How things have changed.

[Howardlittleton64]

Wait, so we were 8-8 last year with a worse OL than this, but it means this year we're going to go 4-12? And you wonder why someone blasted you for this?

I'm sorry, but I don't think things have "changed." Anyone predicting 4-12 for this team is going to get blasted. Jimmy Johnson, yes that Jimmy Johnson, just predicted us at 12-4. What do you see that he doesn't?

I'm in between those numbers but I don't see us below 8-8 under any circumstance.

What makes you think the oline is any better this year? Honestly I don't see it. I think Mr. Jones did us a disservice spending so much in one position and not adequetly addressing the oline again. I don't think the line has been good for years. We have largely ignored the line/paid the line lip service by trying to hit on later round picks/gone cheap or for retreads on the line in FA. Romo extended so many plays last year after the blocking broke down and it looks like he may be doing it again this year.

 

[Eddie]

Just enjoy the games. They're so few and far between.

Win or lose, enjoy watching the Cowboys play. It's a privilege not a right.

We're not a Super Bowl team. We're a possible playoff contender if things go right. We weren't 7-4 for nothing. But in the end, we couldn't close out our final month of the year. That blame goes to both the OL and the 2ndary.

The 2ndary has been upgraded, and there's a bit more depth to the OL. Though, I'm not really sure our OL is BETTER than it was last year. But if we get the same play from the 7-4 OL ... and finish the year solid, I think we're in good shape.

4-12 may be a bit drastic. But who knows? If I could predict the future, I'd be a billionaire.

 

[Howardlittleton64]

Might as well forfeit the season ........

Funny.....imagine if we did draft a OL in the first......

Then there would be threads complaining about how we have no CB's

We did address the OL by signing 2 FA OL.....but because they weren't someone pet cats.....we are doomed.

That being said....I too wanted to draft a OLineman......but seeing how the draft played out......a lot of the lineman I wanted were drafted higher then expected.

Worst thing we could of done was reach on a pick and not stick with our draft rankings. We all see what happens when we draft for need instead of BPA

Also....yes I understand there were some high name FA OLineman.....but it takes 2 to tangle.....We don't know if those players wanted to come here and we also need to consider the price tag. IMHO overpaying for a Guard isn't a great idea.

I wonder if it's doom and gloom on the steelers board......their top pick isn't cracking the starting lineup anytime soon and it's not like their OL is made up of all pros.

Anyways.....it's all a process....can't fill every hole on the team with superstars....I too wish we had better reports comming out about our OL work.
But let's at least see a few games before we proclaim a 4-12 season.

If Mr. Jones had drafted and offensive lineman in the first, we would have still had Carr. It is about how the resources were allocated going all in on one position of need and putting window dressing on the other (more significant position IMO) position of need.

 

[Jay]

Where exactly did they spend over $100 million at CB in the offseason?

And why do I feel that if they had drafted OL, you'd be on here patting your back saying we should have improved our secondary?

Seems people fail to realize that despite our line issues, our offense really held our own. It was our defense that blew games for us.

But hey, why use logic?

 

[Eddie]

What makes you think the oline is any better this year? Honestly I don't see it. I think Mr. Jones did us a disservice spending so much in one position and not adequetly addressing the oline again. I don't think the line has been good for years. We have largely ignored the line/paid the line lip service by trying to hit on later round picks/gone cheap or for retreads on the line in FA. Romo extended so many plays last year after the blocking broke down and it looks like he may be doing it again this year.

I'm disheartened as well that we didn't bring in some more young horses along the OL. I'm hoping the Claiborne trade doesn't break our backs again.

Way too often we go for the all or nothing route ... that's left us with almost two decades of nothing.

But I'm glad we went after two OG's instead of spending BIG money on just ONE ... Rivera, BIGG, etc. I also wish we had another option at C. Such is life ... and we go to war with what we have.

