Cowboys Rated Best Offensive Line - Again

[BAT]

And Phily stopped them on 3rd and 1 then 4th and 1 on consecutive plays.

But that was with Switzer at the helm. Starting to see the difference? Players may be the same (see 2014 and 2015 OL) but execution and effort depends on coaching as much as the individual.

 

[BigStar]

Murray averaged 4.7 yards behind this line last year and some said he was too good to let leave. And he did that with Romo having the best year of his life and Bryant having a great season.

McFadden averaged 4.6 yards behind this line last year. He did that with Romo being out a large chunk of the season and Bryant being a shell of himself due to a foot injury. And apparently, that's not good enough.

The reality isn't that McFadden isn't good enough. He is. He's likely as good as Murray, or just a tick below. The problem is he's a big injury risk still.

But what about the lack of 3rd and 1 success? That's the only HUGE difference I saw bw the running games and that has to fall to the RB (DMC)

 

[ConstantReboot]

It's a bit of both. Coaching, that's not adaptive enough adjusting to opponent's strengths and weaknesses in-game, and players, who cannot consistently execute their position assignments for four quarters. The funny thing is that one single player, Romo, seems capable of making coaching look more functional and teammates (both on offense and defense) perform better when he's not hurt.

How can you say its a bit of both when Garrett hasn't even adjusted to the opponent's strength or weaknesses? He does the same strategy each and every game expecting different results. People don't understand that if the coach isn't willing to make changes on behalf of the team to win then whats the use? That is what the term insanity means - when you do the same thing over and over expecting different results.

Players are just going thru the motion. Why? Because that is what they are told to do. Weeden is a prime example. He went thru the motion of what coaches told him to do by the book. Yet he was benched. How would that be the fault of the player?

I'm not a fan of Weeden mind you. But there is a reason why he never succeeded here. Yet was able to succeed somewhere else. That's because we have a coaching problem. Fix the coaching problem first. Then make players accountable for their production. Shouldn't be hard to do since Garrett always preaches about the "process."

 

[VACowboy]

Who said the OL was sucking in 2015? Who said play-calling doesn't impact OL play either?

What's your point?

I'm not talking about Jerry and in fact I said, it was probably because of influence from Callahan and shift when in that direction. Just like Jerry squashed the Sharif pick based on his coach Marinelli, it's clear he had the ear of Callahan as far as OL is concerned.

Callahan worked Fred out. Callahan coached at Wisconsin prior and Callahan watched Wisconsin. So basically, Callahan wanted Frederick and thought he'd be a perfect fit.

http://www.gamefaqs.com/boards/2000211-sports-and-racing-nfl/66202953/744403684

"We're talking about a smart player, here -- he is, after all, about to earn an engineering degree after just three years. Cowboys offensive coordinator and line coach Bill Callahan told me that, when he went to work Frederick out before the draft, he put 23 protections up on a board for him to learn, just in case Dallas ended up taking him. Last week, Callahan asked Frederick to draw the 23 protections -- and he was perfect."

As far as the Commanders, Gruden was there last year 'calling plays'. The OL was horrible in pass protection and Cousins was playing. And the passing game was run by McVay this year. Gruden essentially was running a coach by committee philosophy.

So we need a better coach and play-caller.. You won't find me arguing against that point.

I covered a lot of stuff in my post, which was probably a mistake. You're partly responding to stuff that wasn't addressed to you (or anyone else) specifically.

Multiple posters openly lamented the demise of the Dallas OL last season and pointed to Callahan's departure as the reason. I probably shouldn't have connected that to stuff posted by folks I didn't know were the same people, but I thought it was funny that the hue was Callahan's departure and the decline of the OL until someone posted PFF's ratings and posts appeared about how Callahan single-handedly built the Dallas OL, so he gets the credit for 2015 too.

I hadn't read the stuff about Callahan and Fred, but I admit when I'm wrong, so, I stand corrected. But the idea that Callahan alone built the Dallas offensive line and the way some people rearrange stats and rationalize history to prove the point cracks me up.

You used Cousins' low sack total and high completion rate as evidence of Callahan's impact on the Washington offense. I pointed out that other factors move those numbers too, that Callahan's OL managed to produce the third lowest rushing average in the league, that Jay Gruden had a lot more to do with the emergence of Cousins than Bill Callhan did, and that Callahan is good at his job, but pump the breaks.

As far as who is running the Washington offense (which has nothing to do with my point), McVey said this in the Post...

"...we’ll obviously incorporate some of the things that he [Gruden] was able to have success with in Cincinnati, with what he was able to do with Andy and A.J. Green and Giovani Bernard, those types of guys. So he’ll do a great job of figuring out what’s best for our players and then fitting that scheme to them.”

McVey may be calling plays, but Gruden was hired to bring the offense. That is his offense they're playing in Washington.

 

[darthseinfeld]

Maybe. It's an interesting thought.

His age was also probably an issue. Wasn't he 19? I know he was the youngest player in the league.

Most probably thought since he wasn't polished that they would spend 5 years molding him into an elite player and then lose him in FA.

