Fear the Beard

[Knotamus]

The worst part of the offseason is apon us. As a fanatic Cowboys fan, I tend to watch replays of last years games to get me pumped for the up coming season. (I hope I'm not the only one that does this I was watching a replay of the Dallas v. Cinn game and one player stood out to me and I don't think he gets praised enough. I'm talking about Travis Frederick.

Yeah, I know. He's an All-Pro and is mentioned as one of the big three on our OL, but more folks talk about how freakish Tyron Smith is and how 'The President' Zach Martin dominates. The media will mention, how collectively, our OL is the best. Rarely, do you hear Fredricks name first. Try looking up highlights of the man. Too little highlights of a player of his caliber and importantance.

Back to the game.. if you watch the first drive (where our OL completely dominated) on the first drive that lead to an Elliott's TD, Frederick actually gets pushed from behind by Leary and falls to his knees. Travis still manages, from his knees, to block Pro-bowl LB Vontaze Burfict and allow Elliott to run 15 yards for the games first score. Simply, Amazing.

When Dallas picked Frederick 'out of know where' after a trade down in 2013, I'll admit.. I had a confused look myself. But thankfully, Dallas knew exactly what they were trying to accomplish. They grabbed a former college wrestler, graduate computer engineer, with the intelligence of a genius to man the core of our OL. He deciphers plays quickly, which surely helps Prescotts development:

"So, just having a veteran like that just allows me to feel that much more comfortable - I know the checks already, but if it's ever a situation where it's 50-50, I know I've got a guy right there I can just kind of whisper to and he's going to put me in the right situation."-Dak Prescott

When a number of players on the team like Dez, Dak, Elliott, Witten, Lee.. etc, get the spotlight.. I feel a tribute and an appreciation thread for the best Center in the league is appropriate. I've added a couple of links, but feel free to add more... And fear the beard.

http://www.dallascowboys.com/video/2014/01/15/film-review-travis-frederick

 

[JoeKing]

Life without Cowboys football is not worth living which is why half the year sucks every year. The worst part of 2017 is almost over and the anticipation of the coming Cowboys season is buzzing like when I was a kid on Christmas Eve except this gift last the rest of the year. I've watched all the highlights of last season that I can stand... the Cowboys were a very good team then. Now I suspect they will only be better and with that expectation wonder how will that translate on the gridiron? With a harder schedule in 2017 will a 10-6 season be as satisfying as 2016's 13-3 season? I suspect the answer to that depends on how the playoffs go. NFC title game here we come... oh wait, sorry. I got visions of grandeur there for a second. Go Cowboys!

 

[dallasdave]

The worst part of the offseason is apon us. As a fanatic Cowboys fan, I tend to watch replays of last years games to get me pumped for the up coming season. (I hope I'm not the only one that does this I was watching a replay of the Dallas v. Cinn game and one player stood out to me and I don't think he gets praised enough. I'm talking about Travis Frederick.

Yeah, I know. He's an All-Pro and is mentioned as one of the big three on our OL, but more folks talk about how freakish Tyron Smith is and how 'The President' Zach Martin dominates. The media will mention, how collectively, our OL is the best. Rarely, do you hear Fredricks name first. Try looking up highlights of the man. Too little highlights of a player of his caliber and importantance.

Back to the game.. if you watch the first drive (where our OL completely dominated) on the first drive that lead to an Elliott's TD, Frederick actually gets pushed from behind by Leary and falls to his knees. Travis still manages, from his knees, to block Pro-bowl LB Vontaze Burfict and allow Elliott to run 15 yards for the games first score. Simply, Amazing.

When Dallas picked Frederick 'out of know where' after a trade down in 2013, I'll admit.. I had a confused look myself. But thankfully, Dallas knew exactly what they were trying to accomplish. They grabbed a former college wrestler, graduate computer engineer, with the intelligence of a genius to man the core of our OL. He deciphers plays quickly, which surely helps Prescotts development:

"So, just having a veteran like that just allows me to feel that much more comfortable - I know the checks already, but if it's ever a situation where it's 50-50, I know I've got a guy right there I can just kind of whisper to and he's going to put me in the right situation."-Dak Prescott

When a number of players on the team like Dez, Dak, Elliott, Witten, Lee.. etc, get the spotlight.. I feel a tribute and an appreciation thread for the best Center in the league is appropriate. I've added a couple of links, but feel free to add more... And fear the beard.

http://www.dallascowboys.com/video/2014/01/15/film-review-travis-frederick

Nice read and write up.

 

[conner01]

Well to toot my own horn I was really hyping beard before the draft. Mostly because he was a good prospect who filled a big need
But while I thought he was the best center in that draft, he has far exceeded my high expectations
He is an elite player at his position and if not the best, certainly one of the best in the game
I felt he would be a good player but he is far more than just a good player

 

[CCBoy]

One just can not have too much insight into the sacrifice and skills of our 'Big Uglies.'

 

[big dog cowboy]

I'll never forget the rueage on draft day.

Some Cowboy fans thought the world was coming to an end.

 

[Wishbone82]

I miss the days of wild Gurode snaps, and not being able to make line calls.

