Can we go to war again with the same OL?

[kowboyMarlon]

Why does everyone have to panic. We lost the game to a better team yesterday. I do agree that we need to upgrade the OL. I would not change more than 1 starter in a given year. I would move Free to LT and give him all of training camp and OTA's to prove that he can play. I would release Flozell prior to OTA's. I actually don't hate Flo as much as some others do here on the message board, but if we bring him back, we will slow the growth and developement of Free, and we won't really know what he can do unless he gets all of the starting reps. I hear people calling for Brewster to Start. What has he done that shows he is any better than Mcquistan? He may very well be, but how can we just give him the starting RT position over Colombo.

Here is what the Line should look like next year.

LT- Free
LG- Kosier
C- Gurode
RG- Davis
RT- Colombo

Swing Tackle- 2010 Day 1 Pick
Swing Guard- Brewster
#2 C/G - 2010 Day 2 Pick
#4 G/T - 2010 Day 2 pick

also in Camp:
McQuistan 10
Proctor 11
Travis Bright 12

Plus any other Undrafted FA or street FA we sign between now and training camp. I would bring at least 16-17 bodies to training camp. I thing Mcquistan is a decent back up OL... I would like us to draft a day 2 OT prospect to compete with him for that 4th OT spot. I would like also to draft a day 2 Player thats versitle enough to play anywhere on the interior OL C or G to compete with Proctor and Preston. I am alos excited to how much better Travis Bright got with his year of experience on the practice squad under his belt. at 6'4 320 500lb Bench Press... 35 inch VJ form BYU.. 5.2 40yd dash he certainly has the size and Athleticism to compete for a spot on the 53 man roster next season.

 

[Silverstar]

No. It's time to find better, younger players who push them out the door.

OL must be priority #1,2,3,4 and 5 for this team.

All five of our starters our under contract for 2010.
We get no financial bene in releasing any of them.
All five of our starters are good to very good when healthy.

We need to and probably will go to camp with all five of them plus Free.
Any or perhaps all 5 of them may stay healthy and play real well in 2010.

We just need a contingency for all 5. More so than any other team because of thier collective ages and the need to be replaced soon.

We must go heavy on the OL in the draft.
We must go into camp with at least 10 viable options.

We need to have 9 on the 53.

Let me get this straight....

You acknowledge there's a problem now, but still wanna keep old Flo (80,000 in fines) around and (I don't make the Pro Bowl for a reason) Kosier because of their cap hit and then still hope they get beat out eventually by younger players?

Riiight.

 

[reddyuta]

absolutely not,good defenses will stifle and stymie this mammoth offensive lline.we need to get younger and deeper at tackle,center and guard.I wouldnt mind 3 new o-linemen in the roster.

 

[burmafrd]

When healthy Flo can still be a very good OT. It would be STUPID to cut him now. Especially when we do not have anyone even close to as good right now and rookies are a crapshoot.

 

[kowboyMarlon]

When healthy Flo can still be a very good OT. It would be STUPID to cut him now. Especially when we do not have anyone even close to as good right now and rookies are a crapshoot.

Why is it that Minny can just insert loadholdt into the line as a rookie and he start all 16 games. Why can Baltimore Insert Michael Oher into the lineup and he start all 16 Games. Why where the Bengals able to insert Andre Smith into the starting lineup once he came back from his broken foot. You can play rookies. However I only advocate drafting a Rookie OT on Day 1 of the draft and then let him Compete with both Free and Colombo for the starting jobs.

 

[TheCount]

Can we? Yes.
Should we? No.
Will we? Probably.

 

[reddyuta]

JJ has seen enough,he knows we cant win in the playoffs against a good d-line with the present group.I think he will draft o-linemen early this year.

 

[RS12]

No draft an O Lineman first.

 

[CCBoy]

I wonder how long until the Flozell rule goes into effect, making it a penalty to hit the opposing player in his faceguard even if only for a striking blow length of time. I think Flozell's need to 'cheat' his way around is becoming telling in his technique. He has owned up to big games, but the penalties are starting to be a real influence in his play. That isn't a good indicator. Either he cleans up his game, or he does need to be replaced with a more athletic player. That replacement, could take a season or two...depending upon player accessable by the draft for the Cowboys. The Cowboys may be forced to move up and pay the price to get a good candidate for this type of move.

 

[CCBoy]

Why is it that Minny can just insert loadholdt into the line as a rookie and he start all 16 games. Why can Baltimore Insert Michael Oher into the lineup and he start all 16 Games. Why where the Bengals able to insert Andre Smith into the starting lineup once he came back from his broken foot. You can play rookies. However I only advocate drafting a Rookie OT on Day 1 of the draft and then let him Compete with both Free and Colombo for the starting jobs.

Oher is like Eugene Upshaw coming into the league...just plain and simply, dominating from the start. Loadholt survived and was adequate..but will improve as well. Dallas wanted him and tired to get him, but that's another story.

