IRVING, Texas - Some thoughts from the practice field at Valley Ranch:
- At least for another week, Doug Free will remain at right guard as this staff continues their search for the best five. Jermey Parnell continues his work at right tackle which begs the question if the staff will give him a series or two against the Texans on Thursday night? In his first game action of the preseason, there were some plays where Parnell was much better as a pass blocker than he was on the run. He just doesn't appear to have that foot quickness that I had observed from him last season. He was late several times working himself into position to complete the block. There were also times where he played with a slight hesitation which killed him on second level blocks and the screen that went to Bryant early in the game. There is a side of me that would like to see him play just to get some good work but also build his confidence if in fact he has to open the season at right tackle.
- If you just put the thought of contracts aside and how it potentially shapes this roster, at defensive tackle, Landon Cohen has out played Sean Lissemore to the point that I would strongly consider him for his spot on this roster. Cohen appears to be a better fit for what these defensive coaches are trying to build scheme wise. Cohen just plays faster up the field and with more lateral quickness than what you see from Lissemore. For his lack of height, Cohen does play with some power. He is one of those guys that when you study the tape, he just shows up. Where I believe he can help this squad is playing as a rotational one or three and that flexibility makes him an interesting player that might be hard to let walk.
- Against the Bengals, I really liked what I was able to see from Kevin Kowalski in his first game back but it might be a little too late. There was a time early in training camp where I believed that he had an outstanding shot to make this team but I feel like the missed time with the injury could hurt his chances. If the front office keeps nine, he has a shot to stay but you have heard me say this before, I do not believe that they are married to the bottom of this roster and if a tackle they like appears on these cuts, then that is the direction I feel like they will go. The wild card in claiming a tackle would be how they feel about Demetress Bell, who saw action in the Arizona game but not against the Bengals except on special teams. All along this front office has had a plan for Bell in trying to get him ready for the preseason. If he is in the mix, then that spot could come down to Kowalski, Bell and a waiver claim. [embedded_ad]
- I have always believed that this front office would keep five corners on the roster and I was almost positive that Sterling Moore was one of those five but I am not so sure now. Brandon Carr, Morris Claiborne, Orlando Scandrick and B.W. Webb are the four locks but that fifth spot is in question. In my eyes, Moore has practiced well and when given the opportunity in games other than the Miami one, he has shown some good things coverage wise but what Micah Pellerin has been able to do the last several weeks has me thinking is if he has done well enough to take that spot away from Moore. He has been aggressive both in coverage and what he has shown on special teams. He hasn't shown the position flexibility that we have seen in the past from Moore but there is a side of me that believes that you could work him at free safety and you might discover something there. There just is a certain nastiness to Pellerin's game that as a scout I appreciate and like to see him develop.
