Cowboys Camp Report, Thursday, August 1st: Take a Deep Breath

[dmq]

Cowboys Camp Report, Thursday, August 1st: Take a Deep Breath


Posted by Rafael Vela



Take a deep breath, Cowboys fans.

You've been hit with some distressing injury news. The offensive again has injury and depth issues. The defensive line is still trying to recover from the dings and tears from the first two days. Dez Bryant has been out Tony Romo has been sore.

more:

http://www.cowboyszone.com/2013/08/cowboys-camp-report-thursday-august-1st.html

 

[Sasquatch]

That was reassuring after the alarming 6-sack report.

 

[big dog cowboy]

Free is not getting much correction on his technique, and he's getting better at creating a push on his edge every day. That's a continuation of his December '12 work, where Free started to excel in the run game. If he can keep his pass protection in sync with his run blocking, the RT spot should be solid.

Oh my!!!

 

[Fla Cowpoke]

That's the problem....people ignore the fact that the tweets reported success by the offense in both passing and running, yet everyone focuses on one part of the whole.

 

[TheRomoSexual]

That was reassuring after the alarming 6-sack report.

We probably should have known better than to rely on Zordon's reporting of reporting.

 

[Idgit]

So...it's our DL that's the disaster? I'm so confused. What exactly are we supposed to be overreacting to right now?

 

[Moderately_Askew]

Well that was an enlightening report, I am glad that the offensive line is looking better. Thanks for posting the link!

 

[FiveRings]

So...it's our DL that's the disaster? I'm so confused. What exactly are we supposed to be overreacting to right now?

Romo isn't playing in the HoF game! Who wants to talk about menial things like "Offensive Line" and "Defensive Line" when our quarterback is ailing!?

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Romo isn't playing in the HoF game! Who wants to talk about menial things like "Offensive Line" and "Defensive Line" when our quarterback is ailing!?

For the most part Romo has looked very good.

I wouldn't waste any time worry about him quite frankly.

 

[FiveRings]

For the most part Romo has looked very good.

I wouldn't waste any time worry about him quite frankly.

...Sarcasm, Winicki

 

[TheRomoSexual]

For the most part Romo has looked very good.

I wouldn't waste any time worry about him quite frankly.

I think you may need to call a mechanic...

(puts on sunglasses)

...because it looks like your sarcasm meter is broken.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

...Sarcasm, Winicki

Then I stand corrected sir!

 

[Sasquatch]

We probably should have known better than to rely on Zordon's reporting of reporting.

In all fairness, I think many around here are justifiably sensitive when it comes to the OL. As for myself, I'm trying to avoid drawing conclusions one way or the other until I see some actual games.

 

[fanfromvirginia]

In all fairness, I think many around here are justifiably sensitive when it comes to the OL. As for myself, I'm trying to avoid drawing conclusions one way or the other until I see some actual games.

To me, it's a burden of proof issue at this stage. I'm assuming the OL is below average until proven otherwise based on recent experience, with 'recent' being defined as the last 15 years, give or take a year or two. There really is no good evidence this OL will be good. They may be improved over last year, but that is a very low bar, IMO. That doesn't mean it won't happen, of course.

 

[khiladi]

Looks like Murray is becoming more involved in the passing game, not just a check-down.

 

[ScipioCowboy]

To me, it's a burden of proof issue at this stage. I'm assuming the OL is below average until proven otherwise based on recent experience, with 'recent' being defined as the last 15 years, give or take a year or two. There really is no good evidence this OL will be good. They may be improved over last year, but that is a very low bar, IMO. That doesn't mean it won't happen, of course.

This was the very point I was about to make.

We can talk about injuries and missing starters until we're blue in the face. Until someone demonstrates the ability to play at a high level on a consistent basis, it's just excuse making.

However, we should also note the offensive line hasn't had the opportunity to demonstrate anything yet this year. That will come during preseason games. Of course, if they should struggle there, everyone will tell us how preseason games don't count.

 

[burmafrd]

with nothing new to show you have to go with what was shown in the past. Therefore until they actually look good in a GAME the O line is at the very least suspect.

 

[Idgit]

To me, it's a burden of proof issue at this stage. I'm assuming the OL is below average until proven otherwise based on recent experience, with 'recent' being defined as the last 15 years, give or take a year or two. There really is no good evidence this OL will be good. They may be improved over last year, but that is a very low bar, IMO. That doesn't mean it won't happen, of course.

That's not how I see it. We flipped the entire line around the last three seasons, and this is the second year of Callahan's plan. We've devoted significant resources to it, and I don't see how anything that happened under Dave Campo or Bill Parcels or Jeff Ireland is particularly relevant to what Garrett and Callahan are doing.
I do think Garrett made, and conceded, a mistake with Houck. But, given the success he's had retooling other areas of the roster, I'm perfectly happy to see how their plan comes together before judging anything. Last year was a disaster of sorts in terms of the interior injuries that aborted training camp and the problems with multiple Centers that hurt the team early. But they did get better as the year went on, as a group. And they did spend significant resources on the interior again in the draft.

Fundamentally, I don't see the point in being upset about something until it's proven to be fixed. I get being upset about a persistent problem that's not getting addressed, but once you see it's getting addressed, it makes more sense to wait and see if it was addressed properly. The inability to fix persistent personnel issues for an organization is more damning than any OL problems we might have, anyway.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

So...it's our DL that's the disaster? I'm so confused. What exactly are we supposed to be overreacting to right now?

Dang Blast it Idgit! How many times do I have to tell ya? Don't worry that the Mule is dead. Just load the rocks in the dang wagon.


LOL....


Gotta love off season my Friend.

 

[fanfromvirginia]

That's not how I see it. We flipped the entire line around the last three seasons, and this is the second year of Callahan's plan. We've devoted significant resources to it, and I don't see how anything that happened under Dave Campo or Bill Parcels or Jeff Ireland is particularly relevant to what Garrett and Callahan are doing.
I do think Garrett made, and conceded, a mistake with Houck. But, given the success he's had retooling other areas of the roster, I'm perfectly happy to see how their plan comes together before judging anything. Last year was a disaster of sorts in terms of the interior injuries that aborted training camp and the problems with multiple Centers that hurt the team early. But they did get better as the year went on, as a group. And they did spend significant resources on the interior again in the draft.

Fundamentally, I don't see the point in being upset about something until it's proven to be fixed. I get being upset about a persistent problem that's not getting addressed, but once you see it's getting addressed, it makes more sense to wait and see if it was addressed properly. The inability to fix persistent personnel issues for an organization is more damning than any OL problems we might have, anyway.

My statement is more of a personal psychological strategy than anything else. I'm like a jilted, jaded lover who's just spent three months reading half the books on the Self Help aisle. I'm not upset. I know others are but that's not my reaction. I'm in 'show me' mode. I'm generally an optimist, which has meant in terms of this team and its offensive lines, that I've given a whole heck of a lot of benefit of the doubt over the last 18 or so years: about 7.5 gallons or half a ton or half a miles or half a million bucks worth. With every regime comes one or two or three new starts and new approaches, all of which come with a story and a promise, like elixir from the back of a wagon. And when it doesn't work, there are a couple dozen excuses, a handful of mea culpas, and then on to the next fix. So no more.

Callahan and Garrett just about turning the corner on this thing? Sounds great. Now show me.