Cole Beasley: On the Bubble Dallas Cowboy Player Profile
By Reid Hanson
Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
The Preseason is about building depth and building for the future. The Dallas Cowboys, like most NFL teams, have majority of their starters safely established in their positions. The depth chart behind them is a completely different story…
This preseason Sport DFW will profile a few different bubble players (players on the edge of making the roster or getting cut from the team). We will look at their history, their progress, their main competition, and finally their chances of making the roster. They will be our Key Players to Track during the preseason games and should add a little excitement to an otherwise meaningless exhibition season.
Last week we addressed the receiver position in the article, The Dallas Cowboys Battle at WR: Who Stays and Who Goes? Since then we have been profiling the Receivers competing for the last two WR spots on the team. Previously we covered Anthony Armstrong and Danny Coale. Today we look at Cole Beasley…
Sep 5, 2012; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Cole Beasley (11) prior to the game against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim O
Player: Cole Beasley
Position: Receiver
Draft Status: Undrafted
Age/Height/Weight: 24/5-8/180
Cole Beasley was a standout WR from SMU who went undrafted in 2012, largely because of his height. He signed with the Dallas Cowboy as an undrafted free agent and immediately made a name for himself in training camp. Oddly enough, he quit the team amidst his great preseason telling the Cowboys he had personal stuff he needed to do. Roughly 2 days later he repentantly returned to the Cowboys. I’m positive the details of his exit were shared with Dallas Cowboy brass, but nothing official was stated to the media or fans.
Cole went from mythical Pet Cat status (Bill Parcells reference to players we/fans/media/coaches love to cheer for despite low draft status and slim odds) to a man of questionable character and fortitude because of that weekend he quit the team last season. He would struggle to earn back trust of his teammates, coaches, and fans from then on. Many still are reserved in their praise of Beasley, convinced he will leave us at the altar once again.
The undeniable truth is the chemistry Cole Beasley shares with Tony Romo in practice and in games. He seems to thrive especially when a play breaks down and Romo is forced to scramble. Their broken play chemistry is reminiscent of the Romo/Patrick Crayton connection of yesteryear.
Cole is quick in and out of his cuts and illusive and shifty with the ball in his hands. He excels in short routes (primarily Wes Welker’s famous drag route) but has the ability to do well with intermediate routes as well. Much like his Danny Coale (who is fighting for the same roster spot in training camp) he has an unexplainable knack for getting open.
Aug 9, 2013; Oakland, CA, USA; Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Cole Beasley (11) moves upfield for a first down during the third quarter in an preseason game against the Oakland Raiders at O.co Coliseum. Oakland won 19-17. Mandatory Credit: Bob Stanton-USA TODAY Sports
With the top 4 spots all but guaranteed to go to Dez Bryant, Miles Austin, Dwayne Harris, and Terrance Williams, Beasley will be battling everyone else for the last two WR spots on the team. To make matters worse, Beasley only really fits the slot position and struggles on the outside Z and X receiver positions. Without being much a Special Teams contributor it will be tough for him to distance himself too much against his competition.
He will have to continue to make plays in practice and in preseason games like he has been in order to lock down that last roster spot. In case you haven’t heard, his x-rays came back fine and he will probably only need to sit out a week after the injury Friday night in Oakland.
Cole Beasley is definitely a player to watch in training camp this preseason.
Chance to make the roster: 75%
Do you have questions or comments regarding Dallas area sports? Email Reid at permaximum@hotmail.com. You may be included in the next weekly mailbag. Follow Reid on twitter @ReidDHanson