2013 Rotoworld Offensive Line Ratings (Cowboys 27th Overall)

[Nation]

http://www.rotoworld.com/articles/nfl/43265/179/2013-offensive-line-rankings?pg=1

1. Patriots
2. 49ers
3. Broncos
4. Giants
13. Commanders
14. Eagles
27. Cowboys



Dallas Cowboys (5 Returning Starters)

2012 Run Block Rankings: 7 (Pro Football Focus), 22 (Football Outsiders)
2012 Pass Block Rankings: 25 (Pro Football Focus), 11 (Football Outsiders)

LT: Tyron Smith
LG: Nate Livings
C: Travis Frederick*
RG: Mackenzy Bernadeau
RT: Doug Free
Super Sub: OT Jermey Parnell

Overview: Game watchers know Tony Romo played last season under constant siege. Because Romo is such an extraordinary pocket manipulator with instinctive feel for the pass rush, Dallas managed to rank a middling 16th in the league in sacks allowed (36) despite genuinely poor line play. They were 30th in yards-per-carry average (3.56). Free is the most overpaid offensive lineman in football and could lose his job to Parnell, if he doesn't lose his roster spot altogether. Bernadeau has never been an effective blocker, forming one of the league's worst right sides. Smith is an immense talent, but was a disappointment in his first year on the blindside. Lone new face Frederick was an obvious reach in the first round. At best, this was a well below-average line in 2012 and there is little or no reason to think it made significant offseason gains.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

27th sounds about right.

Only one guy played above average and that was Livings.

A couple guys were close to average: Smith and Cook.

Bern was below average, treading on bad. Free was bad.

 

[Nation]

Here's the Top 3 and how they acquired their linemen and how we acquired ours. Seems like the Top 3 are investing a little more capital in the line than we are.

http://img211.*************/img211/9829/screenshot20130515at923.png

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Here's the Top 3 and how they acquired their linemen and how we acquired ours. Seems like the Top 3 are investing a little more capital in the line than we are.

http://img211.*************/img211/9829/screenshot20130515at923.png

That's a valid point.

I do have a problem with the Giant offensive line being ranked 4th. That seems outta whack to me.

 

[Eskimo]

You have to remember that some of those other teams first rounders are not brand spanking new like Frederick is who hasn't played a snap yet. You also have to remember that Tyron is only in his second year at age 21 so he is rightfully a college Sr last year in age development and was learning a new position. So if Smith picks up where he left off but with the usual offseason improvement from adding some strength and size we will be much better.

I don't know how NFL ready Frederick is. I don't think he needs much more strength to compete but may need to learn to adjust to NFL quickness and complexity.

They also don't account for any improvement by bringing back possibly our best interior player off last year's roster, Phil Costa.

Lastly there is the addition of Parnell over Free and how much that will contribute.

But it is also interesting to note that many of the lines had one or even two positions manned by low draftees.

In general I think it is harder to find quality at OT without drafting the player high as players with potential typically get overdrafted. Centers can sometimes be found particularly since the position depends more on hand quickness and football intelligence than it does on brute power.

I think our investment should start to pay off soon in the OL. I wish we would sign Moore as adding a premier player like that (in place of Livings) could make a big difference. I also think even just a year with reasonable health will make a huge difference as our first 3 Centers played a total of 1.5 games, Livings was hurt all year and Bernadeau had two offseason knee surgeries and missed TC and most of preseason recovering.

I know it is unpopular around here but I think the seeds are in place for a quality OL. We have actually developed a very promising OT in Parnell from a college UDFA DE who was stolen off the Saints' PS where he was a TE. So I see good reason to think we'll be much better this year and we'll just have to see how it all plays out in the end.

I do agree with their conclusion that we were a bottom 5 OL last year. I also agree that our pass blocking was vastly overrated because of Romo's pocket presence and escapability.

 

[Nation]

If Tyron can be a Top 5 LT I think we have a shot at being a Top 15 offensive line. You rarely see an elite left tackle on a bad offensive line because having that spot shored up is so important because it helps across every position.

 

[juck]

Free is gone in two weeks. I bet we sign a FA. Winston? Someone

 

[sureletsrace]

You have to remember that some of those other teams first rounders are not brand spanking new like Frederick is who hasn't played a snap yet. You also have to remember that Tyron is only in his second year at age 21 so he is rightfully a college Sr last year in age development and was learning a new position. So if Smith picks up where he left off but with the usual offseason improvement from adding some strength and size we will be much better.

I don't know how NFL ready Frederick is. I don't think he needs much more strength to compete but may need to learn to adjust to NFL quickness and complexity.

They also don't account for any improvement by bringing back possibly our best interior player off last year's roster, Phil Costa.

Lastly there is the addition of Parnell over Free and how much that will contribute.

But it is also interesting to note that many of the lines had one or even two positions manned by low draftees.

In general I think it is harder to find quality at OT without drafting the player high as players with potential typically get overdrafted. Centers can sometimes be found particularly since the position depends more on hand quickness and football intelligence than it does on brute power.

I think our investment should start to pay off soon in the OL. I wish we would sign Moore as adding a premier player like that (in place of Livings) could make a big difference. I also think even just a year with reasonable health will make a huge difference as our first 3 Centers played a total of 1.5 games, Livings was hurt all year and Bernadeau had two offseason knee surgeries and missed TC and most of preseason recovering.

