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February 2008
Categories
Movers and Shakers Pre-season Texas Stadium dallasnews.com
Sports Blogs |
It would've been tough enough for Cowboys seventh-round pick Alan Ball had he not made the final cut following training camp. But he did. And that's what made his Sept. 2 ouster from the 53-man roster particularly difficult. Imagine that: One day, you've made an NFL team as a rookie. The next day, you're gone. "It was definitely tough, because you work so hard," Ball said. "That’s the one thing you want to do, the first step is to be (on the roster.) But things change." They changed again on Tuesday, when Ball was the beneficiary of Remi Ayodele's release (Ayodele officially re-joined the practice squad on Wednesday night). And Ball's promotion, the coaches say, was in large part due to the fact that, as a member of the practice squad, he showed a high level of desire and gave the offense a good look every week. "Very competitive, very competitive," defensive coordinator Brian Stewart said of Ball. "He’s good around the football, he can play outside as well as inside, so he can play some nickel for us also. Very competitive player." Plus, showing off his skills on a day-in, day-out basis hardly hurt. As Stewart said, "You could ask T.O. and those guys how they feel about Alan Ball. They’d probably give you a pretty good description of what kind of player he is." So the Cowboys now have a sixth corner on the roster. Here's the other five: -- Terence Newman Oglesby's been active for just two games this season, even while the team has battled injuries at the position. So there's a pretty good chance that Ball will be a game-day inactive from here on out, and that the team made the move simply to keep other teams from signing him. Ball said he was unaware of any outside interest, while agent Ryan Morgan said that the move was more about the Cowboys liking his client than anything else. Whatever the case may be, Ball's just happy to get the late call-up. “It’s real exciting," Ball said. "A big change for me, especially at this point in the season.” |
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Comments
Posted by Mark G. @ 7:56 PM Thu, Dec 13, 2007
So is that every draft pick this year is on the roster minus cricket on IR?
P.S. this antispam thing sucks
Posted by Lwood @ 10:18 PM Thu, Dec 13, 2007
This is good. The coaches must see tremendous potential and were unwilling to let other teams take this diamond in the ruff. If he can cover T.O. then we know one thing for sure...he can cover anybody! Dallas will take a cornerback in next years draft but if Ball pans out as a seventh rounder that would be tremedous!
Posted by davej @ 2:34 AM Fri, Dec 14, 2007
I would like to see the backup corners and safeties get some playing time in at least one of the remaining games. This is where the 45 man game day roster really hurts!
Considering that DB and WR could be the top 2 priorities in next year's draft, it would be really good to get some game tape on these guys to see what our needs are.
At least at WR, the backups have gotten some playing time and we have an idea of what they can do. Based on that, I don't feel the team HAS to draft a WR in the 1st round.
Posted by Art Smith @ 8:10 AM Fri, Dec 14, 2007
It is apparent that Coach Parcell has something against T.O. even when is not coaching him.I think if we had used T.O. like is being used this year our record would have been better last year.Keyshawn needs to just be quite .Keep it going T.O.
Posted by CC @ 8:15 AM Fri, Dec 14, 2007
davej
I think if the Cowboys win the next 2 games. there's a good chance you'll Newman and possibly Henry sit out the final game. Which means you could see some of the backups in action. I think the Cowboys would like to give some rest to some hurtin players rather than play for a 15-1 season after they have home field wrapped up.
BTW, We are talking 15-1. Is Calvin Watkins still predicting the Cowboys go 10-6 this year?
Posted by Bill In DC @ 8:48 AM Fri, Dec 14, 2007
Yeah, much as I hate to say this, if Dallas is 14-1 going into Washington, they will have wrapped up home field through the playoffs and will most likely rest their hurting starters. That means a possible loss to Washington, something I find distasteful in the extreme because the local fans here will crow about it as if they are better than Dallas. Although we would probably see Glenn the entire game.
Most likely Dallas would treat it like a pre-season game, starters in for a series or two, then the backups. Except they may just rest the starting CBs entirely. Will be fun to see guys like Austin and Stanback get some face time.
Posted by Rodney in Nashville @ 8:57 AM Fri, Dec 14, 2007
I don't like that idea of resting players that last game. We already have a bye for the first week of the playoffs. This means that alot of players will have little to no action for three weeks. I believe the offense will sputter after three weeks of little playing time.
The defense will still need to be working on getting their act together as well.
Posted by Josh Clanton @ 9:19 AM Fri, Dec 14, 2007
I definately feel that we will see some action in the last and final game. I see dallas blowing out washington, and then they will bring in the backups in the second half, just like in preseason games. Definately want to see stanback, havent got to see much of him this year, yet when i did he did seem to be able to blow some things out, and spagnolia thinks it as well.
GO BOYS!!!
Posted by 666 @ 9:42 AM Fri, Dec 14, 2007
Albert,
Can you tell us if Ball has put on any weight.
The guy is 6'1" but the big knock on him is he
was so skinney.
Don't see how he could survive in the NFL without
some additional muscle.
Posted by ben @ 9:59 AM Fri, Dec 14, 2007
Albert, Football Outsiders has an article on how to stop TO, and it said that despite saying all the right things after the win in Detroit, that TO cut his routes short and quit blocking downfield during the game out of frustration. Did you notice this in your film review?
Posted by ben @ 10:00 AM Fri, Dec 14, 2007
Albert, Football Outsiders has an article on how to stop TO, and it said that despite saying all the right things after the win in Detroit, that TO cut his routes short and quit blocking downfield during the game out of frustration. Did you notice this in your film review?
Posted by S L @ 12:38 PM Fri, Dec 14, 2007
Wow, users have to practically interpret an Etch-a-Sketch message to get their message uploaded, but the editors let this blog entry title go through?
I nominate that fact as the biggest difference between this team and the team of the 90s, because NO WAY would "ballin'" get used in the days of the White House shenanigans.
not complaining, just commenting.
and giggling.
a little.