DC: Having Returned Home, Bell Now Learning The Cowboys OL System

[jobberone]

Having Returned Home, Bell Now Learning The Cowboys OL System
Friday, July 14, 2017 11:29 AM CDT
By Kurt Daniels

Consider the odds. There are 15 offensive linemen going to training camp with the Cowboys this year and only eight, maybe nine will likely be on the final 53-man roster. Of that group, four are for sure locks, which means there will be 11 players battling for the other four or five positions once the team begins practicing in Oxnard, Calif.

It’s a good problem to have if you’re the Cowboys – competition breeds excellence, so the saying goes – but the crowded field doesn’t exactly make it a picnic for those players involved.

For Byron Bell, though, this is really nothing new.

“I’ve done this before, my rookie year, starting in Carolina,” Bell said. “I’ve done it in Tennessee, coming in and competing for a job and doing the same thing.”

Signed to a one-year deal by the Cowboys on March 24, Bell joined the team as a seven-year veteran. He was an undrafted free agent out of the University of New Mexico in 2011 and spent his first four seasons in the NFL with the Panthers, where he started 56 of his 62 games played. His work came primarily at right tackle, although he did line up on the left side during the 2014 campaign.

That was followed by a move to the Titans, and in the 2015 season he really began to show his versatility, making seven starts at left guard, eight at right tackle and one at left tackle. But the momentum was lost when he unfortunately suffered a dislocated ankle during the next year’s OTAs, the injury causing him to miss the entire 2016 schedule.

http://www.dallascowboys.com/news/2...rned-home-bell-now-learning-cowboys-ol-system

 

[jobberone]

Excited about this OL. More depth. A lot. Hope backup C works out.

 

[Bullflop]

Here's hoping someone steps up bigtime to fill that left guard spot on our offensive line. Whether it's Bell, Green, Cooper, Cleary, Looney or whomever, somebody really needs to get something good going on and fill the bill there. ~crossing fingers~

 

[jobberone]

Here's hoping someone steps up bigtime to fill that left guard spot on our offensive line. Whether it's Bell, Green, Cooper, Cleary, Looney or whomever, somebody really needs to get something good going on and fill the bill there. ~crossing fingers~

Someone(s) will.

 

[Stash]

Here's hoping someone steps up bigtime to fill that left guard spot on our offensive line. Whether it's Bell, Green, Cooper, Cleary, Looney or whomever, somebody really needs to get something good going on and fill the bill there. ~crossing fingers~

I think there are too many candidates to really worry about it. Even if Cooper is a washout (and I don't think he will be), I think Bell is capable of doing a nice job there.

Playing between Smith and Frederick should help whomever wins that job.

 

[Pants]

For whom the bell tolls at LG? It tolls for thee Byron (queue Metallica music)

 

[Bullflop]

I think there are too many candidates to really worry about it. Even if Cooper is a washout (and I don't think he will be), I think Bell is capable of doing a nice job there.

Playing between Smith and Frederick should help whomever wins that job.

I'm really hoping you're right about that. You'd surely think that one of them would have what it takes to do well between two all pros like Smith and Frederick. It will definitely be one of many things to focus on when training camp begins. It won't be too long now, either.

 

[LocimusPrime]

wonder which linemen gets cut

 

[big dog cowboy]

No worries about the LOG position from me. Losing Leary is certainly no reason to be pushing the panic button.

FA's like Bell are excellent guys to be bringing in. Former starters with multiple teams. Small learning curve. Have to fight to make the 53.

 

[Stash]

wonder which linemen gets cut

My feeling is that they'll keep 9 offensive linemen. I think we all know that it's the backbone of this team and I don't think they'll want to undermine that by shortchanging it on the roster.

My guess is that they keep:

Smith
Cooper
Frederick
Martin
Collins
Green
Bell
Looney
Cleary

And I wouldn't be surprised if Theaker and Skipper end up on the practice squad for a year of pro coaching.

