Getting a bit frustrated with the O-line

[Avenging Hayseed]

I see so much talent on this team almost all the way across the board. I also see the makings of an outstanding coaching staff. But the O line? " yeah, another O line thread " Thats the unit that has my guts in a knot.

I know this is no big deal to most, but let me explain why the O line situation is so frustrating to myself in particular. Im a Wisconsin guy, O line is just kinda naturally in our blood up here...LOL Since the Badgers rebuilt their program in the early 90's the one driving factor that has remained a constant in their success is the play of the O line.

They normally line up on Saturdays with skill position players that wouldnt even get a sniff from most of the other top 15/20 teams in the country. Thats just the truth of it. Soooo,...how do they continually move the ball? The O line.

O line play is all about extending TIME imo, almost like making it stand still for just that extra tick. By doing this you allow a player or players just that extra little tick to process information and act accordingly.

Your allowing a back to see the right lanes, the proper cutback,....the QB to see the field a bit longer, a receiver to make his break and get open. All these things happen in just a blink of an eye, extending that blink is a huge advantage. By the same token, reducing that blink is a disaster waiting to happen.

Its like driving a car at 30 miles an hour vrs 110. Make a mistake at 30 and you have enuff reaction time to recover, make a mistake at a 110 and you are DEAD. Same thing.


But back to the frustration...... I cant tell you how frustrating it is to watch one game on a Saturday where a team has pedestrian skill players and a dominant O line, watch them win big Usually,.....then the following day watch a team who has BIGTIME skill position players being led into battle by what I consider to be a fairly ragtag unit of an O line. Not good.

I look at the team and I think to myself,...My God they are talented. But if this line isnt fixed it isnt going to mean a thing. You see,........I could care less about being good enuff to beat teams like the Cardinals or Seahawks in September,....thats no accomplishment. I care about beating teams like The Eagles, Giants, and hopefully the cream of the AFC in the title game. Sorry,....but you dont do that without an O line. PERIOD.


Anybody here think Aikman, Irvin, or even Emmitt would have been NEARLY as successful as they were if they didnt have the type of O line in front of them that they did? NO WAY.........NO HOW. Without that O line they are nothing, just the way it is.


To be honest,....I wont even debate this issue with anyone in here,...thats how frustrated I am with it. More of a say your peace thread..

I wont debate it because,.......I look at it like...If this is something you dont already KNOW,...then why bother because you never will.

IMO we were REALLY hamstrung by our poor O line play last season. Had to implement whole games plans around it,...In game playcalling was effected too...A TON. Had to try and playcall around a poor O line. Good luck with all that...NOT EASY. Cant imagine what our offense could be capable of if we didnt have to go into games ALREADY behind the 8 ball. REALLY limits the game plan.

To end on a semi positive note.......I was in favor of our draft. Thought we did a great job there,... I just wish we could have maybe brought in a center in free agency, or even traded for one.

Think were going to be solid with Smith, Livings, and Free,...scared out of my wits when in comes to the other two spots on the line. Callahan has his work cut out for him.

[Wimbo]

I agree with you. Especially with all the injuries to the guys we have on the team now - especially at Center. I sincerely hope they are watching the wire for players... that or kick the tires on an old guy like Jeff Faine.

[Greatestalltime]

A little worried too.

[Avenging Hayseed]

Originally Posted by Wimbo

I agree with you. Especially with all the injuries to the guys we have on the team now - especially at Center. I sincerely hope they are watching the wire for players... that or kick the tires on an old guy like Jeff Faine.

Yep.

I have been keeping my eye on the Koppen situation up in New England. All I can say is...Scratch that idea off the list. At 32 he isnt all that old but it appears he has REALLY hit the wall. He is getting abused BADLY in training camp. Ragdolled on just about every snap.

Our options are REALLY limited. Myself....Im hoping for a trade even though trades arent all that common anymore. I STILL believe the line can be saved.......IF we bring in a quality center. Not a stop gap,...a QUALITY center. Had a thread about a week ago about Sullivan of the Vikings. Would LOVE to somehow land that guy. Chance of it happening? Less than 1%

[CATCH17]

I want to actually see this O Line play some before I worry or get giddy.


