SB Nation - Matt Stewart

Keith Brooking and Bobby Carpenter: Are They the Answer?

Aaron Novinger — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 06:00:10 -0000

Keith Brooking has Bradie James' back this season as the two inside linebackers look to solidify the middle of the Dallas defense.

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The Cowboys' inside linebacker position has seen a bit of a makeover from last season. Keith Brooking is replacing Zach Thomas, providing more size next to strongside backer Bradie James. Also, his experience in Wade Phillips' 3-4 scheme could prove to be a valuable asset to this unit right away.

On Friday, we got a good glimpse of Bobby Carpenter's new role as the nickel/dime linebacker. Taking over for the departed Kevin Burnett, Carpenter's athleticism showed against Oakland. He had a really nice pass breakup, pressured the quarterback on blitzes, and simply looked like he knew what he was doing on the field.

When Carpenter substitutes in on those passing downs, he often replaces Brooking. Although, we did get to see both Brooking and Carpenter on the field together late in the second quarter.

The breakdown below follows each snap played by Brooking and Carpenter in Friday night's game against the Raiders. Brooking started the game at the weakside linebacker position and played into the second quarter. He even lined up on the field goal block unit. Carpenter came in when the Raiders faced their first third down. With rookie Stephen Hodge out and not getting playtime, Carpenter played into the fourth quarter until Matt Stewart took over. Carpenter also starts on the coverage and return units for both kickoffs and punts.

Make the jump for the breakdown.

Note: Instead of declaring strong or weakside LB, I wrote left (LILB) or right (RILB) to show where they were lined up on the field. Brooking plays the weakside, while Bradie James plays strong. When Carpenter comes in on the second-team defense, he replaces James on the strong side. Of course, their jobs vary in situational formations.

First Quarter

First Raiders Possession

1^st and 10 from Raider 32: Brooking (LILB) covered short zone. Assisted Alan Ball on tackle.

1^st and 10 from Raider 43: Brooking (RILB) pushed Igor towards run off left tackle, tried to club ball from RB

2^nd and 8 from Raider 45: Brooking (RILB) read QB, then pass-rushed

3^rd and 8 from Raider 45: Carpenter (LILB) next to James, covered short zone to the left

1^st and goal from Dallas 8: Brooking (RILB) blitzed around James and shot between RT and HB while James covered TE in flat. Got hands in the air, but QB completed pass.

2^nd and goal from Dallas 1: Brooking (RILB) right behind Igor, shed C to get around the left end of the line. Holding penalty on the Raiders.

2^nd and goal from Dallas 12: Brooking (RILB) man on RB, Anthony Spencer tackled FB for a loss.

3^rd and goal from Dallas 14: Brooking (RILB) against 3WR and TE, pushed TE outside, but pass went to WR for 10.

4^th and goal (field goal try): Brooking played right DE

Next Possession

1^st and 10 from Oak 22: Brooking (RILB) twisted with James at snap on a blitz between C and G. Sped through unscathed and sacked QB fro 11-yard loss.

2^nd and 21 from Oak 10: Carpenter (ROLB) in dime, rushed around LT but RB ran right.

3^rd and 8 from Oak 23: Carpenter (RILB) read QB, then rushed in and shed the FB just before QB completed pass for first down.

1^st and 10 from Oak 38: Brooking (LILB) lined up over C and blitzed. Looked good but QB broke free for 17.

1^st and 10 from Dallas 49: Brooking (RILB) read play action off of FB block. Incomplete pass deep.

2^nd and 10 from Dallas 49: Brooking (LILB). Pass deflected at line by Jay Ratliff.

3^rd and 10 from Dallas 49: Brooking (LILB) covered the middle zone against the TE.

Next Possession

1^st and 10 from Oak 37: Carpenter (LILB) was double-teamed by RT and C as RB ran left for big gain.

Second Quarter

1^st and 10 from Dallas 17: Carpenter (LILB) blocked by RT as run went opposite direction.

2^nd and 8 from Dallas 15: Carpenter (RILB) in coverage, ran across field to help push WR out of bounds.

1^st and goal from Dallas 6: Carpenter (RILB) made initial contact on run up middle, slowing up RB by wrapping his arm around waist.

2^nd and goal from Dallas 4: Carpenter (LILB) covered FB in flat while QB hit TE in back of end zone for TD.

Next Possession

1^st and 10 from Oak 22: Carpenter (RILB) in coverage, penalty on Raiders.

1^st and 20 from Oak 12: Carpenter (LILB) in man on slot. Pass went elsewhere.

2^nd and 7 from Oak 25: Carpenter (RILB) moved up to line to blitz, but RB did a good job picking him up.

3^rd and 7 from Oak 25: Carpenter (RILB) covered his zone. Gerald Sensebaugh laid a lick on a WR for the incompletion.

