Is anyone else concerned about the Offensive Line?

cowboyec · May 7, 2021

Scotman said:
I'm always concerned about the health of the line. But, like you, the plus side of having guys out last year is that it looks like we found some role players there. A little bit of depth. The fact that we rolled UDFA out there and he survived is really encouraging.

exactly.
the fact that mccarthy said he had earned the opportunity...means this kid off the street from texas tech came in and out worked vets.
very impressive.
i love what that kid is made of.

Melonfeud · May 7, 2021

Looks like Jerry has been the first ,under the new players collective bargaining agreement in signing #73 Joe Looney back on at 2.44 million dollar contract,,, WHEW! I was becoming concerned about his ,(no news/non current /free agency) status

*Edit: under the new "veteran players salary benefits mechanism" ,,,er,,,doo-dad thingy*

Cowboysheelsreds053 · May 7, 2021

ShortRound131 said:
Concerned but our defense was that horrid last year.

This, probably the worse in the league.

JoeKing · May 7, 2021

No, if the Cowboys thought the O-line was going to be a problem, they would have drafted Slater. Instead, they knew the O-line is looking good so they addressed a position in greater need... LB.

StarBoyz83 · May 7, 2021

No not really the oline has been great since 2014 besides last season because of the injuries. All those years the oline was way better than any oline since the 90s.

Turk · May 7, 2021

CowboyRoy said:
Best statistical offense in NFL history. However they measured that. That is a fact.

So you dont know how we lost those games? Sure you want to admit that?

stats lie.
In 2003 the stats said the Boys had the best D in the league but when it mattered they failed.
Last year when it really mattered the O usually spit the bit.

waving monkey · May 7, 2021

Defense must be considered in this question and that part of the equation we addressed. Evaluators say Josh was a 2nd round talent but certainly not at Slaters level. That may be good enough if TSmith goes down. Im glad we took Parsons I wish we had been able to take Horn that was taken out of our hands.
I believe we did our home work on Josh Ball.
We are bailing water and pulling holes. I dont think this ship will sink.

Havic · May 7, 2021

I am. They couldnt stay healthy. We can only hope the 1st year guys got enough experience and it translates into better depth in year 2

gimmesix · May 7, 2021

CowboysLegend365 said:
I’ve been going back and forth on the Parsons pick over Slater for a number of reasons.

I’m glad the front office saw the need for defensive playmakers, but the offensive line really scares me.

Tyron hasn’t played a full season since 2015, La’el has only played 2 full seasons in his 5 year career. Not to mention, Zach Martin getting banged up here and there. The other guys are still unproven.

We saw how pedestrian Zeke looked without those guys, and I think it has a trickle down effect on the entire unit.

Anyone else feeling the same, or am I overthinking this?

If those players are healthy, we've still got one of the best lines in the league. That's a big if for Tyron, but any if is better than knowing something is absolutely a problem ... and that's where we were with this defense.

Nsekhe's a good pickup to back up the tackles. Ball is a good developmental pick. McGovern is a solid backup/future starter at the interior spots. I like Knight on the interior as well. Constantly replenishing the line with early-rounders keeps you from addressing other spots, so sometimes you have to hope with star players and hold on. Try to develop some later-round players to take their spot when they can't go anymore, and then if that doesn't work, then use early picks on their replacements.

DandyDon52 · May 7, 2021

CowboyRoy said:
Best statistical offense in NFL history. However they measured that. That is a fact.

So you dont know how we lost those games? Sure you want to admit that?

I would have to watch them again lol my memory isnt that good.

Our offense was not very good last year until we were way behind and other team was playing prevent .
And that to me is not a # 1 offense.
They only scored 17 in opening game , and our defense held rams to 20 points,so to me it was the offense that lost that game.

Redsfan_83 · May 7, 2021

100% concerned. I do not see a scenario where we start the year healthy, and if we do, I expect a copule of guys to go down a few games in. Our young guys should be better, but still concerned

coult44 · May 7, 2021

ABQCOWBOY said:
Said it last year and I'll say it again this year. The Cowboys will go as far as the OL can take them and I don't believe that's going to be all that far. I think we might see 8 solid games but after that, it's going to be a series of missed practices and games at LT. I hope that RG and RT can stay healthy this year but LT, I think Smitty is probably hurting.

JMO

Because having the best OL in football for how many years took us to the promise land? People constantly talk about how great the Cowboys OL was in the last 10 years. WHO CARES.

TwoCentPlain · May 8, 2021

1) I only see one center on the roster - Biadasz. Is Looney signed? If so, then not too worried. If not, then need two more to practice at center.
2) Only 4 guards on the roster. Martin, Williams, McGovern, and Farniok. That is a concern in numbers only.

