Gurode or Johnson?

[superpunk]

Who do we keep this year?

Maybe we can resign both, I think they're both up in their contracts. I checked Julius' splits, and there was no appreciable difference in his running up the middle from 2005 to 2006, in fact his ypc decreased by 0.1 yards. Was Gurode any better in pass protection than Johnson?

Whattaya think, gang? Who stays, and who goes? Was this the best Gurode has in his contract year, or are their brighter things? Could we get Johnson cheaper and get the same production?

 

[Bob Sacamano]

that's a tough question, if Al learns to play w/ leverage, he can be very good, he's already mobile enough and very smart, so I'll go the easy route and say we should keep both, and I think we can, hell, we thought Gurode was going to be leaving, but he ended up coming back

 

[cowboy4eva]

I must be missing the toughness of this question. Best of luck to you Al on whatever team you play on next year.

 

[AdamJT13]

The new coach (and/or Jason Garrett) will decide what type of offensive line we need and which one we'll keep -- if we keep one.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

I must be missing the toughness of this question. Best of luck to you Al on whatever team you play on next year.

it's tough because when Al ever learns to play w/ leverage, he could be a good one, he has everything else to be a successful C down pat

 

[superpunk]

The new coach (and/or Jason Garrett) will decide what type of offensive line we need and which one we'll keep -- if we keep one.

That's option three, I guess.

We do have a bit of a hodge-podge along the line right now. Gurode and Adams are built more for power, maybe Colombo too, and the guards are more athletic (well....Rivera was)

I wonder if we'll just let them both walk. Neither was that much better than the other. I wish Bentley wasn't so dedicated to the idea of playing in Cleveland.

 

[Yeagermeister]

No brainer.....keep Gurode

Al is worthless

 

[superpunk]

No brainer.....keep Gurode

Al is worthless

Just like that?

What did Andre do so much better than Al? He's a better physical specimen, no doubt - but I didn't notice any real difference this year. Gurode had a few real good weeks early in the run game, but mostly was just meh.

 

[MadCow]

IMO Al Johnson is an average starting center and is better suited to be a prime backup. Andre Gurode can be very effective if he keeps his mind in the game on each and every play.

Gurode over Johnson... no doubt!

 

[McCordsville Cowboy]

Ive never seen a center in the NFL get blown up 5 yards deep in a game on every passing down. There was a reason Drew had no time in 2005 and his name was Al Johnson.

 

[5Stars]

Just like that?

What did Andre do so much better than Al? He's a better physical specimen, no doubt - but I didn't notice any real difference this year. Gurode had a few real good weeks early in the run game, but mostly was just meh.

I think the Cowboys keep Gurode...chicks dig his head trauma!

 

[superpunk]

Ive never seen a center in the NFL get blown up 5 yards deep in a game on every passing down. There was a reason Drew had no time in 2005 and his name was Al Johnson.

Neither have I.

Insane hyperbole aside, don't you think the reasons Drew had no time may have also been named Rob Pettiti and Torrin Tucker?

 

[zrinkill]

Gurode ......

 

[Bob Sacamano]

Neither have I.

Insane hyperbole aside, don't you think the reasons Drew had no time may have also been named Rob Pettiti and Torrin Tucker?

...and Bledsoe held onto the football for too long?

 

[McCordsville Cowboy]

Neither have I.

Insane hyperbole aside, don't you think the reasons Drew had no time may have also been named Rob Pettiti and Torrin Tucker?

Of course they were factors... Including Drews "Hand Pats" and two left feet.

 

[superpunk]

Here's how I'm seeing Gurode.

This was his contract year - in general, players play their hearts out for that cash that year (see Bradie James). Gurode was just ok, maybe slightly under that average level this year (IMO - all I have are the rushing stats behind him - no better than with Johnson)

If this was the best we got from Gurode, in a year he had EVERYTHING to play for, and his best wasn't noticably better than Johnson - does it make sense to bring him back? I had intended this to compare the two, but maybe we're signing one as a backup and looking for something new at C. Neither one blew me away.

I'd say whoever came cheaper, and fit what our new coach wanted to do most.

 

[superpunk]

Of course they were factors... Including Drews "Hand Pats" and two left feet.

I don't think Al Johnson was that terrible of a factor in our pass game - not even close to the extent you painted him.

In Gurode, we've got a guy who couldn't keep mentally straight until now, and even when he did, wasn't much better (if at all) than Johnson. Maybe I'm just remembering Johnson wrong.

 

[theogt]

Both are serviceable. Neither is particularly good. It doesn't really matter who the next coach selects.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

Both are serviceable. Neither is particularly good. It doesn't really matter who the next coach selects.

but you have to choose!

 

[theogt]

but you have to choose!

I choose Aldre Gurohnson.