News: Cowboys offensive struggles due to drop-off in OL play/OL Coach

[Doomsday101]

Don't know if I would say they had a drop off in their play they were still a great unit and look to be better this season with Collins entering his 2nd season with the OL.

 

[gimmesix]

by Greg A. Bedard

• When I made my annual pilgrimage to the Coaches of Offensive Linemen Clinic in Cincinnati last month, a popular sentiment was that the Cowboys’ struggles on offense didn’t just have to do with the injuries to Tony Romo and Dez Bryant. Several coaches said there was a noticeable drop-off in the play of the offensive line under first-year OL coach Frank Pollack, who was promoted from assistant OL coach last off-season when Bill Callahan left town to join Washington. Something to keep an eye on as the Cowboys enter year two under Pollack, whose only previous experience in charge of an NFL unit was in 2013 with the Raiders (he was an assistant for five years with the Texans before that).

http://www.si.com/nfl/2016/06/23/nfl-lockout-offseason-news-cowboys-broncos

I agree that downgrading from Callahan to Pollack affected the line, but I think there were some struggles early in the season because of injuries to Martin and Leary. Then, Collins had to adjust to starting. Plus, they were working with an offense weakened by the absence of Romo and Dez.

There's no doubt that Callahan is the better coach, but we should see how much better if the line is healthy entering this season.

 

[conner01]

I think lots of factors. Losing the best oline coach was a part of it. Not having a QB who could perform at a avg level was a big part of it. Not having a healthy Dez was a part of it. Having to change up the blocking scheme for dmac was a part of it.
A healthy Romo and Dez with a very good RB who fits the scheme will go a long ways toward fixing most of those issues

 

[plasticman]

That's great news.

It's utter rubbish, of course, but we have to find a way of curbing the typical media rhetoric designating our O-linemen as demigods. Otherwise, the only way we will be able to afford keeping all three under contract would be for the other 8 offensive starters to be rookie free agents.

So, yeah, they sucked last season. And is it just me, or does Martin look like he's been visiting the ice cream shops a little too often. Fredericks looks a little slow too. I noticed Tyron didn't yell "yes sir" loud enough when the coach asked him if he felt good before practice. That's an attitude problem brewing for sure.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

I hate stuff like that. It's 100% appeal to authority with zero substance. What was Pollock doing or not doing is what I would like to see reported.

 

[Bullflop]

I would imagine the drop in play, assuming there actually was one, might well have been a combination of things that, all put together, made the OL's job significantly more difficult with Romo and Dez being out of commission so long last year.

Also, in addition to adjusting to replacement QBs taking turns behind center and McFadden requiring the OL's readjustment to a different blocking scheme, it's no small wonder that things went somewhat awry. I can't help but believe that it's actually to their credit that things didn't go much worse than they did. It seems absurd to me that folks didn't consider the obstacles more.

Under last season's messed up circumstances, I can't help but think they likely did better than what rightfully might have been expected of them and that includes Frank Pollack's work as well.

 

[kiheikiwi]

I would imagine the drop in play, assuming there actually was one, might well have been a combination of things that, all put together, made the OL's job significantly more difficult with Romo and Dez being out of commission so long last year.

Also, in addition to adjusting to replacement QBs taking turns behind center and McFadden requiring the OL's readjustment to a different blocking scheme, it's no small wonder that things went somewhat awry. I can't help but believe that it's actually to their credit that things didn't go much worse than they did. It seems absurd to me that folks didn't consider the obstacles more.

Under last season's messed up circumstances, I can't help but think they likely did better than what rightfully might have been expected of them and that includes Frank Pollack's work as well.

