CCBoy
03-02-2012, 06:52 AM
Building Blocks
Change A Certainty For Cowboys' O-Line
Josh Ellis
http://www.dallascowboys.com/news/news.cfm?id=D081DBA8-A29B-854A-C3A9430A43CB366C
IRVING, Texas - Pro football being a young man's game, especially in the salary cap era, most teams subscribe to the philosophy that they would prefer to be a year early, rather than a year late, in personnel decisions.
Smart teams don't wait for players' declining skills to cost them games before making changes, instead attempting to stay in front of the curve. After a down season for their offensive line in 2010, the Cowboys decided it was time to rebuild, and released three veteran starters. But when their replacements struggled at times in 2011, it was obvious the team's choice to start over was not planned well in advance.
For years the Cowboys had championed the value of continuity on the offensive line, but hadn't prepared to seamlessly transition to a new generation of starters on the front five. A year past that point now, only Tyron Smith and Doug Free represent long-term stability on the line, and they will be switching positions this summer. At the three positions between the tackles, things are much more up in the air, and the Cowboys have to find ways to solidify the interior...
Change A Certainty For Cowboys' O-Line
Josh Ellis
http://www.dallascowboys.com/news/news.cfm?id=D081DBA8-A29B-854A-C3A9430A43CB366C
IRVING, Texas - Pro football being a young man's game, especially in the salary cap era, most teams subscribe to the philosophy that they would prefer to be a year early, rather than a year late, in personnel decisions.
Smart teams don't wait for players' declining skills to cost them games before making changes, instead attempting to stay in front of the curve. After a down season for their offensive line in 2010, the Cowboys decided it was time to rebuild, and released three veteran starters. But when their replacements struggled at times in 2011, it was obvious the team's choice to start over was not planned well in advance.
For years the Cowboys had championed the value of continuity on the offensive line, but hadn't prepared to seamlessly transition to a new generation of starters on the front five. A year past that point now, only Tyron Smith and Doug Free represent long-term stability on the line, and they will be switching positions this summer. At the three positions between the tackles, things are much more up in the air, and the Cowboys have to find ways to solidify the interior...