BR: Dallas Cowboys Draft: Should the 'Boys Select an Offensive Tackle?

[Deep_Freeze]

Originally Posted by TheSport78

I would keep Holland as a backup no doubt. Kowalski will do great with Woicik's strength program also. I'd throw Arkin in the mix to improve as well. Nagy, Arkin and Kowalski are three players I'm keeping my eyes on for next year. We can't have Pro Bowlers at every position so we may have to get a FA guard, and then let the other players battle it out for the other guard spot.

If the team doesn't believe Kowalski or Costa is the long-term solution, I'd be down for Ben Jones in the 3rd round.

Yeah I'm not against that at all. We have young guys we just drafted, why not develop them instead of give up on them so early. Now if we don't get a FA guard, and Kosier just can't play anymore, of course DeCastro moves wayyy up our list. We just aren't at that point of knowing all that yet.

Plus we haven't drafted any CBs or pass rushers lately anyway that are ready to step in and contribute.

Originally Posted by Bizwah

I think the original question of this post is a good one.

If one of the top OTs is available at 14, do we pull the trigger?

Kalil, Reiff, or Martin....if they're available, then take them. We'd have a fine tackle combo.

If we do that....then, it's essential that we sign a FA OG or two.

If one of them are there at 14, I take one of them unless a top CB is sitting there or a pass rusher that works out well. I just don't think anyone of those 3 will be there, we would have to move up. But if we did take one of those 3, we would have to move Free to guard, which would decrease our need at guard.

[TheSport78]

Originally Posted by Deep_Freeze

Yeah I'm not against that at all. We have young guys we just drafted, why not develop them instead of give up on them so early. Now if we don't get a FA guard, and Kosier just can't play anymore, of course DeCastro moves wayyy up our list. We just aren't at that point of knowing all that yet.

Exactly. Free agency will determine what we do in the draft...

[Deep_Freeze]

Originally Posted by TheSport78

Exactly. Free agency will determine what we do in the draft...

Yeah we agree on that about free agency, if we get Nicks or Grubbs, I'm probably not looking for a guard that high in the draft. But if we don't get one of them, I'm probably going to become more a DeCastro supporter, but even more of a whatever OT drops supporter.

[TheSport78]

Originally Posted by Deep_Freeze

Yeah we agree on that about free agency, if we get Nicks or Grubbs, I'm probably not looking for a guard that high in the draft. But if we don't get one of them, I'm probably going to become more a DeCastro supporter, but even more of a whatever OT drops supporter.

If we do sign Grubbs or Nicks, CB or OLB has to be the pick. The value may not be there for OLB, but the CB Kirkpatrick may not be there either.

My dream FA list is: DE/LB Cliff Avril, S Michael Griffin, and OG Carl Nicks

This would allow us to target CB and DL in the draft. Heck, I would try and move up a few spots for Kirkpatrick if he started to slide. We need CB's in the worst way.

[Deep_Freeze]

Originally Posted by TheSport78

If we do sign Grubbs or Nicks, CB or OLB has to be the pick. The value may not be there for OLB, but the CB Kirkpatrick may not be there either.

My dream FA list is: DE/LB Cliff Avril, S Michael Griffin, and OG Carl Nicks

This would allow us to target CB and DL in the draft. Heck, I would try and move up a few spots for Kirkpatrick if he started to slide. We need CB's in the worst way.

Yeah everything is in limbo til we get through free agency. Not really loving the CBs in free agency this year, but we really do need to be more active in general in free agency this year. Out of our 5 young guys on the OL, hope we could find 2 that can play if we get some impact players at CB and pass rusher in the draft and get Nicks or Grubbs.

Too bad right now the draft is looking weak on pass rushers, hopefully some work out well lead by either Ingram or Upshaw.

[RS12]

If Martin slides to 14 and DeCastro is also there, it would be a tough call.

[Eskimo]

Wow, talk about an overboard reaction from Free's play last year. He was actually a middle of the pack player at LT last year. He will be a top 10 player at RT next year, probably top 5.

We have gaping holes on this roster and cap issues. We just gave him a huge deal. He's not going anywhere and we aren't going to draft an OT in the first 4 rounds so he can be 3rd string when we have our bookends in place for the next 5 years.

Heck, I really like the growth Parnell showed last year. He actually looked pretty good for such a raw player in preseason. I wouldn't be shocked if he beats Free out for the starting role in 2013 and we trade Free next offseason.

[MichaelWinicki]

Originally Posted by Eskimo

Wow, talk about an overboard reaction from Free's play last year. He was actually a middle of the pack player at LT last year. He will be a top 10 player at RT next year, probably top 5.

We have gaping holes on this roster and cap issues. We just gave him a huge deal. He's not going anywhere and we aren't going to draft an OT in the first 4 rounds so he can be 3rd string when we have our bookends in place for the next 5 years.

Heck, I really like the growth Parnell showed last year. He actually looked pretty good for such a raw player in preseason. I wouldn't be shocked if he beats Free out for the starting role in 2013 and we trade Free next offseason.

That's how I see things.

I doubt the Cowboys are considering a tackle anywhere in the first 3 rounds.

[Deep_Freeze]

Originally Posted by Eskimo

Wow, talk about an overboard reaction from Free's play last year. He was actually a middle of the pack player at LT last year. He will be a top 10 player at RT next year, probably top 5.

