver too.
Spears looks good.
Gates showed why we brought him in.
Brett Bracket looked solid in the few plays he was in late in the fourth quarter--caught a couple nice passes.
Aside from the TD, not too impressed with Larry Johnson. What happened to Hilliard? Is he injured? Havn't seen much of him in preseason.
O'Connel looked lost out there.
Not really impressed with Ikaika Francis.
I think Devlin and Livas made the team tonight. Hopefully we keep Brackett instead of Mustred, Epps, Schuler, even though he didn't get much playing time this preseason--he showed nice hands for a TE and good running ability.Paul 13 likes this. -
i just think Gates is gonna have a lot of big plays for us this year... he is so fast its ridiculous... you watch that replay from his catch, the CB tried his hardest but couldn't even get a hand on him...
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-game-highlights/09000d5d821e3c43/Gates-42-yard-catch
as his route running develops i can see even more of the big play potential out of him... i wouldn't be surprised if he supplants Hartline as the starting WR opposite Marshall going into next season...jetssuck, Pandarilla and Paul 13 like this. -
Gates outran his coverage so bad he had to slow down a bit to catch the ball.
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I liked the experience shown on Larry Johnsons TD run he had just enough patience for the blocks and a great eye to find just enough room to find the endzone.
Wasn't happy with Edds tackling he is there but wasn't impressing on useing his body or wieght to make a solid fast tackle.Paul 13 likes this. -
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MrC ... Kopa is very inexperienced -- if i remember right he switched to the OL late in college .... so he has a ways to go, but if he is showing signs that is a positive. i thought he'd be destined for the PS, but it's hard to say - since i think we poached him late ast year from a PS. i think Jerry for sure and even Berger will be cut. Feinga is questionable, but Murtha and Garner are keepers .... which still gives us flexibility for additions post cuts. Feinga showing well should make Pads happy.
i think Spears is more like a young JT .... i don't see him as a young Wake, like Wallace and Moore last year -- don't see us letting him go thru waivers. the choice is do you keep 9 LBers .... if so, choice is between Trusnik and IKE for the last spot. Freeny probably goes to the PS
Mastrud probably secured his making the team with the TD .... still need to improve the position like CK has intimated though
Talked about Hartline during the offseason and got blasted -- gotta love the blue collar worker ... but preseason performance of Gates, Moore and Wallace ... not to mention Livas puts him in a tough spot. Moore has come around much better than i thought he would.
Will be interesting to see what happens with Hartline, Merling and Allen .... certainly wouldn't 'cut' any of them - so can only assume Ireland will be working the phones hard over the next 24 hours. We still need one more OL for the right side (G or T) and i think we can plug the other from within
I'm not excited about LJ ..... would think we can do better post cuts
i wouldn't keep Sapp .... unless you trade Allen - otherwise i'd stick with Carroll. Restelli, i'd put on the PS and make a decision between Alexander and Culver
Edds was always around the ball - but just like when we drafted him .... i thought he needed to get stronger - still does
the challenge is how to balance the guys that still need that year to be solid contributors vs keeping average guys for depth.
overall, our roster is still 'up and coming' ... and we are very close to where we need to be less the OL, RB and TE ..... -
Post of the preseason, made me laugh out loud.
My only thoughts are we need to keep Devlin over O'Connel, simply put Devlin played as well but is a rookie, he has more potential. Maybe not elite starting level but he could become a solid backup spot starter, I domnt think O'connell ever gets past 3rd -
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Frank Kearse.
That's two straight games he's flashed for me.
Ireland hit on both his 7th rounders this year.Paul 13 likes this. -
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MrClean likes this.
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I also some some good things from "Starvin Marvin" Mitchell at LB. He's a ST's stud, and good depth with flexability at LB.MrClean likes this. -
Moore: ok guys (cut off by henne)
Henne: ok guys, Z right, 35 belly on 2......(cut off by moore)
Moore: (louder) y left, 48 toss right on 1....
Henne: (yelling over moore) READY...BREAK....ok guys come on....*runs towards line of scrimmage with no one following* -
SICK likes this.
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Sounds like Phil Livas finally got a chance to show something as a receiver, which I'd been hoping for since Week 1 of the preseason. I think he needs to make the team.
Pat Devlin though...I don't know. I have a tough time believing he wouldn't make it through waivers to the practice squad.
I'll have to make sure I watch the game as it seems like Quinton Spears did some good work. He's one I would want to see make the team. -
I'll have to take a second look at Frank Kearse. He and Ronald Fields are in direct competition for me and I like Fields better as of right now.
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One person I thought is very hit or miss is Wilson, there were some plays throughout preseason where he was out of position or just got beaten like a drum. Then again, he plays with fire and hopefully they were just rookie mistakes.
I think last night made it harder to make the final calls when it comes to cuts.SICK likes this. -
Matt Moore had some great stats in the game. If you look at all the QBs in the offense they've all had great stats this preseason which speaks really well to Brian Daboll's offense...so far.
It's interesting looking at who played and who didn't. There were 23 players that never hit the field. Most of them were starters but some were not. Jason Taylor, for instance, never played. Koa Misi did. On the offensive line, six guys didn't play. The were the starting five, but the sixth? Lydon Murtha. Anthony Fasano didn't play, nor Lou Polite...but you know who else didn't? Charles Clay. Brandon Marshall and Davone Bess didn't play, but Brian Hartline did. Just some interesting things to take note of, I particularly found the fact that Murtha sat out to be interesting as I wonder if they really are considering him an option at RT with Jake Long back, if Colombo still isn't cutting it.SICK, Larryfinfan and schmolioot like this. -
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