Should our focus turn to the OL with these recent hires?

[TheDank]

Today, I've watched plenty Arizona n Kansas St. run game and blocking scheme. It kinda looks the same, so I think these two OL coaches will work well together. Lots of pulls and trap blocks...fun stuff. The OL have to be athletic and work well in space. I don't believe the Cowboys need to draft an OL, but I expect them too.

Just a few points before the coaches pour over the tape and get a plan.

1. Where will Beebe play? He's a good Center, but Riley never played him at Center in college. Also, Cardinals had a fluid mover at Center, and Beebe's body type favored their OGs. Still think BB can play Center tho.

2. Hoffman can play OG in this scheme and be fine.

3. TE blocking is going to be even more important.

4. I think the OTs, in house, should be fine too. However, I trust these coaches to evaluate properly.

Maybe keep an eye on the C out of GA then at 44. He's a great athlete from what I've seen/heard. I haven't watched him yet but will probably get to him this weekend.

 

[gimmesix]

I have no problem with using Guyton as the swing to continue his development. If he is ready, he will beat out Richards.

That's possible. I may be higher on Richards than you are. But I don't really care who starts. I just want the best options on the field.

 

[big dog cowboy]

how many of them inside? real DTs?

That wasn't a part of the post I was replying too.

 

[gimmesix]

I think they need more veteran leadership then adding another high level starter through the draft. Adding a veteran could be very low cost aging type to show these lineman what it takes to become a professional, on and off the field.

That's possible. The old man of the bunch will be Steele, if Martin doesn't decide to play another and isn't signed by us. That's part of the reason I wouldn't mind Tyron returning at the right cost. I think if he'd realize his starting days are behind him because he can't stay healthy and take a reasonable deal to be a vet backup, he'd be great to bring back.

 

[big dog cowboy]

Hill wasn’t a first rounder and both Michigan players were at the end of the rd and had 2nd rd grades

Yep don't know why I put 1, it's corrected now. Still doesn't change the fact there has been a lot of DL draft picks.

 

[gimmesix]

My problem is giving up on a kid at a position after only one season which we knew he would struggle a bit.

I don't consider it giving up. I consider it trying to get your best five on the field. Steele is a limited tackle; it's why he was a free agent coming out of college. He's a strong run blocker, but not that great as a pass blocker. I believe both Richards and Guyton have the potential to be better than him. Richards, though, is not a right tackle and has never played on that side of the ball. Asking him to switch to RT is asking for a learning curve. There's no curve with Guyton. He can possibly improve the RT spot while Richards is at least as good as Guyton would have been at LT.

 

[gtb1943]

I don't consider it giving up. I consider it trying to get your best five on the field. Steele is a limited tackle; it's why he was a free agent coming out of college. He's a strong run blocker, but not that great as a pass blocker. I believe both Richards and Guyton have the potential to be better than him. Richards, though, is not a right tackle and has never played on that side of the ball. Asking him to switch to RT is asking for a learning curve. There's no curve with Guyton. He can possibly improve the RT spot while Richards is at least as good as Guyton would have been at LT.

Guyton has four inches of height and 15 lbs of weight and appears to be stronger. 6-8 and 322 That is LT measurments
that is where you put your best athlete and that is Guyton. Now maybe he cannot do it; but to move him after one year is DUMB.
There were reasons that Guyton was considered a first rd talent and Richards a fifth rd talent.
RIchards is only 6' 4" which is short for a LT.
I do agree we need to look for better at RT as Steele's pass blocking is not getting better. Yes he is an excellent run blocker but we need more if we want to actually CONTEND for a SB

 

[gimmesix]

Guyton has four inches of height and 15 lbs of weight and appears to be stronger. 6-8 and 322 That is LT measurments
that is where you put your best athlete and that is Guyton. Now maybe he cannot do it; but to move him after one year is DUMB.
There were reasons that Guyton was considered a first rd talent and Richards a fifth rd talent.
RIchards is only 6' 4" which is short for a LT.
I do agree we need to look for better at RT as Steele's pass blocking is not getting better. Yes he is an excellent run blocker but we need more if we want to actually CONTEND for a SB

Yes, height is part of the reason Richards wasn't taken until the fifth round, but I didn't see height as being a big issue for him. He's better than Guyton right now. Maybe that won't continue to be the case, but again, I want the best five on the field and I see Richards at LT and Guyton at RT potentially being better than Guyton at LT and Steele at RT.