We have gaping holes on this roster and cap issues. We just gave him a huge deal. He's not going anywhere and we aren't going to draft an OT in the first 4 rounds so he can be 3rd string when we have our bookends in place for the next 5 years.

Heck, I really like the growth Parnell showed last year. He actually looked pretty good for such a raw player in preseason. I wouldn't be shocked if he beats Free out for the starting role in 2013 and we trade Free next offseason.

Well I guess you missed what was said about moving Free inside. Noone has proposed or even mentioned moving Free to the bench as a 3rd stringer at OT.

At #14, a difference maker is needed, and although DeCastro is a good prospect, he doesn't play a premium position. Had to hear the noise about taking a RT at 9 last year, and point was he will be a LT which was a good plan. Now at 14, Jerry is going to take a guard with all of our other needs for our horrible D??

Guess we will have to wait and see on that one.

[mmillman]

Originally Posted by MichaelWinicki

The strength problem is with the hands... Not the rest of him.

I'm betting there are exercises out there to improve the strength of one's hands.

And again, you're talking about a guy who was one of the best LT's in '10 and a good RT in '09.

There are far bigger problems with this team than Doug Free at either tackle spot.

I disagree. He was constantly off balance with bad foot work.

[Eskimo]

Originally Posted by Deep_Freeze

Well I guess you missed what was said about moving Free inside. Noone has proposed or even mentioned moving Free to the bench as a 3rd stringer at OT.

At #14, a difference maker is needed, and although DeCastro is a good prospect, he doesn't play a premium position. Had to hear the noise about taking a RT at 9 last year, and point was he will be a LT which was a good plan. Now at 14, Jerry is going to take a guard with all of our other needs for our horrible D??

Guess we will have to wait and see on that one.

Free is too long to be a good player at OG. He has very good feet, good mobility and long arms - he is a prototypical Tackle. He did have some rough moments this year but was also left on an island against many of the best pass rushers in the league and did a pretty good job. I really think some of his sacks were due to not getting the help he expected occasionally from Holland.

I know CS has said that much of Free's problems were from losing hand battles. Perhaps all that has to be done is an offseason focusing on developing more grip strength.

The issue about premiums also applies to moving Free inside. You are now paying a guy who has never played Guard a premium salary to play a position he may not be very good at.

If the situation arises that DeCastro is gone we probably should either move the pick if there is a good Tackle as BPA or alternatively take BPA at another position - hopefully CB, OLB or DE.

[Oh_Canada]

Originally Posted by Deep_Freeze

I would totally agree with you if we were a playoff team and weren't picking so high. We do need a real impact player at a premium position, and G or C definitely ain't one of those positions.

I agree with you...don't think they should burn a first on either position....just saying they should address it somewhere in the draft. I'll stay on the Silatolu bandwagon right up until draft day....if they can snag him in the second I'll do cartwheels...ok maybe not cartwheels....but I'll be really frickin' pleased!

[CCBoy]

Originally Posted by burmafrd

Free got a lot of help at LT in 2010; and we have tried to do a lot of 3 step drops and the like the last two years. To lessen the load on the O line. SO frankly those claiming he was all that great at LT in 2010 I say not. He was very good most of the time, but also remember that we had Colombo at RT last year and maybe the D's felt they did not need to try and work hard at beating Free with a turnstyle on the other side. Not to mention that if the RT play had been better in 2010 maybe Free would have given up more sacks, since the guys rushing on the right would not have been getting a free lunch there.

This year there is no doubt he was not as good. Now some of that was probably the fact that Kosier was not next to him like he was in 2010. But that should NOT have made as much difference as there was this year.

I think Free played his best while at RT. Send him back there.

The point on Colombo and how teams attack a weakness are relevant. As is noting that there was a tendency to assist him with a chip block. This season there was a need to keep the extra blocker inside more.

The OP was actually a thought provoker for more reasons.

Best player available on smart teams is used just for that. Not as a last moment move to capture greatness. But consideration would need to be given to offensive tackle as well as other positional strengths.

The Giants kept on throwing in for their defensive line. And it has paid off.
New Orleans has a dominant offensive tackle and a pair of All Pros at guard.

Since much of the Dallas direction is already on the side of offense, it might merit building this to dominance and longer termed in view.

Game day rosters are of major importance throughout an entire season. Replacing Free with a stronger player at tackle, with Free moving inside, would serve in this matter as well. He could serve, while at guard, as the replacement player at tackle as well. A guard with swing tackle resonsibilities.
This would then make change along the Dallas line as stable as was seen this season on the Giant line.

This would still allow a free agent pickup. The favorite here, obviously is Carl Nicks. But an upgrade and actully young enough to project for a valid five years would be worth a move.

But if a player such as Kalil, from USC, could prove worth a move to acquire him. Early indicators are that he should be close if not at the top of offensive linemen in this draft. His pairing with Smith would seal that position for a decade. And at top levels. That would remove the need for top level drafting at the position for some years.

He is a dynamic player. With the early indicators showing that he might start in an 8-10 draft slot, it would be far from foolish to move up and secure the tackles spot for Tony Romo and his future replacement, right now.

Even if this meant that all other sources, to include free agency and draft picks went to the defensive side, it would still be a smart move. And leave ammo to make major dents at improving quality at defensive positions.

If one wants to implant top levels of unit quality and base strengths, this would forge a huge one.

I could live with the return of Kosier at RG, Dockery as a backup, and the rest of the youth inside for a building point.