 

[CCBoy]

My feeling is that they'll keep 9 offensive linemen. I think we all know that it's the backbone of this team and I don't think they'll want to undermine that by shortchanging it on the roster.

My guess is that they keep:

Smith
Cooper
Frederick
Martin
Collins
Green
Bell
Looney
Cleary

And I wouldn't be surprised if Theaker and Skipper end up on the practice squad for a year of pro coaching.

Great top level, plenty of experience to go around, and I've never seen that kind of depth in an offensive line unit before...

 

[Stash]

Great top level, plenty of experience to go around, and I've never seen that kind of depth in an offensive line unit before...

I think only the 1994 Cowboys look better:

http://www.foxsports.com/nfl/dallas-cowboys-team-roster?season=1994

 

[CCBoy]

I think only the 1994 Cowboys look better:

http://www.foxsports.com/nfl/dallas-cowboys-team-roster?season=1994

For the size, this group is equal to that group, except for a slight scale down and with more group speed. Compared to peers, this group is higher up the totem pole, league wide.

 

[Fla Cowpoke]

Funny to have so much talent on the OL when we think about just 5 years ago trying to patch it together with a bunch of nobodies and over the hill vets.

 

[Hardline]

I don't subscribe to the theory you can just plug anyone between Smith and Frederick and everything will be fine . That's not why Leary was so damn good.

 

[gimmesix]

Here's hoping someone steps up bigtime to fill that left guard spot on our offensive line. Whether it's Bell, Green, Cooper, Cleary, Looney or whomever, somebody really needs to get something good going on and fill the bill there. ~crossing fingers~

I feel better about the position with the acquisition of Bell. He is a solid starting guard if we need him to do it. Dallas is probably hoping either Green or Cooper can be more than that, but if they crash and burn, I believe we have Bell to fall back on. Now, I don't want him starting at right tackle, but I don't think we'll need him there.

 

[gimmesix]

My feeling is that they'll keep 9 offensive linemen. I think we all know that it's the backbone of this team and I don't think they'll want to undermine that by shortchanging it on the roster.

My guess is that they keep:

Smith
Cooper
Frederick
Martin
Collins
Green
Bell
Looney
Cleary

And I wouldn't be surprised if Theaker and Skipper end up on the practice squad for a year of pro coaching.

I agree with you on the group we'll keep and also won't be surprised if those are two of our PS selections.

 

[Stash]

I feel better about the position with the acquisition of Bell. He is a solid starting guard if we need him to do it. Dallas is probably hoping either Green or Cooper can be more than that, but if they crash and burn, I believe we have Bell to fall back on. Now, I don't want him starting at right tackle, but I don't think we'll need him there.

I don't want Bell at tackle either. Even with the significant weight loss, I think his feet are too slow to play outside.

But in terms of the left guard spot, my own preference is Cooper-Bell-Green.

Because I can't trust Green to stay healthy, I don't want to trust him to start.

 

[Verdict]

My feeling is that they'll keep 9 offensive linemen. I think we all know that it's the backbone of this team and I don't think they'll want to undermine that by shortchanging it on the roster.

My guess is that they keep:

Smith
Cooper
Frederick
Martin
Collins
Green
Bell
Looney
Cleary

And I wouldn't be surprised if Theaker and Skipper end up on the practice squad for a year of pro coaching.

It is hard to argue against that list. I could see them going one short there though.

If they go long here at 9, which is possible, they will go short somewhere else. Maybe LB (since they seem to only be playing two LB most of the time) or RB. If they don't go short at RB, or LB and keep 9 OL then either one of the big 4 at tight end is either going on pup, or a gonner unless they cut the FB.

 

[Verdict]

I don't want Bell at tackle either. Even with the significant weight loss, I think his feet are too slow to play outside.

But in terms of the left guard spot, my own preference is Cooper-Bell-Green.

Because I can't trust Green to stay healthy, I don't want to trust him to start.

The problem with that thought process is that Green has actually proven he can play at an above average level.