BTW, Richards has a 34-inch arm length while Guyton's are 34 1/8, so it's not like Richards doesn't have length.

 

[gtb1943]

Yes, height is part of the reason Richards wasn't taken until the fifth round, but I didn't see height as being a big issue for him. He's better than Guyton right now. Maybe that won't continue to be the case, but again, I want the best five on the field and I see Richards at LT and Guyton at RT potentially being better than Guyton at LT and Steele at RT.

BTW, Richards has a 34-inch arm length while Guyton's are 34 1/8, so it's not like Richards doesn't have length.

My problem with Richard is his lateral movement; not sure if it is good enough. HE seems to have gotten stronger which is good. But bottom line is that you do not give up on a guy after one season. Guyton flashed some good plays and good games; just was not consistent, Remember how little experience he had at RT and then he is put at LT. This guy is still raw; which was one reason WHY HE SHOULD NOT HAVE STARTED. That is on jethro and the coaching staff.

 

[Cowboyny]

Yep don't know why I put 1, it's corrected now. Still doesn't change the fact there has been a lot of DL draft picks.

Been a lot of day 2 picks, but they have been terrible hitting on them

 

[reddyuta]

Cowboys may draft Will Johnson if he slips to 12 but i dont see them drafting any other olineman in the 1st RD.

 

[Cowboyny]

Cowboys may draft Will Johnson if he slips to 12 but i dont see them drafting any other olineman in the 1st RD.

Like others, I am worried about corners coming back from major injuries. Add in that many speculate he won't run cause he might have a slow 40 time.

 

[gtb1943]

Like others, I am worried about corners coming back from major injuries. Add in that many speculate he won't run cause he might have a slow 40 time.

40 times are sometimes meaningless. everson walls was slow; what did it matter?
and if you look at the majority of the fastest ever times at the combine, very few of them ever became stars

 

[morasp]

It's too bad we are so cautious about singing free agents. BJ Hill and Jarran Reed are free agents that could help our defensive line. They had 56 and 45 tackles, 9 and 15 QBHits, and 7 and 5 TFLs respectively in 2024.

 

[TheDank]

It's too bad we are so cautious about singing free agents. BJ Hill and Jarran Reed are free agents that could help our defensive line. They had 56 and 45 tackles, 9 and 15 QBHits, and 7 and 5 TFLs respectively in 2024.

Yup, it's painful how a few mid, maybe one upper mid tier guy, could elevate this roster significantly and we just refuse to do it.

Sign BJ Hill, Will Hernandez and take a flyer on Diggs or Mike Williams. If you do that and bring back our key guys your draft is wide open to go BPA other than needing a RB, which can be a mid rounder. This team drafts pretty dang well when they just trust their board. Mid level vets have been pretty good to us recently too on the rare occaision we bring them in; Gilmore, Cooks, Peters come to mind.

 

[Gambit]

Good topic. I feel like at least here on the Zone and most of the Draft Show guys focus on Offense more than Defense at least right now. But for me personally, I've definitely changed my mindset of the draft due to the new hires. I see a committed focus to actually improve our run game.

Zach Martin likely retires in my opinion.
I think Steele is a guy we need to keep right now. Yes a player to replace in future, but with his strength being exactly what our focus is shifting to, he is someone you keep right now.

I don't think either of those two players adapted to Mike Solari's blocking techniques very well. Am so happy he is no longer with us.

Guyton needs playing time. The coaches were in kind of a bind last year, they needed wins to keep their job, so letting young guys who just needed playing time was not on their radar. A huge disservice to not only Guyton but other guys on the roster who needed reps. It seems like there was a lot of conflicting reports coming out about Guyton. Maturity level, injury etc. Im not ready to give up on him, he has the talent. It was encouraging to see how he approached the offseason as soon as he was drafted. Something though was just off after that. I don't know if it was Solari, Mcarthy or both, but Zach Martin himself said things weren't clicking at all last year in the locker room.

With more time in OLMasterminds and a full weight training offseason I think we see improvement with Guyton this year. Some guys just need some time. However, I do think bringing in someone better than Chuma for Tackle is important. Asim did well in spot duty, but it seems to me like he has said he doesn't want to play tackle but Guard. Someone mentioned Beechum, good idea. He can replace Chuma and I'd be happy as a bug in a rug lol.

