Ron Leary Not Afraid Of Competition Entering Third Year At Left Guard

[AbeBeta]

I predict that Leary will either be on the team in 2016, or they will get a draft pick for him.

I wonder about the pick. He's RFA, right? We would obviously tender him high (2nd round level) as the original pick level tender is useless here. Are you saying someone might come in and tell us a 2nd is too much but we'll give you a 4 (or something like that)?

 

[Doomsday101]

The point was that your comparison was stupid.

I should just come out and say that upfront I guess.

In your view, I don't think it was stupid that is my view. Allen was a 2nd rd draft pick so what he came from a small college that likely was the reason he did not go in rd 1 but the talent was still there and he proved it where it counts on the field where players should earn it. Not because some lame poster thinks it should be handed to them.

 

[AbeBeta]

In your view, I don't think it was stupid that is my view. Allen was a 2nd rd draft pick so what he came from a small college that likely was the reason he did not go in rd 1 but the talent was still there and he proved it where it counts on the field where players should earn it. Not because some lame poster thinks it should be handed to them.

I don't think it should be handed to Collins at all. I think if it is close, you need to go with the guy who has the bigger upside. We know what Leary can do - we also know that Collins has a much higher ceiling and that sitting on the bench isn't going to move him toward that ceiling.

 

[Doomsday101]

I don't think it should be handed to Collins at all. I think if it is close, you need to go with the guy who has the bigger upside. We know what Leary can do - we also know that Collins has a much higher ceiling and that sitting on the bench isn't going to move him toward that ceiling.

I don't envision him being on the bench long if at all, coming out of camp I expect the guys who have outplayed their competition should take the job. However winning the job to start a season and keeping a job is not the same thing. I think Cowboys like Collins and even if he does not win it coming out of camp he will continue to be given the chance to develop and win the job.

 

[jnday]

Collins will be starting left guard. He doesn't have to be better than Leary, only just as good and he will get the nod.

Leary is underrated by many posters on this board. He is not the weak link on the line ,Free is. I hope that Collins can beat Free out rather than Leary. I don't think Collins is on the same level as Leary right now. I sure don't think Collins could have handled JJ Watt the way Leary did. Not many guards in the league can do that.

 

[conner01]

Going to be interesting to see how the online shakes out in camp
The draft is about obtaining talent
We got that done
Camp is about seeing where they fit on the team
We will soon see if he fits better at guard or tackle
Hopefully he is a starter quality player at both

 

[AbeBeta]

Leary is underrated by many posters on this board. He is not the weak link on the line ,Free is. I hope that Collins can beat Free out rather than Leary. I don't think Collins is on the same level as Leary right now. I sure don't think Collins could have handled JJ Watt the way Leary did. Not many guards in the league can do that.

Free is awful expensive as your swing tackle - but he gives Chaz Green some time to develop (and Gibson time to learn on the PS). I'd much rather see Collins play well at RT and us have to address re-signing Leary. What was the phrase folks used to describe him - "he's got some thump to his game" - he's isn't pretty but he does wear people down with his play

 

[Toruk_Makto]

I agree. I believe we'll let Collins marinate behind Leary and Free this year if we're able to. Most teams don't care for playing rookies unless they have to because of the learning curve. Dallas has the luxury of waiting with Collins because A) he's not costing us much and B) neither is most of this line.

In fact, I won't be surprised if we bring back Leary for one more year because the price tag won't be that high for an RFA. Might as well keep six starting-quality linemen for as long as we reasonably can unless someone blows our socks off with a trade offer.

First rounders historically are expected to start day 1 and be counted on yesterday.

 

[DC Cowboy]

I think Collins came here to play, I just see him sitting for a year.

Plus the Skins would sign Leary

 

[big dog cowboy]

Leary's future with the Cowboys this year may completely come down to what kind of draft pick we get offered for him.

 

[darthseinfeld]

I think Leary is soundly defeated if its a competition between him and Collins. Collins is just a much better lineman then him. IMO Leary's chances at starting rely on any possible need to play Collins at RT.

 

[mattjames2010]

First rounders historically are expected to start day 1 and be counted on yesterday.

Why do people continue to say this?

First rounders are historically picked as a need for a team. They usually come in with more talent than the player they are in competition with. Leary is a really good guard and young, this isn't similar to the majority of the first round picks in history. If we're going to say this, we might as well say Gregory should start over Hardy because he was supposed to be a first round pick as well before his incident.

 

[Stash]

Leary's future with the Cowboys this year may completely come down to what kind of draft pick we get offered for him.

I wouldn't trade him for a draft pick this year. I view this team as a contender, and I wouldn't sacrifice depth on a contending team for a 2016 promissory note.

That 2016 pick won't help you when you suffer an injury on the line which could potentially derail a championship season.

 

[Stash]

Free is awful expensive as your swing tackle - but he gives Chaz Green some time to develop (and Gibson time to learn on the PS). I'd much rather see Collins play well at RT and us have to address re-signing Leary. What was the phrase folks used to describe him - "he's got some thump to his game" - he's isn't pretty but he does wear people down with his play

I don't think Gibson makes it to the practice squad. He was on the phone with Denver at the time the Cowboys drafted him, and that was before the Broncos lost Ryan Clady for the season. The Giants have also lost their starting left tackle Will Beatty for a considerable part of the year so they would likely be looking too.

If the team thinks Gibson has anything worth developing, I think they need to find a way to keep him on the roster.

 

[dmq]

Broaddus and Spags seem to suggest Collins isn't so plug and play ready.

 

[big dog cowboy]

I wouldn't trade him for a draft pick this year. I view this team as a contender, and I wouldn't sacrifice depth on a contending team for a 2016 promissory note.

I wouldn't either but you never know what they might get offered.

 

[Stash]

I wouldn't either but you never know what they might get offered.

Speaking just for myself, it would take an awful lot.

The minute you trade away quality depth is when you end up having an injury. I would rather be the team trading away future picks to strengthen my current roster rather than trading away talent that can help me this year for future picks.

 

[Doomsday101]

Broaddus and Spags seem to suggest Collins isn't so plug and play ready.

Would not surprise me, I think he will be a good player but stepping in and taking over is not as easy as Martin made it look. Leary is pretty much a seasoned vet and has the experience to counter everything the Dline player throws at him. Free as much flack as he may take from fans is still a vet player as well and has been through the battles of the NFL. I'm not saying Collins will not win a job I just do not think it is a given starting day 1

 

[JohnnyHopkins]

Broaddus and Spags seem to suggest Collins isn't so plug and play ready.

Leary is a slam dunk starter if they played a game tomorrow, but Collins has the pure talent to take the job with an entire training camp to prove himself. If he comes out like Zack Martin 2.0 then plug him in, if he has some mental lapses late in camp or Leary is just playing out of his mind then let Collins sit and learn.

There really is no downside. That position will be good if Leary wins out, but possibly great if Collins outplays Leary. Great options for Dallas.

 

[Toruk_Makto]

Why do people continue to say this?

First rounders are historically picked as a need for a team. They usually come in with more talent than the player they are in competition with. Leary is a really good guard and young, this isn't similar to the majority of the first round picks in history. If we're going to say this, we might as well say Gregory should start over Hardy because he was supposed to be a first round pick as well before his incident.

Probably because 8 of our last 10 first rounders started for us?

Other than that I have no idea why people would expect first rounders to start.