 

[InmanRoshi]

Yesterday's game was a bit of an anamoly for Colombo. He certainly hasn't been a repeat offender with those kinds of performances. I believe he graded out as the Cowboys best OL last year.

I would shift Flo back inside to left guard to finish out the remainder of his career and replace him with Free. That's a 40% change in the starting OL without having to make a single roster change. That would give us more lateral quickness on the edge and more muscle firming up the interior over Kosier. Kosier is cheap enough and has enough experience playing multiple positions in the NFL that he could be a utility guy to back up both guard spots and RT. Bigg and Flo also could play tackle in a pinch.

As far as Houck's opinions ... if his opinion is the reason Montrae Holland was traded for, I really don't put much stock in his opinion anymore. Frankly, I put a lot of blame on him. His unit looked completely and totally unprepared for even the most basic twist, stunt and zone blitz techniques utilized by the Vikes. There's absolutely no reason for one of the highest paid OLs in the NFL to look that completely overwhelmed. You can tell me that Bigg and Gurode and whoever else is overrated ... yeah, overrated is one thing. That doesn't excuse looking like the Detroit Lions.

 

[dboyz]

Yesterday's game was a bit of an anamoly for Colombo. He certainly hasn't been a repeat offender with those kinds of performances. I believe he graded out as the Cowboys best OL last year.

I would shift Flo back inside to left guard to finish out the remainder of his career and replace him with Free. That's a 40% change in the starting OL without having to make a single roster change. That would give us more lateral quickness on the edge and more muscle firming up the interior over Kosier. Kosier is cheap enough and has enough experience playing multiple positions in the NFL that he could be a utility guy to back up both guard spots and RT. Bigg and Flo also could play tackle in a pinch.

As far as Houck's opinions ... if his opinion is the reason Montrae Holland was traded for, I really don't put much stock in his opinion anymore. Frankly, I put a lot of blame on him. His unit looked completely and totally unprepared for even the most basic twist, stunt and zone blitz techniques utilized by the Vikes. There's absolutely no reason for one of the highest paid OLs in the NFL to look that completely overwhelmed. You can tell me that Bigg and Gurode and whoever else is overrated ... yeah, overrated is one thing. That doesn't excuse looking like the Detroit Lions.

I hadn't thought of that, but that is actually not a bad idea, shifting Flo inside. He seems to have the ability to play, he just may not be an ideal left tackle any longer.

I have some reservations on Columbo though too. He played poorly. If he wasn't over injury that was on the coaches, but if he was that isn't good enough and we need to find someone else. I think we should at a minimum find competition for Kosier and Columbo.

 

[28 Joker]

I don't think Jerry Jones will want that to happen.

Did you see the look on his face while standing on the sidelines?

After the 07 playoff loss to the Giants, I said that Henry, Ellis, and Williams need to go. They made a mistake and didn't release them. Do you see what kind of players Spencer and Jenkins have become. The special teams coach got the boot after 08, too.

I predict that Colombo will not start next year.

I predict that Kosier will not start next year.

I predict that Jerry Jones will draft offensive linemen and a kicker and draft heavy on the line.

Owens got the boot (Austin went off); don't be surprised if this offensive line is changed and changed big time.

When losses happen like that, it's time for some changes up front. That game was lost up front on offense.

Colombo and Kosier have been solid but not spectacular, and both can be upgraded.

Flozell Adams' days may be numbered as well. He will be back, but his potential replacements need to be on the team next year.

I think Free could play LG or RT or LT. He will start some where, imo.

 

[baj1dallas]

We should be drafting 1-2 lineman this year.

We have been doing just that. I think Free will eventually take over for Flozell. One of the guys they have drafted over the past few seasons will probably replace Kosier this season. Gurode is good for a few years at least and they will probably start looking for an eventual replacement for Davis this season. The only real question mark is Columbo, can he come back healthy and be better? There's no way to know that right now, only the team knows for sure.

I don't think things are nearly so dire as many people seem to think.

 

[wileedog]

I don't think things are nearly so dire as many people seem to think.

I think Romo has covered for a very mediocre (and highly paid) pass protecting line for some time now.

I also don't think Romo is the most blitzed QB in the league because opposing DC's don't think he can handle it - they don't think our line can.

I've been hoping we would re-shape things for a while, but with the contracts Jerry handed all of these guys in the last couple of years (of which Romo should get a cut from each of them) not sure there's much room for wholesale change any time soon.

 

[Silverstar]

When healthy Flo can still be a very good OT. It would be STUPID to cut him now. Especially when we do not have anyone even close to as good right now and rookies are a crapshoot.

Flo gets injured or is nursing some injury every year now. Depending on a 35yr old LT to play 19 or 20 games at a high level is a bit much don't you think?

Free is ready, but we have to put him in there from the start.

 

[JBond]

I hate when people use the war analogy regarding a game boys are paid millions to play.

That being said, we need to overhaul our old broken line by next season.