How to fix this OL?

[CouchCoach]

See that at the end? That's a ? because I don't know how to fix this but it is broken because they do not seem to be able to put many good plays together on a drive.

So, is this a coaching issue or a player issue? The only guy playing up to speed is Martin and the second best OL is Looney in a replacement role. Big Smitty does not look right, Williams gets overpowered and I don't know if Collins is a G or T or either. I think he was promised the T gig for the dough but he is not the least bit impressive at RT.

Is Prescott taking too much time to read and release or taking off on a run too soon? Elliott looked like he did in that first Giants game when he was a rookie, running into the butts of his OL.

Here is the real problem. The DC's left on the schedule have seen the same thing WAS did to them and are going to replicate that and put the game on the QB, OL and receivers. They're not going to let the RB beat them.

So, is this a problem that can be resolved this season, with these players, or is this going to take changing some of them out in the off season? Most of us agree Williams needs a year of strength training to stay at G or move him out to T and let Collins walk if he doesn't want to play G. And what the hell is that about? Players play where they're told to play to best benefit the team.

My biggest concern is Big Smitty because he is really inconsistent and I think the DC's and DE's are picking up on some weaknesses on film and exploiting them. He used to be a top 3 LT but something's not right with him.

 

[conner01]

Lots of miles on big smitty
But the best fix for the oline is for the QB to get the ball out
You can’t run if a defense knows you can’t pass
The oline is giving time but it’s taking too much time to get rid of it
The penalties are an issue but fix the time problem and that may also be fixed

 

[CouchCoach]

Lots of miles on big smitty
But the best fix for the oline is for the QB to get the ball out
You can’t run if a defense knows you can’t pass
The oline is giving time but it’s taking too much time to get rid of it
The penalties are an issue but fix the time problem and that may also be fixed

With the way WAS was playing along the los and clogging the lanes, how do they do that?

What WAS did on Sunday was exactly how I've seen DC's play rookie QB's not adept at reading the defense quickly.

 

[lonestar2288]

A perfect storm of ugliness. Coaching hasn't been there, Smith looks hampered, and by most opinions 2 playing out of position. Dak's visual/mechanical issues mean they have to sustain even longer blocks doesn't help much either

 

[Daillest88]

Lots of miles on big smitty
But the best fix for the oline is for the QB to get the ball out
You can’t run if a defense knows you can’t pass
The oline is giving time but it’s taking too much time to get rid of it
The penalties are an issue but fix the time problem and that may also be fixed

God yes , Dak holds the ball longer than he should. Take a look back on the fumble vs the Commanders , he had 5 seconds to throw that ball and Gallup beat his man deep

 

[Quickdraw]

My take on this is that Smith is still hurting from his bulged disc and that's why he isn't playing like he did a couple of years ago. The other problem is Frederick is out. Also, we lost Free, who was not great on pass protection but was good on the run. Prescott does take too long in his reads but also, the pass plays either seem to take a bit to develop, or the routes just suck. I don't like how they use Elliot running from the shotgun formation. There's no momentum. The pitch-out to Emmitt used to be successful years ago and they should be doing that with Zeke. I also don't like the empty backfield that's used frequently.

There are a few other things I don't like as well but I don't feel like typing a book right now.

 

[Fla Cowpoke]

Dak is a big part of the problem. Romo was calling it out this weekend...we didn't have to wait for a review of the all 22. He was giving it to us as it happened.

The only possible thing they could do is move Collins to RG and then put Williams or Flemming at RT. Not sure it really would improve things.

 

[texbumthelife]

Paul Alexander was the wrong choice to lead this offensive line. Replace him at the end of the season when you ship out the rest of the offensive staff.

 

[waving monkey]

See that at the end? That's a ? because I don't know how to fix this but it is broken because they do not seem to be able to put many good plays together on a drive.

So, is this a coaching issue or a player issue? The only guy playing up to speed is Martin and the second best OL is Looney in a replacement role. Big Smitty does not look right, Williams gets overpowered and I don't know if Collins is a G or T or either. I think he was promised the T gig for the dough but he is not the least bit impressive at RT.