Guard, specifically RG is in my opinion where we need the most focus on. Can Hoffman give you 17 games at a high level? Not sure. But he is more mobile than Bass and a better fit for the system going to be run. I like the idea of Hernandez or Evan Brown being brought in there too. Neither are going to cost a ton, both have experience with Klayton's system.
Im out on Waletkzo and Ball if he is even still on the squad. I'd not mind if they drafted Simmons in 1st with a trade back in the first. But at guard, guys like Booker or Milum would be good targets in round 2

I suspect though it will be the later rounds that they will look for that help, round 5 seems to be a good spot. Unless of course someone just falls in our laps like Bebee did.

 

[Cowboyny]

Good topic. I feel like at least here on the Zone and most of the Draft Show guys focus on Offense more than Defense at least right now. But for me personally, I've definitely changed my mindset of the draft due to the new hires. I see a committed focus to actually improve our run game.

Zach Martin likely retires in my opinion.
I think Steele is a guy we need to keep right now. Yes a player to replace in future, but with his strength being exactly what our focus is shifting to, he is someone you keep right now.

I don't think either of those two players adapted to Mike Solari's blocking techniques very well. Am so happy he is no longer with us.

Guyton needs playing time. The coaches were in kind of a bind last year, they needed wins to keep their job, so letting young guys who just needed playing time was not on their radar. A huge disservice to not only Guyton but other guys on the roster who needed reps. It seems like there was a lot of conflicting reports coming out about Guyton. Maturity level, injury etc. Im not ready to give up on him, he has the talent. It was encouraging to see how he approached the offseason as soon as he was drafted. Something though was just off after that. I don't know if it was Solari, Mcarthy or both, but Zach Martin himself said things weren't clicking at all last year in the locker room.

With more time in OLMasterminds and a full weight training offseason I think we see improvement with Guyton this year. Some guys just need some time. However, I do think bringing in someone better than Chuma for Tackle is important. Asim did well in spot duty, but it seems to me like he has said he doesn't want to play tackle but Guard. Someone mentioned Beechum, good idea. He can replace Chuma and I'd be happy as a bug in a rug lol.

Guard, specifically RG is in my opinion where we need the most focus on. Can Hoffman give you 17 games at a high level? Not sure. But he is more mobile than Bass and a better fit for the system going to be run. I like the idea of Hernandez or Evan Brown being brought in there too. Neither are going to cost a ton, both have experience with Klayton's system.
Im out on Waletkzo and Ball if he is even still on the squad. I'd not mind if they drafted Simmons in 1st with a trade back in the first. But at guard, guys like Booker or Milum would be good targets in round 2

I suspect though it will be the later rounds that they will look for that help, round 5 seems to be a good spot. Unless of course someone just falls in our laps like Bebee did.

Stopping the run is also an offseason priority, One of the most locked in insiders said that they were look at run defending front 7 players.

With a new offensive coach, he is going to be allowed to have a big say in the draft, where I think fa will be more focus in filling needs on the defense.

 

[gimmesix]

My problem with Richard is his lateral movement; not sure if it is good enough. HE seems to have gotten stronger which is good. But bottom line is that you do not give up on a guy after one season. Guyton flashed some good plays and good games; just was not consistent, Remember how little experience he had at RT and then he is put at LT. This guy is still raw; which was one reason WHY HE SHOULD NOT HAVE STARTED. That is on jethro and the coaching staff.

Moving him to RT is not giving up on him. You need two quality starting tackles. If Richards-Guyton is better than Guyton-Steele, then you've made good use of both of those draft picks to find starting linemen who improve your team. I don't know why you consider that giving up on Guyton. I consider it making best use of your assets.

 

[cowboyec]

some that i like up and down the board:
•ot kelvin banks,texas
•ot josh simmons,ohio st
•ot will campbell,Lsu
•ot emory jones,Lsu
•ot ajani cornelius,oregon
•og tyker booker,alabama
•og donovan jackson,ohio st
•ol connor colby,iowa

 

[gtb1943]

Moving him to RT is not giving up on him. You need two quality starting tackles. If Richards-Guyton is better than Guyton-Steele, then you've made good use of both of those draft picks to find starting linemen who improve your team. I don't know why you consider that giving up on Guyton. I consider it making best use of your assets.

when you draft someone for LT and after one year switch him to RT that says a lot you seem to not want to hear.