Aug 29, 2012; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys linebacker Orie Lemon (58) on the line of scrimmage during the second quarter against the Miami Dolphins at Cowboys Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-US PRESSWIRE

Lemon had a huge game Wednesday night against the Miami Dolphins recording five tackles and an interception for a touchdown. Seeing his name on this list is somewhat of a surprise after that performance. But head coach Jason Garrett did specify that him and his coaching staff would consider the player’s entire performance from OTA’s to training camp through the preseason when making tomorrow’s cuts.

Both Carpenter and Benford tweeted about their dismissals:

Although none of the above names are a big surprise, the release of Carpenter speaks well for quarterback Stephen McGee. That is unless the Cowboys decide to only go with two quarterbacks this year. I think both fans and Dallas’ coaching staff alike hope Coale, Lemon and Hamilton pass through waivers. The Cowboys can name eight players who pass through waivers on Saturday to their practice squad.

Another noticeable missing position here is running back. The team is half back heavy right now with DeMarco Murray, Felix Jones, Phillip Tanner, Lance Dunbar and Jamize Olawale. I’d expect at least one or even two of those names waived by Friday’s 8:00 p.m. deadline.

Some of the other “bubble” names we may see on Friday include:  On Defense: – DB Teddy Williams, DE Ben Bass, DB Eddie Whitley, DE Baraka Atkins, DE Clifton Geathers, DB Akwasi Owusu-Ansah, DE Robert Callaway, S Mana Silva, LB Isaiah Greenhouse, and DB Lionel Smith. On Offense -  TE Andrew Szczerba, WR Saalim Hakim, QB Stephen McGee, OT Jeff Adams, C Harland Gunn, G Ronald Leary, G Daniel Loper, T Pat McQuistan, and T Jeremy Parnell.

Also hanging in the balance is the fate of former first round pick Marcus Spears. The defensive end has been a staple of the second team for the past two years. But with names like Jason Hatcher and Kenyon Coleman out performing him and both Tyrone Crawford and Sean Lissemore knocking on the door, Spears may have already played his last game as a Dallas Cowboy.

Stay with The Landry Hat as we continue to keep you up to date with all the Cowboy roster cuts.

Dallas got off to a slow start, allowing Miami to navigate up and down the field thanks to untimely penalties and a solid running game led by Daniel Thomas, but the Cowboys held the Dolphins to only a pair of field goals in the first half to accomplish an impressive feat: no preseason opponent crossed the end zone against Rob Ryan’s defense in the first 30 minutes of play in all four games. Despite the backups playing, that is still an impressive statistic and the defense should definitely gain some momentum from that heading into the regular season.

Fourth-year quarterback Stephen McGee may have played his last game as a Cowboy, going 9-18 for 124 with no touchdowns or picks, but struggling to find a rhythm and consistently move the offense. He made some good throws under duress –and wasn’t exactly helped by a few drops by wide receivers– but McGee didn’t show anything that would indicate the Cowboys HAVE to keep three qb’s on the roster. (More on McGee Below)

Aug 29, 2012; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys running back Lance Dunbar (25) breaks a tackle of Miami Dolphin safety Jimmy Wilson (27) during the second quarter at Cowboys Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-US PRESSWIRE

Linebacker Orie Lemon had the play of the first half for Dallas, reading Miami quarterback Matt Moore’s eyes attempting to throw to the other end of the field and intercepting him in stride. Lemon scampered 26 yards for the pick six and gave Dallas a 10-6 lead that would never be relinquished.

If there had to be a player of the game, however, it would definitely be rookie running back Lance Dunbar out of the University of North Texas. Dunbar came into this game looking to provide coaches with more than just a glimpse of his talent –he only had limited action the previous three games– and delivered at a high level. He finished the game with 15 carries for 105 yards, the highlight being a 58-yard touchdown run in the third quarter in which Dunbar busted through the hole after a broken tackle, and was off to the races. It was a breakout performance for the undrafted rookie and may have caused the coaches to seriously consider his value as a “Darren Sproles” type of player who could provide some energy on punt returns and short pass/run plays.

Here are some other observations from the game

*Wide receiver Kevin Ogletree had an early drop on a comeback route when the ball popped out of his hands after a perfect throw by McGee, but came back later and beat his man on a go route and drew a 43-yard pass interference penalty. Ogletree looks ready to contribute and has always been a good route runner, but can’t afford to drop easy first downs come season time. He finished the preseason with 10 catches for 147 yards.

* Cornerback Teddy Williams may have sealed his fate with a fumble on a kickoff return. He was in the process of a solid return and wasn’t hit very hard, but the ball came loose and was recovered by Dolphins kicker, Dan Carpenter–yes, a kicker maintained possession in the “scrum”. Williams is fast, but that seems to be his only real asset and it would be a surprise if he made this team.

* Linebacker Victor Butler continued his stellar preseason, collecting a sack on Moore after he blew by his man with ease. Butler should contribute to the pass rush this year and could supplant Anthony Spencer if he fails to make an impact on defense.

*Dallas finished the game with 238 yards rushing and two touchdowns on the ground. The Cowboys running backs only hit pay dirt five times all of last season.

*Running back Phillip Tanner looks to have secured the third running back spot. Tanner showed good burst and explosiveness in his playing time, gaining 48 yards on 9 carries and a 1-yard score. Fans definitely hope he can be a complimentary back who can spell DeMarco Murray and Felix Jones from time to time. Dunbar performed very well, but Tanner’s size should give him the edge.

*Penalties were a negative in first half for Dallas. These replacement refs have been whistle-happy at times, but even that fact can’t mask the eight penalties called against the Cowboys in the first half.

