John Williams
The NFL transaction wire was hot and heavy over the last couple of days as front offices were forced to cut down from 80 players to 53. Then begin the process of putting players through waivers with the hopes of getting them to their practice squads.
This year, teams are allowed to have 16 players on their practice squad. Unlike in previous years where the practice squad was reserved for players with two or fewer seasons of accrued time in the NFL, this year, the NFL is allowing for up to six players with an unlimited number of accrued seasons in the league.
In addition to the list below provided by The Athletic’s Jon Machota, the Dallas Cowboys have also added Isaac Alarcon through the international player gateway. The Cowboys are signing former New York Jets running back Elijah McGuire and offensive tackle Eric Smith as well.
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Cowboys practice squad:Brandon Carr, DBFrancis Bernard, LBChris Westry, CBJustin Hamilton, DTLadarius Hamilton, DEMarcus Henry, CJon’Vea Johnson, WRAaron Parker, WRDeante Burton, CBRon’Dell Carter, DECole Hikutini, TELuther Kirk, SSewo Olonilua, FBSaivion Smith, CB
Because the practice squad is a bit more interesting than in other years, here are a few observations about the Dallas Cowboys practice squad to start 2020.
1. Brandon Carr to Practice Squad Smart Maneuvering
With the new set of rules allowing for up to six players with an unlimited number of accrued NFL seasons to be placed on the practice squad, the Dallas Cowboys took full advantage by adding former Cowboys Cornerback Brandon Carr. Also, under the new rules, teams can promote players to the active roster twice in a season and then revert them to the practice squad without having to put them through waivers.
It looks incredibly likely that Brandon Carr is promoted to the active roster at some point and could be as soon as week one.
Another procedural element to starting Brandon Carr on the practice squad is that if they don’t sign him to the active roster until after week one, his contract for 2020 isn’t guaranteed.
Carr, who was most recently with the Baltimore Ravens, started 16 games in each of his three seasons with the Ravens. During his three years, he intercepted six passes, though none of those came in 2019. However, Carr set a career-high with two sacks last season.
Last year, Brandon Carr was an incredibly versatile player for one of the best defenses in the NFL. He played 104 snaps at free safety. Carr also added 166 snaps as the box safety while playing 270 snaps as the slot cornerback and 206 snaps as a boundary corner.
He was a jack of all trades for Baltimore, and in Mike Nolan’s defense that seeks to be multiple and versatile, Carr fits right in.
With Xavier Woods banged up and Ha Ha Clinton-Dix not living up to expectations, the Dallas Cowboys needed a veteran presence on the back end if Woods’ injury lingers.
2. No Fullback Necessary
On the active roster, the Dallas Cowboys opted not to go with a traditional fullback. Instead, they will use Dalton Schultz in more of an H-Back role where he gets snaps at both tight end and full back. Given the new reality of the NFL that has offenses in 11-personnel (1 RB, 1 TE, 3 WRs) around 70% of the time, the traditional fullback isn’t used very much in today’s game. Having a player like Schultz who can take snaps there when the Cowboys use traditional two-back sets is helpful.
Mike McCarthy has often found ways to make a fullback work in his offense, and it was thought the Cowboys would carry one in 2020. With needs elsewhere, Olonilua was squeezed out.
However, it should be noted that they thought enough of Sewo Olonilua to keep him on the practice squad. While he may not have made enough of an impression to stick with the 53-man roster, finding his way onto the practice squad is no small feat.
3. International Player Exemption
Due to the International Player Exemption rule regarding practice squads, the Dallas Cowboys are allowed to keep a 17th member of their practice squad with Isaac Alarcon fitting the bill. It isn’t easy to know just what kind of impact Alarcon made during the Dallas Cowboys training camp without the benefit of preseason games. One guy who is a fan of Alarcon? Quarterback Dak Prescott
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In addition to 53-man roster and 16-man practice squad, Cowboys can choose to carry 22-year-old OT Isaac Alarcón, a Mexico native who arrived via the NFL’s International Player Pathway program. Dak’s a fan, calls him “the Great Isaac” https://t.co/sT48Kjq7RJ
Alarcon has impressive size and athletic ability. A year on the practice squad could afford him the opportunity to develop into a potential roster player in the future.
