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NFC East
Dallas was ecstatic to pickup OB Anthony Spencer in the draft. Greg Ellis, the incumbent at that spot who fell last year to a knee injury, was less overjoyed. Both add to the crowded LB situation in Dallas. DeMarcus Ware, Spencer, and Ellis look to be the big 3 at OB, and Bradie James and Akin Ayodele return at IB. But Bobby Carpenter and Kevin Burnett return, and both will press for playing time, either inside or outside. Oliver Hoyte, used last year as the battering-ram FB, also returns as an IB, and some camp fodder will come and go...
The Defensive guys in general are thrilled with Coach Phillips’ version of the 3-4, which features more aggressive line play. Expect Chris Canty and Marcus Spears to get more tackles and sacks than last year. Look for playing time from Jason Hatcher and Jay Ratliff, who will also slide inside to NT or DT.
Jason Ferguson returns at NT with an undecided set of backups. None matter for EFS purposes, because a 3-4 NT is mostly a hole-plugger. Fergie should get a few more sacks and tackles this year, a la Spears and Canty.
The CB rotation remains the same with Terrence Newman and Anthony Henry as the starters, Aaron Glenn as the nickel back, and a cast of nobodies, including two draftees, as the contenders for the backup roles.
At FS, both of last year’s starters, Keith Davis and Pat Watkins, return. Davis will probably be relegated to mostly special teams duty, where he excels. Watkins will duel for the job with FA signee Ken Hamlin. At SS, Roy Williams returns and faces no threat to his job.
Over on offense, Tony Romo is entrenched at QB – at least until he proves he CAN’T do the job. The prevailing opinion is that he can. Brad Johnson was signed as a vet backup, just in case, and youngsters Matt Moore and Matt Baker will compete for the clipboard job.
The Boys will use the RBBC thing again, with Marion Barber and Julius Jones sharing carries. The 3rd RB slot is a quandary, however, with impressive 2nd year man Tyson Thompson competing with rookie free agents Jackie Battle and Alonzo Coleman. All 5 RB’s look good.
At WR, the corps from last year return: Glenn and Owens at the starting slots, Crayton as the #3, and Hurd and Austin as the primary backups. The Boys signed Washington QB Isaiah Stanback as a conversion project to a WR / Slash-type role. He’s exciting, and will get time as a return man as he learns his new position. The Boys also picked up Arena League sensation Jamel Richardson to compete for a spot on the team.
At TE, Jason Witten is backed up by Anthony Fasano. Fasano was misused last year as a H-back; this year he returns to more of a standard TE role. A cast of no-names provides scout squad help.
Lousaka Polite returns at FB, but will face competition from late-round draftee Deon Anderson, who may provide the battering-ram blocking that Polite can’t handle as well as having some running and catching skills. Oliver Hoyte, pressed into emergency service as a FB, returns to IB this year.
In the OL, Andre Gurode returns at OC, Kyle Kosier at OG, and Marc Columbo and Flozell Adams at OT. FA signee Leonard Davis replaces Marco Rivera at the other OG. Pat McQuistan is being groomed for either LG/LT, and two draft picks, Doug Free and James Marten are being groomed for the OT slots. Various non-entities backup at OC and OG.
And, lastly, Nick Folk was drafted to be competition for the Hamburglar, Martin Grammatica, at XK. All-pro Mat McBriar has the XK slot nailed down.
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NFC East
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