BTB: What I'm Wondering About The Cowboys Offensive Line Heading Into Week 4

[CCBoy]

What I'm Wondering About The Cowboys Offensive Line Heading Into Week Four
by KD Drummond



http://www.bloggingtheboys.com/2011/9/29/2457074/what-im-wondering-about-the-cowboys-offensive-line-heading-into-week




I wonder why I never cared if the Redskins were yelling out the snap count or not?

Well, because it apparently happens all the time in the league, and a team should be able to adjust. Besides, the honest-to-goodness Redskins said they didn't do it in the first place.

The game was at home, and even though Cowboys Stadium never does a great job of keeping quiet while the Cowboys have possession, I still can't fathom a center being fooled as many times as Costa screwed up a snap.

I wouldn't say that fans are glossing over the offensive line problems, but it certainly is sitting as the 'athletic and mobile' elephant in the room. As we pointed out, the Redskins entered the game as the worst run defense team in the league (by advanced metrics) and should have been the cure for the Cowboys running woes. They succeeded in playing their role in this regard, as the Cowboys averaged 4.8 ypc and only had one run for negative yardage. However, just because you beat up on a bad team (or unit, in this case), doesn't mean your a bully....

[CCBoy]

Just for smiles and grins, I'm adding an OP that I posted prior to the start of the regular season:

Such is life in the big and real city. So is the NFL. The team has already displaced many of the old players dominating cap space...and it's now time to let Jason Garrett make his moves and forge a team. The old offensive line and money uses were not making it in today's NFL. Old principals have to be 'tweaked' to stay current and adaptable. The reason for youth getting the bucks is simple. They work harder for it, but have more athleticism to accomplish it when it's needed to be called upon.

It looks as though the money is being invested now, in the youth to middle veteran players...as a top notched franchise should have it.

I think that Gurode, short of begging to be retained at a much lowered salary...is gone. The rest of the salary drain should be with the exit of Igor Olshansky. With the $6 M already able to be moved to the Cap Hit for next season, this and Olshansky should clear a lot of that up to at least make it a matter of adjusting for who is needed at that point.

In stead of looking like a young kitten trying to guard a couple of piles of food with all four paws and claws spread out all over the place, we as fans should see more of a process going on here.

It would be nice to have a very 'cheap' Andre Gurode stick around, and help out. But the reality is that playing time and experience is valuable in projecting into the future as well. A youthful offensive line has to be forged, and this is a way to accomplish just that. There is some excellent coaching going on in that area right now.

But trying to holdon to the image of last year's offensive line is akin to that kitten will all four paws extended in different directions and sprawled on the floor.

Marc Colombo, Leonard Davis, and now, possibly Andre Gurode will be gone. So be it..and this fan isn't afraid to not assume a sprawled kitten's stance on subject.

And the total list of you being referred to are:

Kevin Kolwalski - free agent from Toledo 22
Bill Nagy - 7th round from Wisconsin 23
David Arkin - 4th round from Missouri State 23
Tyron Smith - 1st round from USC 20

Now add in two from last year's practice squad/call ups:

Jermey Parnell OT 25
Phil Costa C 24

...and the veterans would fall to:

Kyle Kosier 32
Doug Free 27
Sam Young 24

With Smith signing his rookie contract; Kosier on a short termed but economical contract; and Doug Free signing a long contract but at a hometown discount...and it's easy to see the mold in place, NOW.

Gurode just does not fit, unless he wishes to be a true team player and match payroll expectations as well. But he is a couple years past mold projection on age and future durability.

But with the team drawing a line in the sand even upon a more recent All Pro production, and basing that upon actual on the field productions. And as Parcells stated, EVERYONE has to show up in camp and prove their metal. Well, unless Gurode has crockadile tears in his eyes and his Agent adds to that picture...he won't be part of the instruction going onto the young players who are already on this mold being formed.

But the Cowboys, being responsible and respectful, didn't make a deal and just say goodbye in passing.

Moving forward, the team now needs a defensive lineman, a corner, and possibly one more offensive lineman in next year's draft. And Free Agency might boil down to a single or two targets of opportunity.

If he is shown his walking papers/trade...then the starting lineup well could look similar to:

Free Nagy Costa Kosier Smith

But instead of dispair, they showed that in a strongly based running attack, under the directions of Jason Garrett, that both Felix Jones and Dez Bryant can be very productive.





'This team's playoff failures can be traced back directly to the offensive line. Does anyone remember losing a bye against the Chargers, in 2009, because of goal-line blocking?

Jason Garrett wants to and is going to run the football. The running game and screen game will be Dallas' life this year. Establishing Felix Jones is critical, and you need the "right kind of guys" to help you do that in the NFL.

The run blocking last season was bloody terrible.

Jason Garrett has emphatically made his statement on this subject.'

(This part provided by 41gy#)





One either believes that Jason Garrett is now a 'big city' boy and you actually hand the keys over to him, or you merely send him to the Monestary to become a Monk. I believe he's every inch...BIG TIME!

And that when all is said and done, so will be the Cowboys.

[burmafrd]

Costa must show more. And I really want to know why during the game the Boys did not try something different. From all appearences, they did not know what was going on. Which I call BS on; Kosier has been around a long time and above all others if something like that was going on he would spot it first and let the coaches know.

[CCBoy]

Costa must show more. And I really want to know why during the game the Boys did not try something different. From all appearences, they did not know what was going on. Which I call BS on; Kosier has been around a long time and above all others if something like that was going on he would spot it first and let the coaches know.

Burma, in some ways, this world is in such deep denial of actually owning up for one's own actions and responsibilities, that it defies a concise descrption without creating untrue descriptions of what is actually the thought process or responsible actions. During an extended period of extensive injuries, I'm wondering if there isn't something of a functional rebellion by some players, to act as if youths and just play act instead of commiting. Something like a 'big boy' syndrome. But then, play is intense and directions are eventually achieved as well. Kind of strange in the mean time. How can someone, even in a loud environment, miss snap to a quarterback four times. He can even look back between his legs to see and receive communications through a direct association. Then, there were the numerous low or off mark snaps as well. Kind of like the service description: looks like a duck, walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck.

[burmafrd]

Burma, in some ways, this world is in such deep denial of actually owning up for one's own actions and responsibilities, that it defies a concise descrption without creating untrue descriptions of what is actually the thought process or responsible actions. During an extended period of extensive injuries, I'm wondering if there isn't something of a functional rebellion by some players, to act as if youths and just play act instead of commiting. Something like a 'big boy' syndrome. But then, play is intense and directions are eventually achieved as well. Kind of strange in the mean time. How can someone, even in a loud environment, miss snap to a quarterback four times. He can even look back between his legs to see and receive communications through a direct association. Then, there were the numerous low or off mark snaps as well. Kind of like the service description: looks like a duck, walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck.


a duck is a duck no matter how someone tries to disguise it.