BTB: Who'll Play Center For The Cowboys In 2012? - Dallas Cowboys Forum

CCBoy · 01-12-2012

Cowboys Free Agent Primer: Who'll Play Center For The Cowboys In 2012?
by One.Cool.Customer

http://www.bloggingtheboys.com/2012/...owboys-in-2012

A lot of the recent discussion about the Cowboys O-line has revolved around the guard position, specifically around David DeCastro as one option for the Cowboys' first-round pick in the April draft. What has gotten a little lost in that discussion is that the weakest link in the interior offensive line was arguably the center position.

I love an underdog story as much as the next guy, and it would have been a great story to see undrafted free agent Phil Costa succeed as a starter for the Cowboys. And as much as I hope for that story to still come true, the chances of that happening are the source of much contentious debate.

Traditionally, the Cowboys have not shied away from improving their O-line via free agency, so that may very well be an option for the Center position next year as well, particularly as free agency promises a bumper crop of free agent centers: Five of the top six centers as graded by Pro Football Focus are entering free agency this year...

arglebargle · 01-12-2012

Interesting tidbit buried in there, that Costa went from being -10 in the ranking numbers for the first half of the season to +0.3 in the second half of the season. According to whatever stats magik they use, he got better.

Buncha old farts in center FA this year. Not sure how many of them would be worth more than a one or two year prove-it contract.

Outlaw Heroes · 01-12-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by arglebargle

Interesting tidbit buried in there, that Costa went from being -10 in the ranking numbers for the first half of the season to +0.3 in the second half of the season. According to whatever stats magik they use, he got better.

Buncha old farts in center FA this year. Not sure how many of them would be worth more than a one or two year prove-it contract.

Old farts may work well for us if we're still unsure about Costa (as opposed to down on him) and want to see how he might develop, given another year or two.

Zimmy Lives · 01-12-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by Outlaw Heroes

Old farts may work well for us if we're still unsure about Costa (as opposed to down on him) and want to see how he might develop, given another year or two.

I'm okay with "old farts" in key backup positions but I'm afraid Garrett might be totally committed to the youth movement and will try and upgrade the roster through the draft rather than FA. That is, if Jerry will let him.

garyv · 01-12-2012

after we select DeCastro in the 1st Round to see if we go Center in the 2nd or 3rd Round

CCBoy · 01-12-2012

Just a reminder, in phase two of the Dynasty offensive line, a waived 13 year veteran with the Colts, Ray Donaldson, became an anchor at center for Dallas. So old farts in the offensive line, often do have a utility potential as well. If waived, they come cheaper. If just free agents, let the buyer beware, as turbulent rides may ensue.

**ABQCOWBOY** · 01-12-2012

You know Nick Hardwick might be a guy that we could pick up reasonably in FA. He's a pretty decent Center. There are a lot of decent Centers this year in FA.

McClure
Birk
Wells
Saturday
Myers
Kruetz
Wiegmann
Koppen
Gurode

Some of these guys have been in the league for awhile but they can all play.

Cowboys&LakersFan · 01-12-2012

Kolowaski.

Muhast · 01-12-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cowboys&LakersFan

Kolowaski.

yep, I want my center to be able to snap the ball correctly. Even later in the year he had terrible shot gun snaps. The last game, Romo was having to catch snaps with a swollen hand that were all over the place. That is ridiculous to not even be able to trust your center to snap the ball in a small window to make it easier for your QB. Most teams don't have this issue, for whatever reason we get rid of Gurode, and Costa is just as bad if not worse at snapping lol.

burmafrd · 01-12-2012

their claim that costa got better sure did not look like it in either the eagle games or the last giant game. And if he did make it to -.03
guess what? THat still made him the 21st center in the NFL.

anyone with a brain ever think he could possibly be good? getting to Mediocre would be a great accomplishment for him

CowboyMike · 01-12-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by ABQCOWBOY

You know Nick Hardwick might be a guy that we could pick up reasonably in FA. He's a pretty decent Center. There are a lot of decent Centers this year in FA.

McClure
Birk
Wells
Saturday
Myers
Kruetz
Wiegmann
Koppen
Gurode

Some of these guys have been in the league for awhile but they can all play.

That last guy might not be a bad fit.

SDogo · 01-12-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cowboys&LakersFan

Kolowaski.

Bingo

Future · 01-12-2012

I'd be all over Jeff Saturday if he can be had at a decent price.

Smith - DeCastro - Saturday - Nicks - Free

mmmmm

JoeCorrado · 01-13-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by burmafrd

their claim that costa got better sure did not look like it in either the eagle games or the last giant game. And if he did make it to -.03
guess what? THat still made him the 21st center in the NFL.

anyone with a brain ever think he could possibly be good? getting to Mediocre would be a great accomplishment for him

Going from 31 to 21 is actually a huge leap. I knew he had shown improvement, but that is actually pretty impressive- no matter how much some here may not like hearing it.

Good for Costa.

And if the Cowboys see that type of improvement as well, any here who have visions of us pulling the rug out from under the kid, and tossing him aside, will likely be disappointed.

Garret will not be eager to make a change if he is moving up the rankings that quickly. He will "suffer" another season, especially if the suffering starts at #21 and gets better from there. Stacking those steady improvements right atop one another, getting better each week, working hard every week, pushing through.... a true "Garrett Guy?"

burmafrd · 01-13-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoeCorrado

Going from 31 to 21 is actually a huge leap. I knew he had shown improvement, but that is actually pretty impressive- no matter how much some here may not like hearing it.

Good for Costa.

And if the Cowboys see that type of improvement as well, any here who have visions of us pulling the rug out from under the kid, and tossing him aside, will likely be disappointed.

Garret will not be eager to make a change if he is moving up the rankings that quickly. He will "suffer" another season, especially if the suffering starts at #21 and gets better from there. Stacking those steady improvements right atop one another, getting better each week, working hard every week, pushing through.... a true "Garrett Guy?"

you got to be dreaming if you think he can get all that much better. Really. And clearly you have not bothered to watch the last few games where he got owned regularly

And guess what; we cannot afford to have Romo subjected to more abuse as he has been