What does everyone think of Livings at LG?

[CyberB0b]

He is what he is: A guy who is barely capable of starting in this league. The fact that he is one of the better linemen on this team is disturbing.

[Risen Star]

Originally Posted by CyberB0b

He is what he is: A guy who is barely capable of starting in this league. The fact that he is one of the better linemen on this team is disturbing.

That's pretty much the best way to put it.

I'm embarrassed by the names we have to talk about with this offensive line.

[Idgit]

When it comes to OG play this year, I've seen guys who struggle with combo blocks. I've seen a guy in Dockery who can't move well enough to address stunts or twists regularly. I've seen a guy in Livings who struggles to block sometimes in space in the running game, and a guy in Mack who started out unable to anchor well in pass blocking and who also had some struggles with zone blocks early but who's settled down to be an adequate pass blocker and better in the running game. I've seen a C in Cook who, for the most part anchors well against the pass but who's lousy with getting to combo blocks and who can't move well enough to block effectively in space and who's too tall to play with any decent leverage in short yardage situations.

When it comes to OT play, I've seen guys who sometimes struggle when they're isolated against a speed rusher on either side, and a guy in Free whose footwork problems have made him again susceptible to bull rushes and who's struggled to hand of players to the RG properly.

The problems I see with the OL are mostly that we've got to have better play from our starting C and our RT. Our LT, too, needs to get better, but that position is as locked-up as it's going to be so there's no real point in talking about it other than to say Smith needs to get better with experience. The OGs haven't been great, and we need to address the position with at least one more starting-caliber player, but they pass block ok and the zone blocking is getting better, at least. It's not good, but it'd be adequate with a little stability and a starting C who's able to do his part.

Where am I off base according to the other OL experts out there who just think we need to scrap the entire OL and start over?

[AmishCowboy]

Livings is OK, but I want Jonathan Cooper from North Carolina in the draft

[Deep_Freeze]

Originally Posted by jnday

I don't have a problem with going pass rusher in the first. The key is using s second or third to start the building process. Other areas need upgrading as well, so you are correct, but the largest positional group on the team continues to be ignored when these other areas have had some decent resources spent on upgrading from time to time. This last draft was really the killer. It could have produced two oline starters without using a first round pick. These free agent gap fillers are not a solution. This approach produces average teams and these 8-8 seasons will continue if Jerry doesn't change. I don't expect him to change and we will be here every year posting about this ongoing problem.

[View Full Quote]There is nothing bad that can come from making the oline a strength on this team instead of an area that is just good enough to get by. I honestly think they have waited a couple years too late and Romo, Witten and others will be washed up before a quality line can be built from the draft or free agency.

I guess where we disagree is the 'last draft was a killer' part. In the 2011 draft we had just spent 3 picks on the OL (even if they weren't as high as some may have wanted), but the 2012 draft addressed some needs on the D. The D was in desperate need of youth, and in the 2011 draft we only chose 2 defensive players. There are 2 sides to the ball, and sorry if the team addressed the other need in 2012 (with only 2 of them being offensive), but it had to be done.

As for going pass rusher in the first, I've never been a Spencer fan but I starting to think we have to resign him at this point cause we just have too many other need to address. If he is resigned, then we have more options when it comes to the draft. If we end up in the teens, then perhaps we can look at another tackle there to replace Free if Spencer is signed.

[jnday]

Originally Posted by Deep_Freeze

I guess where we disagree is the 'last draft was a killer' part. In the 2011 draft we had just spent 3 picks on the OL (even if they weren't as high as some may have wanted), but the 2012 draft addressed some needs on the D. The D was in desperate need of youth, and in the 2011 draft we only chose 2 defensive players. There are 2 sides to the ball, and sorry if the team addressed the other need in 2012 (with only 2 of them being offensive), but it had to be done.

As for going pass rusher in the first, I've never been a Spencer fan but I starting to think we have to resign him at this point cause we just have too many other need to address. If he is resigned, then we have more options when it comes to the draft. If we end up in the teens, then perhaps we can look at another tackle there to replace Free if Spencer is signed.

