Here's hoping new OL coach Joe Philibin is ever good as advertised, as he replaces the departed Marc Columbo who seemed like he was one of the better young upcoming OL coaches in the NFL.
As he brought back a physical mauling style and mentality to the OL unit after the disaster with Linehan-recommended OL coach Paul Alexander. who he himself brought in a more finesse-oriented position blocking, high-low hand technique - that entire OL seem to struggle mightily with.
You'll find it very rare to see OL coaches fired at mid-season as Alexander was.
That's how much of an embarrassing catastrophe he was to this team, and anyone in the coaching branch
involved in bringing him in here.
Columbo not only brought a more physical mashing mentality and basics back - but he made marked improvement
in such players as Lael Collins and Conner Williams, and don't forget the unit also finished 2nd in the entire NFL
in least sacks allowed. Many times Dak had a clean pocket and all day to survey the field and throw, before an incoming rusher was even near.
Although there is two difference between Columbo and Philibin.that BTB did not point out, imo.
" Lumbo' was also involved and a big part of the run game blocking scheme. And i didn't observe much
creativity and imagination with the run game, and i thought it bland,predictable, limited and methodical, all we seem to want to do was run up the gut middle.
and there wasn't very many splash runs - especially with Zeke. Seems like coaches were set on having
a grind and pound ball control run attack, though to be fair we were not at our top speed in the OL unit either
with Fredrick being a shell of himself and Williams suffering a IR knee injury.
Kudos to Lumbo for having reserves such as Sua Filo and Brandon Knight prepared to.
- Last i'm taking it to Philibin, McCarthy and RB coach Skip Peete to
rejuvenate our run game to where it's more
feared to opposing teams, and geared to more big splash play runs and chunk plays in the pass game as well.
Zeke used to be lethal on quick screens, but that area was really watered down and seemed abandoned under
Kellen Moore's umbrella.
Maybe we will see more misdirection, zone blocking pull-traps under Philibin to better spring more big 'chunk" plays by RBs in both run and pass game, while maintaining excellence as pass blockers.
Philibin is not supposed to known as a quality OL coach, but he is reputed as a very good offensive mind/OC and as an OL coach, his unit always seems to develop pro bowl caliber OL - that were not even 1st rounders.