Lots of tackles on the roster. 10 of Them. Maybe some have position flex and can play guard also. Might have to move a few to guard to get some reps in camp. Hard to get 10 OTs enough work in practice and preseason to evaluate and gel as a whole. Only can keep 5 or 6, I guess. Barring injury, looks like Smith, Collins, Knight, Steele, and Ball (don't usually cut 4th rd draft picks in their 1st year) are locks.

Isaac Alarcón

60 T 6-7 320 22 1 Monterrey Tec

Josh Ball 76 T 6-8 304 22 R Marshall

La'el Collins 71 T 6-4 320 27 7 LSU

Mitch Hyatt 65 T 6-5 306 24 2 Clemson

Brandon Knight 69 T 6-4 314 24 3 Indiana

Ty Nsekhe 79 T 6-8 325 35 7 Texas State-San Marcos

Eric Smith 67 T 6-4 308 25 3 Virginia

Tyron Smith 77 T 6-5 320 30 11 USC

Terence Steele 78 T 6-6 310 23 2 Texas Tech

William Sweet

kevm3 · May 8, 2021

That O line is definitely a concern, but they can put up points still as demonstrated by last year... but you CANNOT win games if teams are using the Cowboys formula against them of ball control and using the run game to keep the ball out of the offense's hands or just putting up 40+ points on us. Slater would have been an awesome pick but realistically, our offense can't get THAT much better than it was last year. We're not going to be putting up 50 points every game. That defense HAS to get fixed, so Parsons was the right way to go.

Buzzbait · May 8, 2021

CowboysLegend365 said:
I’ve been going back and forth on the Parsons pick over Slater for a number of reasons.
I’m glad the front office saw the need for defensive playmakers, but the offensive line really scares me.
Tyron hasn’t played a full season since 2015, La’el has only played 2 full seasons in his 5 year career. Not to mention, Zach Martin getting banged up here and there. The other guys are still unproven. We saw how pedestrian Zeke looked without those guys, and I think it has a trickle down effect on the entire unit.
Anyone else feeling the same, or am I overthinking this?

I share the same concerns. Problem is, the Cowboys have found excuses to ignore the defense for far too long. That's why our defense last year was so horrible.
The defense simply couldn't be ignored any longer.
Nevertheless, I agree the OL definitely needs help. For starters, next year I would definitely be looking to draft a quality LT.

buybuydandavis · May 8, 2021

DRella said:
Not at all.

Health will obviously play a big role. But personally last year was one of growth for some players pressed into action. Steele, McGovern, Biadasz and Knight. Other then Biadasz none will be expected to be starters but have that experience to help them to progress.

Add in our draft class and Nsekhe we have lots of depth.

But as long as Martin, Smith and Collins remain healthy and Williams plays as good as he did last season. The oline still remains a strength and shouldnt be a concern.

People don't give Connor Williams enough credit. On an online that lost every other starter but him, pff still ranked Williams as the 16th best G in the league.

We'll have strong starters in Tyron, Williams, Zach, Collins, and our backup interior olineman will be McGovern or Biadasz, while our backup T will be Knight/Steele. That's very good starters and ok backups. That's a good lineup.

Hoofbite · May 8, 2021

ABQCOWBOY said:
Said it last year and I'll say it again this year. The Cowboys will go as far as the OL can take them and I don't believe that's going to be all that far. I think we might see 8 solid games but after that, it's going to be a series of missed practices and games at LT. I hope that RG and RT can stay healthy this year but LT, I think Smitty is probably hurting.

JMO

Agreed. The OL has very quickly gone from the foundation to a potential liability. If they stay healthy, I think the group, but there's just too many injuries over the last few years for me to have any amount of confidence that they will stay healthy.

doomsday9084 · May 8, 2021

I look at Dallas' offensive line as far more key than others seem to. Its one thing to move the ball and score points when you are down by 20+ points in the 3rd quarter. Its another thing to get the ball with 5 minutes left to go, up by 4. If Dallas wants to win games, they are going to have to get back to how they were able to play in the 13-3 season and take the air out of the ball when they do have a lead. That's on the offensive line and Zeke.

If everyone is healthy, I think the OLine can be good but not great. The depth is probably such that even with an injury or two, the line is going to be mediocre and not terrible.

DuncanIso · May 8, 2021

JW82 said:
2 tackles that didn’t play, a second year center that was just ok, a left guard that was average at best and an aging right guard that dealt with injuries last year... whats to worry about?

They needed one of the elite Tackles.

Take Slater, then get your OLB in the 2nd round. Joseph would have been around in the 3rd.

Now we have to hope Collins hip can hold up for an entire season.

Otherwise, we have Steele starting RT again. Not good. The kid tries, but hes not a 1.

Zekeats · May 8, 2021

Why would anyone be concerned when our big 3 where injured all season and the LG gets pushed back like he's 12 years old.

Is anyone else concerned about the Offensive Line?

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I Copy!,,, er,,,I guess,,,ah,,,maybe.

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