Could our offensive line be even better this year?

[endersdragon]

I am seeing a lot of doom and gloom, but as annoys so many of you I do try to look at the positive side of things (worked pretty well last year) so real quick I just want to take a look at our offensive line. Outside of Doug Free, everyone is 25 years old or younger. Tyron Smith, the guy who has been on the team the longest of the other 4, is still younger than everyone other than Zach Martin.

Generally it would seem that another year of experience for guys under the age of 26 is a very good thing, as is another year together as a unit. While losing Murray obviously hurts, it is interesting to look at this line and wonder how much they can improve from what was already one of the best o-lines in the league (if not the best). Or at least it is for me. Yea, we still need a new swing tackle and possible eventual replacement for Free, but that seems like a pretty minor issue. Anyway just my $.02 in all this "Why didn't we go after ____, 8-8 or worse for sure!" talk.

 

[boysfanindc]

I am seeing a lot of doom and gloom, but as annoys so many of you I do try to look at the positive side of things (worked pretty well last year) so real quick I just want to take a look at our offensive line. Outside of Doug Free, everyone is 25 years old or younger. Tyron Smith, the guy who has been on the team the longest of the other 4, is still younger than everyone other than Zach Martin.

Generally it would seem that another year of experience for guys under the age of 26 is a very good thing, as is another year together as a unit. While losing Murray obviously hurts, it is interesting to look at this line and wonder how much they can improve from what was already one of the best o-lines in the league (if not the best). Or at least it is for me. Yea, we still need a new swing tackle and possible eventual replacement for Free, but that seems like a pretty minor issue. Anyway just my $.02 in all this "Why didn't we go after ____, 8-8 or worse for sure!" talk.

Could the O line be better, absolutely, barring in____. Nope not going to Jinx it. We need a swing tackle though.

 

[endersdragon]

Could the O line be better, absolutely, barring in____. Nope not going to Jinx it. We need a swing tackle though.

In____ I think could **** up just about any line in the league. Still though we don't have any players other than possibly Free with a history of that and this draft is pretty deep with guys who might be capable swing tackles.

 

[Risen Star]

Why wouldn't they be better? Smith, Frederick, Martin and Leary are all young ascending players learning to play with one another.

 

[guag]

What's with the "in_____"? Lol never mind. You guys are so superstitious.

 

[Yuma Cactus]

Continuity.

 

[poost]

Also Martin was playing injured all year wasn't he?

 

[PoundTheRock]

I expect them to be better, but I hope the Cowboys don't rest on their laurels in regards to the depth there. I think Leary is the next piece to major of this team to go. They need to start grooming his replacement now and for a situation in which he or Martin misses time.

 

[NeonNinja]

Also Martin was playing injured all year wasn't he?

Smith had a bad ankle early on too.

 

[Dave_in-NC]

They should be better. But as good as an Oline makes a RB, a RB makes the oline good.

 

[CyberB0b]

Why wouldn't they be better? Smith, Frederick, Martin and Leary are all young ascending players learning to play with one another.

Leary has a degenerative knee issue, and Free is going/went under the knife. I don't even know who the backup guard or tackle would be at this point. Is Berny still on the team?

 

[Toruk_Makto]

If the line isn't better something went horribly wrong.

 

[T-RO]

Fast twitch athletes peak early. O-lineman often peak later.

If you look at sprinters, RBS and WRs...studies show they they peak around 22-26
Olympic Lifters and O-Lineman seem to peak 2-5 years later than that.

But luck, passion and other intangibles factor in. The unit was quite fortunate, IMO, relative to major injuries in 2014.

 

[Bullflop]

The OL in 2015 should and could be better but as always, injuries can easily dictate such things. I wouldn't be at all surprised if the OL depth is addressed at RT/swing tackle once FA and/or the draft is history. It would surely make sense if that element were to be added. Yet another possibility is the addition of a LG to back up Leary.

 

[endersdragon]

The OL in 2015 should and could be better but as always, injuries can easily dictate such things. I wouldn't be at all surprised if the OL depth is addressed at RT/swing tackle once FA and/or the draft is history. It would surely make sense if that element were to be added. Yet another possibility is the addition of a LG to back up Leary.

Berdy is still on the team for 1 more year I think... I am willing to bet that unless there is someone out there that we just have to have... we will probably just roll with him for 1 more year. With that being said... I would be surprised if we didn't get a swing tackle in the draft.

 

[JoeKing]

If the O-line gets even better but the D gets worse, do they cancel each other out?

 

[AzorAhai]

I think they could definitely be better. While they were very good last year, they did have their struggles. They were very good in run blocking typically, but did have some struggles. Pass blocking could definitely improve though. Sometimes they would show what they were capable of with 7+ seconds of protection, especially when most needed. Others they seemed to have trouble picking up blitzes that they should have picked up. I assume that was due to having 3 2nd year or less starters up the middle though, and then Parnell starting almost half a season as well. I expect to see that cleaned up more this year with Fred, Leary and Martin all having another year under their belts. Would definitely like to see a legit backup OT signed though. That is my only concern for this OL.

 

[endersdragon]

If the O-line gets even better but the D gets worse, do they cancel each other out?

Lee replaces Carter. McClain comes back (just a prediction, but a pretty healthy one I think). Hitchens in his 2nd year replaces what little we had of Durant (maybe I should have flipped Durant and Carter but whatever). Rivers replaces what we had in Hitchens last year. ANYONE replaces what we had in Spencer (honestly he just wasn't that good last year). Lawerence gets better. We find someone in the mid rounds of the draft to replace Melton. I don't see how our defense is that much worse than what we had last year, and could be better depending on the progression of a couple players and the draft.

 

[JoeKing]

Lee replaces Carter. McClain comes back (just a prediction, but a pretty healthy one I think). Hitchens in his 2nd year replaces what little we had of Durant (maybe I should have flipped Durant and Carter but whatever). Rivers replaces what we had in Hitchens last year. ANYONE replaces what we had in Spencer (honestly he just wasn't that good last year). Lawerence gets better. We find someone in the mid rounds of the draft to replace Melton. I don't see how our defense is that much worse than what we had last year, and could be better depending on the progression of a couple players and the draft.

From your lips to gods ears, I hope you are right. I do want to see Lawrence shine.

 

[endersdragon]

From your lips to gods ears, I hope you are right. I do want to see Lawrence shine.

He did have a sack in each of his last two games, so that looks positive. Honestly with our linebackers, we didn't get horrible guys for depth purposes (far better than the backups we had last year minus Hitchens) so for me it is all about getting McClain back, and maybe drafting someone. Moore is a JAG who I see several people that could replace him right away if he doesn't come back here (which he still might). That leaves Melton and Spencer as our only two to replace, and neither was that good last year. I don't see our defense taking a step back, I really don't.