Anyone else find it alarming Jonathan Cooper has not seized the LG spot?

[Risen Star]

I agree. Too much $$$ with his injury risk.

That only means something when it's a long term deal. Should have tagged him. One year. No risk.

Sometimes the team makes bad moves. You might have noticed the last 20 years.

 

[diefree666]

That only means something when it's a long term deal. Should have tagged him. One year. No risk.

Sometimes the team makes bad moves. You might have noticed the last 20 years.

the fact that you are against it means it was the right move.

Cooper frankly has looked just as good at guard as green has; they play with different styles. Green is a better player at tackle then guard; but the fact is that no one can count on him.

I have seen this more than a few times over the years where a team will favor its draft choice in a situation like this. They hate to admit mistakes; sometimes that makes them make different mistakes.

 

[casmith07]

No.

There are two comparable players there. One of them will get the start. The coach wants the competition to spill into game week, and fans are looking for stuff to worry about. Pretty much business as usual.

This is ridiculous.

There is absolutely nothing "business as usual" about going into the practice and preparation week for a regular season game with an open competition at one of the most important positions on your offense. We're not talking about who's going to get the slot receiver snaps on Sunday -- we're talking about a key piece of the offensive identity of being a power run, run-first offense.

 

[casmith07]

Not surprised. Upset Green can't stay in the game.

He was injured when we drafted him, got injured again, and spent a lot of time at Florida injured. I'm not particularly upset by his current situation - he is who he is.

The front office maybe saw a gem in the 3rd round who could contribute and provide good value if the gamble on health worked out. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. If we want to talk about being upset, we can use 20/20 hindsight to say not to draft him two years ago.

 

[Stash]

This is ridiculous.

There is absolutely nothing "business as usual" about going into the practice and preparation week for a regular season game with an open competition at one of the most important positions on your offense. We're not talking about who's going to get the slot receiver snaps on Sunday -- we're talking about a key piece of the offensive identity of being a power run, run-first offense.

Some people will say anything in an effort to rush to the team's defense. Like it's their job.

 

[Idgit]

This is ridiculous.

There is absolutely nothing "business as usual" about going into the practice and preparation week for a regular season game with an open competition at one of the most important positions on your offense. We're not talking about who's going to get the slot receiver snaps on Sunday -- we're talking about a key piece of the offensive identity of being a power run, run-first offense.

It's not unusual in any way for competition for jobs to exist in-season on NFL roster spots. Especially when one player has been slowed by an injury. We've had similar competitions at LG, RB, and QB spill into the regular season on offense alone in recent years.

What games have you been watching?

 

[Section446]

Not alarming... Guy has been an epic bust his whole career. Like I said months ago, should have kept Leary.

 

[Idgit]

Some people will say anything in an effort to rush to the team's defense. Like it's their job.

Don't be passive aggressive stash. It's much better when you get all worked up and are later proven comically wrong. We can deal in specifics here. Like about cutting Lucky Whitehead. Or about the ability of the current offensive staff to develop QBs.

I give my opinions. Don't come at me when you're mad that they happen to be right most of the time.

This is a thread asking us if we're alarmed about the LG competition. I'm not. You apparently are. Big surprise. We'll see soon enough which of us is right. It's an obvious weak spot on the OL, if that's what you're getting at. Everybody gets that. We'll see just how much it ends up affecting offensive productivity. I don't think it'll be a significant issue when it's said and done. I think we'll have an effective offensive team whether it's Cooper or Green taking the LG snaps. That's how I measure "alarm" anyway.

 

[Stash]

I'd like to know what Cooper has done or not done on the field since he's been in Dallas that has somehow given Glazz Green any opportunity to still be in the conversation?

Conversely, what has Green actually done on the field to still be considered for that spot?

What has anyone actually seen to support this inexplicable decision?

Outside of the standard "defend my Cowboys" mindless rhetoric, there's nothing tangible to support any conversation about a competition at left guard.

This is as dumb as people "taking the Cowboys word for it" about Kellen Moore, and the fact that no matter how much any talks about him, when it comes to actually producing on the field, the guy can't play.

 

[Hawkeye0202]

Worse, Green is an injury waiting to happen. He won't last. Start Cooper and use Green as the swing.

Bingo!!!!!!! .....Zero confidence in Green ability to stay healthy for even few games, let alone an entire season.