Next Possession

1^st and 10 from Oak 6: Carpenter (RILB) ran right to cover RB, then read QB's eyes and checked back to the middle where he almost jumped high enough to tip pass.

1^st and 10 from Oak 25: Carpenter (LILB) blocked by C on draw to left, but Raiders called for holding.

1^st and 20 from Oak 15: Carpenter (LILB) faked blitz, then got hands up on delayed pass rush.

2^nd and 20 from Oak 15: Carpenter (LILB) and Brooking (RILB) in 4-2-5 vs. 3-WR set. Brooking made tackle on run left after RB gained 7.

3^rd and 13 from Oak 22: Brooking (LILB) and Carpenter (RILB) sandwiched DeMarcus Ware in a 3-3-5 vs. 3-WRs. Carpenter and Ware dropped into coverage while Brooking blitzed and caused pressure up middle. Carpenter had good coverage on a WR.

Next Possession

1^st and 10 from Oak 26: Carpenter (LILB) shed a block to make tackle on run left.

Third Quarter:

1st and 10 from Oak 20: Carpenter (RILB) pushed down to ground by C for a 4-yard run up the middle.

2^nd and 6 from Oak 24: Carpenter (LILB) on a delayed blitz, got around RB and got hands in QBs face. Pass fell incomplete.

3^rd and 6 from Oak 24: Carpenter (RILB) lined up outside TE on 3-2-5 vs. 3-WR set, rushed QB and had nice inside move on RB. Unfortunately, a penalty on Mike Mickens gave the Raiders a first down.

1^st and 10 from Oak 29: Carpenter (LILB) rushed QB up middle but got pushed to ground by RB.

1^st and 10 from 50: Carpenter (LILB) twisted right on blitz while Jason Williams came in free behind him to hit QB.

2^nd and 10 from 50: Carpenter (LILB) read QB, screen pass went away from for a 20-yard gain.

1^st and 10 from Dallas 30: Carpenter (RILB) shed a blocker as a run to right went for 9.

2^nd and 1 from Dallas 21: Carpenter (LILB) before snap directed J.Williams to cover right zone while he took the short middle. Pass went left.

1^st and goal from Dallas 2: Carpenter (LILB) shed two blockers but RB ran left away from Patrick Watkins for TD.

Next Possession

1^st and 10 from: Oak 31: Carpenter (RILB) got by LG in a heavy offensive set to get in on pile for short gain.

1^st and 5 from Oak 36: Carpenter (RILB) followed TE in motion and then covered him down the field.

1^st and 10 from Oak 31: Carpenter (RILB) couldn't get free of LT on a run left.

2^nd and 8 from Oak 33: Carpenter (LILB) read QB, then rushed and hit QB just before throw.

1^st and 10 from Dallas 49: Carpenter (LILB) covered middle zone but pass went deep.

1^st and goal from Dallas 1: Carpenter (RILB) in on tackle to stop RB.

2^nd and goal from Dallas 1: Carpenter (RILB) blocked by fullback but RB scored quickly on an inside run to the right. In this goalline formation, next to Carpenter were J.Williams (MLB) and Matt Stewart (LILB).

Next Possession

1^st and 10 from Oak 27: Carpenter (LILB) pushed away FB to help close hole.

2^nd and 3 from Oak 30: Carpenter (RILB) double-teamed by C and LG while J. Williams got tackle.

1^st and 10 from Oak 40: Carpenter (LILB) covered TE in man.

1^st and 10 from Dallas 33: Carpenter (LILB) took on RG, shed him, and made tackle.

2^nd and 7 from Dallas 30: Carpenter (LILB) moved up to line to blitz, then shot between RT and RG, evaded FB and got to QB just as he got pass off.

1^st and 10 from Dallas 19: Carpenter (RILB) spun off LG to make tackle on run to his side. Raiders flagged for holding.

Fourth Quarter

1^st and 20 from Dallas 29: Carpenter (RILB) blanketed TE in flat.

2^nd and 20 from Dallas 29: Carpenter (RILB) communicated coverage to others as Raiders had two TEs on left side. He covered the inside TE, who ran a post. Had great coverage and great play on the ball to knock pass incomplete.

3^rd and 20 from Dallas 29: Carpenter (RILB) lined up outside OLB and covered RB out of the backfield.

Matt Stewart took over after this possession.

Coach Phillips may have carved a good niche for Carpenter in this defense. When coming in during passing situations, he has shown good coverage skills and enough speed to get to the quarterback on blitzes. Playing behind James keeps him on the offense's strong side, which will expose him to the run more often. That's something we need to keep an eye on during the remainder of the preseason. In this game, he looked to have a good command of the defense and was quick to pursue the ball carriers.

