Am I the only one NOT worried about the OL?

[Boom]

 

[djmajestik]

For someone not concerned about the O-line, you seem to not have much of a clue about the status of the current O-line. I know training camp hasn't begun and things are still up for grabs, but there's almost no one considering an O-line of LT Smith, LG Fred, C Costa, RG Free, RT None? You called Free a RG and only listed 4 starters on your projected O-line. And I don't think Cook even makes the team. It's likely going to be something like LT Smith, LG Livings/Leary, C Fred, RG Bern/Costa, RT Free/Parnell. Our weakest part of the O-line last year was RG and RT, and it, at least at the moment, is looking like those are the front runners for RG and RT again. The only change will be some consistency at C, but we also have no idea how Fred will perform. People forget that Smith wasn't that good last year, but at the moment he's our only real guaranteed starter. And Leary might take the LG job from Livings, which makes people happy, but Livings was arguably our best lineman last year.

All that said, I am optimistic about the O-line. I think Smith will have a breakout year, Fred will have a good rookie year, Leary and/or Costa will step up at the guard spots, and the winner of Free and Parnell will be much improved. So, in other words, I'm optimistic, but I sure as heck am not NOT worried.

Are you at all concerned though with RG? I think either Bern or Costa will not be any help to Free/Parnell and I personally believe that they need some help over there on the right side. Be nice if we had a RG that was good enough to help out some to at least make Free/Parnell serviceable.

 

[burmafrd]

feel kind of sorry for the OP. Kind of led with his chin

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

Hmm...This offensive line has had problems for many years now and it was not just injuries last year that was why it was bad as that would be a one year thing.

I don't know about being worried about the line. As @Hoofbite stated, if you go into the season with low expectations of the Oline than you have to hope that they exceed your expectations even if exceeding it just means they are average.

 

[jobberone]

I'm worried more than a little and less than a lot. Do I get a star?

 

[xwalker]

If you could assure that everyone is healthy, then I believe that they can put together a decent OLine.

 

[ElGatoGrande]

I understand what we went through last year. At EVERY snap I was yelling at the TV, "Why is it taking so long, why is it taking so long". I understand that Romo had to do more "O-line leadership" and we suffered injuries plus apparently when Cook wasn't in we were dipshits "offensive line schematic wise". They worked with Callahan week in and week out and to to his credit he is a damn good oline coach via past experience., but they were not getting it.

Fast Forward to the draft we get Fredrick. Criticism aside as far as where he was picked. I think this kid is and will be a good player either at Center or either Guard side. His versatility always a plus. We also have Smith (LT) who is getting better every year. We know Free will be playing RG (and yes I admit he is a weakness, but Romo is not left handed so damage will be minimal). So we have either two of the three Livings, Costa and Cook filling in at what my guess will be is at guards. I know what the depth chart says but I don't think Bernadeau will be starting come Sept.

Therefore as I see it Smith (LT) Livings (LG) Frederick (C) Costa (RG) Free (RT). Even if Costa and Frederick flipped I do not see this as being a bad line. If Fredrick can do one thing which is keep these guys on the same page at the Center spot that is worth the pick alone. This therefore seals the left side of our line. If Free can play decent with Costa we can be serviceable.I feel we will run more as far as Murray says on the field. Sometimes the offensive line makes the running back better and sometimes the running back makes the offensive line look better.

What do you think?

I think I like fact that some of today's youth are optimistic about the future despite all the evidence to the contrary. No sense in being depressed now AND then, just wait until 'then' happens, then you can be sad. Gotta love those cockeyed optimists.

 

[visionary]

I understand what we went through last year. At EVERY snap I was yelling at the TV, "Why is it taking so long, why is it taking so long". I understand that Romo had to do more "O-line leadership" and we suffered injuries plus apparently when Cook wasn't in we were dipshits "offensive line schematic wise". They worked with Callahan week in and week out and to to his credit he is a damn good oline coach via past experience., but they were not getting it.

