OG battle: McGovern vs Williams

stasheroo said:

I'd love to see the team have versatile guys on both the left and right sides of the line. Williams getting reps at both left guard and left tackle, while Knight gets reps at both right guard and right tackle.

But if I have to guess, I'm guessing that based on the current situation and not having a true offseason, the coaches will defer and go the veteran route, with Looney getting the nod at center and Williams continuing to start at left guard. Maybe that changes as the season moves along, but that's how I think they start the season.

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If these players look somewhat close in these limited practices they'll go with the vets. Hope MM finds a way to get some of these young guys meaningful snaps to see what they can do when it matters.

stasheroo said:

I'd love to see the team have versatile guys on both the left and right sides of the line. Williams getting reps at both left guard and left tackle, while Knight gets reps at both right guard and right tackle.

But if I have to guess, I'm guessing that based on the current situation and not having a true offseason, the coaches will defer and go the veteran route, with Looney getting the nod at center and Williams continuing to start at left guard. Maybe that changes as the season moves along, but that's how I think they start the season.

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Agreed but they need to slide one of those guys into the lineup at some point this year so we arent faced with essentially rookies at LG and C next year.

If the offense is chugging along they probably wont, I just hope they're realistic about how far things can go this year along the way.

gimmesix said:

I think he still is in the mix because I can't see the team relying on a fourth-round pick as the only competition for Looney. I like Looney, but the line struggled in pass protection when he had to play in place of Frederick. That's not all his fault (the main problem was Williams not being ready to start at left guard and Su'a-Filo being worse than him in pass protection).

Williams showed quite a bit of improvement last year with his weight gain. He still had some struggles at time so you are always going to look to upgrade the spot with him in there, but center is the priority this year.

I do agree that a second contract isn't likely for him, especially if Biadasz eventually takes over at center and McGovern is equal or better than Williams at guard. Right now, though, we've got to find a replacement for Frederick. If it ends up being McGovern this year, that doesn't mean it's permanent.

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True, but as fans I think we need to root for the two youngins to step it up and take jobs.

Dont discount Aaron Donald in week one being the dude across the LOS as a factor.

Thinking about it though, with no real camp and zero games, I give Biadasz zero chance to win the starting job out of the box, and McGovern maybe 25%.

I think they go Looney/Williams and its probably the right move. Cant be getting the skill players killed.

quickccc said:

https://cowboyswire.usatoday.com/20...-mcgovern-offensive-line-2020-player-profile/

Connor McGovern has the athleticism to demand a spot in Cowboys 2020 OL

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"Connor McGovern has the athleticism to demand a spot in Cowboys 2020 OL."

Odd statement from an article comparing McGovern to Williams.

CW is much more athletic than CM.

CM's potential advantage is power.

xwalker said:

"Connor McGovern has the athleticism to demand a spot in Cowboys 2020 OL."

Odd statement from an article comparing McGovern to Williams.

CW is much more athletic than CM.

CM's potential advantage is power.

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Combined the skills of the two Connor's you will get the pre-sick, all-pro, Travis Frederick. Yes, I have read the same things about each Connor, Williams is the far more athletic player with the ability to hit moving targets, where McGovern is more of the point of attack blocker.

In my opinion, Connor Williams is the better fit in the zone blocking scheme due to his mobility. He does struggle against power players, but has done a good job against the quick twitch ones like Donald. I know it's unrealistic and it won't happen, but on paper platooning them against specific match-ups would be ideal.

Dak_Attack_09 said:

Issac Garcia is winning the LG spot.

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He’s got to make the roster and that would be a big history for him
He may very well not even make the roster
With no pre season games it’s gonna be very hard for most draft picks or UDFA to win a starting spot
In a normal year they have a slim chance, this year it’s almost impossible

Can't wait until they start practicing so we can hear how McGovern is actually performing. There has been a narrative created on these boards that he is better than what we have at guard and center. Im not saying it will not turn out to be true but the kid didn't play or practice at all last year.....approach with caution

gimmesix said:

I don't see McGovern battling Williams for the guard spot. I see him battling Looney and Biadasz for the center spot. The left guard spot is in decent hands despite what many think of Williams. The center spot is up for grabs with Looney having the edge right now because of a lack of preseason.

Maybe eventually we'll get Biadasz at center and McGovern at guard, but I think we might be a year away from that combo.

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McGovern will be an upgrade at LG. Williams is the weakest link in that O-line.

stasheroo said:

If someone were to replace Looney at center, my money would be on Biadasz.

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Ditto here as well.

There is a reason why we traded up to get the Dave Rimington award winner for the best center in the nation at college level.
and a finalist for the Outland Trophy awarded to the college best OLineman.

Only two things that could be a factor for vet Looney over Biadasz to start the season
1) a lack of team OTAs, limited camp and zero preseason that could have Tyler behind in adjusting to speed, physical adjustment
of the NFL level.

2) And is he truly fully healthy at the start? of course Tyler being the sheer competition is gonna declare himself Ok to go, after
his surgeries (that very likely caused him to fall to later rounds) Despite the hampering hip and shoulder injuries i believe Tyler
still did not miss any games his last two years.

- If all checks out medically, and despite being a rookie with limited practice, i still believe he will be a considered the far starter
ahead of 2nd year McGoven, who has zero game experience as a player to begin with. And he will be under the same lack of
reps conditions that threaten to limit Tyler.

- So with Tyler being a far accomplished center than McGovern and as high as the team is on Tyler,there is no way Conner Mac
is Not gonna be a starter over Badazzz.