Brooking snapped right in with Coach Phillips' defense. He played with confidence, looked pretty quick and was tenacious. With him next to James and Carpenter coming in on passing downs, this makeover done at inside linebacker could be an improvement for the defense.

For another look at Carpenter's play-by-play against Oakland, check out Musiccitynorm's most excellent FanPost.

Dallas Cowboys 2009 Training Camp: Practice #6

Dave Halprin — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 23:18:54 -0000

More photos » by Eric Gay - AP

Hurd beats Scandrick.

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Practice was in shells this afternoon. Stephen Hodge dressed out but never managed to participate, he continued to work with the trainers instead. TE John Phillips took some reps as a long snapper early before practice started, joining LP Ladouceur and Matt Stewart. Early on they ran punt drills and Mat McBriar was booming the kicks, I counted at least three between 60-65 yards with nice hang time. They only had two punt returners catching the ball as they practiced coverage, Patrick Crayton and Felix Jones. That might be an indication of the direction they want to go.

After stretching they moved into positional drills and they added a new one today, the LBs covering the RBs on pass patterns. I didn't catch the whole thing but here's what I did see. Bobby Carpenter deflected a pass for Felix Jones but had held Felix before that to be in position. Marion Barber was able to shake free of Jason Williams, Asaph Schwapp caught a pass on Jason Williams but Williams was able to get his hands in and poke it free. Keon Lattimore got a step on Carpenter but the pass was overthrown. Brooking had good coverage on MB3, Felix and Williams collided at the break on the pattern knocking Williams down leaving Felix open. Choice cooked Carpenter on a long pass, Schwapp got a short one on Williams, and Lattimore was able to beat Brooking.

Make the jump.

While this was going on Hudson Houck was working with the whole line, including the TEs on run blocking from 2-TE sets. Mainly they worked on Witten coming down the line on a wham block or shuffling him into the backfield as a lead blocker. The DBs were working with Dave Campo on zone coverage responsibilities especially with two receivers crossing on the same side of the field. The WRs were going through the passing tree but did an extra session where they worked on double-moves on long patterns.

They broke up for 7-on-7 and OL/DL matchups. I followed the 7-on-7 so I could get a feel on the "Roy Question" that everybody seems to be concerned with. In general, what I saw was Romo hitting the first-read when it was open and that wasn't always Roy, accounting for stretches where Roy didn't see the ball. They were also using Roy to clear out the safeties deep or attracting two defenders in a zone and the QB hit the guy left open or the guy with single-coverage. For instance, Romo started off with a pass to Witten deep over the middle but Roy had taken the safety with him on a deep post opening up the middle zone. On the next play, Jenkins and Ware bracketed Roy in coverage leaving MB3 wide open in the underneath zone. Miles Austin ran a nice fade-stop along the sideline to beat Jenkins who had tight coverage but didn't put on the brakes quick enough to get back to the ball. Witten caught a slant, then they motioned Felix out wide and since Romo couldn't hit his primary read he dumped it to Felix in the flats. Romo then made a mistake and didn't see Mike Hamlin (Hamlin2?) in the middle and he almost picked it off but the pass was high and he just couldn't grab it, but he did break up the pass.

Kitna tried to Roy on a crossing pattern but the ball went just off the end of Roy's fingertips. Willie Reid made a nice catch on a crossing pattern, Kitna dumped one short to Alonzo Coleman, then hit Crayton deep who had gotten by T-New. McGee hit Julian Hawkins short over the middle and Bradie laid a pop on him that sent him to the turf but he held on to the ball. In a rarity for 7-on-7, McGee couldn't find anybody open on the next play, so he tucked the ball and ran it.

Romo hit Crayton deep over the middle again as Roy had cleared the safety from the zone. Witten got open on a deep in for a catch, Bennett caught one over the middle as Hamlin2 was late getting over, and then Hurd made a spectacular diving catch on the sidelines. Caryton beat Mike Mickens on an out pattern, then Romo forced one into double coverage of Hurd by Hamlin and Watkins, and Dave Campo managed to get in the way, leading to a mess and an incomplete pass. Kitna dumped one to Felix, then hit Kevin Ogletree on a seam route, followed by another short pass where he missed the read of an open receiver downfield. He closed by hitting Julian Hawkins on a deep pass, Hawkins had lost Courtney Brown on the coverage. Rudy Carpenter then hit Manuel Johnson on a dig route and then dumped a short one to Rodney Hannah.

After the water break, the all came together for a closing session of 11-on-11. MB3 tried a run but Rat blew it up in the backfield and Spencer got in on the tackle because Kosier was too slow on his pull-block. Next they blitzed Sensabaugh who got picked up by the back, leaving T-New alone with Crayton, Crayton was able to beat T-New and haul in a long bomb. Romo audibled the next time to a draw for MB3 and he found a lot of room up the middle before Sensabaugh finally made the stop. Romo audibled again and hit Hurd in the flats. MB3 followed with a short run, then Romo checked-down to a short pass to Hurd.