 

[RS12]

http://insidethepylon.com/nfl/teams...owboys/2017/06/12/icroscope-travis-frederick/

 

[Screw The Hall]

Good post. Travis Fredrick might be my favorite Cowboy. The moment he was drafted the offensive line was transformed. I think most people think of Travis as the 3rd best of our big 3 on the OL, which could very well be true as far as individual talent is concerned, but I think he is the most indispensable of the bunch. He's one of the very best leaders on the team, the brains of the OL (which already is a smart group), and he's like a point guard in the way he makes everyone around him better.

 

[Knotamus]

http://insidethepylon.com/nfl/teams...owboys/2017/06/12/icroscope-travis-frederick/

Awesome link. It said everything I was trying to said, but better.

 

[AbeBeta]

Fred's the leader if this line now.

I knew we had something special when Brian Waters talked about how Fred was teaching him the offense. A 6-time probowl player, seeking out a rookie to learn the offense says a bunch

 

[RS12]

Awesome link. It said everything I was trying to said, but better.

It says he is elite. That covers it.

 

[RS12]

Fred's the leader if this line now.

I knew we had something special when Brian Waters talked about how Fred was teaching him the offense. A 6-time probowl player, seeking out a rookie to learn the offense says a bunch

Never met a dumb engineering student.

 

[diefree666]

I miss the days of wild Gurode snaps, and not being able to make line calls.

urban legend. If gurode had been as bad as some here think he would NEVER have made multiple pro bowls.
The fact of the matter was that he had very few bad snaps and the line call thing was a lot more complicated then many admit.

I wanted Fred BADLY since those were the days of Costa.

For anyone trying to say trust the staff I remind them that the STAFF said Costa would become a quality NFL starter.

Thankfully most of that staff is gone now.

 

[Screw The Hall]

http://insidethepylon.com/nfl/teams...owboys/2017/06/12/icroscope-travis-frederick/

That is a fantastic link.

 

[Pants]

the beard is so talented, they are giving him some snaps at QB during "opposite day" in camp...that day, he didn't appreciate that Dak had taco bell the night before

 

[xwalker]

The worst part of the offseason is apon us. As a fanatic Cowboys fan, I tend to watch replays of last years games to get me pumped for the up coming season. (I hope I'm not the only one that does this I was watching a replay of the Dallas v. Cinn game and one player stood out to me and I don't think he gets praised enough. I'm talking about Travis Frederick.

Yeah, I know. He's an All-Pro and is mentioned as one of the big three on our OL, but more folks talk about how freakish Tyron Smith is and how 'The President' Zach Martin dominates. The media will mention, how collectively, our OL is the best. Rarely, do you hear Fredricks name first. Try looking up highlights of the man. Too little highlights of a player of his caliber and importantance.

Back to the game.. if you watch the first drive (where our OL completely dominated) on the first drive that lead to an Elliott's TD, Frederick actually gets pushed from behind by Leary and falls to his knees. Travis still manages, from his knees, to block Pro-bowl LB Vontaze Burfict and allow Elliott to run 15 yards for the games first score. Simply, Amazing.

When Dallas picked Frederick 'out of know where' after a trade down in 2013, I'll admit.. I had a confused look myself. But thankfully, Dallas knew exactly what they were trying to accomplish. They grabbed a former college wrestler, graduate computer engineer, with the intelligence of a genius to man the core of our OL. He deciphers plays quickly, which surely helps Prescotts development:

"So, just having a veteran like that just allows me to feel that much more comfortable - I know the checks already, but if it's ever a situation where it's 50-50, I know I've got a guy right there I can just kind of whisper to and he's going to put me in the right situation."-Dak Prescott

When a number of players on the team like Dez, Dak, Elliott, Witten, Lee.. etc, get the spotlight.. I feel a tribute and an appreciation thread for the best Center in the league is appropriate. I've added a couple of links, but feel free to add more... And fear the beard.

http://www.dallascowboys.com/video/2014/01/15/film-review-travis-frederick

A Center is harder to find than Guards.

 

[Ranched]

Life without Cowboys football is not worth living which is why half the year sucks every year. The worst part of 2017 is almost over and the anticipation of the coming Cowboys season is buzzing like when I was a kid on Christmas Eve except this gift last the rest of the year. I've watched all the highlights of last season that I can stand... the Cowboys were a very good team then. Now I suspect they will only be better and with that expectation wonder how will that translate on the gridiron? With a harder schedule in 2017 will a 10-6 season be as satisfying as 2016's 13-3 season? I suspect the answer to that depends on how the playoffs go. NFC title game here we come... oh wait, sorry. I got visions of grandeur there for a second. Go Cowboys!

I really think our 'Boys are going to have a big lead in the division and win it. Not too worried about how many wins, as long as they win THAT PLAYOFF. To me, that will be like winning a Super Bowl. (which will come in a year or two)

 

[dallasdave]

the beard is so talented, they are giving him some snaps at QB during "opposite day" in camp...that day, he didn't appreciate that Dak had taco bell the night before

Good Pick of our center and back up QB

 

[dallasdave]

I really think our 'Boys are going to have a big lead in the division and win it. Not too worried about how many wins, as long as they win THAT PLAYOFF. To me, that will be like winning a Super Bowl. (which will come in a year or two)

Dallas wins it all this year !!