Rayman70 said:

now don't rule out the rookie Tyler Biadasz being moved over to left guard in camp to push connor williams. I see Looney getting the nod at Center and Tyler being bumped over to guard as a swing guard. the kid is real good and may even supplant Connor Williams. Eventually he will be our starting center, but for now..he will play guard I think.

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Huh? why on earth would the team dare move Badazzz from center to OG ?
Especially when they have already spent a high pick ( 3rd round) on a interior role player.

Is Connor Williams even healthy enough to play 10 months after ACL surgery? I guess as a guard he can just strap a big brace on and not worry about having to make cuts on the knee. But has there been any talk of him being 100% for camp?

quickccc said:

Huh? why on earth would the team dare move Badazzz from center to OG ?
Especially when they have already spent a high pick ( 3rd round) on a interior role player.

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if Joe Looney proves himself to be the starter, why not then have our 5 best olineman on the field? I truly feel MM will think like this and find a way to get his best 5 guys out there. Is Connor Williams the best LG? I have serious doubts. Tyler has played some guard btw in college and HS. He is very good. SO GOOD, that maybe he will sway MM to get him onto the field. I just dont think he will be ready for center just yet. I like Looney there. Connor Williams wont get a free pass from this staff. Its a clean slate.

Beaker42 said:

McGovern will be an upgrade at LG. Williams is the weakest link in that O-line.

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LOVE MCGovern. He just needs some reps and to stay healthy. My starting 5 on the oline would be TYRON,tbd,Looney,martin,Collins. TBD Is to be determined. I think we will see open competition there at LG. By no means is Connor williams a lock.

quickccc said:

Huh? why on earth would the team dare move Badazzz from center to OG ?
Especially when they have already spent a high pick ( 3rd round) on a interior role player.

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Tyler wont be ready to start at center yet, thats why. But if you start him at LG you can protect him there, in a phone boothe. Not to mention he might be an upgrade over Williams.Wiliams could be a swing tackle at RT.

Hawkeye0202 said:

Little or no training alone with no preseason game AND new coach makes locking down the starting C and LG position as tricky as you can get. I'm guessing their priorities will be starting with the two players who either has the most experience and/or fastest to pick up the system. Just me, but I would at least start McGovern at C and Looney at LG with Williams as swing T. Although McGovern missed his entire rookie season, the year from the bench should still be helpful. In other words, we know what Looney brings to the position ( not to mention he's not a long-term solution ). Let's see if McGovern and hold his own right now coz if he can, we've locked down the position for the next few years. As for the LG position, Looney is better than Connor IMO.

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i'll trust and put my money on Conner Williams at LG than relyng on Looney in that sense.
Very scary to think of Looney having to deal with Aaron Donald and Fletcher Cox, both whom Connor has effectively
dealt with last year.

Williams only surrendered one sack all year. And he showed improvement in anchoring vs power than his rookie year.
His athleticism and competitiveness turns up best in pass protection as he is a part of an OL unit that finished 2nd in NFL
in least sacks allowed.

If anything his flaws are more mental lapses and mistakes with the penalties than it is physical.
He's legit starting material in this league- the problem critical fans continue to have with CW is going off his draft pick status as a
high 2nd rounder, the expectations is him being a pro bowl level player by now.
He's not a pro bowler, he's above average-serviceable.

We really dunno what McGovern can be, but because he is a high 2nd rd. pick himself (3rd) and Cowboys Nation expect more
than just serviceable at OG, the pressure is gonna be on Mac to be a better starter than Williams. ..imo.

Rayman70 said:

Tyler wont be ready to start at center yet, thats why. But if you start him at LG you can protect him there, in a phone boothe. Not to mention he might be an upgrade over Williams.Wiliams could be a swing tackle at RT.

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Tyler has been a center all this time, from what i read, he's never started any games at OG, in college and he is nowhere near as agile and athletic as Williams.
You protect him by leaving him at a position he's excelled at, letting him physically recover whole and slowly working him into the role
he works best at and not exposing him to go one on one vs the likes of Aaron Donald.

Beaker42 said:

McGovern will be an upgrade at LG. Williams is the weakest link in that O-line.

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He is, but not as weak as many seem to think, still holding on to the image of his play as a rookie. He cut his sacks from five to one in his second season and reduced his pressures allowed from 32 to 24. He did play 80 less pass blocking snaps, though, because of injury. But you can do much worse than what Williams gave us last year. For all we know, McGovern isn't an upgrade to that. From everything I've read he provides better power but doesn't move as well as Williams. Same with Biadasz.

quickccc said:

Tyler has been a center all this time, never started any games at OG, and he is nowhere near as agile and athletic as Williams.
You protect him by leaving him at a position he's excelled at, letting him physically recover whole and slowly working him into the role
he works best at and not exposing him to go one on one vs the likes of Aaron Donald.

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This is what some don't get about Looney, either. He played his best at the most protected position. Get him more isolated at guard and he struggles some with power.

quickccc said:

Tyler has been a center all this time, never started any games at OG, and he is nowhere near as agile and athletic as Williams.
You protect him by leaving him at a position he's excelled at, letting him physically recover whole and slowly working him into the role
he works best at and not exposing him to go one on one vs the likes of Aaron Donald.

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NOT HAPPENING. Most pundits have said he likely wont be starting this year and its Looney's job. Plus camp reps will be a huge question,not to mention no preseason. The deck is stacked against the kid to start. But I do think he may be our best option at guard..left guard. I'm Luke warm on connor Williams

gimmesix said:

This is what some don't get about Looney, either. He played his best at the most protected position. Get him more isolated at guard and he struggles some with power.

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I agree with that one.