Do we need to ease up on the offensive line?

[Galian Beast]

1. First year with Callahan.
2. First year with Smith at LT
3. Livings first year in Dallas
4. Cook first year in Dallas, first year starting?
5. Bernadeau first year in Dallas, first year starting (full time?)
6. Doug Free moved back to right tackle

These are all lame excuses but are they valid excuses? Should we give them more than 3 games to get it together?

 

[Cowboys&LakersFan]

1. First year with Callahan.
2. First year with Smith at LT
3. Livings first year in Dallas
4. Cook first year in Dallas, first year starting?
5. Bernadeau first year in Dallas, first year starting (full time?)
6. Doug Free moved back to right tackle

These are all lame excuses but are they valid excuses? Should we give them more than 3 games to get it together?

No. As a football player if you're not doing your job right and you're hurting your team you deserve to and will be criticized. The offensive line has been absolutely atrocious so far in every aspect. They are giving Tony zero time to throw the football and opening up no running lanes for Murray. They simply need to play better if we plan on winning anything. I was very optimistic at the beginning of the season and still am, but we can't win a Super Bowl with the way the OL is playing right now. Not even sure we can make the playoffs unless they step up their game.

 

[BAT]

No. Opposing pass rushers are the ones who need to ease up on the OL.

 

[TheCoolFan]

If you want to see your starting QB get hurt again then sure...let's ease up on the OLine

 

[Tabascocat]

I would give them one more game (Chicago) and if they are still atrocious make a change over the bye week. Maybe even inserting one different player may make a slight difference.

 

[Cowboys&LakersFan]

I would give them one more game (Chicago) and if they are still atrocious make a change over the bye week. Maybe even inserting one different player may make a slight difference.

Who are we supposed to insert? As bad as they guys are they're the best we have. The backups aren't NFL caliber football players.

 

[Tabascocat]

Who are we supposed to insert? As bad as they guys are they're the best we have. The backups aren't NFL caliber football players.

Costa, I can deal with a couple of bad snaps a game if his run blocking is better.

Another option is to insert Parnell at RG or move over Cook to RG to see if any combo is better. I don't know if Parnell can play RG or not but worth a try, I am not sure it can get worse. Unfortunately, Free isn't moving anytime soon.

They can also comb the FA's, maybe get in touch with Holland.

Last option - wrap Romo up in kevlar from head to toe, get in touch with his insurance agent, make a will and hope for the best.

 

[Idgit]

It's Thursday. In other words, about time for you guys to come down out of your respective trees.

The good news: if we win on Monday, we can go back to talking about a shot at the Superbowl.

 

[Galian Beast]

Callahan seems really confident in his zone blocking scheme, but maybe these guys just aren't made for that or maybe they just don't have things down or maybe they just aren't good enough...

 

[ScipioCowboy]

The good news: if we win on Monday, we can go back to talking about a shot at the Superbowl.

Awesome!

Can I start the first thread about it?

 

[Idgit]

Awesome!

Can I start the first thread about it?

You're welcome to try. My money is on somebody beating you to the punch.

 

[Texas_Pete]

Nope. The Defense is carrying us. A few random stats... the Dallas Cowboys are:

1) Last in ppg scored
2) 20th in total offense
3) 29th in rushing
4) 12th in sacks allowed (plus plenty more hits on Romo)

But...on defense:

1) 1st in total defense
2) 2nd in pass defense
3) 19th in rushing defense

LINK

So no, we are not too hard on them. If anything, JG should be more vocal and get in their faces. Something needs to wake them up before they get our franchise QB killed out there.

 

[Dave_in-NC]

Only if the defenses promise to two hand touch Tony.

 

[BIGDen]

Callahan seems really confident in his zone blocking scheme, but maybe these guys just aren't made for that or maybe they just don't have things down or maybe they just aren't good enough...

Callahan is very confident in his scheme and obviously had some input as to what players they should go after. He had to at least give the OK on Livings and Bernadeau and I would think his opinion on Holland has some bearing on why they haven't signed him (unless it's all Jones just being cheap and stubborn). Callahan/Garrett/Jones have not proven to be smarter than the rest of the league at this point. I really hope that we start to see some of the benefits of Callahan's coaching soon, because the OL stinks and him helping Garrett has not been apparent at all thus far.

 

[HoosierCowboy]

I've said this at least seven times and i'll say it again:

--no excuses but we can look at causes
--one cause of this OL being shacky is lack of talent (no HOFers yet)
--but the main reason is lack of continuity and experience
--another is that while they are getting to know each other, we have played a few good fronts
--this will get better (wishful thinking)
--is it does not, we make some moves
--but the one thing I do know, it is too early to panic--wait until at least after the bye

 

[InmanRoshi]

You're also forgetting that the interior OL was hurt almost all training camp and they got in almost no work together as a starting five. Watching the games it's obvious that they're having communication problems and familiarity problems as much as talent problems (see Free not helping Witten on the inside on a sack). The games may count, but the OL's just now having their preseason together.

 

[CowboysPhan]

I don't think "ease up" is the right term. I think the coaches and the players themselves need to be being really tough on them right now, and they deserve whatever criticism they get. However, we as fans might need to ease up on our time-frame of expectations a bit. It's really painful to watch this mess right now, but as has been stated over and over by coaches, players, commentators, etc. for years: the main ingredient for a good o-line is continuity!
These guys are all basically new to each other and to the coach's scheme. Are they playing like horse-poo? You bet they are! Does that mean they will still be playing like horse-poo in a few weeks? No one knows, but odds are if they stay together that long they will start to improve quite a bit as they build continuity.
Someone said earlier in the thread that there's no way we make the playoffs or win the superbowl with them playing like they are right now.
I couldn't agree more. But it is likely they won't be playing like they are right now the whole season. We, the fans, can gripe about them all we want, and heaven knows they deserve it, but at the end of the day, these are the guys we have, and we have to hope they improve. I think they definitely will. What I don't know is if they will improve enough.

 

[AMERICAS_FAN]

Yeah, I'll ease up on the OL if Julius Peppers and Co. Agree to ease up on them.

 

[CowboysFaninHouston]

1. First year with Callahan.
2. First year with Smith at LT
3. Livings first year in Dallas
4. Cook first year in Dallas, first year starting?
5. Bernadeau first year in Dallas, first year starting (full time?)
6. Doug Free moved back to right tackle

These are all lame excuses but are they valid excuses? Should we give them more than 3 games to get it together?

and these guys never really played together during off season.

 

[elcowboi]

1. First year with Callahan.
2. First year with Smith at LT
3. Livings first year in Dallas
4. Cook first year in Dallas, first year starting?
5. Bernadeau first year in Dallas, first year starting (full time?)
6. Doug Free moved back to right tackle

These are all lame excuses but are they valid excuses? Should we give them more than 3 games to get it together?

I think they can definitely play better but I also do think they didn't get to gel and that's playing a part as well.