Post-draft team analysis: OL

[ESisback]

Lots of talent means intense competition at TC, which is good! I suspect anyone that goes to the PS will get poached. We have a similar situation on the DL—another good sign. It all begins in the trenches!

 

[jazzcat22]

I think they're going 'short' at both QB and TE, at 2 and 3 players respectively. Not enough talent there to justify more than that at either position group.

This is the way I see it also. Go 2 QB's, 3 TE's, as there is better talent to carry an extra DL and DB. Even LB I think they should carry only 6, seeing that only 2 on on the field for a significant about off ayers over having 3 out there.

This will also allow them to keep 7 WR's again if they choose.

At this point Rush adds nothing as the 3rd QB, and Rico offers nothing as the 4th TE's. with Witten back, rico's snap count goes way down. So can't justify keeping him, as he is not a factor anyway. They can develop McElroy on the PS.

After all, don't they always say the best 53. And right now, Rush and Rico are not in that top 53.

 

[Stash]

This is the way I see it also. Go 2 QB's, 3 TE's, as there is better talent to carry an extra DL and DB. Even LB I think they should carry only 6, seeing that only 2 on on the field for a significant about off ayers over having 3 out there.

This will also allow them to keep 7 WR's again if they choose.

At this point Rush adds nothing as the 3rd QB, and Rico offers nothing as the 4th TE's. with Witten back, rico's snap count goes way down. So can't justify keeping him, as he is not a factor anyway. They can develop McElroy on the PS.

After all, don't they always say the best 53. And right now, Rush and Rico are not in that top 53.

Same here. Those are my two cuts.

 

[Whyjerry]

Although I would like to see Williams be allowed to battle Collins at RT, I really think a more-developed Williams is seen as the best option at LG this year. I think that will keep him there while we actually let Connor McGovern develop.

The sack numbers show the flaws with Su'a-Filo, so I don't think we want him starting unless Williams flops. If McGovern comes on strong as a rookie, though, Dallas might look to move Williams. Moving Collins to guard would cover for the Williams move, but there doesn't seem to be any hint that Dallas is interested in moving Collins.

I think Jerry just talked about Williams at T so that is in motion. As for the sacks, Collins was, by far, the main culprit for the sack total. I feel pretty sure Williams is the starting RT at some point this season.

Just confirmed that. Jerry did say it.

 

[gimmesix]

I don't see why that would be the plan if the long term plan isn't to have Williams playing right tackle. Why have him locked in al left guard this year when you have not one (Su'a Filo), not two (Looney), but three McGovern) options there? Add in Collins kissing most if not all of the offseason work and the time is NOW to give Williams work at RT. Having McGovern fall in their laps allows the process to be accelerated.

1) Su'a-Filo's pass protection is weaker than Williams, so I don't really see him being an option.

2) Looney should be given a shot, but just because he did good at center (a more protected position) doesn't mean he would do good at guard.

3) McGovern is a third-round rookie OL. We've had some of those not even prove worthy of making the team.

We need Williams to play guard until someone shows they can at least play it just as well. But we also need Williams to improve at playing guard if he's going to hold down the position this year. That's why I wouldn't mess with it.

The only truly viable option I see for moving Williams is to do like we did with Collins, put him in as the starting RT and don't look back. Then, you can have Collins compete at LG and maybe hold down that spot for a year until McGovern is ready (or we find a different starter).

The only risk is that Williams shows he can't play RT and we have to shift those two back to their previous positions. I think Williams can handle that, but since Collins already struggles technically, I don't know if it would mess with his mechanics.

 

[gimmesix]

I think Jerry just talked about Williams at T so that is in motion. As for the sacks, Collins was, by far, the main culprit for the sack total. I feel pretty sure Williams is the starting RT at some point this season.

Just confirmed that. Jerry did say it.

If you read my original post, you will see that Collins was not the main culprit for the sack total. Williams and Su'a-Filo were.

I also think from what I've read that the Cowboys have told Williams to get ready to shift to tackle next year. I'll be glad to be wrong about that.

 

[gimmesix]

I think Jerry just talked about Williams at T so that is in motion. As for the sacks, Collins was, by far, the main culprit for the sack total. I feel pretty sure Williams is the starting RT at some point this season.

Just confirmed that. Jerry did say it.

Has more been said than this:

 

[Stash]

1) Su'a-Filo's pass protection is weaker than Williams, so I don't really see him being an option.

2) Looney should be given a shot, but just because he did good at center (a more protected position) doesn't mean he would do good at guard.

3) McGovern is a third-round rookie OL. We've had some of those not even prove worthy of making the team.

We need Williams to play guard until someone shows they can at least play it just as well. But we also need Williams to improve at playing guard if he's going to hold down the position this year. That's why I wouldn't mess with it.

Which Sua Filo did last year. Injury gave Williams his job back.

The only truly viable option I see for moving Williams is to do like we did with Collins, put him in as the starting RT and don't look back. Then, you can have Collins compete at LG and maybe hold down that spot for a year until McGovern is ready (or we find a different starter).

