Bobby Carpenter is on the clock and already is considered a bust. He was drafted in the first round of 2006 and has only one career start, none since his rookie season. He is not projected to start this season with the addition of Keith Brooking but could get a chance to compete more on defense than he has since he joined the Cowboys.

Carpenter is slated to fill the spot vacated by Kevin Burnett, who left Dallas for the Chargers. Burnett was the Cowboys’ nickel linebacker last season and was considered by some to be the team’s 12th starter. The fact that the Cowboys let Burnett walk without too big a fight could be construed by some as a vote of confidence for Carpenter, but the flip side is that the team spent two draft picks on linebackers who will be trying to wrestle that nickel job away from Carpenter.

Third-rounder Jason Williams, the team’s top draft pick, is an athletic freak who runs the 40-yard dash in the 4.4-second range. But he also is not expected to jump right in and make a huge impact on defense after playing his college career at Western Illinois. The other rookie option would be Stephen Hodge, who is converting from college safety. He’s big and can hit but might not be ready to make the adjustment this season.

Carpenter has worked hard this offseason to get leaner, losing five pounds, with the idea that he would have to turn and run with a lot of tight ends in this projected role. In fact, Carpenter said he has worked out with Tony Romo and Jason Witten — a player he often goes up against in practice — this offseason to work on his footwork and change-of-direction skills.

In college, he was a pass rusher who did his best work going forward, but he hasn’t shown the ability to take on fullbacks, tackles and guards in the hole in the pros. And unless that changes, he probably won’t kick Brooking out of a starting role.

“[Carpenter] knows, and we know, it’s the time now for him to come through,” head coach Wade Phillips said in June. “Whether it’s us giving him more opportunity or not, the past is the past and we are going forward. I think Bobby is looking forward to this season, and we are, too, as far as him being able to play and contribute a lot more.”

Kickoff is coming! Be sure to buy copies of the Pro Football Weekly/Yahoo! Sports 2009 NFL preview magazine, as well as the Pro Football Weekly/Yahoo! Sports Fantasy Football Guide 2009, both of which are now available at bookstores, newsstands and retail outlets where magazines are sold. Or order your copies online at PFWStore.com.