All the players need to showcase their skills if they want to make this team vs. the St. Louis Rams this Saturday night, and then against the Miami Dolphins on Wednesday August 29th, both games being played at Cowboys Stadium.

This is just a prediction of how this team will shape up, and keep in mind, the bottom of the roster is always churning. With that being said, lets start with the Offense ..

2 Quarterbacks .. Tony Romo and Kyle Orton
4 Running Backs .. Demarco Murray, Felix Jones, Phillip Tanner, and Jamize Olawale
1 Fullback .. Lawrence Vickers
6 Wide Receivers .. Dez Bryant, Miles Austin, Kevin Ogletree, Dwayne Harris, Andre Holmes, and Cole Beasley
3 Tight Ends .. Jason Witten, John Phillips, and James Hannah
3 Tackles .. Tyron Smith, Doug Free, and Jermey Parnell
4 Guards .. Nate Livings, MacKenzy Bernadeau, David Arkin, and Ron Leary
2 Centers .. Phil Costa, and ( Kevin Kowalski ) will be on PUP list for first 6 weeks
1 Kicker .. Dan Bailey
1 Long Snapper .. L.P. LaDouceur

27 players
Other possible candidates : G/T Pat McQuistan, TE Andrew Szczerba, WR Danny Coale, WR Tim Benford

I feel if RB Jamize Olawale is waived, he will not make it to the practice squad, he is a raw player that is still developing, but several of the other 31 teams will be willing to be patient if the Cowboys don’t. He has to make this roster. I am also very certain the Cowboys will be searching the waiver wire for wide receiver, and possibly help at #3 tight end, and center. Speaking of Centers, there have been talks that Kowalski will be placed on the PUP ( Physically Unable to Perform ) list, that will leave him off the roster for the first 6 weeks of the season, so this will possibly create another roster spot for a current player, or one on the waiver wire.

Defense :

5 Defensive Ends .. Jason Hatcher, Sean Lissemore, Marcus Spears, Tyrone Crawford, and Ben Bass
2 Nose Tackles .. Jay Ratliff, and Josh Brent
5 Outside Linebackers .. DeMarcus Ware, Anthony Spencer, Victor Butler, Adrian Hamilton, and Kyle Wilber
4 Inside Linebackers .. Sean Lee, Bruce Carter, Dan Connor, and Alex Albright ( ILB & OLB )
5 Cornerbacks .. Brandon Carr, Morris Claiborne, Orlando Scandrick, Mike Jenkins, and Mario Butler
4 Safeties .. Gerald Sensabaugh, Barry Church, Danny McCray, and Matt Johnson
1 Punter .. Chris Jones

26 players
Other possible candidates : DE Kenyon Coleman, FS Eddie Whitley, CB Teddy Williams, ILB Orie Lemon, FS/SS  Mana Silva

CB Mike Jenkins may be placed on the PUP ( Physically Unable to Perform ) List that will cause him to miss the first 6 weeks of the season so he can continue rehabilitating his shoulder. If so, this could leave a roster spot open for a Teddy Williams, C.J. Wilson, or possibly a waiver wire candidate.

I am keeping DE Ben Bass and OLB Adrian Hamilton on this 53 man roster. Both players are rookie free agents that have shown promise this far in training camp, and both preseason games. Both are still developing, and just like Olawale, if either is released, they will not make it to the practice squad.

As far as this defense, I am not 100% satisfied with my depth at Safety, I like McCray, but mostly for special teams, and I selected Johnson because he was the best safety not starting on this roster, and a 4th round draft pick. I did however keep Butler because he has been playing CB and safety, they are trying to turn him into the next Alan Ball. Look for the Cowboys to search for better alternatives at Safety, and possibly a better Punter, I am not 100% sold on Jones either. I am also not satisfied with Jay Ratliff starting at NT, If the Cowboys could add a big bodied, young experienced nose tackle, Ratliff would be moving to End, and Spears would be cut, but we all know thats not going to happen.

As far as the practice squad, it is not uncommon for the Cowboys to add at least 1-3 players from other teams that were waived. But I am going to add 8 players from the Cowboys roster that has a significant chance of making it to the 2012 practice squad :

1. QB Rudy Carpenter ( this makes the most sense to add Carpenter to the P.S. since he still has 1 year of eligilibility and McGee has none, serving as a #3 QB for emergency purposes, and not taking up a roster spot at the same time ).
2. WR Danny Coale
3. WR Tim Benford
4. RB Lance Dunbar
5. NT Rob Callaway
6. OG Harland Gunn
7. FS Eddie Whitley
8. TE Andrew Szczerba

Other possible Candidates : OT Jeff Adams, ILB Orie Lemon, S Mana Silva

ILB Caleb McSurdy will be placed on Injured Reserve

This will be very interesting as the preseason winds down. I think the Cowboys will have a very good season once players like Jason Witten, Dez Bryant, Miles Austin, Phil Costa, Kevin Kowalski, DeMarcus Ware, and Mike Jenkins fully recover from their injuries, and start playing again. I also have a feeling, barring any serious injuries, the Cowboys have a shot of advancing to the playoffs this season.

There are a handful of players in the 3-0 win over the Oakland Raiders that need to be highly observed to see if the continue the success they had in Monday night’s preseason opener.