The only risk is that Williams shows he can't play RT and we have to shift those two back to their previous positions. I think Williams can handle that, but since Collins already struggles technically, I don't know if it would mess with his mechanics.

I’d move Williams and have him compete with Collins for RT. With Collins injury, the reps are available NOW.

 

[gmoney112]

I think they're going to give Hyatt every chance to make this roster, judging from how much they gave him. He was brought in as a T, but I think they're going to give him snaps at Guard too and see what he's got.

If he has potential inside, regardless of future flexibility at T, I think Filo is the odd man out.

 

[Mr_437]

Starters: Tyron Smith, Connor Williams, Travis Frederick, Zack Martin, La'el Collins
Contenders: Cameron Fleming, Connor McGovern, Xavier Sua-Filo, Joe Looney, Adam Redmond, Jake Campos, Cody Wichmann, Mitch Hyatt, Larry Allen Jr., Derrick Puni, Brandon Knight

The Cowboys gave up 59 sacks last year. The offensive line wasn't completely to blame — Paul Alexander, who was fired and replaced by Colombo, bears some of the responsibility as does Dak Prescott — but there were definitely some problems with the unit that is supposed to be one of the strengths of the team.

One of the problems obviously was Travis Frederick missing the season with Guillain-Barre syndrome. Joe Looney did an admirable job filling in for Frederick, but you don't lose an All-Pro without feeling the effects of it. Looney appears to actually be better than Frederick at pulling, but Frederick is stronger at the point of attack and, possibly even more important, we missed his ability to adjust the protection. Hopefully, he'll have made a full recovery and be back in the lineup, but it's good to know that Looney is at least a reliable backup.

Another issue was Tyron Smith's continuing problems with back tightness. He's had to miss games the past three seasons (three each year) and he didn't seem to be as dominant as he usually is (although the numbers don't support that.) Fortunately, Cameron Fleming proved to be a much more reliable backup than Chaz Green and Byron Bell. Since it can't be considered likely that Smith's back issues will get better, it's good that we re-signed Fleming. I do think it is a credit to Smith that he can still play as well as he has despite the ongoing issue.

The main weaknesses in pass protection (other than the line calls) was the left guard spot. Connor Williams gave up 4.5 sacks starting 10 games at left guard. Xavier Su'a-Filo gave up six in eight starts. (Right tackle La'el Collins gave up five in 16 starts. For comparison's sake, Looney was credited with one, Martin three, Smith zero, and Fleming 1.5 in three starts.) Williams' main problem was just size and power. He's technically very sound, but big DL would just knock him back or walk him back. However, he did handle that better when he returned to the starting lineup and he has put on muscle this offseason. Su'a-Filo has to be considered to be what he's going to be at this point in his career. The sack numbers were consistent with his previous two years in Houston. His power advantage over Williams helped the run game, but his struggles with technique in pass protection got him beat multiple times.

At right tackle, Collins is maligned on here because he's simply OK, instead of being great. He's an average starter in the league, which likely means that he'll leave in free agency next year because he'll look to get paid like he's better than average. That might not be a bad thing before Williams may be a better tackle than he is a guard. I don't know if Williams' strength deficiencies will ever completely go away, but he has good feet and uses good technique (which is where Collins struggles) that could make him a great fit at tackle, where he won't go up against as many powerful players as he did at guard. Drafting Connor McGovern could be a sign that Dallas is leaning that way, but the Cowboys also need better left guard play than it got last year, so he adds another option for that spot this year.

Although Dallas picked up some interesting UDFAs (Mitch Hyatt, Derrick Puni), it isn't likely there's going to be any room to carry them on the 53-man roster this year, unless one of them plays well enough to supplant Su'a-Filo. Adam Redmond would also be a contender for that roster spot, though.

ROSTER PREDICTION: We keep nine on the 53 (Smith, Williams, Frederick, Martin, Collins, Fleming, Su'a-Filo, Looney and McGovern) and the starting five remains the same as it was at the beginning and end of the season. I like the footage I've seen of Puni as a raw prospect and Hyatt appears to be at least fairly highly rated, so both of those could end up on the practice squad. Do we also try to get Larry Allen Jr. to fill out and become anything near what his father was?

Looking at the write-up, I think XSF is the odd man out...yes he has power in the run, but his pass pro makes him a bubble player.

You have your starters Smith, CWill, TFred, Zach n LC. Then Looney and Fleming...next is McGovern who basically takes XSF's spot as a backup interior guy. Now, with injury concerns to both starting OTs the best move would be to carry another as the 9th OL...Hyatt or Campos.

Keep an eye on the backup OT battle. I like Puni on the PS to develop as a backup OG. I saw a little bit of Knight and came away unimpressed.

 

[NorthwestDallas40]

I have been really encouraged watching Mitch Hyatt's game tape at Clemson. I know the knock on him is that he tested slow and weak, but it really does not show up on tape. He is a really good football player and technician. He never seems to get beat around the edge, and only periodically with a bull rush. I thought he is a well above average run blocker. I think he supplants Sua Filo for the 9th OL slot on the 53. He will not make it thru waivers onto the practice squad IMO.

