A Serious Question Regarding Offensive Line Issue

[DWAREZ]

Originally Posted by Risen Star

The interior is all time bad. We have a 0% chance of winning anything with those stiffs on the field. Healthy or not. You need NFL caliber talent.

I have to agree, the interior is where Romo received most of the pressure because they played so bad inside.

We must do something to remedy this interior or it WILL be more of the same!

[Beast_from_East]

Originally Posted by Verdict

Something tells me that they really don't want to start Parnell or Free at rt. I think our first round target is a RT if we get value there. I think they are keeping Free for now to keep from tipping their hand.

Lane Johnson is the only OT (besides the big 2) that is starting caliber from day 1.


Problem is that he probably is going to be gone by 18. In fact, all 5 of the premium offensive linemen (the 3 OTs and the 2 Gs) might be gone by 18.

[Verdict]

Originally Posted by Beast_from_East

Lane Johnson is the only OT (besides the big 2) that is starting caliber from day 1.


Problem is that he probably is going to be gone by 18. In fact, all 5 of the premium offensive linemen (the 3 OTs and the 2 Gs) might be gone by 18.

That may be true, but DeCastro fell farther than anyone thought he would last year too, and he was widely praised as the best guard to come out of college in a decade.

[Idgit]

Two OGs are unlikely to go before 18. If they do, we'll have a good DL option, and we'll be able to get a position upgrade at G still in the 2nd. We're in a good position to get a player at a position of need this year.

[Fredd]

I kinda like Fluker as a G, even though he played T @ 'bama...he has the size of a G and I believe that he played G early in his college career...I would think that he will go late in round #1, so a trade-back scenario could possibly result in him being a valid choice...

[erod]

Originally Posted by Verdict

I am directing this question to everyone on this board, but specifically to the guys who have studied the offensive line in great detail, including the all 22 film.

If we were to stand pat on the offensive line this year, and all of the guys on the line were healthy,(which was far from the case last year) assuming Parnell replaces Free .....how much improvement could we expect over last year simply due to having healthy players?

Assuming Free is cut, and Parnell is penciled in pre-draft as the starter, which do you think would improve the offensive line more:

A) one of the top 2 guards or
b) one of the top 3 offensive tackles?

I'd take a guard, but I don't think one player would do it. I'd sign Levitre some way, some how. Than I'd draft tackle and guard in the first two rounds.

If the only thing Dallas did this offseason was build a dominant offensive line, I'd be thrilled.

[big dog cowboy]

Originally Posted by erod

If the only thing Dallas did this offseason was build a dominant offensive line, I'd be thrilled.

That bandwagon is getting full. But the reality is we won't dedicate that much resources to ensure it happens and we all know it.

[Joe Rod]

I would hope they go for BPA regardless of position in the draft. Parnell looked decent in limited reps, but that could easily change when teams get a few full games of film on him. Free did great in his first season as starter in 2010, then Aldon Smith exposes his weakness in the second game of 2011 and down goes Doug Free. Parnell may not even be as good as Doug Free, is that so great?

The only sure fire starter on that line right now is Tyron Smith. Phil Costa, Kevin Kowalski, Parnell, O'Leary may or may pan out, but Romo and the run game will suffer mightily if they do not.

If the BPA is a Center, take the Center. If the BPA is a Tackle, take the tackle.

[AKATheRake]

I think with what is out there in FA I get an OT there and draft 1 of the top 2 guards.

Parnell can be a very good backup on the swing. I am not relying on him to improve this line by starting.

2nd round we can get our DT/DE or OLB.

3rd round we can get our OLB or safety.

I would re-sign Sims as he can play inside and out in the 4-3 and be a very good ILB back up or back up/contending OLB starter at fantastic value.

This is where the BPA/needs value will coincide IMHO.

[InmanRoshi]

I'm really hoping Kellen Davis gets released by the Bears so we can take another crack at him. He's a sub-par receiver and a personna non-grata among Bears fans for it, but he's a good blocker. Almost too good from a receiving standpoint, because combined with the horrible Bears tackles and Cutler's tendency to hold onto the ball and force things downfield, he was asked to provide extra help to edge protection a lot.

[Beast_from_East]

Originally Posted by big dog cowboy

That bandwagon is getting full. But the reality is we won't dedicate that much resources to ensure it happens and we all know it.

I would be happy with just 1 new linemen.

[Omegasupreme]

Originally Posted by InmanRoshi

Almost too good from a receiving standpoint, because combined with the horrible Bears tackles and Cutler's tendency to hold onto the ball and force things downfield, he was asked to provide extra help to edge protection a lot.

Hello.

Tackles. Holding onto the ball. Force things downfield. TE asked to provide extra help to edge protection a lot.

Guess what offense the Bears were using?

It's the one where the DBs determine where the WRs are going to run and then if given enough time, the QB can pick apart a defense when the WRs run their secondary and tertiary routes.

[InmanRoshi]

Originally Posted by Omegasupreme

Hello.

Tackles. Holding onto the ball. Force things downfield. TE asked to provide extra help to edge protection a lot.

Guess what offense the Bears were using?

It's the one where the DBs determine where the WRs are going to run and then if given enough time, the QB can pick apart a defense when the WRs run their secondary and tertiary routes.

I don't quite get what you're implying here. Are you saying Dallas runs a similar system? Because Witten wasn't asked to provide extra edge protection "a lot", and was in fact the most featured NFL tight end in the passing game by a not insignificant amount. If anything, we need to get to a situation where the TEs are asked to provide extra help to edge protection, and Witten isn't having 150 pass attempts thrown to him.

[djmajestik]

Originally Posted by Future

As bad as Free was, I think the biggest problem with the OL has been a lack of push in the run game, and the fact that the guards and center get pushed back into Tony's face. I think Parnell can be solid, so my priority would be guard.

Honest question. I didn't see enough of Parnell to really gauge one way or the other how he would perform as a full-time starter, what did you see last year that would make you feel otherwise?