 

[Texas_Pete]

We put way too much faith in a guy who got cut by the Browns.

This is a little misleading. He was injured quite a bit - kind of like how Chaz keeps getting hurt now - when he was at Cleveland. Now if he were healthy, and couldn't start in Cleveland, I see your point.

He's healthy now though and the Cowboys like what they see in him. He's not quite the player he was in college but he is getting there.

The issue really is that Chaz is their draft pick and Cooper is not. Otherwise, at least to me, Cooper > Chaz. Sometimes the best ability is availability.

 

[chicago JK]

I don't have a problem with not naming a starter of gameday week. If the team can't deal with that little uncertainty, it will be a long season. There will be players hurt for the year, players added, players cut, players benches, etc during the year. It will be a constant flux throughout the year. In all liklihood we will not have the same starting line all year. It is very rare.

I just hope one of the guys turns out to be a solid starter while the other can be a good backup in case his number is called...in all liklihood if both are healthy and on the team all year long, both will probably have plenty of opportunities to play.

 

[Stash]

Don't be passive aggressive stash. It's much better when you get all worked up and are later proven comically wrong. We can deal in specifics here. Like about cutting Lucky Whitehead. Or about the ability of the current offensive staff to develop QBs.

I give my opinions. Don't come at me when you're mad that they happen to be right most of the time.

Bwahahahaha! You keep telling yourself that! The laughs just keep on coming!


'Smartest guy in the room', just ask him!

And any "specifics" you want to revisit, you just let me know. Just don't derail this thread with it.

This is a thread asking us if we're alarmed about the LG competition. I'm not. You apparently are. Big surprise. We'll see soon enough which of us is right. It's an obvious weak spot on the OL, if that's what you're getting at. Everybody gets that. We'll see just how much it ends up affecting offensive productivity. I don't think it'll be a significant issue when it's said and done. I think we'll have an effective offensive team whether it's Cooper or Green taking the LG snaps. That's how I measure "alarm" anyway.

Then stick to saying that, instead of trying to chastise people with your usual 'I know better than everyone else' attitude. Not having your act together prior to week one isn't some 'brilliant strategy' so don't try to spin it as if it is.

What I'm "alarmed about" is the fact that this looks exactly like a questionable noble decision. Green has shown nothing to support any competition for the left guard spot, and the thought that they're still considering him brings their judgement into question. Some people can question poor decisions, and some just parrot whatever the team says.

This goes right along with the Kellen Moore stupidity.

They get some right, and they get some wrong. These decisions deserve questioning and second-guessing.

 

[jaybird]

Anyone else find it alarming Cooper has not seized the LG spot despite being healthy the whole offseason?

I wouldn't use the word "alarming" a little concerning yes. I think they're just trying to give Green every chance to seize the starting role- he is hands down the 5th most talented OLman

Cooper will suffice, the Alarm bells will go off if our depth gets challenge. For now we're good.

Ps Provided Collins holds up.

 

[Idgit]

Bwahahahaha! You keep telling yourself that! The laughs just keep on coming!


'Smartest guy in the room', just ask him!

And any "specifics" you want to revisit, you just let me know. Just don't derail this thread with it.



Then stick to saying that, instead of trying to chastise people with your usual 'I know better than everyone else' attitude. Not having your act together prior to week one isn't some 'brilliant strategy' so don't try to spin it as if it is.

What I'm "alarmed about" is the fact that this looks exactly like a questionable noble decision. Green has shown nothing to support any competition for the left guard spot, and the thought that they're still considering him brings their judgement into question. Some people can question poor decisions, and some just parrot whatever the team says.

This goes right along with the Kellen Moore stupidity.

They get some right, and they get some wrong. These decisions deserve questioning and second-guessing.

The threads are there if you want to revisit them. We both know at this point you don't like what you see as my chastising any more than I like your dramatic overreactions to minor situations all team's deal with. Dez missing an MRI appointment prior to last season is another example if you're confused as to what I'm getting at. But in this case, you brought it on yourself with the passive aggressive dig. I didn't go looking for you.

You can be alarmed about the decision making process all you want. That's not what OP was getting at, and I don't have a bone to pick with your questioning that. My point in answer to the OP originally was that I'm not alarmed about who the starter is since I don't expect production to vary much whichever guy we have in.

