How dependent are Cowboys on OL?

[Future]

In terms of importance to their teams...

Rodgers, Brady, Wilson, and the Cowboys OL are all in the same tier. There is no more important position group in the NFL.

 

[rnr_honeybadger]

Considering the fact that we are a run first team I'd say very dependent.

 

[Jake]

There are teams with multiple good centers on their rosters. We will have to pay the price whatever and obtain one with a trade.
Otherwise, tank the season and get the 1st draft pick next year and a whole new coaching staff.

Show me the teams with the spare Pro Bowl linemen in reserve. The reality is, some teams don't even have one good center much less multiples.

Your last sentence is just extreme pessimism and wishful thinking.

 

[Bullet22]

The cap won't allow you to go 2 deep....just have to hope you don't have major injuries...

 

[CouchCoach]

Dependent? How many teams spent 3 1sts and a 2nd on their OL and have that much $ in it? That is the foundation of their offense, an offense that has carried the team for years.

But, this is just bad luck because that OL has paid off and they weren't wrong to build an offense that way.

Elliott didn't run behind an OL nearly that good in college and he was great. Plenty of RB's in history didn't run behind PB OL's. And he has good speed to the hole so he doesn't need it open for long. The question I have is how does this help the DC's that were going to set up to stop him regardless of who's at Center.

The problem I see is in the passing game with a rookie at LG. Good thing Dak's a good runner.

 

[CouchCoach]

There are teams with multiple good centers on their rosters. We will have to pay the price whatever and obtain one with a trade.
Otherwise, tank the season and get the 1st draft pick next year and a whole new coaching staff.

Oh Lordy, tank talk already? There might just be some players that would disagree with that sentiment and some posters here as well. Hell, do you want to watch a tanked season? Are you a bandwagon fan? Only pull for them when they're winning.

Tank? What happened to a team fighting through adversity? This team tried to win that meaningless 16th game last season because of pride and some think they would ever even think of tanking?

 

[Diehardblues]

It all comes down to whether Looney can play OC at a decent level. Doubt if they can find someone else at this late date.

How bad was Martin's injury? I truly don't remember.

Ligaments in knee but are hopeful he’ll be ok for opener.

 

[Diehardblues]

So, IMO the next question then becomes, can one of the starters play OC? Before Fredsy we learned the hard way that OC is one of the most important positions on either side of the ball. If you don't have a viable center, it will negate any other strength you may have on the OL.

As far as the OL calls go, I have complete faith that Martin can take over from Fredsy and do it just fine. It doesn't have to be the C. When Gurode was our C, Kosier made the calls and we did just fine.

That makes sense. Let’s hope Martin is 100%.

 

[Diehardblues]

How dependent is any team on a good o-line?

Go Cowboys!

I’d think with our dominating running game which drives our offense we probably depend on our OL more than most.

But it might prove out that Elliott drives our running game more. We’ll see.

 

[LittleD]

Show me the teams with the spare Pro Bowl linemen in reserve. The reality is, some teams don't even have one good center much less multiples.

Your last sentence is just extreme pessimism and wishful thinking.

We won't find any team with 2 pro bowlers at center. Chicago has 3 pretty good centers on their roster and I seem to remember a couple of others that would have a couple. We may find one on the final cut down before the season or one week later on some teams PS.

 

[LittleD]

Oh Lordy, tank talk already? There might just be some players that would disagree with that sentiment and some posters here as well. Hell, do you want to watch a tanked season? Are you a bandwagon fan? Only pull for them when they're winning.

Tank? What happened to a team fighting through adversity? This team tried to win that meaningless 16th game last season because of pride and some think they would ever even think of tanking?

Well we already know we have a coaching staff at least on the offensive side that gives up at half-time. When the losses start piling up, the team will want to walk away from the Red clapper for sure this year. At some point losing leads to business decisions on the player's part.

 

[Wood]

Can our running game with Elliott still be dominating if we are missing a piece or two?

And what will the effects be on our passing game and Daks effectiveness?

Curious what others think the effects could be if the strength of the offense is compromised?

they are inordinately dependent on running game behind dominant OL. If this OL is leaky and Dak needs to do too much...it could go off rails with constant national sports talk just devouring Cowboys. On bright side, if you want Red out this probably expedite that process. Dallas will still need to draft C, TE, S early in next year draft or sign FA.

 

[cowboyec]

EVERY team is only as good as their OLine.

 

[buybuydandavis]

It all comes down to whether Looney can play OC at a decent level. Doubt if they can find someone else at this late date.

Shouldn't there be some cap casualties come final cuts?

Even with Fredbeard, our depth is crap on the oline. It seemed like a strength after the free agent signings, but Fleming has disappointed, Green further regressed, and Martin went bye bye. We should be looking to sign a guy better than Looney.

 

[kskboys]

Shouldn't there be some cap casualties come final cuts?

Even with Fredbeard, our depth is crap on the oline. It seemed like a strength after the free agent signings, but Fleming has disappointed, Green further regressed, and Martin went bye bye. We should be looking to sign a guy better than Looney.

Absolutely.

I was looking at the C's on rosters this morn, and yeah, I think there'll be someone decent out there.

 

[Billyd]

The issue here now is its another year of two potential new starters because of injuriez and crappy depth on the oline. Stephen Jones is the name of our pain!

 

[Billyd]

ACTUALLY we need a backup gd, potentially a swing tackle coz first two Stephen brought were/ Potententially are jags..

 

[davidariust24]

Can our running game with Elliott still be dominating if we are missing a piece or two?

And what will the effects be on our passing game and Daks effectiveness?

Curious what others think the effects could be if the strength of the offense is compromised?

I hate to say this but we need Chaz green to get it together. We need to Chaz green before the falcons game except we need him on the field and not the sideline. He needs to buckle down and realize that was only one game. He has talent if he can stay on the field and not get cramps or dehydrated

 

[America's Cowboy]

Dependent? How many teams spent 3 1sts and a 2nd on their OL and have that much $ in it? That is the foundation of their offense, an offense that has carried the team for years.

But, this is just bad luck because that OL has paid off and they weren't wrong to build an offense that way.

Elliott didn't run behind an OL nearly that good in college and he was great. Plenty of RB's in history didn't run behind PB OL's. And he has good speed to the hole so he doesn't need it open for long. The question I have is how does this help the DC's that were going to set up to stop him regardless of who's at Center.

The problem I see is in the passing game with a rookie at LG. Good thing Dak's a good runner.

CC, imagine if today's Romo was still playing behind a fragile Oline? He would get killed since Romo couldn't scramble anymore due to age and wear-n-tear. Like you said, good thing Dak is a runner...young...and built like a linebacker.

 

[Blackspider214]

We are way too dependent. If we are not 100% healthy and every guy at his best, we do not have successful season. Garrett and Linehan are not good enough to win without that.