With so many holes to fill, this last draft was a one man draft. Crawford hasn't contributed much at all. Dallas spent a 1,2,3, two 4s and 7 in the draft on defense. Add a 50 million dollar corner, Scandrick's extension, Conner signing etc, this was way too many resources for one side of the ball. Guess what? It hasn't added any wins. This will be a 8- 8 team at best. How was the last off season a sucess? More turnovers? No. More sacks? No. I.hasn't worked.

[Deep_Freeze]

Originally Posted by jnday

With so many holes to fill, this last draft was a one man draft. Crawford hasn't contributed much at all. Dallas spent a 1,2,3, two 4s and 7 in the draft on defense. Add a 50 million dollar corner, Scandrick's extension, Conner signing etc, this was way too many resources for one side of the ball. Guess what? It hasn't added any wins. This will be a 8- 8 team at best. How was the last off season a sucess? More turnovers? No. More sacks? No. I.hasn't worked.

The problem is your not seeing that this just wasn't a good football team. Add those OL that you speak of in 2012 and our D would stink to the point to where we would still be 8-8. As for already giving up on later round picks on D makes me know why you gave up on them on offense also, cause you really have no clue how Crawford, Wilber, and such will develop.

Do you really think that if we made those 2 OL additions you speak of, our team would have a better record right now??

[burmafrd]

Originally Posted by Deep_Freeze

The problem is your not seeing that this just wasn't a good football team. Add those OL that you speak of in 2012 and our D would stink to the point to where we would still be 8-8. As for already giving up on later round picks on D makes me know why you gave up on them on offense also, cause you really have no clue how Crawford, Wilber, and such will develop.

Do you really think that if we made those 2 OL additions you speak of, our team would have a better record right now??

Romo might be in a lot better physical condition and less gun shy. Just how important MIGHT that be?

[gimmesix]

Originally Posted by jnday

Looks like we are stuck with these FA linemen. According to Archer, the team is over the cap by 20 million as it stands now. If upgrades are made, it will come from the draft.

Pay no attention to what writers say about Dallas' cap situation. Things like redoing Carr's numbers, extending Romo, etc., will change all that.

If there is someone Dallas really wants to get — like Carr last year, the Cowboys can manipulate the cap to do it.

[jnday]

Originally Posted by Deep_Freeze

The problem is your not seeing that this just wasn't a good football team. Add those OL that you speak of in 2012 and our D would stink to the point to where we would still be 8-8. As for already giving up on later round picks on D makes me know why you gave up on them on offense also, cause you really have no clue how Crawford, Wilber, and such will develop.

Do you really think that if we made those 2 OL additions you speak of, our team would have a better record right now??

Yes, they would have a better record. Three picks could have been made in the first two rounds. Two linemen and one defensive player. The question for you is with so many holes on the team, wouldn't three starters be better than one? Look at the whole team and explain how one starter is better than three. That is not even counting the resources spent on free agents, which 90% went to the defense. If Ryan can only coach with a whole draft and nearly all the free agent resources, he needs to be replaced. How well has this approach worked? Not too good. Maybe they spend all the resources on safeties, DEs and OLBs and that will work better.

[Deep_Freeze]

Originally Posted by jnday

Yes, they would have a better record. Three picks could have been made in the first two rounds. Two linemen and one defensive player. The question for you is with so many holes on the team, wouldn't three starters be better than one? Look at the whole team and explain how one starter is better than three. That is not even counting the resources spent on free agents, which 90% went to the defense. If Ryan can only coach with a whole draft and nearly all the free agent resources, he needs to be replaced. How well has this approach worked? Not too good. Maybe they spend all the resources on safeties, DEs and OLBs and that will work better.

Hindsight is always 20/20, haven't mentioned what draft picks you are even talking about yet, if they are starting for lack of a better option, or if they are even above average if they are starting for their respective teams.

To answer your question, would I rather have the 3 potential average starters or one potential all-pro, I'll take the all-pro at a premium position. I assume if your getting 3 players in the first 2 rounds, your talking about some tradedown where you don't even know if the teams were interested in trading with you or how it would've affected where players you want would've been available.

Problem is, alot of times people look at draft results without considering what happens during a draft. You can't just move anywhere you want and get exactly which player you want at the slot you want. But its alot easier to do that in hindsight though.