If you saw that coming, raise your Labor Day hand. Didn't think so.
We did foresee the departures of Igor Olshansky, Akwasi Owusu-Ansah and Montrae Holland, so not everything was shocking. As the Cowboys sliced their final roster to 53 over the weekend -- they cut offensive tackle Sam Young this morning, so this thing's still a work in progress -- there are multiple areas of concern.
At kicker, they kept both David Buehler and Dan Bailey. I know the Cowboys want Buehler to be the guy, but I'm not sure I trust either kicker to line up for the game-tying field goal Sunday against the New York Jets.
In the secondary, neither Terence Newman nor Mike Jenkins played a pre-season snap. Newman, out with a strained groin since the first week of training camp, didn't practice today at Valley Ranch. That sound you hear are Jets' receivers Plaxico Burress and Santonio Holmes licking their chops.
But, let's face it, no position has provided more surprises or created more concern than offensive line.
Gone from 2010 are center Andre Gurode (signed by the Ravens), Marc Colombo (signed by the Dolphins) and Leonard Davis (still unemployed). And on Sunday, thankfully, the Cowboys rid themselves of veteran backup Montrae Holland.
That's a ton of experience gone from the roster. What are we left with?
The guy I think would've been perfect for Dallas -- Brian Waters -- signed with the Patriots yesterday. The Cowboys signed veteran Derrick Dockery as a backup, slicing Young to make room for him on the roster.
So, for now, here is your 2011 Cowboys' offensive line depth chart:
LEFT TACKLE: Doug Free/ Jeremy Parnell
LEFT GUARD: Bill Nagy/ Derrick Dockery
CENTER: Phil Costa/ Kevin Kowalski
RIGHT GUARD: Kyle Kosier/ David Arkin
RIGHT TACKLE: Tyron Smith/ Jeremy Parnell
With only three tackles on the roster, that's just frightening. Parnell, a free agent, alternated being overmatched and underwhelming during camp. Dockery, who has 111 NFL starts mostly with the Redskins, will provide a smidge of veteran depth behind the rookie Nagy but the guy hasn't played tackle since Texas. But considering Costa is a second-year undrafted free agent from Maryland with only NFL start (at guard), the Cowboys will essentially start three rookies Sunday night against the Jets.
If this team isn't in a rebuilding mode, it's certainly in transition.
Brace yourself.
Makes the arrest of Kevin Ogletree feel almost insignificant.