If I'm alarmed at anything about the OL for the coming season, and alarmed would be too strong a word here, but it'd be Tyron Smith's back. That's the kind of structural problem that can shorten a great career and throw our salary cap plan and the overall strength of the team up in the air. Having him miss snaps in preseason, even as a precaution, isn't a great sign re his longevity in my book.

 

[Idgit]

This is a little misleading. He was injured quite a bit - kind of like how Chaz keeps getting hurt now - when he was at Cleveland. Now if he were healthy, and couldn't start in Cleveland, I see your point.

He's healthy now though and the Cowboys like what they see in him. He's not quite the player he was in college but he is getting there.

The issue really is that Chaz is their draft pick and Cooper is not. Otherwise, at least to me, Cooper > Chaz. Sometimes the best ability is availability.

Since we don't have a better option at swing OT, it seems like it would make more sense to let Cooper start and have Green be the swing since Cooper's not an option at OT. But the team seems to think Green is a better player overall when healthy. At least, it seems like they're giving him every chance to take that LG job when Cooper really has been the one whose been steadier throughout preseason.

 

[Stash]

The threads are there if you want to revisit them. We both know at this point you don't like what you see as my chastising any more than I like your dramatic overreactions to minor situations all team's deal with. Dez missing an MRI appointment prior to last season is another example if you're confused as to what I'm getting at. But in this case, you brought it on yourself with the passive aggressive dig. I didn't go looking for you.

You can be alarmed about the decision making process all you want. That's not what OP was getting at, and I don't have a bone to pick with your questioning that. My point in answer to the OP originally was that I'm not alarmed about who the starter is since I don't expect production to vary much whichever guy we have in.

If that was your position, that's what you should have stated. But you didn't.

Instead, it was this:

"There are two comparable players here. One of them will get the start. The coach wants the competition to spill into game week, and fans are looking for stuff to worry about. Pretty much business as usual."

Followed up with this:

"It's not unusual in any way for competition for jobs to exist in-season on NFL roster spots. Especially when one player has been slowed by an injury. We've had similar competitions at LG, RB, and QB spill into the regular season on offense alone in recent years.

What games have you been watching?"

A vain attempt to defend a foolish move and chastise anyone who doesn't. With the usual condescension.

If I'm alarmed at anything about the OL for the coming season, and alarmed would be too strong a word here, but it'd be Tyron Smith's back. That's the kind of structural problem that can shorten a great career and throw our salary cap plan and the overall strength of the team up in the air. Having him miss snaps in preseason, even as a precaution, isn't a great sign re his longevity in my book.

A fine point, and a legitimate concern. One that I share. And you expressed that well here, without any added shots at anyone else's position. I have no problems having a conversation or discussion in this manner.

 

[Stash]

Since we don't have a better option at swing OT, it seems like it would make more sense to let Cooper start and have Green be the swing since Cooper's not an option at OT. But the team seems to think Green is a better player overall when healthy. At least, it seems like they're giving him every chance to take that LG job when Cooper really has been the one whose been steadier throughout preseason.

Totally agree with you here.

 

[sbark]

C.Green gives them more of the overall team philosophy of being physical. Its what made Leary a good fit there last year. Green punch off the snap can freeze defenders, whereas as noted, Cooper tends to wall off, but with better Tech. Gimmesix I beleive had a good thread on their diff.

 

[MiddleStar]

Green MIGHT be the 5th best linemen on this team. Problem is he can't stay healthy to prove it. The other problem is while he might be the 5th best overall limeman, he is probably the 3rd best OT and the 3rd best OG. If you could line up the five best regardless of position he probably makes it but if he has to be the guard he doesn't. He isn't a natural guard and he didn't look comfortable at guard when he did play. Cooper is a natural guard and from when I saw him, he looked fine. He isn't going to get to the next level as consistently or as far down the field as Leary did (or Green probably could) but that is on the coaches to adjust to. Cooper does a good job of sealing off and not giving ground. He does a better job than Green of using angles and switching responsibilities. He is also much better than Green in tight spaces. I really don't understand the fascination with trying to get Green to be the starting LG. I understand getting him reps there, since his best role is as a reserve linemen, mostly as a swing T but the versatility of being a guard is needed as well. Just feels like they are trying to fit a square peg into a circle in trying to make him the starter at LG.