ESPN Clayton: Discusses why he thinks Dallas finishes 3rd or 4th in NFCE

[RS12]

Last year's Pitt game is an excellent example. We dominated Pitts offense for the majority of the game....Late in the third, we have Roths running for his life....he throws up a prayer. Newman wasn't paying attention and got burned.

The whole game went to crap when Holland went out and Proctor came in.

 

[BourbonBalz]

I dont care what anyone says - our OL is not our strength.

No, no it's not, but if they all stay healthy it might not be a weakness either. The O line needs to do several things to get this team where I think it can be. 1) Stay healthy. I know, a no-brainer. 2) Develop a nasty run-blocking attitude to match their size and strength 3) Quit committing stupid penalties in key situations. If they do all of these fairly well, we'll be a Super Bowl contender.

 

[Primetime42]

Clayton is on to something in his flawed thinking.

If this line plays like it did 2 years ago, we'll be near unstoppable.

If it plays like last year, we're gonna struggle against good D's.

 

[Primetime42]

I agree with Clayton about the O-line being key, but not about them being a frail bunch like the Bears and Commanders. There's nothing frail about any of them.

That said, I do hope OL is a major focus of the 2010 Draft. It would be nice to be as successful with that as the 2005 Draft was on D-line.

Let's assume your contact is right about Doug Free.

Two years time, he's our LT

Gurode and Bigg will be around a bit longer.

Columbo is here as long as he's not injured. So far so good on that front.

Brewster has guard written all over him to me. Does he slide into the LG spot?

I think we have to worry about young depth we can count on there for the time being. We're not terrible on that front.

 

[UnoDallas]

this my draft right now

1 rd OT – Sam Young Notre Dame 6-7 #330 or
Anthony Davis Rutgers 6-5 #330 Jr

2 NT – Boo Robinsoin Wake Forest 6-2 #325

3 OG – John Jerry Ole Miss 6-5 #350 or
Brandon Carter Texas Tech 6-7 #350
Vladimir Ducasse U Mass 6-5 #330

4 ISLBR – Micah Johnson Kentucky 6-2 #254
Daryl Washington TCU 6-3 #228

 

[Idgit]

Well, this is true.:

I don't mean to be so pessimistic, but I'm finding it extremely difficult to get excited about the upcoming season. Honestly, I've never felt less enthusiastic or confident as a Cowboys fan than I do now.:

Whenever I get down, I just think 'Head Coach, Jim Zorn,' and I feel all better.

I'm surprised to hear you're down on the team this year. These are the kind of season I live for: we've got a competitive team, a good defense, and a QB that's capable of winning it all. I don't think there's a team in the NFC that's head and shoulders above us.

Though, I almost always feel like the Cowboys have at least an outside shot at a wildcard at the very least. Even in the Quincy/Hambrick years I tried to put on a brave face. About the only season I just couldn't tolerate in recent memory was the year we went into the season with Vinny Testeverde starting at QB. God, that was a horrible feeling.

 

[STSINAZ]

just read kc joyners latest publication...thats all you have to do to realize our o line sucks at times...especially if there is an injury..odds are someone will get hurt...i hope holland stays healthy!

 

[Doomsday101]

I did recently read that they would be resting Colombo and Flozell during 2 a days.

Someone in another thread was whining about it, but they're going to be practicing on turf which is rough on these big guys.

In my view camp is to get ready for the season not to beat each other to hell. I want to see the starting O-line get some good work in but I think it is more important to get the backups on the O-line as much work as we can in case we have to call on them during the season. I think their is a fine line of getting in physical work and going over board to the point that your team is beat up before the regular season even starts. It is easy for fans to play macho man they don't have to play 16 reg season games.

 

[Alexander]

OL play - Go back to the Giants PO loss in 2007 and see how our healthy O-lineplayed in the 4th quarter of that loss. Romo was absolutely running for his life. THAT is a recipe for disaster. The same was true too often late last year but at least in that scenario we were injured. Not everyone can bring the heat like the Giants & Philly, but BTW - they are both in our division.

