News: BR: The Dallas Cowboys Quietly Have Built 1 of the NFL's Best Offensive Lines

[Idgit]

Stuff like this is why I keep coming back. The guy has never even stepped foot on the practice field, yet he may be better than Tyron Smith.

I sort of agree. We were really fortunate to hit on both Smith and Frederick. I have a high degree of faith that we've got a good player in Martin, but I"m more concerned about him not panning out than I am hopeful that he'll be our best OL.

Honestly, if he's not playing RT for us in his second year, I'm disappointed with the pick altogether. Not because I think he'll be a bad player, but because he was such an expensive resource to put at a position you can readily fill with a third rounder and one offseason of development.

 

[CrownCowboy]

Yeah, that 09 playoff loss to the Vikings was the low point. We suffered a few years after that with an offensive line that just killed us.

I can say now that I am happy with the way Jerry has addressed this offensive line. The game is won inside out and we have brought in three 1st round talents that are intelligent football players that study the game and have a mean streak to go with their games. Considering the fact that we now have a capable backup that can man any three of the inside spots on the line in Bernadeau, things could really be set. Of course this is all assuming that Martin pans out.

I'm no GM, but that's how you build a football team, with players like that.

 

[jnday]

They were one of the best last season. I'd say we we may be THE best by the end of the season.

I think it will be a year or two before they are playing well together. Fred had a good rookie season, but he is far from reaching his full potential. Tyron is still a young player that hasn't reached his full potential. Martin will need to adjust to the pro game and it wouldn't hurt him to gain somevweightvsnd work on his power. They have a bright future, but it will take time to develop their game.

 

[ElGatoGrande]

Now <that> quietly -- they've invest their 1st round picks in 2011, 2013, and 2014 -- so three of the last four years.

Nobody can question the level of commitment to the OL at this stage.

They would rightfully question it for the preceding decade+, but now I'm sure they're all quite happy with the revised approach,,, even if it is a little late coming.

 

[SilverStarCowboy]

Stuff like this is why I keep coming back. The guy has never even stepped foot on the practice field, yet he may be better than Tyron Smith.

Zach rated higher than Tyron, Cooper and Decastro coming out of the Draft.

 

[jnday]

Zach rated higher than Tyron, Cooper and Decastro coming out of the Draft.

He was not a top three tackle in this draft class and he has not played guard to know for sure how he will do at that position. I question the ratings. Martin was not the top rated guard in the draft class either.

 

[SilverStarCowboy]

He was not a top three tackle in this draft class and he has not played guard to know for sure how he will do at that position. I question the ratings.

Right, but he was a top 10 pick @ LT and Guard.

 

[JoeyBoy718]

Call me crazy but I'm not crazy about the idea of Martin switching to RT. Interior protection is much more important to our team. Romo has always been good at dodging edge rushers but has been terrorized by interior rushers. Plus, I feel that Martin can be an All Pro OG. I'd still like to see what someone like Parnell could do at RT. He's as athletic as Tyron Smith and much younger than Free, and playing alongside Martin would take a lot of pressure off him.

 

[burmafrd]

I sort of agree. We were really fortunate to hit on both Smith and Frederick. I have a high degree of faith that we've got a good player in Martin, but I"m more concerned about him not panning out than I am hopeful that he'll be our best OL.

Honestly, if he's not playing RT for us in his second year, I'm disappointed with the pick altogether. Not because I think he'll be a bad player, but because he was such an expensive resource to put at a position you can readily fill with a third rounder and one offseason of development.

yeah name all the third round guards we have been able to develope.

The only hits we have made since Free (and he is up and down) below the 1st rd in THIS CENTURY was Gurode.

Now we have hope that Leary will continue to develope but then again he was not drafted due to his knee condition.

 

[burmafrd]

He was not a top three tackle in this draft class and he has not played guard to know for sure how he will do at that position. I question the ratings. Martin was not the top rated guard in the draft class either.

most did have him as the top rated guard in the class. even not playing it before. One should consider that.

 

[jnday]

Right, but he was a top 10 pick @ LT and Guard.

He didn't get picked in the top ten. He was passed over and Dallas explored trade-backs before drafting him. I remember DeCastro as being ranked as one if the top players in the draft as well. Martin is a safe, solid prospect, but he was neither the top tackle or top guard in this draft. There is nothing wrong with safe and solid, but it is not the top lineman in this draft. Just he happy they got a solid pick.

 

[jnday]

most did have him as the top rated guard in the class. even not playing it before. One should consider that.

I went back and double checked myself. The first two sites I pulled up didn't have Martin as the top guard. The first was Walter Football.

 

[The Natural]

Quietly? They only invested 3 first round picks in 4 years to the line

 

[SilverStarCowboy]

He was the 4th rated LT and 1st Rated Guard. A consensus top 10 choice that slid to Dallas.

Watch some work outs and game film on this kid, he's a Hoss for sho'. You'll love his agrression and precision blocking, he's like a vice when he gets a hold of someone they aren't going anywhere.

 

[burmafrd]

Quietly? They only invested 3 first round picks in 4 years to the line

That is like calling a B52 bomber a good sized aircraft.

 

[DBOY3141]

Zach rated higher than Tyron, Cooper and Decastro coming out of the Draft.

If the only position Zach played was guard, no way I take him before Cooper. Cooper is a stud and within 2 years will be talked about as the best guard in football. Shame he broke his leg and couldn't play last year.

I think Zach will be very good at guard in 2014, but in the end his position will be RT starting in 2015. I think Dallas showed this by trying to trade back in and draft Turner. They were thinking of an OL of Smith, Leary, Fred, Turner, Martin, and that sure would have been nice.....but our defense still would be missing a RDE.

 

[Nova]

I think it will be a year or two before they are playing well together. Fred had a good rookie season, but he is far from reaching his full potential. Tyron is still a young player that hasn't reached his full potential. Martin will need to adjust to the pro game and it wouldn't hurt him to gain somevweightvsnd work on his power. They have a bright future, but it will take time to develop their game.

Right. I don't think it will take very long for them to gel, but who knows how they’ll be together, Considering they supposedly improved on an already top 5 OL last year, really the goal should be to be the absolute best in the NFL.

 

[jnday]

If the only position Zach played was guard, no way I take him before Cooper. Cooper is a stud and within 2 years will be talked about as the best guard in football. Shame he broke his leg and couldn't play last year.

I think Zach will be very good at guard in 2014, but in the end his position will be RT starting in 2015. I think Dallas showed this by trying to trade back in and draft Turner. They were thinking of an OL of Smith, Leary, Fred, Turner, Martin, and that sure would have been nice.....but our defense still would be missing a RDE.

It was reported that Dallas thought of Martin as a guard only with the ability to till in at tackle in the weeks before the draft. Who knows? I have concerns with Martin's physical traits causing him problems at the pro level. I guess we will find out soon enough.

 

[DBOY3141]

It was reported that Dallas thought of Martin as a guard only with the ability to till in at tackle in the weeks before the draft. Who knows? I have concerns with Martin's physical traits causing him problems at the pro level. I guess we will find out soon enough.

That's interesting. Had not heard that.

 

[Afigueroa22]

I wouldn't exactly call it a quick turn around, the weakness got exposed badly in the playoffs against the Vikings in 2009.

I thought we all made an unspoken agreement to never bring up that game again?