NewsBot
New Member
- Messages
- 111,281
- Reaction score
- 2,947
Hello Paul Alexander, goodbye (possibly) Matt Eberflus. And hey, that 2016 draft class really was good.
Cowboys new OL coach brings glaring concern to team for 2018 - Patrik Walker, 247Sports
Like many of us, Walker is somewhat bewildered by the Cowboys’ decision to bring in an offensive line coach whose coaching technique is at odds with the Cowboys' scheme.
In his 23 years with the Bengals, Alexander has planted his feet firmly within the power blocking scheme, which creates immediate Day One issues in the Metroplex. The Cowboys' vaunted offensive line struggled to begin the 2017 season which more much more accountable to the failed Chaz Green experiment than anything else, and once former first-round pick Jonathan Cooper was (finally) given the post at starting left guard, the needle rapidly turned north for the unit. Although the corps can switch to a PBS (power blocking scheme) for short stretches of time, it's not what they've become accustomed to winning games in.
The Cowboys understand (understood?) this to now, which is why they've been all-in on grabbing running backs who are zone runners -- i.e., Ezekiel Elliott, Rod Smith, Alfred Morris -- while ultimately doing away with the only PBS runner on the team just a few weeks ago in Darren McFadden. With the latter now gone and possibly Morris, given the circumstances as well as his soon-to-be free agent status, it's possible the team sees this all as an opportunity to change direction and try something new.
Right or wrong, Sunday's results open Cowboys up to second guessing - Todd Archer, ESPN
Ex-Cowboys and potential Cowboys were all over the highlights and sidelines of this past weekend's playoff games.
Then you see ex-Cowboys offensive lineman Jermey Parnell at right tackle for the Jaguars opening holes for Leonard Fournette, and ex-Cowboy Barry Church (seven tackles) all over the field at safety. It didn't matter that the Cowboys couldn't -- and wouldn't -- pay Parnell (five years, $32 million, $14.5 million guaranteed) what Jacksonville did or wouldn't pay Church (four years, $21.6 million, $12 million guaranteed) what Jacksonville did. It's only a Cowboys' mistake.
Cowboys need to do for Dak Prescott what Titans are now doing for Marcus Mariota - Matt Mosley, SportsDay
Mosley gives his thoughts on the Cowboys coaching moves and (as usual) isn't much impressed.
Much like what the Titans are doing with Mariota, the Cowboys need to be thinking of Dak Prescott in every decision. Throwing longtime quarterbacks coach Wade Wilson overboard was a bad start, but you could still recover. Letting Scott Linehan hire his little buddy, Kellen Moore, would be uninspiring at best. They swapped offensive line coaches with Cincinnati, hiring longtime Bengals staffer Paul Alexander to replace Frank Pollack, who signed with the Bengals. And the Cowboys have interviewed former wide receiver Miles Austin for their wide receivers job. I have no doubt that Austin will eventually make an excellent coach, but he doesn't strike me as the personality type who will command a ton of respect from Dez Bryant. (Come to think of it, I'm not sure that coach exists).
Eberflus next for McDaniels' DC in Indy - Drew Davison, Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Davison provides an update on the coach many saw as the heir apparent to Rod Marinelli's defensive coordinator position. Instead, Eberflus looks to be the coordinator in Indianapolis. Davison also outlines the myriad of changes going on in the Cowboys' coaching ranks.
Eberflus’ expected departure adds to a number of changes on the staff even though the prominent figures – head coach Jason Garrett, offensive coordinator Scott Linehan and defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli – are returning in 2018.
Along with Eberflus, special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia bolted to Oakland to rejoin Jon Gruden; Derek Dooley accepted an offer to become Missouri’s offensive coordinator; tight ends coach Steve Loney retired; offensive line coach Frank Pollack was fired and then hired by the Cincinnati Bengals; secondary coach Joe Baker and quarterbacks coach Wade Wilson were told their contracts would not be renewed.
Former Longtime Bengals O-Line Coach Paul Alexander Expected To Join Staff - Rob Phillips, Dallas Cowboys
The mothership has an article up outlining the expected hiring of a new offensive line coach.
On Alexander’s watch, the Bengals developed Pro Bowl offensive linemen Willie Anderson and Andrew Whitworth.
In Dallas he’ll inherit three Pro Bowl linemen in Tyron Smith, Travis Frederick and Zack Martin. La’el Collins developed nicely in his first season at right tackle.
The Cowboys’ depth was tested this season, however, when Smith missed multiple games with groin and knee injuries. Opponents sacked quarterback Dak Prescott 32 times, including 22 in the final eight games. Smith missed three of them.
The Saints Have The Best Rookie Class This Century - Jeff Asher, FiveThirtyEight
This article looks at draft classes from the last 18 years and judges the Saints the second best....behind the Cowboys' class from 2016.
Going back to 2000, the 2017 Saints class is only surpassed by the Dallas Cowboys’ excellent 2016 draft class — headlined by Ezekiel Elliott and Dak Prescott — in terms of total value produced during their rookie seasons. Even the 2010 Patriots’ haul, which featured Rob Gronkowski and Devin McCourty, doesn’t compare.
Continue reading...