IRVING, Texas – Here are some quick, random thoughts on my mind concerning a variety of issues from injuries to playing time to the final 53-man roster.
- I am starting to believe that if something were to happen to Sean Lee at Mike linebacker that Justin Durant would be the man that would take his spot.
- I hope this is not the Scout's Kiss of Death, but Miles Austin looks healthy and ready to have an outstanding season. He is running with an ease of movement that I had not seen for the last two seasons. He is playing with confidence and is finishing plays.
- This thumb injury to Dez Bryant should not be a factor at all for him but where it might slow him down is as a blocker. He has to be careful how he uses his hands in this way. Bryant is one of those players that has a high tolerance of pain and he is able to block it out of his mind so that helps.
- When Brad Sham, Marc Colombo and I call these next two preseason games on the radio a name you will hear a great deal is that of running back Kendial Lawrence. He hasn't had many opportunities but that is about to change.
- Nobody has fallen off the training camp radar further than wide receiver Eric Rogers. Where he had been catching balls at all levels, he has become a non-factor in his efforts to make this 53. There is a struggle that all rookie receivers go through whether its drops or blown assignments but how they fight through it will be the difference. Eric Rogers is at that point.
- This is the approach that I have always taken with injuries, when the player starts to miss practices game week, then start to worry about that player but not until then.
- Nick Hayden has had a better camp than Sean Lissemore who has battled his share of injuries and he deserves to be the first man in the rotation when Jay Ratliff returns to the lineup allowing Jason Hatcher to move over to nose.
- In my mind, I have moved on from Nate Livings and would not be one bit surprised if the front office was felt the same way.
- When you start to think about the numbers at certain positions especially wide receiver, whether its five or six, Jason Witten, James Hanna and to a degree, Gavin Escobar can play wide or in the slot if you have to use that type of player. Flexibility at one position might help another with numbers.
- I am not the least bit worried about Phillip Tanner and what he can bring to this squad. As disappointed as he might have been for not playing offensive snaps from my experience in front offices, sometimes you want to take a look at different players, it was Joseph Randle's day. My gut tells me that once Tanner touches the ball, you will see a motivated player.