Dec. 4, 2011; Glendale, AZ, USA; Dallas Cowboys linebacker (55) Alex Albright against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-US PRESSWIRE

Players I think the coaches really need to keep a keen eye on in these next 3 games are as follows :

Offense :

49 Jamize Olawale 12 carries / 42 yards, Cowboys will place him on P.S.
62 David Arkin played very well at Center in 1st start
76 Pat McQuistan has grown into a player since last time here, this time at RT
78 Jermey Parnell has developed more strength since last season
15 Andre Holmes 3 catches / 40 yards, may not be #3 WR but will be #4
16 Tim Benford 1 catch / 9 yards, if he doesn’t make team, Practice squad man
80 Andrew Szczerba has to outshine James Hanna, 1 catch / 20 yards
84 James Hanna 2 catches / 15 yards, him or Szczerba will win #3 TE

Defense :

55 Alex Albright 9 tackles, can play inside or outside linebacker, a keeper
79 Ben Bass 5 tackles, 1 sack, the Dline needs to develop him
20 Teddy Williams 4 tackles, looked impressive playing LCB
36 Mana Silva 4 tackles, 1 int. could be good depth and special teamer
38 Eddie Whitley 2 tackles, will most likely develop on practice squad
53 Adrian Hamilton 2 tackles, needs to develop on the 53 man roster
56 Caleb McSurdy 4 tackles, will be a battle between him and Lemon
58 Orie Lemon 2 tackles, him and McSurdy will fight for #4 ILB spot
59 Baraka Atkins 2 tackles, 1 sack with 5th team since 2007
70 Tyrone Crawford 1 tackle

These are the players I will mainly keep my focus on this Saturday at the San Diego Chargers. I could easily add Cole Beasley to this list as well, but he really needs to show us this separation we are hearing about in training camp.

I just have a feeling that players like Crawford and Bass are being watched very closely with veterans Kenyon Coleman and Marcus Spears’ jobs are in jeopardy. The Cowboys are also trying to find solid depth behind Gerald Sensabaugh and Barry Church at safety keeping a close eye on Danny McCray, Mana Silva, and Eddie Whitley. 4th round pick Matt Johnson also needs to get into the mix before preseason ends. With Mike Jenkins still out nursing that surgical repaired shoulder, players like Williams, Mario Butler, C.J. Wilson, and Lionel Smith are being heavily watched because one of the 4 will be kept on the roster to replace Jenkins until he is healthy to play again. I have never seen so much competition as we are looking at with Inside and Outside Linebacker. Lemon and McSurdy are fighting for that #4 spot, but look out, the Cowboys may get very creative with the roster depth adding Albright as the #4 ILB that can play outside in a pinch.
Outside Linebacker looks to be the strongest competition with players like Hamilton, Atkins, Victor Butler, Kyle Wilber and of course, Albright playing behind Demarcus Ware and Anthony Spencer.

No matter who pulls ahead of who at wide receiver, I just don’t see the #3 wideout on this team. I feel that Holmes will be #4, and then guys like Dwayne Harris, Benford, Beasley, and possibly Danny Coale will be battling it out for 1-2 spots for the #5 and possible #6 spot.

As far as the offensive line, we can only hope that the walking injured will heal up and return soon, if not, we may not have a true #1 and #2 quarterback on this team either.

The Jacksonville Jaguars took quick notice to his production and signed him to a 5 year $32.5 mil deal with $14 mil in guaranteed money. Not bad for a guy who was basically an unknown for the first 4 years of his career bouncing from the Falcons ( who drafted him in the 3rd round in 2007 ), to the Rams, to the Chargers, then on to Dallas where he had previously only had 89 catches, 1000 receiving yards, 4 touchdowns, and 20 career starts from 2007 – 2010.

Now the Cowboys are back to square one as they couldn’t come close to matching what the Jags offered, and it all starts in training camp.

It is most likely the club will keep 6 wide receivers for the 2012 season, along with Dez Bryant and Miles Austin, the boys literally have no proven depth behind the starting two, unless you want to count Kevin Ogletree and his 25 catches and 294 receiving yards in 3 seasons. I am going to break down the depth chart :

* 1. Dez Bryant ( 2010 1st round draft selection )
* 2. Miles Austin ( 2006 Rookie Free Agent )
3. Kevin Ogletree ( 2009 Rookie Free Agent )
4. Andre Holmes ( 2011 Rookie Free Agent )
5. Dwayne Harris ( 2011 6th round draft selection )
6. Cole Beasley ( 2012 Rookie Free Agent )
7. Danny Coale ( 2012 5th round draft selection )
8. Raymond Radway ( 2011 Rookie Free Agent )
9. Tim Benford ( 2012 Rookie Free Agent )
10. Donavon Kemp ( 2012 Rookie Free Agent )
11. Saalim Hakim ( 2012 Rookie Free Agent )
12. David Little ( 2012 Rookie Free Agent )

* indicates starter

And if that’s not enough to worry you, Austin always tends to have hamstring problems, missing 6 games alone in 2011. Bryant tends to find himself in trouble, and could still face suspension time for his altercation back in early July for a domestic assault on his own mother.

So where does this leave the Cowboys ? There are several options. They could take the best 6 they have now and hope for the best. They could look in the waiver wire after final cuts hoping to find the next Robinson. Or they could entertain another team with a trade offer, possibly using a player, or 2013 draft picks, or possibly a combination of both if they want to succeed on offense this season, and cover themselves for depth and injury purposes.

Regardless, this is going to be the biggest task for the Cowboys before the season begins. Just wish they would have been more positive about having the proper depth before letting Robinson go.