Kitna gave it to Choice on a run and he made some nice cuts before Watkins made the stop. John Phillips had a nice catch on a well-thrown ball that was over Matt Stewart's head but before the oncoming Hamlin. Hurd ended up wide open for a catch after Courtney Brown fell down. Marcus Spears clogged up a running play, then Willie Reid got open over the middle because the MLB's blitzed but the line gave Kitna time. McGee had to avoid a collapsing pocket and ran the ball, then he hit Phillips who made a nice catch just beating the attempt of Alan Ball to break it up. Lattimore had a short run outside then Spears penetrated the line and blocked a pass in the backfield.

Romo was back and threw a 10-yd pass to Roy up the seam and then MB3 had a short run up the middle. Romo led Austin to the sideline of the endzone but the pass just bounced off Austin's out-stretched fingertips for an incompletion. Witten made a very nice catch for about 15-yds while managing to keep his feet in-bounds, then came a nice surprise. The defensive line rushed and looked like they were going to sack Romo, but they had a screen set up for Bennett who caught it and followed Bigg and Kosier for major yards. Romo finished by hitting Bennett in the flats but Carpenter was all over him for the tackle.

Kitna and Felix collided in the backfield on a blown handoff, but Kitna atoned on the next play by hitting Austin for a TD, Austin had beat coverage by Ball and Brown. The pocket collapsed on the next play leading to a sack, then Kitna pulled a roll-out that fooled Octavien on the pass rush leaving him open to toss it to Ogletree, then he hit Willie Reid in the endzone for a completion. Rudy Carpenter dumped one short to Lattimore, Hatcher tipped the next pass in the backfield for an incompletion, Carpenter then made a really bad throw, and finished by trying to hit Phillips but Sensabaugh swooped in to break it up.

Practice was over. Today was by far the best I'd seen the offense operate in camp, they got the better of the defense on numerous occasions. Tomorrow is a two-a-day but the morning session is a walk-through so I probably won't cover that. In the meantime, I will try to post another summary that will include who I think is doing well and who needs to step up their game.

Cowboys Linebackers Look Good on the Surface, but...

Dave Halprin — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 06:00:17 -0000

More photos » by Michael Thomas - AP

When the Cowboys got rid of Greg Ellis, they decided to bank on youth for their reserve linebackers.

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Now that we're past the draft, the OTAs and the mini-camps, it's time to start looking forward toward training camp. This training camp should be an interesting one especially where the bottom of the roster is concerned. When the Cowboys decided to draft 12 players back in April, that was a clear indication they weren't content with the players and the competition for backup positions and special teams candidates. So instead of trading out of their picks, they stayed put, even adding a draft pick in the process.

Looking at the roster, there probably will be few true, starting-position battles going on. Who will start opposite Roy Williams? Will Mike Jenkins or Orlando Scandrick be the guy opposite Terence Newman? And possibly even a battle at guard with Kyle Kosier and Montrae Holland.

But there's one position that has to be of some concern to the organization. It's not a problem with the starters, but the backups across the board.

I'm talking about the linebacker position, both inside and outside. Everybody knows the paramount importance of linebackers in a 3-4 defense. They're the playmakers, they're the guys who set the tone. On the surface, it looks good for Dallas in 2009. DeMarcus Ware is simply one of the best defensive players in the NFL. No worries there. Opposite him will be Anthony Spencer. Spencer has shown flashes of playmaking ability in his time but you have to be a little worried about injuries and his elevation to full-time starter. Still, I have confidence that Spencer will produce. In the middle, Bradie James is solid, a team-leader and someone you can depend on to do the job. Keith Brooking may not be the same player he was three or four years ago, but even taking that into account he should be serviceable. So the starting four should be a plus for the team, especially with the contributions of Ware.

But what do we have behind those starters? A lot of wash-outs and a handful of fresh-faced college players looking to make their way in the league. Oh yeah, every one of those rookies is making some kind of transition to a new position, or at least some new responsibilities.

The lead candidate for the nickel LB to replace Brooking in passing situations is Bobby Carpenter. I won't waste anybody's time recounting his history with the Cowboys except to say he's yet to show he can be a semi-regular contributor. He at least knows the defense by now but experience alone won't get it done. Even if he comes out of San Antonio with the job, there's no guarantee he will be any better than he has been so far in his career. The other two main candidates, Jason Williams and Stephen Hodge, are both rookies. Hodge was a safety/linebacker hybrid in college and Williams is looking at a new role that will be less about attacking and more about coverage and playing in space. It's entirely possible one, or both, of those players will stand-out in training camp and prove to be a real gem, but the odds are not overwhelming in our favor. It can take time for college players to adjust, so they might not be ready yet for the responsibilities.

