Signed by Cowboys G Jonathan Cooper re-signs for 1-year

[Alexander]

Yet he couldn't beat out Doug Free...

He was never put into competition with Free.

 

[JoeyBoy718]

People will be surprised with the play of Cooper. His play will be masked by standing next to Smith and Frederick.

I'd still rather hope that Green can stay healthy because I don't want to have to also worry about Collins at RT.

 

[Denim Chicken]

People will be surprised with the play of Cooper. His play will be masked by standing next to Smith and Frederick.

Except he'll be playing next to Emmett Cleary and Joe Looney

 

[Denim Chicken]

He was never put into competition with Free.

Exactly, bc he's a guard.

 

[Chuck 54]

I'd prefer Green at RT.

 

[KingintheNorth]

Yet he couldn't beat out Doug Free...

When exactly was the competition?

 

[Little Jr]

Who are you?

I just read an article on ESPN a few days ago that says otherwise.

Executive vice president Stephen Jones was asked Tuesday about the possibility of La'el Collins playing tackle, a question many fans have posed over the last few months.

"We've visited about that," Jones said. "Obviously right now we feel good about Doug coming back and being able to do that. But if Doug were to retire or not be around or if something happened to him, than yeah, we've visited about who would have the best chance to go outside of our inside guys. I think [Collins] would certainly be an option."

“Obviously if we don’t get Leary re-signed, which will be difficult, then we see La’el as our starting guard.”

Another Stephen quote from the same day.

 

[Denim Chicken]

When exactly was the competition?

They did try him at RT, if he was a world beater why not replace the weak link on your line? Jones said they didn't like him there.

 

[cowboys1981]

My question is when Leary was healthy why wasn't Collins starting over Free at RT? Anyone have a reference from our FO regarding that? As bad as Free was wouldn't Collins have been an option at RT and Leary LG?

 

[KingintheNorth]

They did try him at RT, if he was a world beater why not replace the weak link on your line? Jones said they didn't like him there.

He played snaps there.. they felt Doug Free at RT was stronger than Leary at LG.

This was all 2 years ago. Leary played well at LG this year while Collins was injured. If Collins was able to come back earlier, and with the way Leary and Free played in 2016, Collins might already be at RT.

 

[Silverstar]

Good signing for depth.

 

[Denim Chicken]

He played snaps there.. they felt Doug Free at RT was stronger than Leary at LG.

This was all 2 years ago. Leary played well at LG this year while Collins was injured. If Collins was able to come back earlier, and with the way Leary and Free played in 2016, Collins might already be at RT.

I believe he's a better G than T and I would rather not weaken two positions on the line. Just replace Free.

 

[AmericasTeam81]

I believe Cooper can play center as well which gives the team position flex. Allows him to be active on gamedays.

 

[superonyx]

They did try him at RT, if he was a world beater why not replace the weak link on your line? Jones said they didn't like him there.

Jones would never say Free was the weak link. He could have been answering the question this way to silence this question in the future and let him avoid having to publicly criticize Free.

Time will tell.
If they feel they can't replace RT in free agency or the draft as easy as they can LG then I see them trying Collins at RT.

 

[Idgit]

I like to maintain continuity on the line. We already have interruptions with Leary & Free leaving--the last thing we need is to add the switching of positions to the mix. Free is an easy upgrade. Green or Cleary or one of the FAs out there should be able to step in and provide at least what Free brought to the table. The alternative is weakening two positions.

I don't consider Cleary a legitimate option. Green played well, but has the health concerns. If we don't move someone over, we need to add a RT capable of starting from somewhere or we're playing with fire. It's a lot easier to replace a LG than it is a RT. And if you've got the physical skills and an offseason to prepare for it, moving positions isn't the end of the world. We did it to Doug Free, twice, after all. Each time in the offseason and each time it was an adjustment, but he ended up handling it ok.

 

[manster4ever]

Collins is not a RT

I agree. I'm not an Oline expert, but his body, feet and overall game aren't suited for RTackle. We shall see.

 

[The Quest for Six]

Great signing, still young, still some upside and quality backup...

 

[gimmesix]

I agree. I'm not an Oline expert, but his body, feet and overall game aren't suited for RTackle. We shall see.

I don't agree completely. He doesn't have the ideal length of the position, but he has the feet to play the position.

 

[TheSport78]

"If he's so good, why's he available?"

 

[The Quest for Six]

I don't consider Cleary a legitimate option. Green played well, but has the health concerns. If we don't move someone over, we need to add a RT capable of starting from somewhere or we're playing with fire. It's a lot easier to replace a LG than it is a RT. And if you've got the physical skills and an offseason to prepare for it, moving positions isn't the end of the world. We did it to Doug Free, twice, after all. Each time in the offseason and each time it was an adjustment, but he ended up handling it ok.

Haven't seen enough to judge if Cleary could start every week and don't know if he's a right tackle option.....I thought he played well when filling in for Smith when he was having back issues and Green has ability but his health has been a huge issue but I think Dallas will be drafting a tackle in the draft at some point, maybe in the first round if that's where the value is, don't see a defensive tackle/defensive end available worth taking late in the first round, more like Corner or safety with a possibility of a right tackle if one drops....