Do we need to address O-line next year?

[Disturbed]

Yes we must draft 2 OL next year (one high and one mid round). We must continue to re-build the line to help all areas of team. A better line will help the defense -- we can sustain drives and have fewer 3 and outs which kills our defense...and improve field position which will help special teams. In fact, we should continue to draft OL for the forseeable future.

The defense needs to focus on the DL next year. JJ likes to focus on making a splash with high profile picks...but next year he needs to focus on the blue collar lunch pale linemen who don't mind doing the dirty work. Young, big, mean, and nasty defensive linemen...

Fix the lines and you fix a lot of what is wrong with the team.

 

[TonyS]

Tell me what our injuries will be and I will let you know who we should draft next year. ;-)

Our D was decimated by injuries to Ratliff, Spencer, Ware, Crawford, Bass, Lee, etc... ad nauseum. If we get Crawford back healthy, Bass back healthy, sign Spencer to a cheaper contract (?) and he can stay healthy, etc... our D could become more formidable.

While we should be targeting some positions (DE, DT, S), we should always draft BPA when possible and trade back if better option. We should never enter a draft with, "Draft Defense at all costs" mentality. That is what gets you a lopsided and under-talented team.

Our O-Line is a strength this year, but key injuries like we had on the D-Line this year and you'd be looking at a new QB as Romo would be out by week 3.

 

[JoeyBoy718]

Yes we must draft 2 OL next year (one high and one mid round). We must continue to re-build the line to help all areas of team. A better line will help the defense -- we can sustain drives and have fewer 3 and outs which kills our defense...and improve field position which will help special teams. In fact, we should continue to draft OL for the forseeable future.

The defense needs to focus on the DL next year. JJ likes to focus on making a splash with high profile picks...but next year he needs to focus on the blue collar lunch pale linemen who don't mind doing the dirty work. Young, big, mean, and nasty defensive linemen...

Fix the lines and you fix a lot of what is wrong with the team.

That makes sense, but this season contradicts that. Our line is far from the problem this year. The Packers game is a perfect example. Our line was playing great, our running game was working, and we had a 23 point lead. We lost because the defense was awful and we abandoned the run for some "bizarre" reason. I don't agree that "fix the lines and you fix a lot of what is wrong with the team" when it comes to the O-line, since our O-line was playing fine and we still lost. My point with this thread is, I believe our O-line (as is) will be good enough next year to win IF we fix the play calling and defense. I agree with your premise but I don't agree that the 5 guys starting on our O-line as we speak are the problem.

 

[Ren]

we could use an upgrade at RG as well as better depth, DL is what needs to be a priority though

 

[xwalker]

I know this was a definite YES! last year, but we seemed to have turned this from a weakness to a strength. Obviously, Smith and Fred are our pillars for the next decade. Also, Free took a pay cut and played very well this year. Last but not least, our guards are surprisingly playing well too. Bern has really stepped up and has outplayed Waters. People forget he's young too. We brought him in here because he had starter potential and he may very well be proving us right. Leary was brought in in a low-risk, high-reward move. An undrafted free agent with degenerative knee issues. Well, he's been healthy and has been improving all season. We don't have much depth but Parnell can be a solid swing tackle, Costa is a solid backup center, and we could even bring Waters back for another year.

If we didn't have so many holes on defense, I would say let's still draft O-line early next year. But our defense is so bad that I think we need to spend EVERY draft pick and free agent acquisition on defense. I also think we're set on offense for at least next year in the personnel department. The only thing I think we could use is a RB, but I have faith that Murray can remain healthy and he still has a year left on his contract. The only thing I think our offense needs ASAP is a new coach/coordinator and play caller. I think we can afford to not address offense for a year for the sake of putting all our energy into improving our defense. What do you think?

Absolutely YES. They are 1 injury away from Costa starting. I don't know if he can even play OG or if they would have to move Fred over with Costa at Center. Bernadeau and Leary have both had some injury issues in the past.

The draft looks really good for OL in the 1st and 2nd.

There are 4 really good OTs at the top. If any of them fall to the Cowboys pick, it would be difficult to pass. They all have the power and build to also play Guard. Flozell played Guard his rookie year.

They are some Guards in the draft that look like they could be dominant type players.

I'm not as sold on the DLine players in this draft. There are a few good ones but it's not good to force a pick for need purposes.

If they cut Ware and Austin, they can afford some top young free agents. It might be good to add a young free agent or two to the DL and not depend completely on draft picks to upgrade that unit.

 

[AbeBeta]

I'd look to draft a T at some point.

I'd totally try to get Waters back for another year. He plays pretty cheap and if we can get some camp out of him (at least conditioning) he'd be a plus. I really think that the younger guys learned a lot from him.

I think there is value in drafting an OL every year. That's a position where you something hit big on later picks

 

[Tawney88]

I know this was a definite YES! last year, but we seemed to have turned this from a weakness to a strength. Obviously, Smith and Fred are our pillars for the next decade. Also, Free took a pay cut and played very well this year. Last but not least, our guards are surprisingly playing well too. Bern has really stepped up and has outplayed Waters. People forget he's young too. We brought him in here because he had starter potential and he may very well be proving us right. Leary was brought in in a low-risk, high-reward move. An undrafted free agent with degenerative knee issues. Well, he's been healthy and has been improving all season. We don't have much depth but Parnell can be a solid swing tackle, Costa is a solid backup center, and we could even bring Waters back for another year.

If we didn't have so many holes on defense, I would say let's still draft O-line early next year. But our defense is so bad that I think we need to spend EVERY draft pick and free agent acquisition on defense. I also think we're set on offense for at least next year in the personnel department. The only thing I think we could use is a RB, but I have faith that Murray can remain healthy and he still has a year left on his contract. The only thing I think our offense needs ASAP is a new coach/coordinator and play caller. I think we can afford to not address offense for a year for the sake of putting all our energy into improving our defense. What do you think?

The answer is yes. Always yes. Dline too obviously.

 

[casmith07]

With the way this offensive line is playing, I go into next season starting these 5 guys, easily.

Obviously if there is an opportunity for an improvement, you take it. Otherwise, focus on the defense. We have probably the best run blocking offensive line in football right now.

 

[Risen Star]

We need to address too many issues for one offseason. We've got two band-aids at OG. Waters might not even be here next year and Leary is a game by game situation. Bernadeau is a career backup. Do you trust him? I don't. Doug Free is serviceable on his best day. We certainly shouldn't settle for him. We have no depth whatsoever behind the starters.

You should always beef up your trenches when you can anyway. Make sure you're as strong as you can be there. It'll cover up for a lot of other issues away from the line of scrimmage.

 

[burmafrd]

OP is truly blind if he thinks bernie outplayed waters

 

[JoeyBoy718]

OP is truly blind if he thinks bernie outplayed waters

I'm not the only one who's said it. PFF shows it, whether or not you want to believe that. If he didn't outplay Waters, at least there wasn't much drop-off when Waters when down. Can you at least agree with that? Probably not.