On the outside, we have even less experience behind the starters. With Greg Ellis' release (which I agreed with), the Cowboys really are counting on college DE's Brandon WIlliams and Victor Butler to be ready to go should they be needed. Again, rookies learning a new position/responsibility in a new defense can be a scary proposition. We could be just one injury away from playing one of these guys regularly.

Other candidates for the backup spots include guys like Matt Stewart, Justin Rogers and Steve Octavien. There's not much there to hang your hat on.

So training camp is going to be very interesting. We'll get to see the rookies put through their paces and we'll see if Bobby Carpenter can once again turn in a good training camp, but translate that to actual games in 2009.

Wade Phillips knows, as does any 3-4 defensive coordinator, how valuable and important linebackers are to the success of their defense. The Cowboys have a quality unit of starters, but the backups are a risky deal at this point.

I'll be watching this area at training camp very closely. Let's pray that some of the kids "get it" and can produce. Either that, or pray for no injuries.

Profile: Matt Stewart - Friend of Phillips

Jim Vance — Sat, 09 May 2009 19:20:32 -0000

[Note by Grizz]: Final profile in our discussion of our new free agents. Matt Stewart is spotlighted below by Jim Vance. Can Stewart provide any help at LB, or is he strictly special teams? Can Wade Phillips get the production out of him he got earlier this decade? Is Stewart in playing shape after being out of football? Read Jim's profile then discuss how Matt Stewart will fare this season. [End Note]

Matt Stewart is 29 years old and stands 6'3" weighing in at 239 pounds.

Stewart was one of the first Cowboy free agents signed this off season.

He was originally drafted by Atlanta in the fourth round, 102nd overall, in the 2001 NFL Draft. He played for the Falcons for four years and it was there he worked with Keith Brooking and Wade Phillips. He signed as an unrestricted free agent with Cleveland on March 15, 2005.

He played for Cleveland for three seasons, however for his entire third season (2007) he was on injured reserve with a torn shoulder muscle. Stewart was an unrestricted free agent in 2008 and signed with the Cardinals but was cut before the season started.


Year	Team	Tackles	Asst.	Sacks	Ints.
2001	Falcons	9	3	0	0
2002	Falcons	48	5	3	0
2003	Falcons	59	17	2.5	0
2004	Falcons	56	11	1.5	0
2005	Browns	26	12	0	1
2006	Browns	11	1	1	0

Total		209	49	8	1

When you look at his league travels you get the impression that he may be more of a backup/special teamer than actual starter material. But what you also notice is that when Stewart was teamed up with Wade Phillips' defense, he had his best years. From '02 to '04, Stewart was productive as a linebacker for Phillips when teamed with with the other Cowboys free agent from Atlanta, Keith Brooking.

I think Wade was also willing to give him a shot because Stewart is a high character guy with high intelligence. Look at his accomplishments at Vanderbilt - he has a degree in mechanical engineering, he was SEC honor roll as junior and senior, a team captain, team MVP, Gray MVP in the Blue Gray All Star Team, All -SEC leading his team in tackles, sacks and tackles for loss.

Stewart will have competition from some of the rookies this year and signing him may have been a gamble. If you are going to take a chance on a guy, Matt Stewart is the kind of high character player that is worth the risk.

Cowboys Defense: Breaking Down the Training Camp Battles

Carl Shelton (GloryDayz88) — Mon, 04 May 2009 11:00:18 -0000

[Ed. Note by Grizz]: We'll still be covering the ongoing situation surrounding the collapse of the indoor practice facility, but we'll also resume coverage of straight football subjects on the blog. Carl breaks us away from the tragedy of the weekend for a while to discuss the roster battles on the defensive side of the ball for 2009 training camp. [End note]

Looking at the Cowboys’ draft class, two things are clearly evident. The Cowboys are putting an emphasis on improving special teams play and also improving depth by churning the bottom third of the roster. It is unlikely that all 12 of the Dallas Cowboys 2009 draft picks will make the team, but some will. For every rookie who makes the roster, there will be a veteran left out in the cold. We have spoken at length about how this year’s training camp will be a relentless scrap for roster spots. Let’s take a look at the cast of Survivor: Dallas, and how each particular battle shapes up. In this edition, we will examine the defense.

There was little player movement along the defensive line. Igor Olshansky will step in for the departed Chris Canty, but other than that the unit will look about the same as last year. There will be no real position battles along the defensive line, but there are spots up for grabs just about everywhere else.

Inside Linebacker

Starters: Bradie James, Keith Brooking

Survivor Contestants: Justin Rogers, Bobby Carpenter, Steve Octavien, Matt Stewart, Jason Williams, Stephen Hodge.