That draft was ridiculous

I think Muhammad Wilkerson was a fringe first round pick that year.

Was kind of an odd draft too. I remember alot of Cowboys fans fell in love with Carimi and Sherrod because they were pro ready and tough lunch pail to work kinda guys. And alot of fans didnt like Smith, Soldier, and Costonazo because 1) Smith was a finness player 2) Soldier was a guaranteed bust 3) Costonazo was incredibly overrated. Now Carimi was an absolute failure, Sherrod may have been worse although he did get hurt. Meanwhile Smith is an All Pro and while neither Soldier or Costonazo have made the pro, but have been deserving players most of there career.

I dont Smith had many real fans when he got drafted. I think alot of fans just sold themselves on him since that pick was the worst kept secret that draft season. I remember everone and their mother wanted Peterson, Prince or Watt

 

[DallasEast]

How can you say its a bit of both when Garrett hasn't even adjusted to the opponent's strength or weaknesses? He does the same strategy each and every game expecting different results. People don't understand that if the coach isn't willing to make changes on behalf of the team to win then whats the use? That is what the term insanity means - when you do the same thing over and over expecting different results.

Players are just going thru the motion. Why? Because that is what they are told to do. Weeden is a prime example. He went thru the motion of what coaches told him to do by the book. Yet he was benched. How would that be the fault of the player?

I'm not a fan of Weeden mind you. But there is a reason why he never succeeded here. Yet was able to succeed somewhere else. That's because we have a coaching problem. Fix the coaching problem first. Then make players accountable for their production. Shouldn't be hard to do since Garrett always preaches about the "process."

It's a bit of both. The worst coach in football can inadequately train his players in deciphering what the players on the other side of the line of scrimmage is showing them. However, the same worst coach in football can train the same players to run a correct play or switch to the correct defensive formation. If a wide receiver runs the correct route and drops a catchable pass, is it the coach's fault or the player's? If a cornerback drops back in zone coverage and the coach taught him to man up his receiver, is it the coach's fault or the player's?

I have zero problems with the criticism directed towards inflexible playcalling but players are accountable for not protecting the ball, throwing into coverage, dropping passes, false starts, jumping offsides, not contain the edge, dropping interceptions, etc. A better coach can train or inspire players to perform better but the proper execution remains the player's responsibility.

I'm gonna stay out of discussions about Weeden. I watched him play in person. Quarterbacks can be drilled relentlessly to not stray from an outlined play. Doing so limits mistakes. The better or great quarterbacks know when to deviate from the play, focus on a receiver/defender matchup and pull the trigger on any slight advantage. Blame Garrett for brow-beating Weeden into a cowardly robot but quarterbacks are generals when they step on the field. Or at least they should be. Dang it. Starting to get pissed thinking about that guy again...

 

[bayeslife]

Because it WAS this line, be amazing to see what a Jammal Charles or a Lesean McCoy could do running through some of those holes.

Can you imagine Gurley running behind the line.... -drool-

 

[daveferr33]

Easy.

A -22 turnover differential overwhelms whatever good the team did do.

The Cowboys led the league in negative turnover differential BY 8 TURNOVERS. That in itself is stunning. They were a negative 1/2 a turnover per game worse than any other team in the NFL.

By contrast Carolina is +20 in turnover differential.

That in a nutshell explains why one team is playing this weekend and the other was 4-12.

I'll give you this: when you find a talking point that exonerates the powers that be (and supports the status quo), you really stick to it. How many posts have you pointed out the turnover differential? You'd make a good lawyer or PR flak and I mean that as a compliment (I play those roles myself for my paying clients).

My own opinion is that the turnover differential is simply a symptom of a larger, systemic problem, and not at all the cause.

 

[percyhoward]

But what about the lack of 3rd and 1 success? That's the only HUGE difference I saw bw the running games and that has to fall to the RB (DMC)

Which is why I wasn't impressed with McFadden's production especially only scoring 3 rushing TD's and contributing to the Cowboys being the worst team in the league on 3rd and one.

Murray was better on the goal line, but he also benefited by playing when we had the threat of Romo-to-Dez at the goal line.

And McFadden didn't "contribute" to our problems on 3rd and 1, he was the only thing we had going. He converted 6 of 9 times and the rest of the team converted 2 of 10 times.

 

[CCBoy]

Murray was better on the goal line, but he also benefited by playing when we had the threat of Romo-to-Dez at the goal line.

And McFadden didn't "contribute" to our problems on 3rd and 1, he was the only thing we had going. He converted 6 of 9 times and the rest of the team converted 2 of 10 times.

Thanks, Percy.

Now continuing on benefit...how do you think drives respond next season with the addition of a WR such as Treadwell?

 

[CATCH17]

Just missing that stud RB.

Quality QB play more than anything.

McFadden would've had a monster year if we had a passing game to keep drives alive.

 

[Dodger12]

Oh, so we waited 4 years with Houck to realize Romo was getting killed that we needed to start revamping our line? Genius?