My concern is that with these 30-somethings is whether or not they are conditioned property for the long haul.

That Giants game should be watched over and over again. Why? Because it proved that our line lacks stamina.

If there is one thing that is underestimated about the great lines of the 1990s is that they blocked better as the game went along and as the season closed out. They wore tired defenses down.

The Giants defensive line in that game rotated heavily and their linemen were younger and in better shape. They also didn't give up after being on the field for nearly the entire second quarter. They came out in the second half, took it too what looked like a tired Cowboy offensive line and made the game theirs.

All I can say is that we had better ensure that the line is in tip top shape. I understand Phillips will probably keep Adams and Colombo on light practice schedules all season long. I am not sure if that's the best approach. They might be more rested, but they won't be that battle-hardened.

 

[Doomsday]

Do any of you realize how hurt Flozell was playing last year?

Don't forget that part. With that injury and the injury to Kozier, our left side was a bandaid every week.

I think Bigg and Columbo do a fine job. I also think Gurode does a fine job. What is the issue is LG and LT. I think Holland will help out a lot.

Isnt that part of the point though? When you have 5 guys in the 30s they are much more likely to get hurt and last season showed they dont have anyone ready to step in and fill the void.

I get people dont like Clayton, but he makes a valid point. Anyone who doesnt have concearns about Dallas' oline needs to put down the Kool Aid.

 

[tyke1doe]

you guys are arguing a whole different argument because you guys are generalizing the known baseline fact of the need for a good line. Well everyone on this board will agree with you there.

That is not the point Clayton is making about the Cowboys. He is saying the Cowboys line are all in their 30s and they will not hold up by mid year. It is this argument that Clayton makes that some here are questioning.

So lets not agree or disagree just for the sake of it and make sure we are debating the same thing.

Clayton didn't spell it out very clearly, but I think I understand what is implied.
Because of our line's age, it has injury issues. I'm operating under that assumption. Now, as I stated previously, offensive linemen can play into their 30s. But offensive linemen who are banged up may not be able to do so. I'm hoping that the offensive line can overcome its injuries and play together as a unit throughout the entire season. But if not, we have to get youth in there.

That was my point. And I think it flows from Clayton's point - even if it wasn't spelled out definitively.

 

[tyke1doe]

Isnt that part of the point though? When you have 5 guys in the 30s they are much more likely to get hurt and last season showed they dont have anyone read to step in fill the void.

I get people dont like Clayton, but he makes a valid point. Anyone who doesnt have concearns about Dallas' oline needs to put down the Kool Aid.

And Bingo was his Name-o!

 

[burmafrd]

Actually the correlation between age and injury depends on the position they play. Also on whether they are constantly running or staying pretty much in the same place. That is why O linemen last longer then just about any position other then QB. They do not do that much moving around-which is usually when you get injured. That is why this bilge about age 30 is just that when you are talking O line. I will say however that this holds only on those athletes WHO ARE IN CONDITION AND STAY THAT WAY.
The Giants game was a perfect example of an O line that got tired. Nate and others have bluntly stated that the O line was exhausted in the 4th quarter.
Part of that was because the Giants were able to platoon and have rested players in the 4th. BUT part of it was that our O line had NOT been doing enough running to build up their wind in the previous few weeks. If you are worried about injuries put them on the stationary bikes. Whatever it takes to make sure they have the wind to last. AND also it would be a good idea to play our backups some as well-it rests our starters and it gives experience to the backups. Last year when the Hotel could not lift one arm and the other had an infected hand that prevented him from punching we STILL DID NOT PLAY ANYONE ELSE. If our backups were that bad then we should have spent some money this season or traded or gotten a higher pick to get someone ready to play. That is what worries me- I question if our staff is good enough to figure this all out.

