Breer: Will the Cowboys’ offensive line still be overwhelming?

[CowboyRoy]

I think I like the depth better this year than last. But that's me.

I think Collins at right tackle over Doug Free is a major improvement.

And I believe that Cooper has the pedigree and potential to be a very good left guard, especially playing between Smith and Frederick.

And we now know that Chaz Green (when healthy) and Emmett Cleary can play , something we didn't know last year.

I see nine linemen I'd like to keep on this roster. At minimum. And two that I might try to put on the practice squad. I like this year's group a lot.

I can respect that. We had Collins on the bench last year that could have played anywhere. I dont see any guy close to that on the bench this year. And Green? Cmon, the guy cant even stay on the field. Word has it that he isnt even going to beat out Cooper.

 

[Stash]

I can respect that. We had Collins on the bench last year that could have played anywhere.

Actually, as I recall anyway, we had Leary on the bench last year, where he in all likelihood would have stayed had Collins not been injured. And Leary is and always has been strictly a guard in the pros.

I dont see any guy close to that on the bench this year.

No, I don't see any one guy either. But I see more guys that I feel could get us through a game or two if they were called upon. Guys like Green and Cleary who I've seen play that I hadn't seen at all prior to last season. That's where I feel a bit better. As well as the addition of a solid, if unspectacular veteran in Byron Bell.

And Green? Cmon, the guy cant even stay on the field. Word has it that he isnt even going to beat out Cooper.

I honestly don't think there was a real "competition" there between Cooper and Green. I firmly believe that the team was just trying to work on line versatility if they should ever be struck with injury.

As for Green, sure, health will always be a legit concern, no denying it. But what I'm saying is that if he's able to play from a health standpoint, he's capable of playing out there. When he did fill in at left tackle, he shouted that he could handle it and wasn't a big liability for the offense. Whether he physically holds up is another story. That's why I'm glad that he's not being penciled in as a starter at either guard or right tackle. That would mean depending on a proven unreliable player to be reliable and a bad idea.

For a guy like Chaz Green, I think that not being a starter gives him the best chance of being available if he's needed.

 

[Bullflop]

It's pretty difficult to predict what the OL might be this year, although if La'el at RT and Cooper at LG pan out as admirably as the team hopes, the OL might very possibly be better than ever. I'm very hopeful that La'el will prove an upgrade over what we had in Free and that Cooper will be at least effective enough to hold his own and perhaps be even better than that at LG. I seriously doubt that the OL will be any worse off, despite the changes that are forthcoming this season. If anything, they would ideally be just as good as last year and potentially better by season's end.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

not sure how you missed it but since you thought Free was playing OK maybe its not a surprise.

Gil Brandt tweeted it - I think it was late December. Had Free as the #3 tackle with pressures and sacks.

I believe it was a followup to his November tweet where Free at that time was #7. Probably followed it up because Free got worse.

so it from your recollection of a tweet?

 

[Stash]

so it from your recollection of a tweet?

Here's a link to one of them from November.



Not good company, and things got worse later in the season.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

Exactly. And I think that even if Cooper fails (and I don't believe that he will), the team has several other options for that spot, including Bell, Green, Looney, Cleary, and even Theaker.

I'm very confident that they can fill that role from among those 6 guys.

I am looking forward to seeing Theaker but coming from a small school I don't see him contributing at all for at least a year.

I agree with you wholeheartedly that between Cooper, Bell, Green and Cleary we will get at least decent production out of the 5th OL.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

Here's a link to one of them from November.



Not good company, and things got worse later in the season.

He said Free was the worst. That is why you don't count on recollections and hearsay.

 

[Stash]

I am looking forward to seeing Theaker but coming from a small school I don't see him contributing at all for at least a year.

Agreed, and even if he does well, I don't think we'll see too much of him. I think that ideally they'd like to have a guard "stashed away in the pipeline" like the practice squad to have in hand for the future. I expect a similar plan with one or both of the late round defensive tackles. A sound strategy in my opinion if you can pull it off.

I agree with you wholeheartedly that between Cooper, Bell, Green and Cleary we will get at least decent production out of the 5th OL.

Yeah, too many candidates to fail to find someone that's at the very least serviceable.

 

[Stash]

He said Free was the worst. That is why you don't count on recollections and hearsay.

I agree, any claims should be supported by facts.

 

[viman96]

Curious if anyone ever heard what Breer is talking about that Zeke needing to get back in playing shape? Is it because he did not participate in the first couple of OTAs due to a minor car accident?