I know it is unpopular around here but I think the seeds are in place for a quality OL. We have actually developed a very promising OT in Parnell from a college UDFA DE who was stolen off the Saints' PS where he was a TE. So I see good reason to think we'll be much better this year and we'll just have to see how it all plays out in the end.

I do agree with their conclusion that we were a bottom 5 OL last year. I also agree that our pass blocking was vastly overrated because of Romo's pocket presence and escapability.

I agree with everything you said, except for Frederick's lack of strength. By all accounts of his game tape and reports of him weight room ethic, he's plenty strong enough to start. His bench press at the combine doesn't really matter. Some guys have that practical strength that doesn't necessarily translate well to weightlifting, bench press especially. My shoulders subluxate, so in a lying down position I am horrible at lifting, however I'm much stronger on my feet. I'm not saying this is the case with him, however I do agree that he needs to work on his quickness, balance, and conditioning.

 

[Eskimo]

I agree with everything you said, except for Frederick's lack of strength. By all accounts of his game tape and reports of him weight room ethic, he's plenty strong enough to start. His bench press at the combine doesn't really matter. Some guys have that practical strength that doesn't necessarily translate well to weightlifting, bench press especially. My shoulders subluxate, so in a lying down position I am horrible at lifting, however I'm much stronger on my feet. I'm not saying this is the case with him, however I do agree that he needs to work on his quickness, balance, and conditioning.

Check your reading - I said I am not concerned about his strength - this means I think he is strong enough for the NFL already.

The part that I worry about is adapting to NFL quickness.

I also know there are concerns about conditioning. It sounds like he has started to take things seriously and dropped about 30 pounds for the Combine to get himself in better shape and now is trying to add a bit of muscle to play at about 317 I read (312 at the Combine). From the minicamp pictures I saw he didn't look fat for an OL at all. I think with school being done (he was an Eng student) he can focus full-time on athletics instead of studying for school and should be able to get his stamina up to snuff.

The biggest thing I love about this kid is he doesn't get pushed back and is brilliant at moving DL out of the hole and turn them aside to seal the hole completely for the RB.

The only part I worry about is dealing with quickness of pass rushing DEs and dealing with quick LBs at the second level in the running game.

 

[Hoofbite]

This is bs. Jerry said half the league would want this line.

 

[Little Jr]

Giants being 4 is suprising but the eagles at 14 is laughable

 

[Nation]

Giants being 4 is suprising but the eagles at 14 is laughable

Peters, Mathis, and Johnson will have them in the top 5-10 if all stay healthy

 

[Little Jr]

Peters, Mathis, and Johnson will have them in the top 5-10 if all stay healthy

When all heathy yes. But last year they were a train wreck

 

[sureletsrace]

Check your reading - I said I am not concerned about his strength - this means I think he is strong enough for the NFL already.

The part that I worry about is adapting to NFL quickness.

I also know there are concerns about conditioning. It sounds like he has started to take things seriously and dropped about 30 pounds for the Combine to get himself in better shape and now is trying to add a bit of muscle to play at about 317 I read (312 at the Combine). From the minicamp pictures I saw he didn't look fat for an OL at all. I think with school being done (he was an Eng student) he can focus full-time on athletics instead of studying for school and should be able to get his stamina up to snuff.

The biggest thing I love about this kid is he doesn't get pushed back and is brilliant at moving DL out of the hole and turn them aside to seal the hole completely for the RB.

The only part I worry about is dealing with quickness of pass rushing DEs and dealing with quick LBs at the second level in the running game.

Good call. I'm pretty tired, my bad :

 

[TheCount]

I am still annoyed we didn't draft a 2nd OL in suck a deep draft. A team the prioritizes a 2nd TE behind a hall of famer over fixing a horrendous line deserves to be 27th.

 

[TheRomoSexual]

I am still annoyed we didn't draft a 2nd OL in suck a deep draft. A team the prioritizes a 2nd TE behind a hall of famer over fixing a horrendous line deserves to be 27th.

I'm annoyed when people post this complaint, yet don't explain WHO the Cowboys should have drafted.

Aside from drafting Warford and/or Winters in the second, I doubt we could have fan a day-one starter at any other point in the draft. MAYBE Armstead, but he's a massive project.

 

[burmafrd]

I am still annoyed we didn't draft a 2nd OL in suck a deep draft. A team the prioritizes a 2nd TE behind a hall of famer over fixing a horrendous line deserves to be 27th.

After Fredrick there really was not anyone that they thought were all that. Warford was NOT on their radar.

Now whether they are correct or not on that evaluation remains to be seen.

 

[burmafrd]

How anyone could claim we have the #7 run block ratings when you are 31st in the NFL in Rushing is something to wonder about.

Or even 11th in pass blocking.

None of these so called metrics are worth a bucket of warm spit.

 

[TheCount]

I'm annoyed when people post this complaint, yet don't explain WHO the Cowboys should have drafted.

Aside from drafting Warford and/or Winters in the second, I doubt we could have fan a day-one starter at any other point in the draft. MAYBE Armstead, but he's a massive project.

We'll see who's starting and who's not, but immediate starter has nothing to do with my critique. When is Escobar gonna start?

 

[TheRomoSexual]

We'll see who's starting and who's not, but immediate starter has nothing to do with my critique. When is Escobar gonna start?

After Winters, there was a huge drop off in talent. I'd rather draft guys who will contribute than a bunch of Arkins.

I'm betting Escobar starts day one. Heck, I'd put money on Escobar being in the game for our first snap of the year.