Jonathan Cooper Pleased To Be Honing Skills With Cowboys' Vaunted O-Line

[robjay04]

Kind of hate that we only signed him for one year.

One year deals just show a player is just using a team for money. It could be good for one year of production but if he starts and has a solid year..we will let him walk or pay him Leary money. I guess at least we could get a comp pick out of it.

 

[PhillyCowboysFan]

Actually the best I could ask for is Smith Leary Frederick Martin Collins.

The best you can possibly ask for being some reclamation project who has failed at multiple spots in the league, including the Patriots, seems a little too fan zombie for me.

Risen I hear what you are saying about Leary. My question is how do you pay everyone?

 

[jday]

I know it's real early, but I don't really care about position flex for a player if he's expected to start. It seems more like Dallas is preparing Cooper to be a backup, but the Cowboys also seem to be preparing every other starting guard candidate to play multiple positions.

Actually, they do this because they typically don't dress all of their ol on the gameday 46. So, ideally starters can play multiple positions, without having to move too many people around. If they are trying him at center, you can bet they are also hoping he's a starter at Guard.

 

[jday]

Position flex in the oline allows the team to go light on roster spots. If Cooper can play guard and center, and Collins can play tackle or guard, they can keep Green as a backup tackle and only keep 7 olinemen.

Exactly.

 

[okstateCowboy]

Position flex in the oline allows the team to go light on roster spots. If Cooper can play guard and center, and Collins can play tackle or guard, they can keep Green as a backup tackle and only keep 7 olinemen.

I think one of Looney or Cleary probably makes the team too.

 

[gimmesix]

Playing Center is the best way to learn the scheme.

But it's not the best way to play guard.

 

[Aven8]

So who the hell is the starting left guard again???

 

[gimmesix]

Actually, they do this because they typically don't dress all of their ol on the gameday 46. So, ideally starters can play multiple positions, without having to move too many people around. If they are trying him at center, you can bet they are also hoping he's a starter at Guard.

To some degree. How often did you see Doug Free or Tyron Smith work at another position. The only time was when they either weren't assured of being starters or Dallas wasn't sure where they were going to start them. I don't think Frederick has ever practiced at another position, but Martin and Leary both spent at least a little time at center, I believe.

The flexibility really matters for the backups. Dallas likes to take two backups to the game. Usually one has to be able to play both tackle spots and the other guard and center. Looney was the active backup last year because he can play guard/center while Green was also active when healthy because he can play both tackle spots. I think it was Cleary who stepped in as the active backup when Green was out.

 

[gimmesix]

So who the hell is the starting left guard again???

Cooper or Green or Collins or maybe even Bell. Cleary also has spent time there this offseason (and I acknowledge that I haven't read that Bell has played anything other than tackle) but I don't think he's truly a candidate. Collins has spent his offseason at right tackle, but I think that's because they know what he can do at guard and want to see if him at RT before deciding between him and Green there.

I won't be surprised if the starting lineup ends up being Smith, Green, Frederick, Martin, Collins.

 

[Stash]

So who the hell is the starting left guard again???

I'd still say that it's Cooper. I just think that they're working on flexibility and players' versatility at this point in the offseason program, when the bullets aren't truly flying. Now's the time to experiment with things like that.

 

[Stash]

Cooper or Green or Collins or maybe even Bell. Cleary also has spent time there this offseason (and I acknowledge that I haven't read that Bell has played anything other than tackle) but I don't think he's truly a candidate. Collins has spent his offseason at right tackle, but I think that's because they know what he can do at guard and want to see if him at RT before deciding between him and Green there.

I won't be surprised if the starting lineup ends up being Smith, Green, Frederick, Martin, Collins.

I'd be shocked to see that lineup. I'd probably list Green as the team's 4th option at left guard. Behind Cooper, Bell, and Cleary.

 

[Aven8]

I'd still say that it's Cooper. I just think that they're working on flexibility and players' versatility at this point in the offseason program, when the bullets aren't truly flying. Now's the time to experiment with things like that.

Leary will be missed. But unfortunately you can't pay everyone. What sucks is this is Collins last year as well.

 

[Stash]

Leary will be missed. But unfortunately you can't pay everyone. What sucks is this is Collins last year as well.

