one of the most competitive we’ve seen in awhile. Wade’s new “Get Tough” plan wasn’t for him to get tougher, it was for him to get tougher players. Every practice will be intense, our starters may be set; but every backup should be on alert. You better bring your “A” game to practice, because these rookies may not be super talented, but they come to play football every day. That’s why I like this draft, tough, smart football players always should have a spot on this team, and most of the guys we drafted fit that description.

If you don’t look at the names in our draft and instead look at what our scouts think they bring to the team; more toughness (both mental and physical), less mental mistakes, and turning Special Teams from a weakness to a strength, I think we all would be happy. Hopefully our scouts are right.

enough beef to back up both tackle spots like Mc Q, Unless free has added a lot of weight in muscle! That’s just the SAD fact!

will be on the roster. since there is not any real good young backups on the OL, i see only keeping 9. either dixon makes his way on the roster or carp.

of course injuries always have a way of changing things don’t they.

QB 3 – Romo, Kitna, McGee — easy

RB 3 – Barber, Felix, Choice — easiest

FB 1 – Anderson — will get competition, but should survive b/c he’s well rounded

WR 5 – Williams, Crayton, Austin — definite. Hurd and Stanback are not set. Not sure the 7th rounder will press them, but a UFA might. I still like his potential, but one more ding and Stanback’s gone.

TE 3 – Witten, Bennett, roster fight between Hannah/Phillips

OL – 9 Flo, Kosier, Gurode, Davis, Columbo — set. Proctor gets the edge as backup center. Brewster next most likely as the new kid, who will take McQ’s swing role in 2010. McQuistan might be next most likely to survive b/c he can cover G/T on game days. Free survives if he’s still Flo’s best backup. To me, that means Holland is likely the odd guy out. But I think it’s fairly fluid here. If Holland really proved himself at guard, he could slide into Kosier’s starting spot, with Kosier being the super sub. Since he could play center, Proctor could be traded. Not likely, but possible.

Total Offense – 24

DL 6 – Rat, Igor, Spears — set. Hatcher, Bowen and Siavii likely. Dixon might supplant Bowen or Hatcher (who has generally underachieved). And I’ll bet we’re on the lookout for NTs.

OLB 5- Ware, Spencer, Ellis — set. Brandong Williams, Victor Butler duke it out with Justin Rogers for two slots. Ellis is already paid for this year, with his money coming off next season. No reason to cut him now. If the rooks show better pass rushing ability and can tackle or block on special teams, they’ll beat out Rogers.

ILB 5 – James, Brookings, Carpenter — set. Jason Williams and Hodge near locks. You can hate on Bobby C, but we aren’t going with two late-round rookies backing up Brookings, who’s in his 30s. Hodge is certain to make the team as a special teamer, and Jason Williams is also a lock as our first pick.

CB 5- Newman, Jenkins, Scandrick, Ball, Mickens. Only issue here is Mickens’ health. D Smith will play some here too, just as Ball will play some safety.

S 4 – Ken Hamlin, Sensabaugh, Michael Hamlin, DeAngelo Smith. This competition will be stiff. Watkins, Tra Battle, Courtney Brown, and perhaps others will be fighting for jobs here, but I expect Dallas to go with cheaper guys that they have locked up longer. That’s why they kept Alan Ball over Ogletree last year.

Total Defense — 25

ST – 4 Folk, Buehler, McBriar, Loudaceur.