Cowboys will likely keep: 4

Breakdown: It is not inconceivable that the Cowboys would roll with two rookies backing up James and Brooking. Jason Williams was the team’s first selection, and would have to do something unthinkable not to make this roster. Hodge impressed at the rookie mini-camp with his coverage skills, and is expected to be a core special teams player. Keeping only Williams and Hodge would however present a challenge, as both are more suited to play Brooking’s weak inside position. If the Cowboys went with James, Brooking, Hodge and Williams, the team would have to look hard for a player who can fill in both inside and outside in a pinch. That scenario would all but eliminate Matt Stewart, who is not athletic enough to play outside in a 3-4. Rogers and Carpenter both have some experience outside. Rogers is the best special teamer of the group, so that may give him the edge over the disappointing Carpenter. This battle could be affected by the battle at outside linebacker.

Who will survive?

Outside Linebacker

Starters: DeMarcus Ware, Anthony Spencer

Survivor Contestants: Greg Ellis, Brandon Williams, Victor Butler

Cowboys will likely keep: 4

Breakdown: The Cowboys spent most of this off season ridding the locker room of bad attitudes and whiners. The perpetually unhappy Greg Ellis was however spared; possibly an indication of what the team thought of it’s depth at outside linebacker. The Cowboys drafted a pair of pass rushers in Williams and Butler, but both are defensive ends making the conversion to linebacker. It is unlikely that either will learn enough in training camp allow the team to move on from Ellis. Still, the team seems to be moving towards youth and locker room chemistry. If the aging Ellis again becomes a malcontent, he just might get his walking papers. Will the Cowboys play it safe with the known commodity in Ellis, or continue the youth movement? This battle could be affected by the battle at inside linebacker.

Who will survive?

Note: The Cowboys would prefer to dress 7 linebackers, so they will be looking for a player who can fill in both inside and outside. Look for 8 linebackers to make the final 53, and 7 to make the game day 45.

Safety

Starters: Ken Hamlin, Gerald Sensabaugh

Survivor Contestants: Tra Battle, Courtney Brown, Pat Watkins, Jerome Carter, Michael Hamlin, DeAngelo Smith.

Cowboys will likely keep: 4

Breakdown: Once again it looks like the rookies have the inside track here. Michael Hamlin is the only natural strong safety of this bunch, so he has an edge there. DeAngelo Smith is being looked at as a punt returner and his experience at corner could possibly save the Cowboys a game day roster spot. Battle actually played adequately when called upon last season, but Watkins and Brown have to be running out of chances. Jerome Carter is a long shot to make the squad.

Who will survive?

Cornerback

Starters: Terence Newman, Mike Jenkins/Orlando Scandrick

Survivor Contestants: Alan Ball, Michael Hawkins, Mike Mickens

Cowboys will likely keep: 4

Breakdown: This ought to be interesting, because if DeAngelo Smith can serve as an emergency corner, this will be a 3-man scramble for one spot. Michael Hawkins is not a factor, so this will come down to Ball vs. Mickens. Mike Mickens was a highly-rated corner who slid only after a knee injury. Mickens is being tabbed by many to be one of the steals of this year’s draft. We’ve counted Alan Ball out before, but every time you look up he’s still got a star on his helmet. This one will be fun.

Who will survive?

I'll be back later in the week to break down the position battles on the offensive side of the ball.

The Valley Ranch Review: Friday’s Rookie Mini-Camp Update

Aaron Novinger — Fri, 01 May 2009 23:58:09 -0000

More photos » by LM Otero - AP

7 months ago: Dallas Cowboys quarterback Stephen McGee (7) looks to pass during team rookie football minicamp at Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, Friday, May 1, 2009. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

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The DMN reports that S/CB DeAngelo Smith came up limping after covering wideout Kevin Ogletree, but the injury didn't seem serious.

Some other happenings in today's afternoon practice courtesy of the blog:

Sixth-round TE John Phillips isn't a great athlete, but he has a knack for getting open. He's very precise on his cuts and is a clever route runner. Case in point: He got behind third-round ILB Jason Williams on a seam route by lulling him to sleep with a little hesitation. The pass was incomplete after Stephen McGee threw a rope, which Williams was able to deflect, instead of putting over Phillips' shoulder.

Undrafted FB Asaph Schwapp got behind Williams on a wheel route. As LB coach Reggie Herring said this morning, Williams is raw.

[snip]

Sixth-round ILB Stephen Hodge looked much better in coverage during the afternoon practice than he did this morning. He had several deflections on passes to the flat.

TE Rodney Hannah, a two-year practice squad vet, looked good catching the ball again. He made a leaping grab over fifth-round S Mike Hamlin on a post route.

The defensive coaches congratulated fifth-round S/CB DeAngelo Smith after he broke up a pass to Manuel Johnson. But it sure looked like defensive holding. Smith made a nice break on a slant to break up Stephen McGee's pass to undrafted WR Julian Hawkins earlier in the practice.

