Guards effect on the Center

[CCBoy]

And absolutely no one knows how Bernadeau would fare playing center. You can't just plug a guy in like that. I'm not saying he can or can't be an upgrade over Costa at center, but not a single person on this forum has any idea either. It's an unknown. Should the team explore it? Maybe. I'll leave those decisions to the coaches.

Not so fast..there are aspects to the situation as well. Bernadeau is actually better at working a double team and then feeding into the second level. A major aspect of a Center. Also, from a set/down position, he is much faster at moving from it and going lateral. That is a major asset for a center.

Costa is slow out of his stance, has short arms, and was blitzed, bull rushed, and worked because of those tendencies. It also, was probably a reason, trying to speed up his own reactions, why snaps were off as well.

On a physical characteristic scale, Bernadeau would be a likely candidate for the position. He had the toughness to start, as he was first, a guard...and stuck. Then there is the size and balance advantages to his pass blocking as well.

 

[AbeBeta]

For some reason, people here think that with better guards, defenses will no longer attack Costa. If anything, with an off season of film study by opposing teams, they will devise even more ways to attack Costa. We are doomed with him as the starting center.

So how do you explain that his performance improved considerably over the last half of the season? Teams would seem to have had a good bit more film on him at that point.

 

[CCBoy]

So how do you explain that his performance improved considerably over the last half of the season? Teams would seem to have had a good bit more film on him at that point.

I'm rooting for Costa, if he makes it through or not...I like his guts, and he's a Cowboy player.

 

[Mr Cowboy]

So how do you explain that his performance improved considerably over the last half of the season? Teams would seem to have had a good bit more film on him at that point.

How is being the 30th ranked center an improvement? An improvement from what? Really, Really, Really bad to Really, really bad? Micky is the only one saying he improved and a few on here have jumped on Micky's words of wisdom.

 

[Doomsday101]

So how do you explain that his performance improved considerably over the last half of the season? Teams would seem to have had a good bit more film on him at that point.

I agree. Costa play did improve as the season went on. He still has a ways to go in terms of developing skills. He is by all accounts a very hard worker and will also spend a lot of time in film study. I'm not completely sold on him but if he can go out this training camp and pre season and show he can do the job at an acceptable level then great. He is still a very young player now entering his 3rd season with last year as his 1st as a starter. Unlike some I'm willing to give him the time to prove himself. If you are not willing to do that then why bother getting young players.

 

[burmafrd]

So how do you explain that his performance improved considerably over the last half of the season? Teams would seem to have had a good bit more film on him at that point.

yeah he went from horrible to lousy. Great improvement.

 

[CCBoy]

I agree. Costa play did improve as the season went on. He still has a ways to go in terms of developing skills. He is by all accounts a very hard worker and will also spend a lot of time in film study. I'm not completely sold on him but if he can go out this training camp and pre season and show he can do the job at an acceptable level then great. He is still a very young player now entering his 3rd season with last year as his 1st as a starter. Unlike some I'm willing to give him the time to prove himself. If you are not willing to do that then why bother getting young players.

Good fan shot there...:starspin

 

[Doomsday101]

How is being the 30th ranked center an improvement? An improvement from what? Really, Really, Really bad to Really, really bad? Micky is the only one saying he improved and a few on here have jumped on Micky's words of wisdom.

If his play does not improve then he will likely loose the starting role. The Cowboys do have others who will be competing and in the end that is where it should be settled on the field.

 

[CCBoy]

yeah he went from horrible to lousy. Great improvement.

Send a request to couchscout and ask why Costa is still around...you seem to listen to him.

 

[Doomsday101]

Good fan shot there...:starspin

I'm just not anti or pro any player. I want guys going out there working and competing. If you go out and show you can do the job then great, what you did last year does not mean Jack what matter is have you developed and if so can you go out and do the job at hand.

People get caught up in young players having poor season and act as if that is as good as they will ever be. In my view players can improve though hard work and dedications so let them battle it out on the field whoever wins the job should be the starting center. Who wins does not make a difference only their performance

 

[CCBoy]

I'm just not anti or pro any player. I want guys going out there working and competing. If you go out and show you can do the job then great, what you did last year does not mean Jack what matter is have you developed and if so can you go out and do the job at hand.

People get caught up in young players having poor season and act as if that is as good as they will ever be. In my view players can improve though hard work and dedications so let them battle it out on the field whoever wins the job should be the starting center. Who wins does not make a difference only their performance

Just as receivers benefit from hard work on routes, linemen improve on technique, strength, and application of angles, pad levels, and continuity to the man next to him.

 

[Doomsday101]

Just as receivers benefit from hard work on routes, linemen improve on technique, strength, and application of angles, pad levels, and continuity to the man next to him.

Of course they do. As for the Oline and Callahan putting in this zone blocking scheme it will become even more important that the 5 starters work in unison, this is not just about 1 guy on the line.

If at the end of camp Kowalski ends up as the Center or Nagy great as long as they went out and earned it I'm good with it same for Costa.