They brought in 2 guards they believe in plus it seems like Leary is a quality talent as well but could have his career ended at any moment.


Plus I understand the importance of an OLine but there are some high powered offenses in the NFL that have very average Olines.

[Avenging Hayseed]

The most frustrating part for me is....Call me crazy,...but I REALLY believe that this team has the players and staff to contend for a Superbowl THIS YEAR. But only if we do something on the O line. I believe one player can go a long way towards solidifying the whole unit......a quality center.

I'd hate to see this year flushed down the crapper for the lack of one O lineman. Not saying our O line would be dominant by bringing in that one player......but it would be enuff. Enuff to contend for the big show.

[jnday]

I am not a Badgers fan at all, but I try to watch every game due to the oline play. Every yrar they have linemen that are high draft picks and I like the fact that the line has is a priority for the Badgers. It would serve Dallas well to spend one pick every draft on one of these guys.

[Avenging Hayseed]

Slowing down time,......like taking a snapshot. Makes the game very easy if you have any semblance of skill players at all.

Taking away that time................= CHAOS.

[CowboysFaninDC]

Originally Posted by Avenging Hayseed

I see so much talent on this team almost all the way across the board. I also see the makings of an outstanding coaching staff. But the O line? " yeah, another O line thread " Thats the unit that has my guts in a knot.

I know this is no big deal to most, but let me explain why the O line situation is so frustrating to myself in particular. Im a Wisconsin guy, O line is just kinda naturally in our blood up here...LOL Since the Badgers rebuilt their program in the early 90's the one driving factor that has remained a constant in their success is the play of the O line.

They normally line up on Saturdays with skill position players that wouldnt even get a sniff from most of the other top 15/20 teams in the country. Thats just the truth of it. Soooo,...how do they continually move the ball? The O line.

[View Full Quote]O line play is all about extending TIME imo, almost like making it stand still for just that extra tick. By doing this you allow a player or players just that extra little tick to process information and act accordingly.

Your allowing a back to see the right lanes, the proper cutback,....the QB to see the field a bit longer, a receiver to make his break and get open. All these things happen in just a blink of an eye, extending that blink is a huge advantage. By the same token, reducing that blink is a disaster waiting to happen.

Its like driving a car at 30 miles an hour vrs 110. Make a mistake at 30 and you have enuff reaction time to recover, make a mistake at a 110 and you are DEAD. Same thing.


But back to the frustration...... I cant tell you how frustrating it is to watch one game on a Saturday where a team has pedestrian skill players and a dominant O line, watch them win big Usually,.....then the following day watch a team who has BIGTIME skill position players being led into battle by what I consider to be a fairly ragtag unit of an O line. Not good.

I look at the team and I think to myself,...My God they are talented. But if this line isnt fixed it isnt going to mean a thing. You see,........I could care less about being good enuff to beat teams like the Cardinals or Seahawks in September,....thats no accomplishment. I care about beating teams like The Eagles, Giants, and hopefully the cream of the AFC in the title game. Sorry,....but you dont do that without an O line. PERIOD.


Anybody here think Aikman, Irvin, or even Emmitt would have been NEARLY as successful as they were if they didnt have the type of O line in front of them that they did? NO WAY.........NO HOW. Without that O line they are nothing, just the way it is.


To be honest,....I wont even debate this issue with anyone in here,...thats how frustrated I am with it. More of a say your peace thread..

I wont debate it because,.......I look at it like...If this is something you dont already KNOW,...then why bother because you never will.

IMO we were REALLY hamstrung by our poor O line play last season. Had to implement whole games plans around it,...In game playcalling was effected too...A TON. Had to try and playcall around a poor O line. Good luck with all that...NOT EASY. Cant imagine what our offense could be capable of if we didnt have to go into games ALREADY behind the 8 ball. REALLY limits the game plan.

To end on a semi positive note.......I was in favor of our draft. Thought we did a great job there,... I just wish we could have maybe brought in a center in free agency, or even traded for one.