Quarterback Stephen McGee spoke to DC.com about his first day at camp.

"Well, it's a lot of learning obviously, just trying to get a feel for the new plays, new routes and the new receivers," McGee said. "There's a lot of good coaching out there with Coach Wilson and Coach Garrett. I'm just trying to get into the rhythm. Obviously, everyone is new. There's a new system, new terminology. We're just trying to get adjusted and get the timing down."

QBs Coach Wade Wilson already likes what he sees in McGee.

"I was impressed with him, the way he handled it mentally and took everything from the classroom to the field," Wilson said. "He threw the ball real well. I was very impressed with his mechanics. I was real impressed with his presence in the huddle. He conducts himself very well on the field. He's got an aura about him. You can tell he is very confident and has some fine leadership qualities."

Nick Eatman sums up today's practice here.

Tom Orsborn takes an in-depth look into the Cowboys' crop of rookies, finding no bad character issues.

Orsborn's article on David Buehler sheds some more light on the kicker's athleticism.

The Star-Telegram profiles LB, Brandon Williams, who discusses his work with kids in the south Fort Worth area and his relationship with late Broncos' CB, Darrent Williams.

The Cowboys have even found some backups to long-snapper L.P. Ladouceur. Both linebacker Matt Stewart and rookie free agent TE Jamar Hunt have experience with deep-snapping.

Older Veterans May Be Able to Help Cardinals

Andrew602 — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 05:59:25 -0000

Free agency has died down and the Cardinals didn't exactly make a big splash. Although they resigned several key players from last year's super bowl run, the only "big" move was signing Bryant McFadden. A lot of the veterans that were brought back were mainly signed to 1-year deals. It's obvious that management wants to keep this core of players together to make another run at a championship. If they are going to succeed this time, they need to fill some important positions on the roster via the draft, and possibly whoever may be left through the free agency crops. Most of the players available are veterans or 2nd string players. Many of the vets fit into the description of the "win now" mantra, by having some gas left in the tank. Let's take a dive into who may be left that can still help the Cardinals

Tony Gonzalez

#88 / Tight End / Kansas City Chiefs

Height: 6-5

Weight: 251

Born: Feb 27, 1976

College: California


	Receiving								Kickoff Returns							Punt Returns
G	Rec	Yds	Y/G	AVG	Lng	TD	KR	YDS	AVG	Lng	TD	PR	Yds	Avg	Lng	TD
16	96	1058	66.1	11.0	35	10	0	0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

Although he technically isn't a free agent, it's obvious he wants to be traded, and despite what the Chief's owner is saying, he probably will be. The Cardinals could try to make a move more Gonzalez even though they are pretty deep at the tight end position already. Tony has expressed that he wants to play for another one or two years, and that he wants to make a run for a championship. He can still play at a pro bowl level, evidence being his stats from last year. He would become another threat for the offense and he would surely make Kurt Warner happy. He's a dependable blocker and has the best hands in the game for a tight end. His leadership and knowledge of the game could point the rest of the Cardinals tight ends in the right direction as well.

Bottom Line: He's still one of the best tight ends and would immediately become another threat to the offense.

Derrick Brooks

#55 / Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Height: 6-0

Weight: 235

Born: Apr 18, 1973

College:

		Sacks		Interceptions			Tackles
	G	Sacks	YdsL	Int	Yds	IntTD	Solo	Ast	Total
2008 - Derrick Brooks	16	0	0	1	-2	0	58	15	73

The ageless Derrick Brooks has surprisingly not been signed by any team yet. He has reported that there are several teams still interested in him, and that he definitely wants to keep playing. He is a solid leader on the defensive side of the ball, and he would calm the mini-storm of Matt Stewart and Monty Beisel leaving through free agency. Brooks is probably the oldest linebacker around that could out-perform the rest of the Cardinals linebackers. Brooks is a smart linebacker who has already won a championship. He's quick and rarely makes any mental mistakes. Adding Brooks would make the Cardinals line backing corps one of the most experienced toughest groups in the league.

Bottom line: He's up in age but he is a veteran that would bring discipline to the defense.

Cato June

#59 / Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Height: 6-0

Weight: 227

Born: Nov 18, 1979

College:

		Sacks		Interceptions			Tackles
	G	Sacks	YdsL	Int	Yds	IntTD	Solo	Ast	Total
2008 - Cato June	16	0	0	1	1	0	49	18	67

Another former Bucs linebacker, Cato June, was also released through the free agency period. Cato is quick and smart type of linebacker that's already won a Super Bowl before with the Cots in '06. He has what it takes to lead a defense, and can play most aspects of the game. He's a sound tackler and has a good sense of vision. June still has a few above average years left in him and can help in both running and pass defense. He isn't your common household name, but if you want a confident, quick linebacker, then he's your guy.