 

[Sitting Bull]

David DeCastro? The same one who wouldn't make the Steelers active game day roster if the season started today or some other DeCastro that's actually playing well?

He just got named the starting guard. http://www.steelersdepot.com/2012/08/report-steelers-name-david-decastro-starting-right-guard/

Cowboys fans are going to compare DeCastro and our o-line play to Claiborne and our secondary play for a while. But the draft wasn't our only avenue to shore-up the interior OL.

 

[Howardlittleton64]

I'm disheartened as well that we didn't bring in some more young horses along the OL. I'm hoping the Claiborne trade doesn't break our backs again.

Way too often we go for the all or nothing route ... that's left us with almost two decades of nothing.

But I'm glad we went after two OG's instead of spending BIG money on just ONE ... Rivera, BIGG, etc. I also wish we had another option at C. Such is life ... and we go to war with what we have.

Good point on the Riveria, Bigg type of contracts. I just finished reading the entire thread and multiple people said the oline this year is better than last years. It isn't on paper, we haven't seen them play a live games, and by most accounts hasn't done will in camp in play or staying healthy. All those who said oline is better please tell me how.

 

[Risen Star]

He just got named the starting guard. http://www.steelersdepot.com/2012/08/report-steelers-name-david-decastro-starting-right-guard/

Doh.

 

[jazzcat22]

Wait, so we were 8-8 last year with a worse OL than this, but it means this year we're going to go 4-12? And you wonder why someone blasted you for this?

I'm sorry, but I don't think things have "changed." Anyone predicting 4-12 for this team is going to get blasted. Jimmy Johnson, yes that Jimmy Johnson, just predicted us at 12-4. What do you see that he doesn't?

I'm in between those numbers but I don't see us below 8-8 under any circumstance.

That was my first thought....if OL even stays same as last years play, no way we will be worse than 8-8. Especially with a better defense [so far on paper].

 

[JohnnyHopkins]

I think Dallas had two big weaknesses going into the off-season. One, they addressed with top level players. Given how bad the defense has been the last two years, it was easily the bigger weakness of the two.

The second weak spot they addressed with mid-level players and are hoping that one of the younger ones will develop. I am pretty skeptical that the long term answer is on the roster for one of those spots, but hey, thems the breaks.

The good news is that they should have a great running game from the beginning which should help keep the pressure from coming every down. Murray is looking great and Vickers is an excellent blocker that should be healthy for the entire season.

Believe me, I would much prefer to have better options on the line, but there were just too many holes to plug this off-season and they honestly had no chance to hang with the Giants and Eagles in December with the DBs they had.

Edit: I would add that I have posted several "unhappy about Costa being the best option at Center" posts this offseason.

 

[a_minimalist]

He just got named the starting guard. http://www.steelersdepot.com/2012/08/report-steelers-name-david-decastro-starting-right-guard/

No shocker there.

 

[Howardlittleton64]

Never mind I read few articles where Mr. Jones said

"I like where we are with and what we've done," Jones said regarding the interior of the offensive line. "Every one of these guys, relatively speaking, have real good size and that's a good thing for us. I'm pretty pleased and not looking in any other direction right now than what we got on the roster in the interior of our line."

Against that backdrop, Cowboys’ owner Jerry Jones said he’s seen enough to believe the offensive line will be better this season.

“I think we’re better in the interior,” Jones said. “The things we’ve done to address that help us out.”

I see where the whole we are better idea is coming from. Sorry Mr. Jones I don't buy it.

 

[hutch1254]

I used to be a poster on here but in April after the draft i said that Dallas had made a MASSIVE mistake by NOT drafting an OL man and was hounded off this site by Silverbear and many others for saying it would come back to haunt them that they'd spend over $100m on CB and a $1 on the line. Now 4/5 months down the line it seems everyone is saying what i said months ago. How times have changed. No one agreed with me then but i bet you all do now.

My prediction then was with a weak OL we would be 4-12. This i stick by. Who thinks different now?

