Lots of changes to this roster over the last two years. The defensive average age is now down to about 24-25. This should be a good defense for years to come. <u>Defensive Ends</u> Candidates: Greg Ellis - Marcus Spears - Chris Canty - Kenyon Coleman - Jay Ratliff - Jason Hatcher, Vontrell Jamison, Stephen Bowen Status: Spears and Canty will be likely be the starters this year. Ellis will play an extensive backup role still as a pass-rushing specialist, but this will probably be his last year on the team. If new third round draft pick Jason Hatcher, a big DE with incredible speed, can prove to be decent, Dallas will be set at this position for awhile. I expect Hatcher to take over the nickel rusher after Ellis is gone completely. Before he was injured, Ratliff flashed ability. Coleman did too, but his salary takes a big jump this year, so he is going to have to really show something to stick around. Roster survivors: Spears, Ellis, Canty, Hatcher, Ratliff <u>Defensive Tackles</u> Candidates: Jason Ferguson, Thomas Johnson, Montavious Stanley, Steve Williams Status: Ferguson's performance last year was a little disappointing, but he is still a good option at NT. You didn't hear much about him, but that's typical of a player at that position...they don't have the stats. Still, Dallas needs to see some improvement from him this year. Johnson showed some flashes last year, but I am really excited about Stanley. He might be a draft steal. Roster survivors: Ferguson, Johnson, Stanley <u>Outside Linebacker</u> Candidates: Demarcus Ware, Bobby Carpenter, Al Singleton, Kalen Thornton, Rocky Boiman, Junior Glymph, John Saldi, J.J. Horne Status: Ware performed as advertised on the weak side. He would have had a higher sack total if he was allowed to rush more, but he spent a lot of time in coverage, which was probably his weakest area. Overall, he had a good transition to a new position. New pick Carpenter comes in with similarly high expectations. Less flashy than Ware, Carpenter is more basic and evenly talented between all responsibilities. He can easily get to the QB from the strong side too. If he shows something in camp, it could mean the end of Singleton. However, since Parcells likes to have a strong LB core, he may keep Singleton around for the talent and the experience in this young group. Thornton showed some flash last year, but the position just got a whole lot more competitive. If Singleton stays, I don't see him making the team. Boiman should make the team as a backup, basically due to his versatility to play all LB spots, plus his special teams ability. Roster survivors: Ware, Carpenter, Singleton, Boiman <u>Inside Linebacker</u> Candidates: Akin Ayodele, Bradie James, Kevin Burnett, Ryan Fowler, Kai Parham, Scott Shanle, D.D. Lee, Oliver Hoyte Status: Dallas was a little lost at inside linebacker last year. Bad news was Nyugen was out...for good. The good news is that Bradie James finally stepped up. Ayodele may not be the star, but he is a consistent player that puts up good tackle totals. James fit into the new scheme well last year and should be solid in the future. Burnett showed promise but fought injuries last year. At this point, it is unknown whether he has starter material or is just a backup, but it looks like he will be backup to begin this year. He could fit into the outside group, as well as the inside group. Fowler and Shanle are both bubble players, having strengths and weaknesses. I imagine if Parham and/or Hoyte can show some promise, they could push Fowler and/or Shanle out. Parham had a horrible 40 time but made plays in college. I think he will at least be a good backup. Roster survivors: Ayodele, James, Burnett, Fowler, Parham <u>Cornerback</u> Candidates: Anthony Henry, Terrence Newman, Aaron Glenn, Jacques Reeves, Nathan Jones, Lenny Williams, Marcus King, Byron Parker, Ronald Jones Status: I think Newman is underrated, and Henry was even better for half of the season before he got injured. I'm very happy going into 2006 with these two as starters. Glenn is aging, but he still makes for a great nickel. Reeves showed a little more with Jones last year, and with more special teams choices this year, it is doubtful Jones makes the cut. With Coleman having some experience at CB as well as safety, I can see Dallas going shorter here and going longer at the questionable safety position. Roster survivors: Henry, Newman, Glenn, Reeves <u>Safety</u> Candidates: Roy Williams, Marcus Coleman, Keith Davis, Pat Watkins, Justin Beriault, Willie Pile, Darrell Brooks, Abram Elam, Quincy Butler Status: I'll put the safeties together because the lines between the two positions get blurred with this team. Williams is really the only player I have confindence in. But for Williams to be a very good player, he needs to be closer to the line of scrimmage. Using him on a lot of deep coverage is a liability for Dallas. Last year's late-round pick Beriault showed some good stuff in last year's preseason before his year-ending injury. He could go either strong or free. Coleman will probably start at FS initially due to his experience. Beriault, along with rookie Pat Watkins should challenge Coleman for the FS duties. Davis started most of last year at FS, but could just as easily play SS. He has outstanding special teams skills too. I just don't know that I trust him to start. In an ideal world, Watkins would step up and take the position and play well. We'll see. I don't see that happening right off the bat. Pile played a considerable backup role last year, but I don't see him making the cut this year. Even better, no Scott or Dixon. Roster survivors: Williams, Coleman, Davis, Watkins, Beriault
