CFZ Game Footage Review: OG McGovern

[CWR]

I'll start with my conclusion:
- I reviewed all of this snaps vs KC/Saints/Washington.
- If only 1 interior OL is added, I would prefer to upgrade OC and play McGovern at LG.
- Obviously an All Pro upgrade at both positions would be nice, but unlikely this season.

LG Connor Williams struggled with penalties and was replaced for 4 games by Connor McGovern.
- The overall OLine didn't improve during that time and Connor Williams regained the starting role.

I had said prior to the McGovern experiment that CM would not be an upgrade over CW.
- i.e. I was not 'Pro McGovern'.
- Having said that, it was the logical decision to try McGovern due to CW's penalty issues.

McGovern Game Footage
- McGovern was better than I remembered.
- His issues were primarily mental (technique/awareness/angles).
- He has 'good enough' power and athleticism.
- He managed to hold up to Chris Jones in the KC game on most snaps.
- There were a couple of snaps where Jones whipped him, but Chris Jones does that to many OLinemen.
- The bigger issue was the overall OLine.
- If CM or CW had played between prime years Tyron and Frederick, then they would have been OK.
- Instead the OC was Biadasz and LT Tyron was out for 6 games.
- Steele is good at RT but not at LT. Nsekhe is a career backup.
- Summary:
- He looked capable but tentative. Almost like a young QB that has ability but tends to panic.
- I'm somewhat surprised they didn't give him another start.
- They won 2 of the 4 games that McGovern started at LG including the final 2.

OL Coach
- It has come out this off-season that the OL coach favored CW over McGovern.
- It was a McCarthy decision to try McGovern.
- CW didn't have penalty issues until McCarthy and staff were hired.
- The Packers OL under McCarthy were known for a specific method of holding.
- This holding technique was against the rules but subtle enough to avoid excessive penalties.
- I think the OL coach supported Connor Williams because he is the one that taught him to hold.
- There have been articles about the Green Bay holding technique and sports talk discussions about it.
- GB's approach was similar to the Legion of Boom and their approach to penalties.
- Basically the LoB strategy was that eventually the Refs would give up calling penalties.
- The league requires refs to limit penalties to keep game times within limits.

Thanks brother, I always appreciate your film review. Most the mocks are showing a good oline player dropping, wether its the center or the guard from A&M.

 

[fivetwos]

What happened to him? He got better as the season went along.

Now I wouldnt say he was good enough to warrant passing on a blue chip center.

Biadasz? No sir have to disagree with you there.

I rewatched games to try to figure out his problem...and strangely enough, when early on around here the theme was that he was the weak link....he definitely was not, but after Minnesota he really tailed off. I'm not gonna pretend like I know why.

But....from here.....which do we see, the first half guy or the second half guy?

If he has or hasn't peaked, do we count on that either way? I'd guess Farinok is his only competition and Farinok beats him out.

Whether this translates into actual wins and losses, who knows....

But I definitely am not rooting against Biadasz. At the same time he must improve if the run game is to.

 

[Beaker42]

I'll start with my conclusion:
- I reviewed all of this snaps vs KC/Saints/Washington.
- If only 1 interior OL is added, I would prefer to upgrade OC and play McGovern at LG.
- Obviously an All Pro upgrade at both positions would be nice, but unlikely this season.

LG Connor Williams struggled with penalties and was replaced for 4 games by Connor McGovern.
- The overall OLine didn't improve during that time and Connor Williams regained the starting role.

I had said prior to the McGovern experiment that CM would not be an upgrade over CW.
- i.e. I was not 'Pro McGovern'.
- Having said that, it was the logical decision to try McGovern due to CW's penalty issues.

McGovern Game Footage
- McGovern was better than I remembered.
- His issues were primarily mental (technique/awareness/angles).
- He has 'good enough' power and athleticism.
- He managed to hold up to Chris Jones in the KC game on most snaps.
- There were a couple of snaps where Jones whipped him, but Chris Jones does that to many OLinemen.
- The bigger issue was the overall OLine.
- If CM or CW had played between prime years Tyron and Frederick, then they would have been OK.
- Instead the OC was Biadasz and LT Tyron was out for 6 games.
- Steele is good at RT but not at LT. Nsekhe is a career backup.
- Summary:
- He looked capable but tentative. Almost like a young QB that has ability but tends to panic.
- I'm somewhat surprised they didn't give him another start.
- They won 2 of the 4 games that McGovern started at LG including the final 2.