No it's not actually. They can tender him for 2018, although I'm hopeful that both sides can get a deal worked out this year if his play at right tackle is as good as I hope.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

LOL at people getting worked up at where people are playing in OTA's.

 

[erod]

Has nothing to do with Cooper, but I think a lot of Broncos fans are going to be disappointed in the contract given to Leary. Playing in between Smith and Fred will make a lot of people look better than they really are.

To a man, the Cowboy players said the last guy on the roster you wanted to fight was Ron Leary. He was the run-game attitude of that unit.

It's important that Cooper step up so Collins can play RT. Cooper has the pedigree, and I hope playing on great line gives him whatever impetus he needed to realize his ability.

 

[hornitosmonster]

Has nothing to do with Cooper, but I think a lot of Broncos fans are going to be disappointed in the contract given to Leary. Playing in between Smith and Fred will make a lot of people look better than they really are.

Agree, look at the string of WR's that Romo made rich

 

[Doomsday101]

I think Cooper will get a lot of help not only from the OL coach but Tyron, Frederick and Martin. This is a close group and I think they will help push Cooper and the other OL players. I think a big key to any OL is how they work and communicate with each other

 

[gimmesix]

I'd be shocked to see that lineup. I'd probably list Green as the team's 4th option at left guard. Behind Cooper, Bell, and Cleary.

I don't know. I was impressed with Green at tackle when he stepped in, while right now, Cooper is a guy who hasn't panned out and is on his fourth team with Arizona trading him after two years after making him a first round pick, New England cutting him after a year despite trading for him and Cleveland not even keeping him around for a year; Bell's on his third team primarily because he's been bad at tackle, but he did look better at guard; and I doubt Cleary's really much of a consideration and is on his fourth team after only sniffing rosters in his other stops.

The main thing hampering Green is his health, but his career so far has less warts than the others. I wouldn't be surprised by any of them, though, except Cleary.

I also think Green and Cleary getting time at guard with the starters is telling. Both are tackle backups so technically they don't need the position flex to play guard since we'll take both a tackle backup and interior (guard/center) backup to games. IMO, this means Dallas wants a look at them inside for starting guard consideration. The team clearly isn't looking at Cooper to start at center, so him getting time there also means IMO that Dallas is keeping its options open that he might end up as a backup. If Bell hasn't spent any time at guard, which we don't know but seems to be the indication, then I can't say the team is considering him there.

Still, it's very early and the position will get sorted out in camp. It could end up for all we know with Collins back at guard.

 

[Stash]

I don't know. I was impressed with Green at tackle when he stepped in, while right now, Cooper is a guy who hasn't panned out and is on his fourth team with Arizona trading him after two years after making him a first round pick, New England cutting him after a year despite trading for him and Cleveland not even keeping him around for a year; Bell's on his third team primarily because he's been bad at tackle, but he did look better at guard; and I doubt Cleary's really much of a consideration and is on his fourth team after only sniffing rosters in his other stops.

The main thing hampering Green is his health, but his career so far has less warts than the others. I wouldn't be surprised by any of them, though, except Cleary.

"Less warts." Really? Green has a worse injury history than any of them, including Cooper. Green's history of injury goes all the way back to college, and was a big reason why he was never the unquestioned starter at Florida. The Gators couldn't rely on him either. And Green's injuries and subsequent surgeries aren't minor either, hip and back. He's in a class by himself when it comes to being hurt.

I also think Green and Cleary getting time at guard with the starters is telling. Both are tackle backups so technically they don't need the position flex to play guard since we'll take both a tackle backup and interior (guard/center) backup to games. IMO, this means Dallas wants a look at them inside for starting guard consideration. The team clearly isn't looking at Cooper to start at center, so him getting time there also means IMO that Dallas is keeping its options open that he might end up as a backup. If Bell hasn't spent any time at guard, which we don't know but seems to be the indication, then I can't say the team is considering him there.

Still, it's very early and the position will get sorted out in camp. It could end up for all we know with Collins back at guard.

I completely disagree. On virtually all of those claims.

 

[Stash]

I think Cooper will get a lot of help not only from the OL coach but Tyron, Frederick and Martin. This is a close group and I think they will help push Cooper and the other OL players. I think a big key to any OL is how they work and communicate with each other

I'm optimistic about Cooper finally fulfilling his promise here too. One thing's for sure, if not here, not anywhere.