Line Shuffle
Kosier's Injury Opens Door For Three Candidates
Nick Eatman - Email
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
August 25, 2008 4:58 PM
IRVING, Texas - In the last two weeks, the Cowboys certainly hadn't escaped the injury bug, but they were on their way to being three preseason games down without losing a regular starter for a lengthy time.
But that's when left guard Kyle Kosier, who was still in the game in the fourth quarter of Friday's 23-22 win over Houston, suffered a hairline fracture in his right foot.
Just like that, Kosier in his hard cast, needing surgery and out 4-6 weeks.
And the Cowboys are left scrambling for a replacement.
But instead of just going to the next guy on the depth chart, the Cowboys might be looking for their next-best lineman.
And with that logic, that's where using third-year tackle Pat McQuistan might make the most sense. The Cowboys could also look at backup guards Joe Berger and Cory Procter, but when they lined the first-teamers up at the beginning of Monday's practice, it was McQuistan working with the first group.
"We're looking at all three of those guys this week," head coach Wade Phillips said. "All of them will get an opportunity to play in the game. We should have some idea what we'll do after the game."
While the Cowboys might not play many regular starters in Thursday's game, Phillips said he expects to get a good look at the left guard spot, regardless if left tackle Flozell Adams or center Andre Gurode is in the game around him.
Phillips might not want to play his starters, considering he sat down 17 starters from last year's preseason finale in Minnesota, but it sounds like he would prefer the Vikings to at least play some of their top defensive players.
"They've got two of the best defensive tackles in the league," Phillips said of the Vikings, referring to Kevin Williams and Pat Williams. "So we should get a good look."
If anything, having McQuistan in the starting lineup would keep the Cowboys as one of the biggest, and certainly tallest, offensive lines in the league.
The 6-6 McQuistan, who played both guard and tackle in his college days at Weber State, would play in between Pro Bowlers Adams (6-7) and Gurode (6-4). And it's not like the right side is vertically challenged with 6-6 guard Leonard Davis and 6-8 right tackle Marc Colombo.
Whether or not the Cowboys decide on McQuistan for the current job, it won't be the first time they've toyed with the idea.
In fact, the club had planned on letting McQuistan compete for the starting job last year with Kosier during the start of the summer practices - OTA's and mini-camps. However, because both Adams and Colombo had off-season knee scopes last summer, the Cowboys couldn't afford to let McQuistan battle inside.
The Cowboys had just drafted both Doug Free and James Marten in the previous draft, but didn't feel comfortable enough to pull McQuistan away from tackle. So therefore, Kosier resumed his starting left guard duties without much competition.
But it's not like he didn't play well enough last year. Kosier was a solid piece to the offensive line, but was often considered the weak link because the group produced three Pro Bowlers - Adams, Gurode and Davis.
"Kyle is very underrated," Gurode said. "It's a big loss for us. We work well together. That's the thing about our offensive line, we work as a group. So if one guy goes down, we expect the next guy to step up - whoever it is. If it's Berger, Cory Procter or Pat McQuistan, that guy is going to come in and play well."
And Kosier said he will make sure of that.
"I'm going to help out as much I can," Kosier said. "It's going to be hard for Flo too because he's played next to me for 34 games. So I'm going to help out the best I can. It's going to be tough, but whoever they put in there, they're going to manage. They'll be all right. They're playing around three Pro Bowlers so they'll be all right."
Then again, this is rather new territory for Kosier, who has only been inactive for one game in his career.
"I have no idea. I've never been in this situation," he said when asked how to handle his injury. "I've always had injuries I could play through. This one I can't. This is all new to me."
Kosier said all three candidates to replace him are viable, but had strong praise for Berger, whom the Cowboys claimed off waivers from the Dolphins late in the 2006 season.
"I think he's just learned the system. He's gotten used to playing right and left," Kosier said of Berger. "Being a backup, you have to play more than one position. He's done well learning the system and playing with different guys next to him. Since Joe's got here he's a completely different player . . . He's ready. But so is Pat. So is Cory. Whoever they put in there, they'll be fine."
While it sounds like the Cowboys might be giving McQuistan the first try, putting him at left guard will also shuffle other parts of the line. Since he served as the team's "swing" tackle last year, for his ability to play both right and left tackle during a game, the Cowboys might have to look at Free some at right tackle. He has been Adams' primary backup on the left side.
Phillips said that Marten, who has worked mainly at guard this training camp, would probably slide back out to tackle, the position he played last year and primarily in college.
With just one injury, the offensive line has turned into a game of dominoes. With the regular-season opener now less than two weeks away, it's safe to the Cowboys are hoping to keep any more dominoes, particularly on the offensive line, from falling.