OL Coach
- It has come out this off-season that the OL coach favored CW over McGovern.
- It was a McCarthy decision to try McGovern.
- CW didn't have penalty issues until McCarthy and staff were hired.
- The Packers OL under McCarthy were known for a specific method of holding.
- This holding technique was against the rules but subtle enough to avoid excessive penalties.
- I think the OL coach supported Connor Williams because he is the one that taught him to hold.
- There have been articles about the Green Bay holding technique and sports talk discussions about it.
- GB's approach was similar to the Legion of Boom and their approach to penalties.
- Basically the LoB strategy was that eventually the Refs would give up calling penalties.
- The league requires refs to limit penalties to keep game times within limits.

It’s safe to say that McGovern is a bust. 2nd rnd grade my azz. More like 5th.

 

[CowboyRoy]

Biadasz? No sir have to disagree with you there.

I rewatched games to try to figure out his problem...and strangely enough, when early on around here the theme was that he was the weak link....he definitely was not, but after Minnesota he really tailed off. I'm not gonna pretend like I know why.

But....from here.....which do we see, the first half guy or the second half guy?

If he has or hasn't peaked, do we count on that either way? I'd guess Farinok is his only competition and Farinok beats him out.

Whether this translates into actual wins and losses, who knows....

But I definitely am not rooting against Biadasz. At the same time he must improve if the run game is to.

There is no chance in hell that 2nd year OL has peaked. Not a chance.

As far as Biadasz your telling me you watched every single game of the season and every play focused on Biadasz? That sounds like a tall tail to me. Watching a game or two and a few plays here and there means little.

Its more likely the players around him got worse and had to try and cover for them and it didnt look pretty. Or was expecting help and never got it.

As far as Farniok this is another mythical fairy tail. The guy has done nothing at all to warrant such praise. He played like one or two preseason games in the 4th quarter and that was it.

What is the guy a 7th round pick? Biadasz got the award in college for the best center his junior year. Its more likely that he finally has a full offseason to get stronger and will be fully recovered from his injuries from college and his first pro year.

But like I said he was no world beater and if Lindenbaum is there, I have no problem taking him.

 

[conner01]

Biadasz? No sir have to disagree with you there.

I rewatched games to try to figure out his problem...and strangely enough, when early on around here the theme was that he was the weak link....he definitely was not, but after Minnesota he really tailed off. I'm not gonna pretend like I know why.

But....from here.....which do we see, the first half guy or the second half guy?

If he has or hasn't peaked, do we count on that either way? I'd guess Farinok is his only competition and Farinok beats him out.

Whether this translates into actual wins and losses, who knows....

But I definitely am not rooting against Biadasz. At the same time he must improve if the run game is to.

We haven’t seen enough of Farniok to know what he is. But what we’ve seen I really liked
He certainly deserves a lot of ramps this camp and him winning the job would not surprise me at all

 

[conner01]

I've got a little more faith in Farinoks upside because that jump is usually seen between rookie and second year.

I'd guess that Biadasz has peaked and he looks like a backup to me.....if you're planning to win that is.

It's a matter of if they want to have a clear upgrade immediately or risk it still being a problem in 2022.....and that's IF they even regard it as a problem. I have my doubts. I'm thoroughly convinced this FO cannot tell the difference between Dak Prescott and Aaron Rodgers.

If Biadasz isn’t starting he won’t be active on game day at all because he’s not a guard

 

[conner01]

I was fussing about the center position all season. Yes, CW had his penalties and yes, CM was green but both held up as serviceable starters. Smith going down hurt but when CW was replaced, it looked like the line fell apart. CW has his limitations but he's a smart player and I'm pretty sure he was helping with line calls and shading towards center to help out TB. Without that help, leaks sprung up. TB wasn't a bad player but we can't have 3 players with limitations all next to each other on the line. The result is what we saw. Somebody has to get better or we need an upgrade or 2.

Smart players don’t get penalized as much as he did
He’s a good run blocker but he negates whh he at he does well with the penalties

 

[xwalker]

If Biadasz isn’t starting he won’t be active on game day at all because he’s not a guard

Not necessarily. It is difficult to find backup OCs.

1: If they draft an OC that starts as a rookie this year, it is likely a player that can play OG.
- That player could move to OG and Biadasz could play OC.

2: Biadasz could likely survive at OG to finish out a game.

3: The new rule created during Covid only allow the extra 2 players for the 48 man roster if the team has 8 OL active.
- In the past, most teams carried 7 active OL unless a starter was an injury question mark going into the game.
- Now all teams carry at least 8 OL (3 backups).

