Eatman: O-Line Losing Battles Up Front Starting to Become An Alarming Trend

[WarDaddy]

This game has been and always will be about matchups. When the matchups are favorable, like they were for the overwhelming majority of last year, the good guys win and all is well in Big D. When the matchups are not as good, the good guys can lose. It happens. It happens even more when there is significant change in a position group.

We have had two major position groups (three if you count LBs with Lee and Hitchens out) undergo major change since last year. There are supposed to be growing pains and we're seeing them live and in color. It would have been easier to digest at 3-1 but that's not reality now.

Still this team is 2-2 in a wide open NFC. No one is running away with this thing. If we can stay healthy and trend towards playing our best ball by year's end we could be better than last year. I will say that we look better at corner and at right tackle so far with both of those positions improving by the week.

If we can finish 10-6 I can see this team winning playoff games at the end of this season.

 

[CowboyRoy]

ARLINGTON, Texas – In the book of football clichés, you always hear “everything starts up front.”

So let’s start there. Unfortunately, that’s where it ends as well for the Cowboys.

This offensive line might have started off well, but by the end, that’s where this game was lost for the Cowboys. And that’s strange to say because we entered this season still thinking this O-line was an elite group that would handle their personnel changes with ease.

So far after four games, this unit has not only been handled twice, resulting in two losses, but didn’t look overly impressive in the other two outings as well.

This is becoming a problem, and it’s the reason the Cowboys were on the wrong side of a 35-30 shootout here at AT&T Stadium.

http://www.dallascowboys.com/news/2...-battles-front-starting-become-alarming-trend

last time I checked, 30 will get you a win 90% of the time. Its when your horrid defense gives up 35 that you are in trouble.

 

[mahoneybill]

I cringe at the thought of not using those picks on defense

so true, even with the line problems we still scored 30 pts, and gifted at least 7-10 off turnovers, without getting any from them. When you hold a team to 7 fgs you are performing to a high degree, but giving them added opportunities on big plays, long 3rd down conversions, and short fields is a recipe for an L any day of the week.

 

[TheHerd]

I'd flip them too.

But we have a stubborn front office and coaching staff.

Collins back to OG and Green to RT. That being said, Green can't stay healthy so maybe Collins at RT is going to hold because they view the RT as a more important position and can't trust Green to stay healthy, resulting in some like Bell, who isn't very good having to play RT if Collins were to go to LG?

This. They can't move Green out to tackle because he isn't on the field more than a few games in a row. Collins may need to move back to guard, but we need a RT and there is no one capable. Green isn't the answer.

 

[diefree666]

This. They can't move Green out to tackle because he isn't on the field more than a few games in a row. Collins may need to move back to guard, but we need a RT and there is no one capable. Green isn't the answer.

I think Cooper can be a good guard; good enough with working with the talent around him. However Fredbeard has NOT been playing well and Tyron is inconsistent this season. Even Martin is not playing up to the level of last year.

I worry there is more here then just trying to get 5 guys to work as one.

 

[Sydla]

I think Cooper can be a good guard; good enough with working with the talent around him. However Fredbeard has NOT been playing well and Tyron is inconsistent this season. Even Martin is not playing up to the level of last year.

I worry there is more here then just trying to get 5 guys to work as one.

I wasn't paying a ton of attention to the OL but damn, if every time Prescott got pressure on him up the middle, there was Cooper standing there with a big dumb look on his face.

 

[TheHerd]

I think Cooper can be a good guard; good enough with working with the talent around him. However Fredbeard has NOT been playing well and Tyron is inconsistent this season. Even Martin is not playing up to the level of last year.

I worry there is more here then just trying to get 5 guys to work as one.

Totally agree, and I said this in another thread. Beard and Tyron are getting beat a lot, and not because they are trying to help the LG. Disturbing trend for sure.

 

[diefree666]

I wasn't paying a ton of attention to the OL but damn, if every time Prescott got pressure on him up the middle, there was Cooper standing there with a big dumb look on his face.