 

[dallasdave]

Curious if anyone ever heard what Breer is talking about Zeke needing to get back in playing shape? Is it because he did not participate in the first couple of OTAs do to a minor car accident?

or boat parties

 

[xwalker]

Yet, he was still better than the tackle we brought in (Byron Bell) and could still be better than Collins at tackle since we don't know how well Collins will play tackle. I did think Green played well when called upon at tackle, but the question with him is health.

Sometimes, a dumpster fire is better than the entire building burning down.

Garrett had an unhealthy attachment to Free.

Green, Bell and Cleary are probably all better than Free but Garrett was going to start Free regardless of who was on the team.

When a backup did have to play 7 games in 2014, he was drastically better than Free and received a 32M contract after that season.

 

[haleyrules]

It's pretty difficult to predict what the OL might be this year, although if La'el at RT and Cooper at LG pan out as admirably as the team hopes, the OL might very possibly be better than ever. I'm very hopeful that La'el will prove an upgrade over what we had in Free and that Cooper will be at least effective enough to hold his own and perhaps be even better than that at LG. I seriously doubt that the OL will be any worse off, despite the changes that are forthcoming this season. If anything, they would ideally be just as good as last year and potentially better by season's end.

Collins and Cooper certainly have the talent to adapt and make it work.

 

[diefree666]

He said Free was the worst. That is why you don't count on recollections and hearsay.

He ended up with the third most pressures and sacks of ANY TACKLE in the NFL

that is what I said.

As usual you get a little fuzzy with facts when you don't like them

 

[xwalker]

I can respect that. We had Collins on the bench last year that could have played anywhere. I dont see any guy close to that on the bench this year. And Green? Cmon, the guy cant even stay on the field. Word has it that he isnt even going to beat out Cooper.

Collins was injured all season not on the bench. He started the first 3 games and was never active again. He was placed on IR October 4th.

Leary was on the bench until Collins got injured.

 

[gimmesix]

Garrett had an unhealthy attachment to Free.

Green, Bell and Cleary are probably all better than Free but Garrett was going to start Free regardless of who was on the team.

When a backup did have to play 7 games in 2014, he was drastically better than Free and received a 32M contract after that season.

It's been clear how you've felt about Free for years, so I think you believing that he was starting because of "an unhealthy attachment" is born of your distaste for him.

Although Free was bad last year, Bell's career at right tackle has been worse, which is why he is now on his third team. Cleary has proven nothing and bounced from team to team before holding up well when he had to play minimally last year. And Green can't stay healthy, so it doesn't really matter if he's better if he can't remain on the field. Even Collins is having to adjust his footwork/technique after only playing on the left side in college and the pros so far.

The bar isn't high, so it shouldn't be too hard for someone to be better than what Free was last year. Of course, that's not what we really want, we want the players who step in to be several degrees better than what we got from Free. I feel good about the potential we have there, but it's just potential for now.

Free started here and maintained his starting spot because his coaches believed he was the best man for the job. If they didn't feel he was the best man for the job, they would have replaced him. They had the opportunity to do that and didn't. You're welcome to speculate on why, but that doesn't change the fact that they saw these players every day in practice and still did not choose them over Free. In their minds at least (and that's not saying coaches are always right), Free was the better choice to be the starting right tackle.

 

[fredp22]

Dont think I understand the story. Is it we have 3 all-pros but need 5 to be considered good? and what other team has 5 stars across its line. We have enough talent on that part of the team and were correct to switch our attention to the secondary/dl in the offseason. The cap wont allow to much attention to any one area. People that want more attention on the OL would have to get use to games with 48-46 scores.
dk the writer but if he thinks our biggest concern sb the OL then I'm not convinced he really knows our team, what we are doing, or how to run a cap.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

He ended up with the third most pressures and sacks of ANY TACKLE in the NFL

that is what I said.

As usual you get a little fuzzy with facts when you don't like them

And that still does not match the quoted tweet. You lack veracity and I for one will no longer make the mistake of taking your recollections at face value..

 

[8FOR!3]

I'm sure we'll overwhelm with the run. I wonder what kind of guard will be starting at LG. I think it's important to protect Dak as well as we open holes for Zeke. As good as this line became for Romo I still think it was much better at opening up holes for the RB than it was at protecting Tony. Not that they did a poor job but they weren't as dominating as I think people made them out to be at protecting the QB. Leary to me was a big loss, but a line with Tyron/Frederick/Zack Martin should still dominate teams. Add Collins to that assuming he's continuing to gain consistency. We should be able to fill that 5th spot with a marginal starter and still dominate defenses.

 

[GORICO]

another RICO-GUARANTEE---- 2017 Dallas Cowboy "O" Line will be rated #1 in NFL..hands down...Zeke will average 5.5 yds per attempt..over 1800 yds
Dak will have over 30 td's and under 10 int's...so Cowboy fanzone....is this enough to settle you down?