 

[xwalker]

Smart players don’t get penalized as much as he did
He’s a good run blocker but he negates whh he at he does well with the penalties

CW didn't have penalty issues until McCarty and staff were hired.
- Green Bay taught their OL to hold in a method that was not legal but generally didn't get flagged.
- It does fuel the conspiracy theory that Green Bay get penalized far less than than the Cowboys.
- i.e. The borderline holding technique didn't get flagged in GB but it did when a Cowboys player used it.

 

[xwalker]

We haven’t seen enough of Farniok to know what he is. But what we’ve seen I really liked
He certainly deserves a lot of ramps this camp and him winning the job would not surprise me at all

It was impressive for a late round OL to be active for the majority of games.

Farniok only played 23 snaps in 2021; however, I thought he looked good in those snaps.

He looked good in extensive preseason action at both OG and OC.

He played primarily RT in college with 1 start at OC and a few a RG.

 

[CalPolyTechnique]

This thread is comedy. Remember when the same OP created the very same threads trying to convince you C. Williams was actually good?

 

[xwalker]

Agree and I would be torn if Linderbaum and Johnson (BC kid) is there when we pick. Linderbaum is a stud at C from what I read but that is is only fit. Johnson can play all 5 positions and play them well. Would love to get both of them but that will never happen.

I dont think they draft Linderbaum if he is there. Does not fit their profile. Extremely short armed, zone blocking center.

If Zion plays OC in the NFL, I think he might end up as a better overall OC than Linderbaum.

Zion played OC in the Senior Bowl and his snaps (shotgun and under Center) looked OK.
- They said he had some issues at OC in practice but I watched all of his snaps in the game and he looked good.
- His build at 6'2-5/8" but with long arms seems tailor made for OC.

 

[xwalker]

Anyone else heard the rumor that we might move Zach to LG so McGovern can go back to RG?

- Not before you made it up and posted it...

 

[xwalker]

This thread is comedy. Remember when the same OP created the very same threads trying to convince you C. Williams was actually good?

I said he was better than McGovern.

The Cowboys tried McGovern and reverted back to Williams.

I was correct.

 

[xwalker]

He is RG and that's it.

I'm skeptical that Left / Right is really his issue; however, if that is true, then move Martin to LG.

 

[CalPolyTechnique]

I said he was better than McGovern.

The Cowboys tried McGovern and reverted back to Williams.

I was correct.

No, that wasn’t the point of those threads.

Your point was trying to convince everyone that Williams was actually ballin’ out.

 

[Whiskey Cowboy]

Smart players don’t get penalized as much as he did
He’s a good run blocker but he negates whh he at he does well with the penalties

I think his penalties were from physical limitations and trying to do too much, along with the coaches teaching new techniques. Dallas fans always need a scapegoat. Funny how the organization operates the same way. Seems CW was one of them last year. If CW was dumb and had the physical limitations that he has, why in the world did the line fall apart when he was benched?

 

[Loso86]

I'm skeptical that Left / Right is really his issue; however, if that is true, then move Martin to LG.

Although I'm sure he could move I wouldn't touch Martin if it's not 100% neccessary

 

[charron]

They seem to like being able to pull with cw. I don't recall them using mg the same way. Not only was mg interior he just can't do some of the blocks they had been asking cw to do or they just didn't trust him.

 

[quickccc]

Maybe you are right. We shouldn't give up on McGovern so quickly. After all he is inexperienced so a few mental mistakes should be expected. But the same could be said of Biadasz. He seems to make a lot of mental mistakes as well. Maybe giving him another year to prove himself is the right thing too. The problem is, what if Linderbaum falls to them at 24 and Johnson is gone. Do you take Linderbaum or Green?

The fact is, except for RG, the entire OL can use an upgrade and Martin is not getting any younger either.

Imo, we cannot pass up on high graded OGs for the hope and gamble that McGovern can suddenly up his game and be a fit starter for the
LG role.

1) McGovern had his chance at gaining the LG role when they benched Williams and implanted McGovern at LG.
2) McGovern failed at that chance, he was benched and the penalty plagued Williams regained his starting role.
3) OG and RB are probably the easiest position to transcend and adjust in the NFL,.
4) Usually a high regarded OG is an immediate plug and play guy;
5) McClay gave McGovern a 2nd round grade, thought he was too valuable to pass up in 3rd rd.
6) Philibin has never been fond of McGovern; wasn't here when we drafted him, forced to play him per team injuries, Covid
7) among the skinniest arms i think i've ever seen on an interior player; looks like Jarwin's arms

- Cowboys did not even invite Linderbaum in as a 30 day visitee, what's the likelihood of drafting him in the first rd ?
- Ironically Cowboys reportedly never interviewed McGovern but eventually drafted him in the 3rd round.