Right Tackle is a Very Crowded Place
I was studying the rookie numbers last night, prepping notes for camp, and noticed some odd numbers on the offensive line.
There are two centers, the starter Andre Gurode and backup wannabe Travis Bright.
There are four players listed as guards on the team's web-site roster: starters Kyle Kosier and Leonard Davis, and backups Montrae Holland and Phil Costa.
There are two players with experience at the key left tackle spot: anticipated starter Doug Free and challenger Alex Barron.
Right tackle, meanwhile, has a log-jam of listed candidates. Incumbent Marc Colombo has long-time backup Pat McQuistan and second year man Robert Brewster behind him. Joining the scrum are rookies Sam Young, Will Barker and Mike Tepper.
When you consider that Barron also played extensively at right tackle with the Rams, Dallas starts with seven potential right tackle candidates.
That can't be right, especially when the guard depth looks so thin. Holland has played very little since his arrival from Denver in '08 and Costa was not drafted. He starts camp as a long shot.
I think a couple of the right tackle guys will get some early and extensive time inside. I have no inside data, but I'll guess that Brewster and maybe Tepper will challenge Holland and Costa for reps at guard.
In just four days, we won't have to speculate.