Cowboys searching for an interior lineman

[jobberone]

Cowboys searching for an interior lineman
August, 7, 2013
AUG 7
11:35
PM ET
By Calvin Watkins | ESPN.com

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OXNARD, Calif. -- The Dallas Cowboys were spurned Wednesday morning by Brandon Moore, who backed out of a one-year deal to retire.

Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones said he was surprised to see Moore back out of the deal, but respected the decision. With injuries along the offensive line, Jones said the team is still searching for talent along the line.

"Obviously, that’s why we were looking and we’re not through looking," Jones said. "We obviously have options but we also have parameters and we got to work within our cap situation. We don’t have an unlimited situation here, but we have guys we're looking at and we will continue to look. But there’s more than one way to acquire a player. Get him through free agency, you can trade for him, you can wait and see if he becomes available. We're looking."

Of the 18 offensive linemen on the 90-man training camp roster, seven are injured including four on the interior line.

http://espn.go.com/blog/nfceast

 

[jobberone]

7/18 injured on the OL including 4 of the interior lineman.

 

[dargonking999]

People can say its about Berny all they want, but I think the team is looking for quality depth. If that person can come in and out play Berny...great...but at the end of the day they need to be quality depth at least.

 

[erod]

Players are dropping like flies all over the league.

The new CBA and PEDs are turning these guys into china dolls.

 

[burmafrd]

With what little is out there, they may have to be satisfied with hoping whoever they sign is good depth.

 

[Zimmy Lives]

With what little is out there, they may have to be satisfied with hoping whoever they sign is good depth.

Depth is is the key right now. The only position where I have any confidence in the backup is (ironically) the center spot with Costa.

 

[iceman117]

They shoukd look into signing Winston Justice to play RG like he did for a little in Philly. He adds depth as a tackle as well I case of injury.He's not great but he is definitely a serviceable RT. I don't know if he is willing to play RG or even if he is any good at RG but he should definitely be looked at considering what's out there as far a a RG goes. I know the verdict on him is he does a good job on stronger bull rush type guys and struggles with speed rushers/finesse type guys so I think he can do ok as a back up RG and emergency T..... But that's something the scouts would have to decide.... It would be similar to when Leonard Davis was signed as a G for the Cowboys but was mostly a tackle with the Cardinals.... It rejuvenated his career, maybe it will do the same for Justice (on a smaller scale obviously, he is not as talented as Davis but we are only looking for a backup)

Carlilie Cooper and Brian Waters seem to be the top options as far as true guards go and Brian Waters hasn't even played in over a year and I think what we have now is better than Cooper. So free agency isn't a great option.

Another thing they can do is try to acquire someone in a trade, we seem to be rich at TE so putting James Hanna on the trading block may get some attention possibly from someone like the Pats after losing Aaron Hernandez. Don't crucify me I'm just spit balling ideas because I know this team is really good and can do some damage if they figure this interior linemen problem out...

 

[JoeyBoy718]

I doubt Moore was a depth move. It's easy to find depth for cheap. They want a starter and to make Arkin and Bern depth. They only potential starter available is Waters and we don't know if he still has anything left in the tank.

 

[Fla Cowpoke]

They shoukd look into signing Winston Justice to play RG like he did for a little in Philly. He adds depth as a tackle as well I case of injury.He's not great but he is definitely a serviceable RT. I don't know if he is willing to play RG or even if he is any good at RG but he should definitely be looked at considering what's out there as far a a RG goes. I know the verdict on him is he does a good job on stronger bull rush type guys and struggles with speed rushers/finesse type guys so I think he can do ok as a back up RG and emergency T..... But that's something the scouts would have to decide.... It would be similar to when Leonard Davis was signed as a G for the Cowboys but was mostly a tackle with the Cardinals.... It rejuvenated his career, maybe it will do the same for Justice (on a smaller scale obviously, he is not as talented as Davis but we are only looking for a backup)

Carlilie Cooper and Brian Waters seem to be the top options as far as true guards go and Brian Waters hasn't even played in over a year and I think what we have now is better than Cooper. So free agency isn't a great option.