 

[Stash]

I have been really encouraged watching Mitch Hyatt's game tape at Clemson. I know the knock on him is that he tested slow and weak, but it really does not show up on tape. He is a really good football player and technician. He never seems to get beat around the edge, and only periodically with a bull rush. I thought he is a well above average run blocker. I think he supplants Sua Filo for the 9th OL slot on the 53. He will not make it thru waivers onto the practice squad IMO.

 

[Mr_437]

I have been really encouraged watching Mitch Hyatt's game tape at Clemson. I know the knock on him is that he tested slow and weak, but it really does not show up on tape. He is a really good football player and technician. He never seems to get beat around the edge, and only periodically with a bull rush. I thought he is a well above average run blocker. I think he supplants Sua Filo for the 9th OL slot on the 53. He will not make it thru waivers onto the practice squad IMO.

From my observation, speed to power is what gets him walked back to the QB.

 

[gimmesix]

Looking at the write-up, I think XSF is the odd man out...yes he has power in the run, but his pass pro makes him a bubble player.

You have your starters Smith, CWill, TFred, Zach n LC. Then Looney and Fleming...next is McGovern who basically takes XSF's spot as a backup interior guy. Now, with injury concerns to both starting OTs the best move would be to carry another as the 9th OL...Hyatt or Campos.

Keep an eye on the backup OT battle. I like Puni on the PS to develop as a backup OG. I saw a little bit of Knight and came away unimpressed.

I'm not ready to count out Su'a-Filo yet. He did step in and help our run game improve. Right now, McGovern hasn't proven anything. I believe Su'a-Filo was a second-round pick originally, so there's no guarantee with our third-rounder. If he plays up to the grade the team had on him, I won't be surprised if he beats out Su'a-Filo, who hasn't lived up to his draft status because of the pass pro problems.

As far as the injury concerns, I think with Williams and even Martin having tackle ability, there's not a great need to carry an extra one just to carry one.

 

[gimmesix]

Which Sua Filo did last year. Injury gave Williams his job back.

Injury gave Williams his job back, but that doesn't mean Su'a-Filo was good at pass protection. He was just better overall, particularly run blocking, than what Williams had been showing as a rookie.

I think if Williams had been playing like he finished the season playing, Su'a-Filo wouldn't have kept the job.

 

[Stash]

Injury gave Williams his job back, but that doesn't mean Su'a-Filo was good at pass protection. He was just better overall, particularly run blocking, than what Williams had been showing as a rookie.

Exactly my point, Sua Filo was “better overall”. So I’m fine with him being one of the three LG options while Williams gets reps at RT.

I think if Williams had been playing like he finished the season playing, Su'a-Filo wouldn't have kept the job.

We’ll never know.

 

[gimmesix]

Exactly my point, Sua Filo was “better overall”. So I’m fine with him being one of the three LG options while Williams gets reps at RT.



We’ll never know.

That only means Williams, a rookie, wasn't ready to start when he was thrown in the fire. It doesn't mean Su'a-Filo was very good. He gave up six sacks in eight starts. I don't think that's the standard we want for our starting LG options. Williams gave up 4.5 in 10 starts, but again, he was just getting started. Su'a-Filo is what he is, which means we should want him to even get beat out for a backup role.

He deserves credit for coming in and bolstering the run game, but his pass protection was not good enough. Of course, some of that was on Dak for holding the ball too long.

I want Williams to compete at right tackle. I just don't know if the timing is right. If he's our best option at left guard, then we need to make sure he's the best left guard he can be this year.

 

[DuncanIso]

Starters: Tyron Smith, Connor Williams, Travis Frederick, Zack Martin, La'el Collins
Contenders: Cameron Fleming, Connor McGovern, Xavier Sua-Filo, Joe Looney, Adam Redmond, Jake Campos, Cody Wichmann, Mitch Hyatt, Larry Allen Jr., Derrick Puni, Brandon Knight

The Cowboys gave up 59 sacks last year. The offensive line wasn't completely to blame — Paul Alexander, who was fired and replaced by Colombo, bears some of the responsibility as does Dak Prescott — but there were definitely some problems with the unit that is supposed to be one of the strengths of the team.

Same OL that helped Zeke lead the league in rushing...again.

Odd....Zeke dominates and Dak struggles.

 

[gimmesix]

Same OL that helped Zeke lead the league in rushing...again.

Odd....Zeke dominates and Dak struggles.

Pass protection and run blocking aren't the same thing. Some players can be great at run blocking but poor at pass protection.

 

[Stash]

That only means Williams, a rookie, wasn't ready to start when he was thrown in the fire. It doesn't mean Su'a-Filo was very good. He gave up six sacks in eight starts. I don't think that's the standard we want for our starting LG options. Williams gave up 4.5 in 10 starts, but again, he was just getting started. Su'a-Filo is what he is, which means we should want him to even get beat out for a backup role.

He deserves credit for coming in and bolstering the run game, but his pass protection was not good enough. Of course, some of that was on Dak for holding the ball too long.

I want Williams to compete at right tackle. I just don't know if the timing is right. If he's our best option at left guard, then we need to make sure he's the best left guard he can be this year.

There's no better time than now.