With an extra few days to work with, let's spend one morning pondering the building of the roster from a game-day perspective. Not only must a team decide how it is going to work its way down to the 53 players that they exclusively own, but they must also then sort through the injuries, match-ups, and game plan to determine which 46 they bring to the sideline on Sunday.
Sometimes, this works itself out, as injuries help determine your limited choices. Such was the case on Wednesday night, as Dallas had the following inactives:
| Week | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
| Wk 1 @ NYG |
Ratliff | Johnson | McCray | Jenkins | Wilber | Arkin | Cochart |
Looking at these units in picture and then on the roster, take note of the "type" of player that NFL teams use in each scenario. They need players who are fast, but also difficult to block. You don't want fast and frail. You want fast and stout. Tight Ends, Linebackers, Safeties, and Running Backs are ideal. Little WRs or CBs are not as ideal on special teams in most cases. OL and DL are not fast enough. You are trying to strike a balance between speed and strength that matches up well with your opponent.
| # | Punt Cover Team |
| #6 | C Jones |
| #15 | Holmes |
| #34 | P Tanner |
| #36 | M Silva |
| #42 | B Church |
| #47 | B Vickers |
| #52 | D Conner |
| #54 | B Carter |
| #55 | A Albright |
| #89 | J Phillips |
| #91 | LP Ladocuer |
Return team personnel is slightly different, in that you want speedy return men. But, otherwise, it is back to TE, LB, RB, S as blockers in most cases.
| # | Punt Return Team |
| #15 | Holmes |
| #17 | D Harris |
| #31 | M Butler |
| #32 | O Scandrick |
| #34 | P Tanner |
| #36 | M Silva |
| #52 | D Conner |
| #55 | A Albright |
| #70 | T Crawford |
| #84 | J Hanna |
| #88 | D Bryant |
| # | Kick Cover Team |
| #5 | D Bailey |
| #15 | Holmes |
| #34 | P Tanner |
| #36 | M Silva |
| #42 | B Church |
| #43 | G Sensabaugh |
| #47 | B Vickers |
| #52 | D Conner |
| #55 | A Albright |
| #57 | V Butler |
| #84 | J Hanna |
| # | Kick Return Team |
| #15 | Holmes |
| #17 | D Harris |
| #28 | F Jones |
| #34 | P Tanner |
| #36 | M Silva |
| #47 | B Vickers |
| #52 | D Conner |
| #55 | A Albright |
| #57 | V Butler |
| #70 | T Crawford |
| #84 | J Hanna |