Another thing they can do is try to acquire someone in a trade, we seem to be rich at TE so putting James Hanna on the trading block may get some attention possibly from someone like the Pats after losing Aaron Hernandez. Don't crucify me I'm just spit balling ideas because I know this team is really good and can do some damage if they figure this interior linemen problem out...

It's Cooper Carlisle and he played and was decent in a ZBS scheme but like you I don't think he is better than what we got.

 

[tayloner]

I posted this in another thread, but... Cowboys just released that TCU guard Jeff Olson they signed last week. So maybe a move is coming sooner rather than later?

 

[jobberone]

I posted this in another thread, but... Cowboys just released that TCU guard Jeff Olson they signed last week. So maybe a move is coming sooner rather than later?

My money is on Bernie not necessarily what I want but the signals the team sends.

 

[Apollo Creed]

They've been searching for one since 2010.

 

[Cowboys22]

I think they should wait. Give the reps to guys that are there to find out exactly what you have. Then watch the waver wire during cutdowns and/or try and strike a deal prior to final cutdowns. We will have a RB, TE, WR, or LB someone can use. If all else fails. do what it takes to convince Waters to play.

 

[iceman117]

It's Cooper Carlisle and he played and was decent in a ZBS scheme but like you I don't think he is better than what we got.

Whatever his name is, I've only seen him play a handful of games and never really focused on his techniques/skills enough to be certain when I say this but I'm thinking Berny is better than him, and I'm thinking the cowboys front office wants Berny and Arkin to be the back up Guards.... So the more I think of it the more I am expecting a trade to go down in the next few days for a starting caliber guard. I was posting all through OTAs and mini camp that I wished Dallas would sign Brandon Moore because I had faith in the other 4 starters including Leary and any sort of upgrade over Nate Livings(who was the starter then) would make this a pretty good offensive line altogether...

 

[JoeyBoy718]

I think they should wait. Give the reps to guys that are there to find out exactly what you have. Then watch the waver wire during cutdowns and/or try and strike a deal prior to final cutdowns. We will have a RB, TE, WR, or LB someone can use. If all else fails. do what it takes to convince Waters to play.

Yeah, they have time to wait for Waters. He likely doesn't want to sign until the end of preseason anyway. The good news is we don't have to worry about anyone stealing him from under us if we wait too long. We're the only team he's willing to play for. Us and maybe Houston, but I think he lives near or in Dallas. That means we can watch the waiver wire until the end of preseason, and if we still have a need we can offer Waters a contract.

 

[Fla Cowpoke]

I doubt we make a trade for one....there just aren't very many trades in the NFL.

It's either Moore, Waters or someone that gets released before season starts.

 

[JoeyBoy718]

I doubt we make a trade for one....there just aren't very many trades in the NFL.

It's either Moore, Waters or someone that gets released before season starts.

You haven't given up on Moore yet? Part of me is still holding out hope. Man, I was so excited two nights ago.

 

[Zimmy Lives]

I doubt we make a trade for one....there just aren't very many trades in the NFL.

It's either Moore, Waters or someone that gets released before season starts.

Probably someone that gets released as a camp/cap casualty; Moore does not appear to be an option.

I agree that a trade is the least likely scenario unless it is for an obvious backup.

 

[JBS]

Teams don't just start searching rigorously for "depth"...anybody that thinks Moore or any other OL that we trade for or acquire is coming in here to depth purposes is wrong.

 

[JoeyBoy718]

Teams don't just start searching rigorously for "depth"...anybody that thinks Moore or any other OL that we trade for or acquire is coming in here to depth purposes is wrong.

I agree. We don't have a depth problem. We have some good backups. The problem is they're penciled in to start.