I don't have 1 or 2 pet cats on this team heading into camp I have 90 pet cats and look for all of them to go out and work hard and prove themselves whoever wins the jobs does not matter what matter is how they perform plain and simple

 

[speedkilz88]

How is being the 30th ranked center an improvement? An improvement from what? Really, Really, Really bad to Really, really bad? Micky is the only one saying he improved and a few on here have jumped on Micky's words of wisdom.

Over the course of the season of course. (That was his first year of starting) Someone's posted PFF grades that showed he improved over the course of the season and he had good games when he actually had competent OG play next to him. It's not going to be out the ordinary for a player to improve after their first year of starting either.

 

[Idgit]

A good thread is getting derailed by people being unhappy with Phil Costa. We get it, you guys don't like him and don't think he'll improve enough to matter. I agree, it was a position in need of more legitimate competition.

As for how the new OGs might effect OC play, I'm not sure.There were several OC candidates available on the open market and a couple in the draft. The fact that we didn't seem to even put out feelers but did go out and sign to OGs probably indicates that the team thinks Costa is a starting-quality player. i'd be interested in hearing what Callahan had to say about the topic if anyone in the local media had the wherewithal to actually ask him.

 

[AbeBeta]

How is being the 30th ranked center an improvement? An improvement from what? Really, Really, Really bad to Really, really bad? Micky is the only one saying he improved and a few on here have jumped on Micky's words of wisdom.

Stupid Mickey, going on what the coaches tell him.

Instead he should base his reports on PFF.

 

[AbeBeta]

Over the course of the season of course. (That was his first year of starting) Someone's posted PFF grades that showed he improved over the course of the season and he had good games when he actually had competent OG play next to him. It's not going to be out the ordinary for a player to improve after their first year of starting either.

Just as it is not out of the ordinary for first year starters to suck.

 

[xwalker]

From Tim MacMahon:
There was some thought about free-agent addition Mackenzy Bernadeau playing center, but that was tabled after his hip surgery. The Cowboys plan for Bernadeau to focus solely on guard when he’s ready to begin practicing, perhaps midway through training camp. http://espn.go.com/blog/dallas/cowb...wboys-failed-to-upgrade-offenses-biggest-flaw


I'm very curious to see the OC depth chart to start Training Camp. Nagy was 2nd string in OTAs and Mini-camp but Kowalski was injured. Somebody posted that Kowalski was practicing at OG before the injury; however, I can't find anything to confirm that report.

I'm also looking forward to seeing the changes that Callahan makes to the scheme. Nagy and Kowalski are both undersized but had excellent pre-draft quickness and agility measurements.

[URL="http://www.walker-texas.com/2012-cowboys-ol.jpg"][/URL]

 

[speedkilz88]

From Tim MacMahon:
There was some thought about free-agent addition Mackenzy Bernadeau playing center, but that was tabled after his hip surgery. The Cowboys plan for Bernadeau to focus solely on guard when he’s ready to begin practicing, perhaps midway through training camp. http://espn.go.com/blog/dallas/cowb...wboys-failed-to-upgrade-offenses-biggest-flaw


I'm very curious to see the OC depth chart to start Training Camp. Nagy was 2nd string in OTAs and Mini-camp but Kowalski was injured. Somebody posted that Kowalski was practicing at OG before the injury; however, I can't find anything to confirm that report.

I'm also looking forward to seeing the changes that Callahan makes to the scheme. Nagy and Kowalski are both undersized but had excellent pre-draft quickness and agility measurements.

[URL="http://www.walker-texas.com/2012-cowboys-ol.jpg"][/URL]

Bryan Broaddus ‏@BryanBroaddus 30 May
@according2boyz Nagy has been running with the 2's + hasn't looked bad. Hasn't made any huge mistakes. Looks like Kowalski is OG now not C

https://twitter.com/BryanBroaddus/status/207924468306284545

 

[Bluestang]

There seems to be a misconception that Callahan is installing a zone blocking scheme this season.

The reality is that even with Houck here we ran zone blocking schemes. Rafael Vela over at www.bloggingtheboys.com has written very good articles detailing run plays that Garrett called that featured zone blocking.

How much Callahan tweaks the scheme is the unknown factor.

 

[BourbonBalz]

Not so fast..there are aspects to the situation as well. Bernadeau is actually better at working a double team and then feeding into the second level. A major aspect of a Center. Also, from a set/down position, he is much faster at moving from it and going lateral. That is a major asset for a center.

Costa is slow out of his stance, has short arms, and was blitzed, bull rushed, and worked because of those tendencies. It also, was probably a reason, trying to speed up his own reactions, why snaps were off as well.

On a physical characteristic scale, Bernadeau would be a likely candidate for the position. He had the toughness to start, as he was first, a guard...and stuck. Then there is the size and balance advantages to his pass blocking as well.

I don't doubt that, but the fact that he hasn't played center would be a big concern for me. Having the characteristics of a player at the center position and actually doing it are two different things. He could be great (well maybe good) at center, but the physical attributes you mentioned won't get the job done alone. How is he with the QB exchange? Getting up out of your stance as a guard is a lot different than for a center. You have that extra duty of actually hiking the ball blind. It seems simple, but if you haven't done it in a game, I'm sure it's an eye opener. Not to mention the center makes all the line calls. There's a lot more to it than just having the physical abilitiy.