Livings pulling ability.

[Risen Star]

Originally Posted by Idgit

I'm ok with just slightly-above average OL play if it's consistent and we're able to help out in the spots where we're overmatched

I'm not. Why would I be okay and settle for slightly above average at such a critical position like the OL?

And only a Cowboys fan would call this slop slightly above average. I know they had a good game last week but overall this year they've been slightly above a semi-pro line.

[Idgit]

Originally Posted by Risen Star

I'm not. Why would I be okay and settle for slightly above average at such a critical position like the OL?

The obvious answer here is that OL (it's not a position, it's a position group) just isn't that critical overall. OT play is critical, I'll agree. But good teams win all the time without great interior players on the offensive line. All you need is 'good enough' there as the Giants proved again just last season.

Now, I'd love it if we were better than that, but I don't want to get there at the expense of other positions I deem more important. Namely, DL at this point. I can live with good enough and the hope that we can develop some players over time to be better than that if it means having more resources to spend on guys who can hurt the other team's passing effectiveness. Especially here while we've got Tony Romo who's able to extend plays and usually handle a pass rusher who comes free and still get the ball downfield.

[Risen Star]

Originally Posted by Idgit

The obvious answer here is that OL (it's not a position, it's a position group) just isn't that critical overall.

Okay. Thanks for the convo.

[Idgit]

Originally Posted by Risen Star

Okay. Thanks for the convo.

Consider it my early stocking stuffer for you. You can tell people how much you enjoyed it over the long holiday.

[dools]

The main reason we need better interior o-line play is so we can successfully run the ball, specifically in goal line and short yardage situations.

[newlander]

Originally Posted by dools

The main reason we need better interior o-line play is so we can successfully run the ball, specifically in goal line and short yardage situations.

...........so do I:most of the dolts on this board saying our oline is adequate have NO clue what they are talking about. We are 31st in the league in running the football: completely inadequate. Sure, you can win in the regular season with that, but at SOME point in the playoffs a good defense like Seattle or Frisco will take the passing game away and you will HAVE to run: especially in the red zone which has been a problem of ours for years. JJ and his yes men don't see it either.

[burmafrd]

Originally Posted by Idgit

Yep. He was blown up. He was also playing against a better player, so that's a game where you'd expect him to have some struggles.

I'm ok with just slightly-above average OL play if it's consistent and we're able to help out in the spots where we're overmatched. I know you and I don't agree on that front, and that my opinion in that regard is not a popular one. But Romo has a dimension to his game where he can make one guy miss and buy time, I don't mind using it because I think it helps us by letting us use resources elsewhere. What you can't have is up-and-down play at multiple positions or *any* missed assignments. We had too much of that early in the year for a variety of reasons.

[View Full Quote]But our interior line has settled down in that regard (problems you get when they're just facing better players aside), and our OT play has appeared to stabilize when we threatened Doug Free's snaps. NO will be a decent challenge for our edge protection in the passing game. If they hold up and we can score points, I'd say our OL is in about as good a shape as it's been in all season. And by that I'd mean we're at or slightly below average but good enough that we can still beat good teams with our passing game.

so you are OK with Romo getting worked.

[newlander]

Originally Posted by burmafrd

so you are OK with Romo getting worked.

so. It's unbelievable what a magician Romo is to not get mangled thus far. I'm just afraid he's going to zig when he should zag one of these times: kinda like the Giants game a few years ago. (I believe it was Bolley that got him up the middle on a blitz) We need 3 Olinemen next year IMO: a center, a right tackle and another guard. Realistically, we'll end up with: a center and a right tackle.

[The Realist]

Originally Posted by newlander

so. It's unbelievable what a magician Romo is to not get mangled thus far. I'm just afraid he's going to zig when he should zag one of these times: kinda like the Giants game a few years ago. (I believe it was Bolley that got him up the middle on a blitz) We need 3 Olinemen next year IMO: a center, a right tackle and another guard. Realistically, we'll end up with: a center and a right tackle.

Realistaclly we'll overlook needs on OL and S again.