Fast Forward to the draft we get Fredrick. Criticism aside as far as where he was picked. I think this kid is and will be a good player either at Center or either Guard side. His versatility always a plus. We also have Smith (LT) who is getting better every year. We know Free will be playing RG (and yes I admit he is a weakness, but Romo is not left handed so damage will be minimal). So we have either two of the three Livings, Costa and Cook filling in at what my guess will be is at guards. I know what the depth chart says but I don't think Bernadeau will be starting come Sept.

Therefore as I see it Smith (LT) Livings (LG) Frederick (C) Costa (RG) Free (RT). Even if Costa and Frederick flipped I do not see this as being a bad line. If Fredrick can do one thing which is keep these guys on the same page at the Center spot that is worth the pick alone. This therefore seals the left side of our line. If Free can play decent with Costa we can be serviceable.I feel we will run more as far as Murray says on the field. Sometimes the offensive line makes the running back better and sometimes the running back makes the offensive line look better.

What do you think?

nope, you and jerry are in that foxhole together

 

[phildadon86]

I am extremely worried about the OL. We are one injury away from being back to the same line as last year. If Frederick goes down because he is covering for someone else's mistake or something stupid, then what? Not to mention, Romo the 108 Million dollar man is behind a line that could barely protect him last year. One upgrade is not enough. Just my opinion

 

[zack]

How can we not worry about the oline. I am happy with the first round selection, but we were bad at both guard positions and right tackle. One guy can't play all three spots. It is very concerning that we are even thinking about heading into this season with Free at RT. He is a back up at best. I am surprised that we didn't address RT in FA. Maybe that is still a plan, but I think there is slim pickings out there right now.

 

[DenCWBY]

I dont think that will be our line at all. I bet Leary mans one of the guard spots. Livings and Bernie are both hurt. Heck I'm not convinced Livings even makes this team and with the shape his knees are in I cant imagine depending on him to start all year even if he does and you have him starting.

So we basically have a rookie (I like fred) at center. Hopefully Leary who is basically a rookie with no experience at one guard spot. And we are hoping that one of Costa, Arkin, Kowalski, Livings or Bernie steps up at the other guard spot and yes I am worried. I am hopeful but I dont know how that many unknowns make you confident at all. And we wont even discuss how much of a black hole RT is right now with Free as there is no telling what he is going to do or if Parnel can at least be average over the course of a full season.

I wish we had brought in one decent experienced veteran guard that was actually HEALTHY to challenge for that other guard spot.

This for sure. They we're bad last year and that is basically all that we have to go on besides hoping/wishing that they improve with another year under their belt. No proof yet that Fredrick is the real deal but he should make us better considering how poor our interior line was. Everyone's putting Smith in the next Pro Bowl but he wasn't a major standout and got his lunch handed to him by the better pass rushers like JPP, but he did settle in late in the season. The rest of the line is a crap shoot protecting our biggest asset with the biggest contract. We'll see in a few months.

 

[jaybird]

I understand what we went through last year. At EVERY snap I was yelling at the TV, "Why is it taking so long, why is it taking so long". I understand that Romo had to do more "O-line leadership" and we suffered injuries plus apparently when Cook wasn't in we were dipshits "offensive line schematic wise". They worked with Callahan week in and week out and to to his credit he is a damn good oline coach via past experience., but they were not getting it.

Fast Forward to the draft we get Fredrick. Criticism aside as far as where he was picked. I think this kid is and will be a good player either at Center or either Guard side. His versatility always a plus. We also have Smith (LT) who is getting better every year. We know Free will be playing RG (and yes I admit he is a weakness, but Romo is not left handed so damage will be minimal). So we have either two of the three Livings, Costa and Cook filling in at what my guess will be is at guards. I know what the depth chart says but I don't think Bernadeau will be starting come Sept.

Therefore as I see it Smith (LT) Livings (LG) Frederick (C) Costa (RG) Free (RT). Even if Costa and Frederick flipped I do not see this as being a bad line. If Fredrick can do one thing which is keep these guys on the same page at the Center spot that is worth the pick alone. This therefore seals the left side of our line. If Free can play decent with Costa we can be serviceable.I feel we will run more as far as Murray says on the field. Sometimes the offensive line makes the running back better and sometimes the running back makes the offensive line look better.