Think were going to be solid with Smith, Livings, and Free,...scared out of my wits when in comes to the other two spots on the line. Callahan has his work cut out for him.

first I think you way over rate the talent on this team. not that we are not talented, but we got a few holes to fill as yet.

also, going into the off season we had holes at MLB, DL, DE, CB, saftey, OL, FB. you can't completely fill all the positions in one off season. you take the best that's out there, fit it in your salary cap and go about drafting. there weren't that many OL options out there. we got the CB we targeted, got our FB, the draft addressed a few areas of need.

you can't have it all. if we would have gone after OL men, you would change this post that your gut is wrenching because we don't have CBs or why didn't we sign another MLB or something else.

[Avenging Hayseed]

Originally Posted by jnday

I am not a Badgers fan at all, but I try to watch every game due to the oline play. Every yrar they have linemen that are high draft picks and I like the fact that the line has is a priority for the Badgers. It would serve Dallas well to spend one pick every draft on one of these guys.

I wasnt kidding about the Badger skill players in my earlier post either. If anything I may be understating it.

Anybody,...QUICK, Name a Badger running back that has went on to good success in the NFL in the last 10 years??


See what I mean......

[ChldsPlay]

This is the slowest fade in history.

[Avenging Hayseed]

Originally Posted by CowboysFaninDC

first I think you way over rate the talent on this team. not that we are not talented, but we got a few holes to fill as yet.

also, going into the off season we had holes at MLB, DL, DE, CB, saftey, OL, FB. you can't completely fill all the positions in one off season. you take the best that's out there, fit it in your salary cap and go about drafting. there weren't that many OL options out there. we got the CB we targeted, got our FB, the draft addressed a few areas of need.

you can't have it all. if we would have gone after OL men, you would change this post that your gut is wrenching because we don't have CBs or why didn't we sign another MLB or something else.

NO....I made it clear that I was very happy with the way we approached the draft in my original post.

[CATCH17]

Originally Posted by CowboysFaninDC

first I think you way over rate the talent on this team. not that we are not talented, but we got a few holes to fill as yet.


you can't have it all. if we would have gone after OL men, you would change this post that your gut is wrenching because we don't have CBs or why didn't we sign another MLB or something else.

We have enough pieces to get to a Superbowl.


The teams who get to the Superbowl have holes but they have strengths that can overcome their holes.

Patriots had no defense at all last year but had a crazy high powered offense.

Giants O-Line and Secondary aren't that good but they have the best pass rush in football.

You don't have to have a perfect team to be a Superbowl contender.

[Wimbo]

Originally Posted by CATCH17

We have enough pieces to get to a Superbowl.


The teams who get to the Superbowl have holes but they have strengths that can overcome their holes.

Patriots had no defense at all last year but had a crazy high powered offense.

Giants O-Line and Secondary aren't that good but they have the best pass rush in football.

You don't have to have a perfect team to be a Superbowl contender.

True, but when you have to play the best pass rush in football at least 2 times per year, then you need to have a better than average OL.

[Avenging Hayseed]

Originally Posted by CATCH17

We have enough pieces to get to a Superbowl.


The teams who get to the Superbowl have holes but they have strengths that can overcome their holes.

Patriots had no defense at all last year but had a crazy high powered offense.

Giants O-Line and Secondary aren't that good but they have the best pass rush in football.

You don't have to have a perfect team to be a Superbowl contender.

I know what you are saying and I pretty much agree except for the O line . Im just a different kinda cat is all.

Case in point....

If the cowboys win a shootout 31-30. IM NOT HAPPY! It means that they could have just as easily lost and the defense failed for the most part.

If they win a game but Romo throws three picks....IM NOT HAPPY. Means something was wrong in his decision making, the playcalling,....or both.


Oh sure...Im glad they won, and I guess I am happy about it, the more correct phrase is Im not satisfied.

I like those 28-7 kinda deals where every unit is functioning at a high level or I am never totally satisfied. Sure its asking alot,......but I certainly hope the staff has that exact same mindset and Im betting they do.