News: Cowboys La’el Collins says move to tackle “brought something out of me I didn’t know I had”

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Proximo said:
I'd also like to think that playing between a bunch of elite lineman and blocking for a superstar RB will re-energize Cooper and we'll see him playing with a purpose out there. Sometimes a change of scenery really does help.
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I think do too. As I've said before, he couldn't ask for a better position, team, or scheme-fit to resurrect his career and value in the league.

If not here, not anywhere. If not now, not ever.
 
xwalker

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RoboQB said:
I don't think anyone questioned whether Collins would shine at RT.
The question mark is at LG. Do you "see" Jonathan Cooper pulling and getting
to the next level like you see Collins do in that video? That is the question.

I don't see Cooper as being athletic like Collins or being a mauler like Leary.
My bet is that our play calling in the run game will be adjusted.
Perhaps we should run right side more often anyway.
Hopefully, Cooper will hold his own until we find a 2nd or 3rd round gem.
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In College, Cooper was the the quickest, most athletic OG that I've ever seen. Many draft analysts had similar opinions.
 
mattjames2010

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diefree666 said:
so to you there is no way a player that started at LT and was outstanding in college (toughest conference in college football), was considered by virtually everyone to be a first rd pick at Tackle, cannot make it at RT because somehow in your view he has balance problems which as far as I can tell no one else thinks so?
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College is NOT the NFL - do you know how many tackles in college have to change positions in the NFL due to having weaknesses? This isn't uncommon.

Collins is built like a guard, and even then, he has balance issues and gets blown off his feet. Again, I don't want some average RT - I want a good or great RT so Dak doesn't, like last year, continue to get balls knocked out of his hand.

This is like an argument of making Martin a tackle because he was in college - he would be an average tackle in this league.
 
Bullflop

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Free had a bum foot the last couple of years and couldn't move laterally worth two cents.

We're about to see if La'el is capable of handling that task capably in his pass protection.

I'm inclined to give him the benefit of the doubt since he handled LT admirably in college.
 
xwalker

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mattjames2010 said:
College is NOT the NFL - do you know how many tackles in college have to change positions in the NFL due to having weaknesses? This isn't uncommon.

Collins is built like a guard, and even then, he has balance issues and gets blown off his feet. Again, I don't want some average RT - I want a good or great RT so Dak doesn't, like last year, continue to get balls knocked out of his hand.

This is like an argument of making Martin a tackle because he was in college - he would be an average tackle in this league.
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Collins is well within the Bell curve for NFL OT measurable(s). He is 6-4, with medium length arms and decent times in all categories.

He has better measurable(s) than Bryan Bulaga, the Packer's RT.

Despite only about 3/8" longer arms than Zack Martin, his wingspan was 3" bigger, meaning he is a wider body player and something that's an advantage at OT.
 
mattjames2010

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xwalker said:
Collins is well within the Bell curve for NFL OT measurable(s). He is 6-4, with medium length arms and decent times in all categories.

He has better measurable(s) than Bryan Bulaga, the Packer's RT.

Despite only about 3/8" longer arms than Zack Martin, his wingspan was 3" bigger, meaning he is a wider body player and something that's an advantage at OT.
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And that's great, he can have Tyrone's wingspan which will do him no good if he doesn't have the feet and the balance at tackle. I'm not looking forward to players doing spin moves or him being on his heels with a bull rush.

He may end up being acceptable at RT, but we've had "acceptable" at RT for about 6 years now and it has caused our QBs problems.
 
RoboQB

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xwalker said:
In College, Cooper was the the quickest, most athletic OG that I've ever seen. Many draft analysts had similar opinions.
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I get it. College was a while ago. Leg injuries are hard on 300lb men.
I'm rooting for him. He has big shoes to fill.
 
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mattjames2010 said:
And that's great, he can have Tyrone's wingspan which will do him no good if he doesn't have the feet and the balance at tackle. I'm not looking forward to players doing spin moves or him being on his heels with a bull rush.

He may end up being acceptable at RT, but we've had "acceptable" at RT for about 6 years now and it has caused our QBs problems.
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You said he is not built like an OT. That was a false statement. Most OTs are not built like Tyron and RTs are likely farther from the prototype (Tyron) than LTs, on average.

For this season he just needs to be better than Doug Free which is a very low bar.

If he is a C at RT this season then they can move him back to LG next season where he is likely an A.

Free was a C at his peak and an F last season.

They always have the option to play Green at RT and move Collins back to LG this season if Green is healthy. Green proved his ability in two starts at LT in the middle of last season.

They couldn't really go the other way (Keep Collins at LG in training camp and then move him to RT when Green gets injured).
 

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mattjames2010 said:
And that's great, he can have Tyrone's wingspan which will do him no good if he doesn't have the feet and the balance at tackle. I'm not looking forward to players doing spin moves or him being on his heels with a bull rush.

He may end up being acceptable at RT, but we've had "acceptable" at RT for about 6 years now and it has caused our QBs problems.
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And I say your claims about his balance have no support.
 
mattjames2010

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diefree666 said:
I have and I see nothing that indicates your obsession with balance
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You used his college film, what you left out is that it was already considered one of his weaknesses.

http://www.nfl.com/draft/2015/profiles/lael-collins?id=2552361

"WEAKNESSES
Fails to consistently bring hips and feet with him through contact in the running game, causing him to fall forward and lose balance. Hand usage is a major concern. Hands will start too low in pass pro at times and has to work hard to redirect. Change of direction is slow for a tackle. Relies on lunging rather than foot movement to counter inside moves. Plays high out of stance and loses leverage battle on short-yardage confrontations. Will have to move to right tackle or inside."

My consistent criticism of Collins is his feet and balance, both were present in college. Again, he may be an acceptable RT - but he won't be a longterm answer. I also doubt these things have been improved upon after moving to LG.

There is going to be a lot of frustration with Collins at RT.
 
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