What do you think?

You, Orakpo, Kerrigan and Usi thats about it. Everyone in Cowboys Nation is worried. Silly post 2nd only to that ridculous RKG/Hernandez post.

 

[Doomsday101]

I think OL is a concern, I do think it will be better than last season but how much better we will have to wait and see.

 

[Idgit]

To the OPs point, though, the worry over our OL is way overboard for the concern it actually merits. It's still an area of obvious personnel weakness.

 

[SilverStarCowboy]

Probably not the only one but it's okay because you're a Fan and everyone has faults.

Even Michael Jenkins wearing #31.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

I'm not that worried. We have talented groups all over this team.

And every team has weaknesses these days. If we didn't have it at OL it would be somewhere else. We still have plenty of talent overall to win.

 

[Idgit]

I'm not that worried. We have talented groups all over this team.

And every team has weaknesses these days. If we didn't have it at OL it would be somewhere else. We still have plenty of talent overall to win.

I think this is exactly right. Talent should not be an excuse for this team winning or losing games. And it shouldn't have been last year, either, frankly. We have decent talent right now.

 

[coult44]

I understand what we went through last year. At EVERY snap I was yelling at the TV, "Why is it taking so long, why is it taking so long". I understand that Romo had to do more "O-line leadership" and we suffered injuries plus apparently when Cook wasn't in we were dipshits "offensive line schematic wise". They worked with Callahan week in and week out and to to his credit he is a damn good oline coach via past experience., but they were not getting it.

Fast Forward to the draft we get Fredrick. Criticism aside as far as where he was picked. I think this kid is and will be a good player either at Center or either Guard side. His versatility always a plus. We also have Smith (LT) who is getting better every year. We know Free will be playing RG (and yes I admit he is a weakness, but Romo is not left handed so damage will be minimal). So we have either two of the three Livings, Costa and Cook filling in at what my guess will be is at guards. I know what the depth chart says but I don't think Bernadeau will be starting come Sept.

Therefore as I see it Smith (LT) Livings (LG) Frederick (C) Costa (RG) Free (RT). Even if Costa and Frederick flipped I do not see this as being a bad line. If Fredrick can do one thing which is keep these guys on the same page at the Center spot that is worth the pick alone. This therefore seals the left side of our line. If Free can play decent with Costa we can be serviceable.I feel we will run more as far as Murray says on the field. Sometimes the offensive line makes the running back better and sometimes the running back makes the offensive line look better.

What do you think?

Quick response without looking at any reply past the opening one, YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS, you are the only one not worried...You'd have to be insane, or just woke up from a 17 year coma not to be worried about this OL....We have ONE guy that would start for any contending team in the NFL on our line. We have an unproven rookie who should be good, but there is no way you can count on him this early in his career. You have two hurt guards who weren't good enough to be second teamers on contending teams when they were healthy. You have Doug Free, who hmmmmmm, is freekin Doug Free and has taken on the title of most hated current Cowboy player. Then you have Costa. He's had ONE good game in his entire life. The OL should have been addressed ten times more than it was. It's a dang shame that it wasn't. We are sooooo deep at the skill positions, and if our defense stays healthy they could be reallllllly good. The OL will determine where this team go's this year. They could be the difference between a 11-5 team and a 7-9 team...SUCKS!!!

 

[Zimmy Lives]

Other than Smith, no one is consistently reliable or proven so, yes, I am concerned.

 

[dcstands4]

I don't understand why yall all think we need to have HOF at every position. You need 2 or 3 good lineman to make a good line. Do I think we have 3 good players, no not yet. Do I think we have two; yes Smith and Frederick. The reason why I'm high on Frederick is because he's taken it over and he is a guy that already knows his immediate coach, meaning a lot less to learn than an average rookie. Now all we need is someone to be serviceable with Free. I don't like Free, but since he became "jerrys guy" he has been slowly getting better. He's not going to the pro bowl or nothing. But he can be serviceable. 2 serviceable guys with Smith and Frederick and whoever gets tossed in there at the other Guard spot will be better than last year.