Why was Garrett first pick as HC, Mo Claiborne, leveraging the draft? Why did they have Sharif Floyd rates as their number 1 pick on the Board hat year, but Jerry over-ruled and they went Frederick, who was from
Wisconsin and Callahan's alma mater and the guy he personally worked out and begged Dallas draft? Leary was an Undrafted free agent, brought here by Callahan his very first year here. Why the very next year, did Jerry say they had 3 defensive players as BPA slotted before Zach Miller but they were all picked of what you say is true?

Right on the mark.....I'll say this, I applaud Jerry for taking the non-sexy pick like an OL when the guys they were targeting weren't there. BUt to say they had this master plan to build their OL is just bunk. In addition, Garrett's "first" pick was Felix Jones. That was opinion when Jerry asked for his preference. That was Garrett's plan and it was a dumb one because we had just given MBIII a big contract.

 

[gmoney112]

I think Muhammad Wilkerson was a fringe first round pick that year.

Was kind of an odd draft too. I remember alot of Cowboys fans fell in love with Carimi and Sherrod because they were pro ready and tough lunch pail to work kinda guys. And alot of fans didnt like Smith, Soldier, and Costonazo because 1) Smith was a finness player 2) Soldier was a guaranteed bust 3) Costonazo was incredibly overrated. Now Carimi was an absolute failure, Sherrod may have been worse although he did get hurt. Meanwhile Smith is an All Pro and while neither Soldier or Costonazo have made the pro, but have been deserving players most of there career.

I dont Smith had many real fans when he got drafted. I think alot of fans just sold themselves on him since that pick was the worst kept secret that draft season. I remember everone and their mother wanted Peterson, Prince or Watt

A lot of posters liked the pick. If people didn't like Tyron it was because they didn't pay attention to the draft. He was a physical specimen with some of the longest arms in the NFL. We also needed a franchise LT desperately and with his age he could start 15 years for a club.

I liked Solder too but I thought he was more of a 2nd round pick. LT's go high though.

 

[KJJ]

Murray was better on the goal line, but he also benefited by playing when we had the threat of Romo-to-Dez at the goal line.

And McFadden didn't "contribute" to our problems on 3rd and 1, he was the only thing we had going. He converted 6 of 9 times and the rest of the team converted 2 of 10 times.

Not bad but he did contribute he missed on three 3rd and ones. That stat shows how screwed up our offensive system was to go away from McFadden on 3rd and one and put it in the hands of others who only converted 2 of 10 3rd and ones.

 

[KJJ]

Murray was better on the goal line, but he also benefited by playing when we had the threat of Romo-to-Dez at the goal line.

Many said McFadden would provide some long TD runs due to his speed and we didn't see that and some of that was due to him no longer having elite speed. To gain almost 1100 yards and only have 3 rushing TD's is not good.

 

[percyhoward]

Not bad but he did contribute he missed on three 3rd and ones.

That's average. On 3rd and 1, the league was 488 of 731 (66.8%).

McFadden was 6 of 9 (66.7%). The rest of the team was 2 of 10 (20%).

 

[KJJ]

That's average. On 3rd and 1, the league was 488 of 731 (66.8%).

McFadden was 6 of 9 (66.7%). The rest of the team was 2 of 10 (20%).

If McFadden was so good on 3rd and one why did they give the rest of the team 12 plays on 3rd and one especially when it wasn't working? Having the top OL in the league McFadden and the rest of the team should've done a lot better on 3rd and one.

 

[percyhoward]

If McFadden was so good on 3rd and one why did they give the rest of the team 12 plays on 3rd and one especially when it wasn't working? Having the top OL in the league McFadden and the rest of the team should've done a lot better on 3rd and one.

On 3rd and 1, McFadden didn't even touch the ball until week 7. Up until that time, Dallas had converted 2 of 7.

After that, he got the ball on 9 of our 12 plays on 3rd and 1. He converted 6 of 9, and the rest of the team converted 0 of 3.

McFadden did what the rest of the league did. He just did it on a team that was much, much worse than the rest of the league.

 

[KJJ]

On 3rd and 1, McFadden didn't even touch the ball until week 7. Up until that time, Dallas had converted 2 of 7.

After that, he got the ball on 9 of our 12 plays on 3rd and 1. He converted 6 of 9, and the rest of the team converted 0 of 3.

McFadden did what the rest of the league did. He just did it on a team that was much, much worse than the rest of the league.

Behind arguably the best OL in the league that had 3 pro bowlers this season he should have done better. All of our backs should have done better.

 

[Dodger12]

One last time: Are you going to provide a source to everyone on this board that Callahan was the reason we go Frederick and Martin in the first round? It wasn't our scouts doing our job well? Not McClay? It was because Callahan was in the room, and forced Jerry's hand in drafting them? Link it all together, tell me how it played out.

McClay had yet to be promoted at that point (when we drafted Fred) and, ironically, he got promoted as a result of TC's insubordination with the trade down. Anyone who was watching the draft cam when we were on the clock saw the tension in that room. Both TC and Garrett wanted the highest rated player on their board and that was Floyd. The fact that an assistant coach who was here for nothing more than a few months can have the owner/GM over-rule his HC and head of college scouting is remarkable in and of itself.