 

[Alexander]

The Giants game was a perfect example of an O line that got tired. Nate and others have bluntly stated that the O line was exhausted in the 4th quarter.
Part of that was because the Giants were able to platoon and have rested players in the 4th. BUT part of it was that our O line had NOT been doing enough running to build up their wind in the previous few weeks. If you are worried about injuries put them on the stationary bikes. Whatever it takes to make sure they have the wind to last. AND also it would be a good idea to play our backups some as well-it rests our starters and it gives experience to the backups. Last year when the Hotel could not lift one arm and the other had an infected hand that prevented him from punching we STILL DID NOT PLAY ANYONE ELSE. If our backups were that bad then we should have spent some money this season or traded or gotten a higher pick to get someone ready to play.

Great points, which is why I wanted an OL heavy draft to get players that fit. We didn't get that. We got one fresh body. So either we just played around and really do like Free and McQuistan or we are just keeping our fingers crossed we can get a full season out of all the 30-somethings.

That is what worries me- I question if our staff is good enough to figure this all out.

Or have the right players to give the starters a rest given what we do.

I am of the firm belief Houck still doesn't trust what he inherited. I am sure the scheme changed with his arrival from what Sparano had in place to what he prefers.

 

[burmafrd]

What really bugs me is that several of the games we had pretty safely won in the last quarter and we still did not play any O line backups. That is just plain stupid. If you do not know whether a player can play you have to play them to find out. We didn't.

 

[starfrombirth]

Just how old do you think our line is?

Ok so if they aren't old then what is there excuse?

 

[Jon88]

Not learning how to draft O-Lineman is my number one pete peeve of this team. Signing problem players used to be number one, but I think Jerry finally learned.

 

[NoLuv4Jerry]

you guys can pooh pooh Clayton all you want...but his reasoning is simplistic and is ALWAYS going to be the basis of whether a team contends or not. If the OL plays well (which I have my doubts), we will be succesful.

I have doubts because I do NOT like Gurode at Center. I strongly believe that if the Cowboys could have drafted the Center they coveted in the 2nd round...Gurode would have been moved to Guard.

I have doubts because I do not like Flo as a starting LT. Simply put, he makes mistakes at inopportune times.

I don't like our depth on the interior of the OL...when Corey Procter is the 1st guy of your bench...your depth is bad.

I have doubts because for $50M, Davis simply does not impact the game the way a $50M guard should. He should be Larry Allen, instead he is a ?

I like Columbos attitude...if EVERY one of the OL had his attitude, then I would have ZERO doubts about the OL...but attitude can only go so far when you have physical limitations. And Columbo has them.

 

[Jon88]

you guys can pooh pooh Clayton all you want...but his reasoning is simplistic and is ALWAYS going to be the basis of whether a team contends or not. If the OL plays well (which I have my doubts), we will be succesful.

I have doubts because I do NOT like Gurode at Center. I strongly believe that if the Cowboys could have drafted the Center they coveted in the 2nd round...Gurode would have been moved to Guard.

I have doubts because I do not like Flo as a starting LT. Simply put, he makes mistakes at inopportune times.

I don't like our depth on the interior of the OL...when Corey Procter is the 1st guy of your bench...your depth is bad.

I have doubts because for $50M, Davis simply does not impact the game the way a $50M guard should. He should be Larry Allen, instead he is a ?

I like Columbos attitude...if EVERY one of the OL had his attitude, then I would have ZERO doubts about the OL...but attitude can only go so far when you have physical limitations. And Columbo has them.

We'll be stuck with signing other team's players at $10 million more than we should until we learn how to draft linemen.

 

[cobra]

Ok, so now we are drafting OL in the first 2 rounds?

I thought we were supposed to be drafting WRs in the first 2 rounds?

Or was that safeties?

Or NTs?

Shoot, I can't keep it straight. It would be much easier if we just had 32 first round picks, because then we could draft the team that some of y'all won't shut up about until we get: Pro Bowlers are every position and at backups.