DC.com: mailbox - I certainly agree that guard is a position of need, center?

[CCBoy]

Mailbox

http://www.dallascowboys.com/news/mailbag.cfm?id=3FDB1BC7-F0D5-ADBA-62E3188D9FA05613




RYAN FERNANDEZ CHALFONT, PA: While I certainly agree that guard is a position of need, isn't center just as big? What's the plan there?

Rob:That's a great question. I think they were encouraged by the way Phil Costa improved as the season wore on. He'll benefit from a full offseason, just like the rest of the offensive linemen. Does that mean he's guaranteed to start next year? Not necessarily. If there's an upgrade out there I think they have to look at it. But I doubt the Cowboys want to simply give up after investing a full season of starts in him.

Josh: Yes, it needs to be better. I think all three interior positions have ample room for improvement, actually. But I doubt we'll see both guard spots and center addressed this offseason – either there's a free agent signing for one of them, or an early draft pick to fill one of the spots. Then there's sort of a gaggle of guys competing for one, maybe two, open jobs, depending on what the Cowboys want to do with Kyle Kosier. I could see Phil Costa starting again, and I think he'll probably be the guy at the start of training camp, at least. But I could also see competition for starting jobs at center and guard from David Arkin, Bill Nagy and Kevin Kowalski...

[newlander]

uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh......NO: he's the WORST center in the league. Honest to god, if they think he's the answer they are more clueless than any of us thought: he isn't good enough to be a backup on most decent teams:bang2:

[mmillman]

Costa needs solid guards next to him if he is to start. Conversely an elite center can make up for some shaky guard play.

Either way, switch Free and Smith and through the draft or free agency shore up the interior offensive line. Depth has also been a joke on the offensive line also. Holland has no business playing as much as he has over the last few seasons.

[Woods]

Costa needs solid guards next to him if he is to start. Conversely an elite center can make up for some shaky guard play.

Either way, switch Free and Smith and through the draft or free agency shore up the interior offensive line. Depth has also been a joke on the offensive line also. Holland has no business playing as much as he has over the last few seasons.

I'm good with an in-shape Holland providing quality OG depth, however.

[BAT]

Keeping Costa w/out bringing in a quality vet to push him would be a big mistake. There will be some economical vet centers (due to age) available for the short term as well:

Jeff Saturday
Olin Kreutz
Matt Birk
Nick Hardwick

I can't see Costa as the long term solution either. Arkin, Nagy and even Kowalski all have more upside, and are better suited to play C than OG.

[burmafrd]

have we sunk SO FAR that even contemplating a Costa continuing to start for us is something they are CONSIDERING?

[Future]

have we sunk SO FAR that even contemplating a Costa continuing to start for us is something they are CONSIDERING?
Unfortunately yes. I think the reason though is not so much being happy with his play, but bringing in two vets and a 1st round pick (Let's say Nicks, DeCastro, and Hardwick) just doesn't seem all that realistic. It's really hard to replace 60% of your oline, and have the other two guys switch positions.

I think it'll be a battle between Kowalski and Costa and whoever wins that competition will greatly benefit from having excellent guards next to him.

[underdark]

If we can just get Stepnoski back at center and Kevin smith can bounce back from that injury we will be fine...

[Teague31]

with all the other holes on the team, i would not be surprised at all if our starting center next year is either costa or killer.

[Teague31]

And.. you CAN hide one weak spot on the OL, you just can't hide 3. If Costa has Nicks on his left and DeCastro on his right, he will look much better.

[Doomsday101]

I would like to add a Center but right now I would be happy with getting a dominate G and have Kowalski starting at Center.

[DBOY3141]

Don't be surprised if Costa is starting.

the interior of the O-line sucks but just like the secondary last year, JJ and crew will do nothing. Except draft someone in the 4th round and not suit them up.

Nagy, Holland and Costa will be the interior line next year.

[BAT]

This season should have underscored how important the C position is to an OL's success. The pivot position represents the shortest line to the QB. In addition, the C is also responsible for the line calls. An experienced/smart C are an extra set of eyes for the QB & will take advantage of offsides & not place his QB in bad situations (bad snaps, missed count, identifying blitzers). An inexperienced C will get eaten alive by opposing D's (blitzes and line stunts).

You can hide a guard but its not so easy to hide a center.