Is Prescott taking too much time to read and release or taking off on a run too soon? Elliott looked like he did in that first Giants game when he was a rookie, running into the butts of his OL.

Here is the real problem. The DC's left on the schedule have seen the same thing WAS did to them and are going to replicate that and put the game on the QB, OL and receivers. They're not going to let the RB beat them.

So, is this a problem that can be resolved this season, with these players, or is this going to take changing some of them out in the off season? Most of us agree Williams needs a year of strength training to stay at G or move him out to T and let Collins walk if he doesn't want to play G. And what the hell is that about? Players play where they're told to play to best benefit the team.

My biggest concern is Big Smitty because he is really inconsistent and I think the DC's and DE's are picking up on some weaknesses on film and exploiting them. He used to be a top 3 LT but something's not right with him.

very pertinent

 

[waving monkey]

Paul Alexander was the wrong choice to lead this offensive line. Replace him at the end of the season when you ship out the rest of the offensive staff.

this hurts

 

[cityochamps]

Need to keep zeke in the back filed more for block support until we get it fixed.

 

[conner01]

With the way WAS was playing along the los and clogging the lanes, how do they do that?

What WAS did on Sunday was exactly how I've seen DC's play rookie QB's not adept at reading the defense quickly.

The one thing we rarely do
Run crossing routes opposite of Beasley, run some quick slants
But the most important thing is the QB has to find his target faster
Dak takes way too much time deciding who to throw to
If you get 4 seconds that’s plenty of time and most of the time he got that much

 

[slick325]

Great post @CouchCoach.

This is such a tough question to answer. They aren't being coached as well as in the past IMO. But, Tyron is not anywhere close to who he was two seasons ago. He physically may not be right as you pointed out. They miss Fred Beard despite how well Looney is playing. He isn't Fred Beard. Collins and Williams look lost far too often as well.

Another thing they miss is Jason Witten blocking on running plays and in max pro.

No clue how they fix it tbh. They just need to grit it out. Also, is it me or did the line seem to lose it's nastiness when Leary left?

 

[texbumthelife]

this hurts

Maybe a new coach can entice Callahan to come back. The fact that this team picked Linehan, a guy run out of several jobs and not widely regarded as good in ANY way, over a guy regarded by some as the best OL coach EVER... It's unfathomable. Then again, this is the Cowboys and nothing ever has to make sense, nor does it usually.

But hey, most valuable franchise and a massive, impartial stadium that's been a boon for outsiders in every event hosted. Yay money.

 

[PA Cowboy Fan]

If this OL doesn't start improving it doesn't matter what Cooper does because Dak won't have time to throw and Zeke won't have room to run. The line has been very disappointing this year.

 

[Praxit]

.....seeing much replays from Wash game. It looks like our OL don't finish their blocks, especially on run plays. They bump their guy but dont drive them out. The DL just slip-move them to the side and get in the backfield. That's a coaching problem. But heck, what do i know..

 

[Flamma]

Lots of miles on big smitty
But the best fix for the oline is for the QB to get the ball out
You can’t run if a defense knows you can’t pass
The oline is giving time but it’s taking too much time to get rid of it
The penalties are an issue but fix the time problem and that may also be fixed

It's not so much that they know he can't pass, it's that they know when he's passing. He gets right up under center and hands the ball off to Zeke. Everybody knows it's a run because they hardly run any play action from that formation. Then on 2nd and 9 Dak is back in shotgun with 4 wide. Everyone including the entire stadium knows he's passing. It's so painfully obvious it hurts to watch this offense.

 

[conner01]

It's not so much that they know he can't pass, it's that they know when he's passing. He gets right up under center and hands the ball off to Zeke. Everybody knows it's a run because they hardly run any play action from that formation. Then on 2nd and 9 Dak is back in shotgun with 4 wide. Everyone including the entire stadium knows he's passing. It's so painfully obvious it hurts to watch this offense.

God forbid we ever tried to fool someone
We put a CB on offense and who would have ever guessed it was a jet sweep

 

[Chrispierce]

First....fire the O-Line cosch. He sucks. Bringing in his techniques isn’t working for these guys.

 

[CyberB0b]

Draft 3 more first rounders.