I agree wholeheartedly, as per the talking heads - part of the reason that they went out and signed Morris after McFadden went over 1000 yards was because he (McFadden) could not adjust to our zone blocking scheme. So the O-line had to adjust to a more man up blocking scheme on the fly. That he still got over 1000 yards is a testament to him and the line. If they stay reasonably healthy thru camp, and now with both Elliott and Morris being zone runners, I think this year there will be no doubt that we have THE best o-line in football. If they keep McFadden, I could see him being the teams kick off returner and occasional runner. But Elliott starts, Morris to back up with either Dunbar if he's not on PUP or Jackson in the 3 role.

Pollack should be better in his second year as coach, the line with Collins in his second year should be better, the RB's all running with the same zone blocking scheme should be better. In my opinion, this is/should be the strongest part of our game- now D-line is a question for another day ...

 

[ElGatoGrande]

I'm sure the front office and Linehan are keeping a close eye on the noobie OL coach to see if he's up to the task,,,

 

[Silver Surfer]

I'm sure Jerry thinks anyone of 500 coaches could have coached that line.....

 

[followthestar]

And this year when EZ is tearing up the league and Romo to Dez is killing it, that means the OL is motivated an well coached again, right? Right...

 

[RJ_MacReady]

Yeah...they totally sabotaged the great work of Weeden and Cassell.

 

[Alexander]

Yeah...they totally sabotaged the great work of Weeden and Cassell.

They also failed to give the elite running skills of Joe Randle and Darren McFadden an ample chance to succeed.

 

[JoeKing]

The whole premise that Bill "Benedict Arnold" Callahan makes that much of a difference to our O-line is utter nonsense.

 

[Floatyworm]

The drop in OL play seems overdramatized. They were still ranked #1 by PFF

Doug Free was horrible.....and I'd hold off on that extention to Frederick. He's good.... but he isn't worth 9 million a year.

 

[tyke1doe]

Don't forget this line helped Darren McFadden gain 1,000 yards, a McFadden who didn't start until game 7.

 

[big dog cowboy]

Don't forget this line helped Darren McFadden gain 1,000 yards, a McFadden who didn't start until game 7.

Not to mention he got 4.6 YPC.

 

[gmoney112]

Dallas led the league in fewest pressures (that's per dropback), with quarterbacks who all took longer than average to get the ball out. McFadden was the 4th-leading rusher in the NFL. The time of the Cowboys' average possession ranked 3rd in the league. The offense didn't struggle to pass protect, and didn't struggle to run the ball or control the clock. It struggled to score touchdowns, especially from outside the red zone.

Dallas Touchdowns
from Inside/Outside Red Zone
2006 35/12
2007 33/17
2008 26/15
2009 26/14
2010 29/10
2011 25/13
2012 22/15
2013 35/10
2014 33/20
2015 20/4

That's not the OL, it's the QB.

That was some AdamJT style burn right there.

The OL was awesome. The first quarter of the year they underachieved because most got beat up during the preseason and were held out/injured, i'm pretty sure they only played a handful of snaps together before that first game.

Then you have terrible QB's making the line look worse than it is.

The OL is straight pimpin'. Enjoy it fellas.

 

[CowboyStar88]

I think some of us talked about this last year. It appeared on the surface that something was just a little off with the line. I'm hoping they figured out the issue.

 

[big dog cowboy]

The OL is straight pimpin'. Enjoy it fellas.

They start road grading for a back like EE and it will be a 90's flashback.

 

[DCBoysfan]

Dallas led the league in fewest pressures (that's per dropback), with quarterbacks who all took longer than average to get the ball out. McFadden was the 4th-leading rusher in the NFL. The time of the Cowboys' average possession ranked 3rd in the league. The offense didn't struggle to pass protect, and didn't struggle to run the ball or control the clock. It struggled to score touchdowns, especially from outside the red zone.

Dallas Touchdowns
from Inside/Outside Red Zone
2006 35/12
2007 33/17
2008 26/15
2009 26/14
2010 29/10
2011 25/13
2012 22/15
2013 35/10
2014 33/20
2015 20/4

That's not the OL, it's the QB.

Facts distorts some folks agendas.