Of course Cooper playing yesterday for the first time in a month might have something to do with it

 

[btcutter]

Couple the poor line play with a QB that for some reason just does not seem comfortable in the pocket and you have a 2-2 team. Granted, there is a long laundry list of reasons why this team is 2-2, but these two main issues are pretty glaring at this point because they were not issues last year.

Dak is not only inaccurate this year he is also holding on to the ball longer. Both magnifies the issue we have with the OL.

 

[gmoney112]

This game has been and always will be about matchups. When the matchups are favorable, like they were for the overwhelming majority of last year, the good guys win and all is well in Big D. When the matchups are not as good, the good guys can lose. It happens. It happens even more when there is significant change in a position group.

We have had two major position groups (three if you count LBs with Lee and Hitchens out) undergo major change since last year. There are supposed to be growing pains and we're seeing them live and in color. It would have been easier to digest at 3-1 but that's not reality now.

Still this team is 2-2 in a wide open NFC. No one is running away with this thing. If we can stay healthy and trend towards playing our best ball by year's end we could be better than last year. I will say that we look better at corner and at right tackle so far with both of those positions improving by the week.

If we can finish 10-6 I can see this team winning playoff games at the end of this season.

Holy bleep, objectivity. Few and far between here in the *eerie music* Cowboys Zone.

 

[Doc50]

This game has been and always will be about matchups. When the matchups are favorable, like they were for the overwhelming majority of last year, the good guys win and all is well in Big D. When the matchups are not as good, the good guys can lose. It happens. It happens even more when there is significant change in a position group.

We have had two major position groups (three if you count LBs with Lee and Hitchens out) undergo major change since last year. There are supposed to be growing pains and we're seeing them live and in color. It would have been easier to digest at 3-1 but that's not reality now.

Still this team is 2-2 in a wide open NFC. No one is running away with this thing. If we can stay healthy and trend towards playing our best ball by year's end we could be better than last year. I will say that we look better at corner and at right tackle so far with both of those positions improving by the week.

If we can finish 10-6 I can see this team winning playoff games at the end of this season.

Even 9-7 will likely make the post-season, and our youth in the secondary and our "unjelled" OL should improve as the season unfolds.
We'll have Lee and Hitchens soon, and that will make the entire D better. Jaylon is still a rookie, and he'll continue to improve.

Dak has a lot more on his plate this year, and he's not settled in yet.
Our schedule is a lot tougher this year, therefore, so are the matchups.

This entire scenario should not be surprising, considering our youth and inexperience versus the opponents on our schedule.

 

[Gameover]

After a great 2014, this is how the OL(and Romo) performed in 2015.

Remember Martin's stinger?

 

[Iago33]

Of course Cooper playing yesterday for the first time in a month might have something to do with it

In the postage show, Cooper seemed pleased with his play....

 

[mahoneybill]

Even 9-7 will likely make the post-season, and our youth in the secondary and our "unjelled" OL should improve as the season unfolds.
We'll have Lee and Hitchens soon, and that will make the entire D better. Jaylon is still a rookie, and he'll continue to improve.

Dak has a lot more on his plate this year, and he's not settled in yet.
Our schedule is a lot tougher this year, therefore, so are the matchups.

This entire scenario should not be surprising, considering our youth and inexperience versus the opponents on our schedule.

Well stated reality check.. Throw in the drama surrounding do we or don't we have Zeke and it makes for a turbulent start/season at best

 

[Doomsday]

What is up with Frederick, he doesn't look close to the all pro he was last season.

 

[Supercowboy1986]

It has been frustrating to see other teams run the ball more effectively than us.

I know that's more indicative of our front 7 being lower tier and not our opponents having superior offensive lines. But still.

Seeing the rams offensive lines open holes up for TG while ours couldn't open even the slightest hole for EE was hard to swallow.

 

[diefree666]

What is up with Frederick, he doesn't look close to the all pro he was last season.

frankly Fredbeard us the one I am really worrying about; something is just not right there.

 

[TheCoolFan]

Gotta execute better so that they can give Dak 10 seconds to scan the field for these long-developing routes and if that doesn't work then time to draft more 1st round OL talent! We need to re-create the 90s teams with the most dominant OL in football, isn't that right Jerry/Jason??