CCBoy
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Dallas Cowboys: Offensive or defensive line a bigger priority?
https://thelandryhat.com/2018/02/24/dallas-cowboys-offensive-defensive-line-priority/
...Both the offensive and defensive lines.
You can have all-world talent at the skill positions, but if you’re lacking in the trenches it really won’t matter. The Dallas Cowboys face issues on both the offensive and defensive fronts for a number of reasons, but a big question worth debating is which one is a bigger priority in terms of new personnel heading into 2018. There’s no easy answer here, but I would certainly say that the defensive line is the greater priority...
...Now, that’s four out of five starting blockers on the offensive line that either were first-round picks or would have been picked in the same round. Yes, the Cowboys need to address the left guard position if Collins stays at right tackle. Or the franchise could move Collins back inside to left guard if a player like Orlando Brown, for example, looked attractive with that 19th-overall selection in the first round of the coming draft. Each of those offensive linemen were first round draft picks and all were acquired after 2010. Smith is the ‘old man’ of the group, despite still being only 27-years old. If you’ve got three first-round talents on the offensive line then you’re looking pretty good. This unit has created two NFL rushing champions over the last three seasons and, while needing some attention, is still poised to enable a great offense for years to come.
...Also remember that recent free-agent acquisitions line Stephen Paea, Damontre Moore and Cedric Thornton didn’t amount to anything more than short-term stopgaps over the last couple of seasons. Feel that vacuum? There’s no question that the Dallas Cowboys defensive line, at least as we know it right now, is a far greater priority this offseason. We’ll see very soon if there’s any significant free-agent impact upfront, but that’s not likely given the budget allotted to the Dallas Cowboys at this time. It’s not like free agency is even the best idea when it comes to building a championship football team in the first place .The Dallas defense is closer than some realize to being a really good unit – it’s not bad right now. The 2018 NFL Draft in the back yard of America’s Team is where the tide has to turn and that must take place as soon as the Cowboys go on the clock...
https://thelandryhat.com/2018/02/24/dallas-cowboys-offensive-defensive-line-priority/
...Both the offensive and defensive lines.
You can have all-world talent at the skill positions, but if you’re lacking in the trenches it really won’t matter. The Dallas Cowboys face issues on both the offensive and defensive fronts for a number of reasons, but a big question worth debating is which one is a bigger priority in terms of new personnel heading into 2018. There’s no easy answer here, but I would certainly say that the defensive line is the greater priority...
...Now, that’s four out of five starting blockers on the offensive line that either were first-round picks or would have been picked in the same round. Yes, the Cowboys need to address the left guard position if Collins stays at right tackle. Or the franchise could move Collins back inside to left guard if a player like Orlando Brown, for example, looked attractive with that 19th-overall selection in the first round of the coming draft. Each of those offensive linemen were first round draft picks and all were acquired after 2010. Smith is the ‘old man’ of the group, despite still being only 27-years old. If you’ve got three first-round talents on the offensive line then you’re looking pretty good. This unit has created two NFL rushing champions over the last three seasons and, while needing some attention, is still poised to enable a great offense for years to come.
...Also remember that recent free-agent acquisitions line Stephen Paea, Damontre Moore and Cedric Thornton didn’t amount to anything more than short-term stopgaps over the last couple of seasons. Feel that vacuum? There’s no question that the Dallas Cowboys defensive line, at least as we know it right now, is a far greater priority this offseason. We’ll see very soon if there’s any significant free-agent impact upfront, but that’s not likely given the budget allotted to the Dallas Cowboys at this time. It’s not like free agency is even the best idea when it comes to building a championship football team in the first place .The Dallas defense is closer than some realize to being a really good unit – it’s not bad right now. The 2018 NFL Draft in the back yard of America’s Team is where the tide has to turn and that must take place as soon as the Cowboys go on the clock...