We went 8-8 last year with an OL and it's weaknesses. You're saying we couldn't at least reach 8-8 again with what appears to be the same weakness but a returning Murry and what, for the moment, may be an improved defense as a whole? or at the very least improved to the point where Ryan can execute his defensive game plans more to his liking?

I'm not happy about the OL either but you're saying that the OL is so bad that we are going to regress by 4 wins? I can't agree with that. The talent at the playmaking positions was enough to get 8 wins with a lousy OL. The talent at those positions has not changed.

 

[Hostile]

What makes you think the oline is any better this year? Honestly I don't see it. I think Mr. Jones did us a disservice spending so much in one position and not adequetly addressing the oline again. I don't think the line has been good for years. We have largely ignored the line/paid the line lip service by trying to hit on later round picks/gone cheap or for retreads on the line in FA. Romo extended so many plays last year after the blocking broke down and it looks like he may be doing it again this year.

I will agree with you on one thing, I do not think our OL has been good in years. I am not saying they are good right now. I am saying there is potential there for them to be good enough for this team to progress. No offense is meant, but I do not really care if others cannot "see" something. 9 times out of 10 that is willful.

So let me simply ask you a couple of questions and you decide whether you "see" improvement on the OL or not.

Stronger OT last year, Free or Smith?
Which one now protects the QBs blindside?
Kosier or Bernadeau?
Dockery/Holland/Nagy or Livings?
Jamaal Jackson (I hope) or Costa?

I was nowhere near as down on Hudson Houck as many were, but I absolutely see Bill Callahan as a positive move forward as are these other moves. Not only that but our depth is a little better too. Leary in particular is someone I like the ceiling for.

I openly admit I probably ruined a lot of people's opinions of David DeCastro as I preached his worth to this team, and I will probably do it again in the 2013 Draft because I promise you right now, as I sit here, I am going to be screaming for interior OL again. But I'll be damned if I am going to sit here and say that I don't "see" the advantage of the best OL on the team on Tony's blindside. I'll be damned if I am going to sit here and say I can't "see" that Kosier was spent and youth there is needed. I'll be damned if I am going to sit here and say I can't "see" where a revolving door at LG is a handicap. I'll be damned if I am going to sit here and say I can't "see" Jamaal Jackson as an enormous improvement over Costa. Granted he was not in the picture until last night.

I see last year's OL as the weakest unit on this football team by far, and while the 2012 addition is not the strongest unit by any wild stretch of the imagination on this team, I can't say I "see" them as our weakest unit either until I actually witness them play and falling apart. So why do I already know I am going to preach interior OL in the next Draft? Simple, because I want an OL like the 49ers have. I "see" that group making a mediocre QB look decent and I believe our QB could look all world if he had an OL.

The team opted to fix the Defense. I get that given how many leads we blew late. But we got those leads with a shoddy OL minus the RT who was awesome. You may not "see" it, but as I said, that is willful.

 

[Doomsday]

How do can you expect any one to take you seriously when you predict 4-12? That is just absurd. Even with poor offensive line play they will be in the top half of the league on offense. They were 23rd in scoring defense last season with one of the worse secondaries in the NFL. If you said 7-9 I might be able to take you seriously but 4 wins is just laughable.

 

[HanD]

Please tell me what was said that made you quit the message board and I'll repeat it.

:laugh2:

 

[Howardlittleton64]

I will agree with you on one thing, I do not think our OL has been good in years. I am not saying they are good right now. I am saying there is potential there for them to be good enough for this team to progress. No offense is meant, but I do not really care if others cannot "see" something. 9 times out of 10 that is willful.

So let me simply ask you a couple of questions and you decide whether you "see" improvement on the OL or not.

Stronger OT last year, Free or Smith?
Which one now protects the QBs blindside?
Kosier or Bernadeau?
Dockery/Holland/Nagy or Livings?
Jamaal Jackson (I hope) or Costa?