*Staying on the subject of those replacement refs, they missed a clear pass interference call on Dolphins cornerback Richard Marshall. Marshall grabbed Ogletree around the waist as he turned to catch the ball and that is a penalty every time. Consider myself amongst those most worried about the impact on the game these refs are going to have–a negative one.

* Cornerback Lionel Smith took a blow from Dolphins fullback Jorvorskie Lane on a tackle attempt and sustained a concussion. Lane lowered his shoulder and layed the lumber on Smith.

*Should Felix Jones be worried? Both Tanner and Dunbar both looked good and could make it a tough decision for coaches. Each of them have their talents and could contribute significantly if given playing time this year.

Aug 29, 2012; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Stephen McGee (7) throws a pass in the second quarter against the Miami Dolphins at Cowboys Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-US PRESSWIRE

*Dan Bailey is the man. The kicker nailed another trio of field goals and added to his perfect preseason, nailing his eighth in a row. Bailey could cement himself as an elite kicker this upcoming season, he hit 32 of 37 last year.

*Safety Mana Silva looks to have solidified himself a spot on the roster. He proved throughout the preseason that he’s a guy who can hit and always knows where the ball is.

**The Curious Case of Stephen McGee. Might as well start making the film now. McGee is such an enigma at times, he can show no pocket presence on one play and miss a wide open receiver in the middle of the field, but on the next play, can stay in there and deliver a strike down the sideline. It’s this inconsistency that frustrates coaches and makes it a real toss-up if he is going to make the team or not.

Injuries

*Cornerback Lionel Smith sustained a concussion on that hit by Lane and did not return.

* Guard Derrick Loper left the game with a hamstring strain.

*Wide receiver Andre Holmes tweaked his knee but should be ok.

All in all, a good win for the Cowboys, but it’s now a seven-day countdown to the start of the regular season against the defending champ New York Giants.

Time to get to work, men.

These next 16 count.

Unlike the 2011 season where need, youth and inexperience across the offensive line trumped all else on the Cowboys roster and barring significant injury to critical positions elsewhere on the team, this year it will likely be overall quality depth and talent that constitutes the case for the Cowboys to head into the season with a linebacker heavy roster.

From left, tight end, James Hanna (84), linebacker, Adrian Hamilton (53), cornerback, Mario Butler (31) and cornerback, Isaac Madison (30) participate in their pre-camp morning practice at Valley Ranch in Irving on July 26, 2012.

The Dallas Cowboys had two linebackers on the practice squad last season that left the team with a viable enough impression to warrant not being cut but instead kept throughout the season. Both Orie Lemon and Isiah Greenhouse may find it much harder this year to make even the practice squad with the influx of talent that the Jerry Jones and company imported onto the roster this off-season.

Could second year outside linebacker Alex Albright be on the bubble as well, when it comes to making the final 53-man roster? If not which young talented linebacker will it be that doesn’t make the squad?

It appears that the Cowboys will move Albright inside and ask him to learn the Mike position in defensive sets along with his need to contribute on special teams. It has been chronicled that Albright is a player the Cowboys defensive coaching staff is very high on.  The only logical explanation for this move is, two-part, due to the phenomenal play so far this off-season of undrafted free agent Adrian Hamilton, who is learning the in’s and out’s of the joker (outside/pass rush specialist) linebacker, and the need to thin out a log jammed position at outside linebacker.

The Cowboys drafted both linebackers Kyle Wilber and Caleb McSurdy this past April during the 2012 NFL draft and also signed UFA’s Aston Whiteside and Adrian Hamilton. Adding former Carolina Panther Dan Connor via free agency this offseason brought the total of linebackers on the current roster to thirteen. The team carried three inside linebackers and four outside linebackers on the opening day roster in 2011.

If the mainstay within the Cowboys linebacking community are most certainly DeMarcus Ware, Anthony Spencer, Sean Lee, Bruce Carter, and Dan Connor. Then the obvious back-ups will quite assuredly be Victor Butler behind Ware, followed by the rookie Kyle Wilber in spot duty behind Anthony Spencer.

Rookie Kyle Wilber will likely make the team on the merit of draft status alone so where does this leave Adrian Hamilton? Will the Cowboys cut Adrian Hamilton? Hamilton is forcing the Cowboys to take notice. We don’t believe the former defensive end will be cut and if the team tries to slide him under the radar and onto the practice squad the UFA will without hesitation be signed by one of the twelve teams that had originally sought out the pass rushing specialist’s services once the draft was over. Hamilton, the former Prairie View A&M star broke the SWAC single season sack record, is simply too good to not receive an opportunity to play in the NFL.

Therefore it’s either Hamilton makes the roster or he is no longer a Cowboy and, as goes the luck of the Cowboys, ends up on the roster of a division foe terrorizing Dallas for years to come. Some one on the current squad is the heir apparent to Anthony Spencer. The team is too talent loaded at linebacker not to have someone capable of stepping up in Spencer’s absence after the 2012 season.

If Hamilton does land on the 53-man, equating to what is five outside linebackers then the next question is the number of middle linebackers to be carried by the team. Alex Albright made the roster last year so for him not to make the roster this year and earn a practice squad designation would seem to be a demotion of sorts that we don’t believe the player or the team will be willing to make or accept.

Therefore carrying Alex Albright along with Dan Connor to back-up both Sean Lee and Bruce Carter will leave the Dallas Cowboys holding onto a total of nine linebackers to begin the season. A move that would need to happen in order to retain the talent at linebacker the Dallas Cowboys have been stock piling the past few seasons.

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