Dallas Cowboys: Analyzing the Cowboys' 2012 Practice Squad

After the Cowboys' 24-17 win against the New York Giants on Wednesday night, many fans may believe that Dallas' roster is just fine as it is.

The Cowboys defensive line looked great, wide receiver Kevin Ogletree had a career night and Jason Witten made a few plays with a half-healed spleen.

But what about the "reserves?" You know, the guy's who are used to get the starters ready for future opponents.

Well, the good thing is that the Cowboys have more than a few good players on the practice squad.

Let's evaluate the entire 2012 Dallas Cowboys practice squad.

Ben Bass, DE

Bass was signed as an undrafted free agent due to offseason injuries to Jason Hatcher and Marcus Spears.

Bass is out of Texas A&M, stands at 6'5" and weighs almost 300 pounds.

He impressed coaches during training camp because he was so gassed to try and make the team. Bass' motor never stopped and showed a lot of strength.

Judging the Cowboys on just one game, the chances of Bass being called up to the 53-man roster is only likely if an injury occurs. But we all know that the NFL doesn't work that way.

There is no guarantee that the defensive line will continue to play well or that everyone will remain healthy.

So not only does Bass have to remain ready for the call, but he cannot lose focus.

Tim Benford, WR

I remember early in the offseason, Benford was very high on many a pundit’s list and was showing that he was just more than speed.

He competed with a few guys who made the final roster at receiver in Dwayne Harris, Andre Holmes, Kevin Ogletree and Cole Beasley.

At the time, it was believed that Ogletree would not make enough plays or show enough steel to make it out of the preseason.

Benford played well in scrimmages and continued to impress coaches. He is another undrafted guy that the Cowboys signed as a free agent.

He is only 5’11” and weighs 200 pounds soaking wet. So he’s not the most imposing receiver on the field, but he has a lot of quickness and speed.

In the end, Benford didn’t do enough to make the final roster, but he was added to the practice squad.

I do not believe that we will see Benford this season unless there is an injury. Dallas has a stable of young, skillful receivers waiting for a chance to show how good they can be for the team.

Rob Callaway, DL

Here are the numbers on Callaway.

He stands at 6'4" and weighs 333 pounds. Callaway pushed backup nose tackle Josh Brent for the job in training camp and was close to ousting him.

Callaway can dabble at defensive end, a versatile trait that he will have to develop even more if he wants to see time on the final roster.

He continues to grow, and the Cowboys seem to have a lot of faith in the young fellow.

Keeping Callaway around is a smart decision. Ratliff is out with a high ankle sprain, and those injuries tend to linger.

Brent played well on Wednesday against the Giants, but who's to say that will continue? Not only that, what if Brent is out with an injury for an extended period of time?

Callaway gets the call and can show why Dallas has invested so much time and effort into his development.

I would say that we may see him on the field this year and most definitely in 2013.

Danny Coale, WR

The more I warmed up to the Cowboys' draft, the more I liked some of their players.

Coale was drafted out of Virginia Tech in the fifth round, but injuries never allowed him to fully embrace the field, which led to his release.

Dallas smartly signed him to the practice squad.

He is a little guy—6' tall and 196 pounds. That may have contributed to his broken foot and sore quadriceps.

He just never got a full chance to display what he's capable of on the field.

Coale should get his chance sooner than some may think. Dallas had a lot of hope in him, which is why the team drafted him in the first place.

He has the likes of Andre Holmes, Dwayne Harris and Cole Beasley ahead of him. So Coale's road to success will be hard to come by.

This little guy from Lexington, Virginia has a lot to give, and a lot more to prove. He wears the No. 81, and we will see that number catching passes from Tony Romo in the near future.

Lance Dunbar, RB

Dunbar's performance in the Cowboys' last preseason game was a thing of beauty. Against the Dolphins, Dunbar wore their defensive front down for 105 yards on just 15 carries.

He had a nice 58-yard touchdown run that showcased his ability, flash and dash.

Dunbar pushed third-string running back Phillip Tanner for that last spot, but by the time the final game rolled around, Tanner's spot was static.

He sits on the practice squad because the Cowboys believe in his ability, and he could be a future replacement for Felix Jones.

The short, tough guy from Haltom City, Texas would love to play for the Cowboys and should see his chance soon.

Dunbar is just 22 years old, is 5'9" and weighs 203 pounds. His short stature is reminiscent of another former Cowboys running back: Emmitt Smith.

Smith was the same height but weighs about seven pounds more.

It is yet to be seen if Dunbar has the vision and feel for the game as Smith did. We know that he can break tackles, but can he remain consistent?

Ronald Leary, OG

Leary's performance against the Dolphins regulated him to the practice squad. He was flagged, never consistent and seemed to have trouble picking up the playbook.

Dallas invested in Leary due to his potential. He has a nasty streak, and he has tremendous size. Leary is 324 pounds, standing at 6'3".

If he can couple that size with his ability to get nasty, he may turn into a pretty decent NFL guard.

The Cowboys are struggling at guard. The tackle position is set, I believe, but we are still waiting for the rest of the line to catch up.

Leary's development is needed right now. Dallas was flagged 13 times on Wednesday, with a number of them coming from offensive linemen. His failure to bring stability to the line is what drove him to the practice squad.

However, as he continues to grow, those worries should go away.

His knee may be a small cause of concern for Dallas, but he is still young and has a lot of time left on his NFL clock.

Orie Lemon, LB

Lemon intercepted a pass and returned it for a touchdown against the Dolphins in their last preseason game of the season.

I thought that may have sealed his position on the final roster, but I was wrong. He did not make it, but Dallas gave him a shot on the practice squad.

Lemon is from Houston, Texas, stands at 6'1" and weighs 243 pounds.

He showed the great amount of vision he has on the field with his pick six and what he's capable of doing when given a chance.

The Cowboys currently have four inside linebackers on the final roster. They are Sean Lee, Bruce Carter, Dan Connor and Alex Albright.

Given the choice between Albright and Lemon, Dallas chose the right person. Albright was all over the field in the preseason and proved why the team picked him over Lemon.

That doesn't mean that Lemon is representative of his last name; it just wasn't his time.

I do not believe he will be called up this season. However, we will see him in a Cowboys uniform in the regular season some day down the line.

Jamize Olawale, RB

Dallas has two running backs on the final roster. Technically, Olawale is listed as a fullback, but he got plenty of time to run the ball in the preseason.

The former North Texas standout signed with the Cowboys as an undrafted free agent. He blistered the turf in college and will attempt to make the same impression on the Cowboys.

He's 6' tall and 235 pounds. His speed? He had a time of 4.53 in the 40-yard dash, which is more than respectable for fullbacks in this league.

Olawale made an impression by more than just his name. He has a high motor, keeps his feet moving and goes until the final whistle is blown.

He's another player that I do not believe will be called and will be used for strict practice-squad reasons.

It would not shock me to see him playing for the Cowboys down the road or another NFL team, because he does have talent.

But I believe in Lance Dunbar and Phillip Tanner over his chances of getting a carry in 2012.