I was nowhere near as down on Hudson Houck as many were, but I absolutely see Bill Callahan as a positive move forward as are these other moves. Not only that but our depth is a little better too. Leary in particular is someone I like the ceiling for.

I openly admit I probably ruined a lot of people's opinions of David DeCastro as I preached his worth to this team, and I will probably do it again in the 2013 Draft because I promise you right now, as I sit here, I am going to be screaming for interior OL again. But I'll be damned if I am going to sit here and say that I don't "see" the advantage of the best OL on the team on Tony's blindside. I'll be damned if I am going to sit here and say I can't "see" that Kosier was spent and youth there is needed. I'll be damned if I am going to sit here and say I can't "see" where a revolving door at LG is a handicap. I'll be damned if I am going to sit here and say I can't "see" Jamaal Jackson as an enormous improvement over Costa. Granted he was not in the picture until last night.

I see last year's OL as the weakest unit on this football team by far, and while the 2012 addition is not the strongest unit by any wild stretch of the imagination on this team, I can't say I "see" them as our weakest unit either until I actually witness them play and falling apart. So why do I already know I am going to preach interior OL in the next Draft? Simple, because I want an OL like the 49ers have. I "see" that group making a mediocre QB look decent and I believe our QB could look all world if he had an OL.

The team opted to fix the Defense. I get that given how many leads we blew late. But we got those leads with a shoddy OL minus the RT who was awesome. You may not "see" it, but as I said, that is willful.

I to have hope with Callahan and switching the tackles will improve but again that is hope. I can see taking a wait and see attitude on the guards and center that makes sense, but you said diffintively that the line is better. You have hope that it will and you see some reason for optimisum. I get that too. I do as well but until I see it, I don't think we adequately addressed it. By some of your comments I don't believe you do either.

It is as "willful" to believe we have done enough to fix our biggest weakness. It is also as "willful" to say that the oline isn't the biggest weakness on the team when it is by a longshot.

I will say I'm glad others were so high on drafting oline early this past draft and going forward. Hopefully Mr. Jones sees that too.

 

[Hostile]

I to have hope with Callahan and switching the tackles will improve but again that is hope. I can see taking a wait and see attitude on the guards and center that makes sense, but you said diffintively that the line is better. You have hope that it will and you see some reason for optimisum. I get that too. I do as well but until I see it, I don't think we adequately addressed it. By some of your comments I don't believe you do either.

It is as "willful" to believe we have done enough to fix our biggest weakness. It is also as "willful" to say that the oline isn't the biggest weakness on the team when it is by a longshot.

I will say I'm glad others were so high on drafting oline early this past draft and going forward. Hopefully Mr. Jones sees that too.

Out of sheer knowledge of what a solid LT can do, yes I can say we are better and mean it definitively.

 

[Jenky]

I used to be a poster on here but in April after the draft i said that Dallas had made a MASSIVE mistake by NOT drafting an OL man and was hounded off this site by Silverbear and many others for saying it would come back to haunt them that they'd spend over $100m on CB and a $1 on the line. Now 4/5 months down the line it seems everyone is saying what i said months ago. How times have changed. No one agreed with me then but i bet you all do now.

My prediction then was with a weak OL we would be 4-12. This i stick by. Who thinks different now?

Dude, a lot of people wanted o-line, d-line, and DBs. I don't think you were the only one.

 

[1fisher]

I used to be a poster on here but in April after the draft i said that Dallas had made a MASSIVE mistake by NOT drafting an OL man and was hounded off this site by Silverbear and many others for saying it would come back to haunt them that they'd spend over $100m on CB and a $1 on the line. Now 4/5 months down the line it seems everyone is saying what i said months ago. How times have changed. No one agreed with me then but i bet you all do now.

My prediction then was with a weak OL we would be 4-12. This i stick by. Who thinks different now?

Reach around and pat yourself on the back.

BTW... what are the winning lottery numbers for this week?


:laugh2: