Vela: Glymph Notes, or How Do You Make Ten Go Into Eight?
Junior Glymph has grown into a folk hero overnight. The folks at the DMN blog have gifted him a roster spot and they’ve got plenty of company among this blog’s readers.
Consider me skeptical. Sure, Glymph did what he needed to, posting two sacks and causing two fumbles. But’s lets keep perspective. He was playing against third-team Seattle wannabes in the waning moments of the game. And this isn’t a wild-eyed rookie we’re talking about. Junior’s in his third NFL campaign, after playing ‘04 in Atlanta and ‘05 in Dallas.
The bigger problem for Junior are the nine guys ahead of him on the LB depth chart. Who do you cut to keep him? Demarcus Ware, Greg Ellis, Bradie James, Akin Ayodele, Kevin Burnett, Bobby Carpenter and Al Singleton are locks. Rocky Boiman signed a big free agent deal so he’s not going anywhere. Ryan Fowler is running fourth inside and will make the team if Dallas keeps nine LBs. When you consider that Ware, Ellis, Singleton, Burnett, Carpenter and Boiman can all play OLB in the 3-4, Glymph is running sixth string at best outside, despite his strong camp.
That’s no knock on Junior. Rather, it’s a testament to the depth of this year’s Cowboys’ squad. And he’s not alone in his situation. Scott Shanle was a key backup for Dallas last year, getting regular work in the nickel and on special teams. Now, he’s jockeying with Glymph for the 11th spot in the LB corp. Could Shanle’s start Saturday, and Glymph’s strong finish have showcased them for other teams needing linebacker help? Was DE Kenyon Coleman, who runs third team at LDE when Marcus Spears is healthy, also be getting some detailing from the Dallas staff?
It’s a strong possibility. There are eight other teams that use the 3-4 extensively, if not exclusively. The Jets (4), 49ers (6), Raiders (7), Browns (13), Miami (16), San Diego (19), New England (21) and Pittsburgh (32) use the same personnel types as the Cowboys. (Waiver claim order in parentheses) If teams farther down on this list like Cleveland or Miami want a LB off the Dallas roster, they can’t pin their hopes on the waiver process. The Jets and 49ers would likely beat them to a claim. And let’s not forget the Saints in the 2nd spot. Sean Payton and Gary Gibbs know the Dallas roster well and would snap up discarded Cowboys before the other teams knew what happened. New Orleans’ high spot could help the Cowboys leverage their way into a late draft pick or two.
And let’s not forget that Dallas was looking for a veteran WR last week. Patrick Crayton’s bum ankle and T.O.’s fickle hamstring have only intensified this search. Look over the list of teams above and see which teams might have a surplus at WR. As you might expect, the team least likely to need a trade is probably the team with WRs that could interest Dallas.
Consider me skeptical. Sure, Glymph did what he needed to, posting two sacks and causing two fumbles. But’s lets keep perspective. He was playing against third-team Seattle wannabes in the waning moments of the game. And this isn’t a wild-eyed rookie we’re talking about. Junior’s in his third NFL campaign, after playing ‘04 in Atlanta and ‘05 in Dallas.
The bigger problem for Junior are the nine guys ahead of him on the LB depth chart. Who do you cut to keep him? Demarcus Ware, Greg Ellis, Bradie James, Akin Ayodele, Kevin Burnett, Bobby Carpenter and Al Singleton are locks. Rocky Boiman signed a big free agent deal so he’s not going anywhere. Ryan Fowler is running fourth inside and will make the team if Dallas keeps nine LBs. When you consider that Ware, Ellis, Singleton, Burnett, Carpenter and Boiman can all play OLB in the 3-4, Glymph is running sixth string at best outside, despite his strong camp.
That’s no knock on Junior. Rather, it’s a testament to the depth of this year’s Cowboys’ squad. And he’s not alone in his situation. Scott Shanle was a key backup for Dallas last year, getting regular work in the nickel and on special teams. Now, he’s jockeying with Glymph for the 11th spot in the LB corp. Could Shanle’s start Saturday, and Glymph’s strong finish have showcased them for other teams needing linebacker help? Was DE Kenyon Coleman, who runs third team at LDE when Marcus Spears is healthy, also be getting some detailing from the Dallas staff?
It’s a strong possibility. There are eight other teams that use the 3-4 extensively, if not exclusively. The Jets (4), 49ers (6), Raiders (7), Browns (13), Miami (16), San Diego (19), New England (21) and Pittsburgh (32) use the same personnel types as the Cowboys. (Waiver claim order in parentheses) If teams farther down on this list like Cleveland or Miami want a LB off the Dallas roster, they can’t pin their hopes on the waiver process. The Jets and 49ers would likely beat them to a claim. And let’s not forget the Saints in the 2nd spot. Sean Payton and Gary Gibbs know the Dallas roster well and would snap up discarded Cowboys before the other teams knew what happened. New Orleans’ high spot could help the Cowboys leverage their way into a late draft pick or two.
And let’s not forget that Dallas was looking for a veteran WR last week. Patrick Crayton’s bum ankle and T.O.’s fickle hamstring have only intensified this search. Look over the list of teams above and see which teams might have a surplus at WR. As you might expect, the team least likely to need a trade is probably the team with WRs that could interest Dallas.
posted by The Gryphon at 7:45 PM
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