4. Oh, Elijah Carries the Rock
Though he isn’t listed above in Jon Machota’s list of practice squad players, the Cowboys have signed former New York Jets running back Elijah McGuire to the 16-man practice squad.
McGuire was last seen in 2018 with the Jets when he only played in eight games and carried the football 92 times for 276 yards and three touchdowns. He also caught 19 passes for 192 yards and a touchdown. Elijah McGuire makes his money as a receiving threat. He’s averaged more than 10 yards per reception over 36 receptions and 57 targets.
At just 26, McGuire adds a bit of veteran insurance at running back should Ezekiel Elliott or Tony Pollard suffer an injury.
5. Cowboys Fortunate No Preseason Games
In one way, not having preseason games made evaluations a bit more difficult for the coaching staff and scouting departments. A lack of film against other opponents and the limited training camp repetitions available to the players could prove a challenge for evaluations.
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The biggest surprise of the Cowboys roster cuts is undrafted rookie free agent LB Francis Bernard being released. He was very good throughout camp. Would’ve liked to see him in some preseason games. A player Dallas will look to keep on its practice squad
In another way, not having preseason games might have worked out in their favor. Francis Bernard, in particular, was making a lot of noise in Cowboys training camp. With interceptions in back to back days, it was becoming more and more likely that Bernard would find a way to stick on the 53-man roster out of training camp. With no game or practice film on the Cowboys undrafted free agent, other teams were unable to get a good look at a player that will probably find his way onto the Dallas Cowboys roster at some point in the next year.
Don’t forget the Cowboys can also protect 4 players from the PS this year
Savion Smith and Luther Kirk making the squad. We never heard anything about them during camp. Most people probably don’t even know the names. What was seen of them at camp to suggest they could have bigger roles or fill bigger needs than somebody like March? Are they both considered emergency safeties? Even Westry seems a reach … I get his “measurables” are enticing, but he has yet to really push for a spot on the team … never really getting even special teams mentions.
Looks like McCarthy has fooled most of us in his first go here … some unconventional moves, albeit in some unconventional times.
I really liked what I saw of Kirk during the East-West Shrine Game. He’s got skills. His athleticism is a little all over the place (great explosion, good speed, ok size but poor agility): https://relativeathleticscores.com/2020/04/04/luther-kirk-ras/#:~:text=At%20his%20pro%20day%2C%20he,6.41%20score%20out%20of%2010.0.
Safety is one of the spots where you can get by with less than ideal athleticism if you have the intelligence/instincts helping you get a jump on where you need to be.
Case in point, Jeff Heath had excellent athleticism but lacked instincts. He ended up recognizing and reacting too late too often. When he guessed right, he could make some spectacular plays. Too bad he often guessed wrong. https://www.mockdraftable.com/player/jeff-heath
Why are they choosing to put Dalton Schultz in at FB at times!? I don’t understand that!! I figured that’s why we were keeping Sean Mckeon…. He has experience playing the FB position at times from when he played in college!! So if we are gonna use a TE at the FB position then you would think they would use the one that has the most experience there!! Idk, I guess we’ll just have to wait and see what happens this weekend!!
Id rather Mckeon make roster than Bell just because he can block and catch and play at fb
Interesting to see what players are protected each wk and which 2 get called up to the team each wk I would guess some of these no names are unprotected and will get poached here and there depending on other teams needs. Looks like the prac s for teams will be a revolving door (except for protected players) The whole prac s strategy will be a game in itself.
Spot on assessment of Jeff Heath Lonewolfz28 !