Bottom Line: He's not a pro bowl linebacker but he's at an age where he has a few good years left.

Lorenzo Neal

#42 / Baltimore Ravens

Height: 5-11

Weight: 255

Born: Dec 27, 1970

College:

		Rushing						Receiving
	G	Rush	Yds	Y/G	Avg	Lng	TD	Rec	Yds	Y/G	Avg	Lng	TD
2008 - Lorenzo Neal	11	12	25	2.3	2.1	5	0	7	35	3.2	5.0	13	0

Although he's been in the league for 17 seasons, Neal doesn't seem to age quickly. He still can provide some solid run-support for another year and the Cardinals are in need of a full back. The current full backs on the roster are mainly fit for special teams. With the uncertainty of Terrelle Smith coming back, Neal would be a solid veteran who could improve the running game, and provide decent pass protection for Warner. A perfect example of what Neal has done in the past is his assistance with LT in San Diego and the Ravens running game last season.

Bottom Line: Neal could come at a relatively cheap price and provide reliable run blocking and pass protection.

Jason Taylor

#55 / Washington Redskins

Height: 6-5

Weight: 244

Born: Sep 01, 1974

College:

		Sacks		Interceptions			Tackles
	G	Sacks	YdsL	Int	Yds	IntTD	Solo	Ast	Total
2008 - Jason Taylor	12	3.5	29.5	0	0	0	20	8	28

Taylor was unexpectedly released this off-season due to contract issues with the Washington Redskins organization. His stint in Washington didn't go so well but Taylor still has 2 more years left in him to help a team win a championship. He could fill the void that Antonio Smith left and be the perfect model to build Calais Campbell around. Both are tall defensive ends that have a quick burst off of the edge. Taylor wants to win a championship and would bring a fire to the defensive line. As long as he's not dancing with the stars, he wouldn't bring any off-field issues to the Cardinals, and his veteran leadership would be enough to make the Cardinals defense one of the best in the league.

Bottom Line: He's not the best defensive end in the league anymore but he can still be an assertive force on the defensive line.

Most of the Arizona Cardinals needs are mainly depth, and in the NFL, that's the ideal situation to be in. Regardless, they still need to bring in support for certain areas and if they don't due it through free agency, a solid draft should be all the doctor ordered. Running backs weren't included on the list because we established who's still available a few weeks back, which you can see here.

Poll

Who Would You Like to See the Cardinals Sign?

Tony Gonzalez

189 votes

Derrick Brooks

78 votes

Cato June

20 votes

Lorenzo Neal

27 votes

Jason Taylor

83 votes

Other (specify below)

10 votes

407 votes | Poll has closed

Bobby Carpenter on the trade block?

Dave Halprin — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 13:00:10 -0000

This is hardly surprising news. According to "the sources" over at the DMN, the Dallas Cowboys have been shopping Bobby Carpenter. Considering they've had him for a few years now and haven't seen fit to play him on a regular basis, they surely must be tempted to see if they could get something in value back. The problem is they've got a severe depth problem at ILB. Yeah, I know, I keep going on about strength up the middle but we've got real depth issues at NT, ILB and S.

The Cowboys are now lining up with Bradie James and Keith Brooking as ILB's and then they have Bobby Carpenter, Steve Octavien and Matt Stewart in reserve. Yikes! Read that list of backups again. It almost makes me say we can't trade Captain Caveman. I never thought I'd say that. But if they can work some magic on draft day, or maybe sign a vet that ends up on the market, then maybe they can make a draft day swap of Carpenter for some kind of pick. At this point though, they might just be better off keeping him around for another year.

[UPDATE] I can see from some of the comments I've left the wrong impression. Trading Carpenter is not something I'm really against, he's shown nothing in his time in Dallas. Just the idea of having no real experience in the backup position worries me. I realize that it's almost certain we'll draft one, maybe two, linebackers, but it is the draft and that's never a sure thing. The guy(s) we draft will have a crash-course on the Phillips 34 and then may be called on to actually play a lot if we have an injury. Seriously though, I was trying to be a little light-hearted about not trading Carp just to show how very thin we are at the positon. [END UPDATE]

Hey, we'll finally get to hear from WP.

Head coach Wade Phillips, who was muzzled during the Senior Bowl and combine, will be available to reporters Wednesday during the NFL owners' meeting, according to a club source.

The Cowboys really are leaving Texas Stadium, but at least they're bringing an old friend along with them.

BTW, in the roll call thread, I appreciate all the kind words you guys used to talk about BTB. It really makes a blogger feel good! But this comment by staubachfan really was a nice description of this blog.

I think this is a great site. The information I get on this site is the best of any website around. It even makes me sound smart and in the know to other Cowboys fans that I talk to.

Now that makes me feel like we are accomplishing our mission here.