Anatomy of a solid foundation

[waving monkey]

The Cowboys' front five has never looked better



The performance of the Cowboys' young offensive line has been the focus of the team this season. DeMarco Murray's and Tony Romo's best statistical seasons serve as validation for what is widely considered the league's best offensive line.

As Dallas prepares to host its first playoff game since January 2010, the leadership of the team has received positive reviews: a welcomed departure from the tired memes circulating prior to last week. Tim McMahon noted that Dallas is the only team that has drafted Pro Bowl players in four of its last five drafts: lofty praise usually reserved for a GM such as Ozzie Newsome.

The construction of the Cowboys, however, is brilliant by design. For several years, the New England Patriots have been utilized as the gold standard in regards to sustaining excellence. Following the 2009 season, the Patriots drafted two tight ends in the 2010 draft (Gronkowski in the second round and Hernandez in the fourth round).

uring the 2010 season, New England rid themselves of Randy Moss. Following the 2011 season, the Patriots offered minimal resistance as leading receiver Wes Welker departed for Denver. The Patriots apparently shifted their offensive philosophy from one predicated on outside threats to finding mismatches with tight ends.
Considering the success enjoyed by the Patriots' franchise, the philosophical change has perhaps influenced several teams to mimic a similar strategy. Following the 2014 NFL season, the Cowboys could spark a similar revolutionary change.

A quick glance at the average salary value of the top five players per position in 2014 reveals that the Cowboys should be able to sustain this organizational strategy. Besides the left tackle (whom Dallas has already signed long term), the average salary of the top five guards and centers is comparatively affordable.

link/http://www.bloggingtheboys.com/2014/12/25/7449795/anatomy-of-a-solid-foundation

 

[JoeBoBBY]

I would draft defensive line and offensive line early and often.....you win the trenches, and most of the time you win the games,..

 

[yimyammer]

could Dallas be building a defensive line replete with numerous good, but not great players? Such a rotation would offer consistent pressure throughout games and towards the end of the season, while diminishing the reliance upon one player.

been wanting this for years, I don't believe you can win it all with a few superstars sucking up all the cap and thinning your overall roster (only obvious exception is QB)

 

[TwoDeep3]

Fix the pass rush and everything else will fall into place.

 

[reddyuta]

been wanting this for years, I don't believe you can win it all with a few superstars sucking up all the cap and thinning your overall roster (only obvious exception is QB)

first step is the willingness to draft Dlinemen early and often,it would be huge if we can get 2 dlinemen in the top 4 rds next year.

 

[Bluefin]

Ware did not fit the model, and was released.

Fit was not the issue.

The team decided DeMarcus Ware was physically breaking down, had become injury prone and could no longer be counted on to play a full season.

Therefore, Ware was no longer worth the financial risk and was released.

A deep rotation would be great, but the defense would still need lead dogs at rush end and under tackle.

And when you find those players, they will get paid.

 

[perrykemp]

The right answer is that your draft a little bit of everything every year with a slight emphasis on the trenches.

The trenches are nice but there is little evidence that having a great OL is absolutely critical to winning a Superbowl -- see last year's Seahawks, the 2011 Giants, 2010 Packers, etc. All of those teams had average at best OLs.

If you are a 4-3 team then yes you absolutely have to DL.

Having said all that none of it matters if you don't have the offensive system and players to make it work. The 49ers have had a tremendous OL and DL in the recent past but still couldn't win the big one (although they've always been in the running).

To me a 'solid foundation' is good drafting and consistent philosophy. Oh yeah, you need a good to great QB too.

 

[xwalker]

The Cowboys' front five has never looked better



The performance of the Cowboys' young offensive line has been the focus of the team this season. DeMarco Murray's and Tony Romo's best statistical seasons serve as validation for what is widely considered the league's best offensive line.

As Dallas prepares to host its first playoff game since January 2010, the leadership of the team has received positive reviews: a welcomed departure from the tired memes circulating prior to last week. Tim McMahon noted that Dallas is the only team that has drafted Pro Bowl players in four of its last five drafts: lofty praise usually reserved for a GM such as Ozzie Newsome.

The construction of the Cowboys, however, is brilliant by design. For several years, the New England Patriots have been utilized as the gold standard in regards to sustaining excellence. Following the 2009 season, the Patriots drafted two tight ends in the 2010 draft (Gronkowski in the second round and Hernandez in the fourth round).

uring the 2010 season, New England rid themselves of Randy Moss. Following the 2011 season, the Patriots offered minimal resistance as leading receiver Wes Welker departed for Denver. The Patriots apparently shifted their offensive philosophy from one predicated on outside threats to finding mismatches with tight ends.
Considering the success enjoyed by the Patriots' franchise, the philosophical change has perhaps influenced several teams to mimic a similar strategy. Following the 2014 NFL season, the Cowboys could spark a similar revolutionary change.

A quick glance at the average salary value of the top five players per position in 2014 reveals that the Cowboys should be able to sustain this organizational strategy. Besides the left tackle (whom Dallas has already signed long term), the average salary of the top five guards and centers is comparatively affordable.

link/http://www.bloggingtheboys.com/2014/12/25/7449795/anatomy-of-a-solid-foundation

It's a bit of an odd article, but the photo is nice.