Little tired of underestimating Davis

[whcarm]

Last year many in the media and many fans were up in arms about us signing Davis and giving him so much money. He had been a disaster (or at least had failed to live up to everyone's lofty expectations) in Arizona and many in the MSM predicted that he was overhyped and that he was a bust and that any team that spent a lot of money on him would regret it.

Then Jones bucked traditional logic and did spend a lot of money on him. He ignored the traditional logic and took a chance on a guy that he saw as a great talent. Davis responded by being one of our best linemen and earning a pro-bowl invitation. And is it really such a surprise? It's not like players leaving Arizona to other teams have not proven that Arizona was the problem, not them.

Now, when there is talk of moving Davis to tackle, the same people are coming out in droves to attack even the thought of the move. They are saying that hey, maybe Davis proved them to be idiots for their earlier predictions, but they are certain now that he can only be a pro bowler at guard and there is no way that he could be a left tackle.

Granted, I would prefer we stick with Adams. I'd even prefer it if one of the young guys stepped up and filled the void if Adams left. But, I'm really sick of all this BS being thrown at Davis. The people who doubted him last year were completely wrong. Now they are making similiar predictions about him this year and his possible move to tackle. I think it is just as likely that they are wrong this year as they were last year.

He is a special talent with amazing skills and physical abilities. I understand the outsiders jumping at the chance to criticize any possible move that Jones may think of making. But Davis and Jones took their criticism last year and shoved it up their butts. Here's to hoping, that if Davis does move to LT, that they do the same thing again this year.

 

[theogt]

Great. We move Davis to tackle. Then what do we do about guard? Maybe Marco Rivera could come out of retirement. Ugh.

 

[montgod]

Great. We move Davis to tackle. Then what do we do about guard? Maybe Marco Rivera could come out of retirement. Ugh.

I think he is just saying that it would be cheaper to find a G then a T.

Although, it wouldn't make a lot of sense for Dallas sinse everyone else on the roster who you would want to play are T (McQu, Free, and Marten).

THey just need to trust in Houck and see what he thinks about the current talent at T and if he could prepare them to be starters. This would be the best option IF Houck thinks they are starters.

 

[sago1]

I really doubt if Jerry making any plans re whose our LT starter w/o a lot of input from Hudson Houck. Make no mistake. Jerry brought in Houck just because he knew the Adams problem was coming and wanted advice from someone he knows/values really well. And there's ample film available on Davis when he was with the Cards as well as on McQuistan, Free & Marten when all were in college as well as during TC and all those practices. One thing we do know is that both McQuistan & Free have both very athletic and have quick feet -- highly desirable in a LT. But admit I would be very concerned about who fills the RG spot if Davis has to move over. Frankly I doubt that will happen cause I think either McQuistan or Free could beat out Adams at LT spot particularly under Houck's supervision.

 

[CrazyCowboy]

If at all possible, I hope Davis stays at guard....when I re watched games from last year.....Davis really gets a big push and dominates his opponent at guard.

 

[burmafrd]

The Hotel is the heaviest OT to ever make the pro bowl; bigg is about 25 lbs heavier. There is a reason that huge OTs do not make the pro bowl; they cannot move quick enough to handle the little DE's and OLBs that they OUTWEIGH by about 100 lbs.

 

[starfrombirth]

I think the criticism is about changing what you know. We KNOW that Bigg is dominant at guard. He is ok at tackle. Would he do the job there? Probably but why take a dominant position and turn it into mediocre. :starspin

 

[CaptainAmerica]

It will all work out. At some point you have to play the young guys, just like Indy did last year.

 

[Oh_Canada]

I wonder how much better Davis would look at LT with Romo as his QB and Flo would look with a stiff like Kurt Warner sitting back in the pocket for days at a time???

 

[justbob]

I wonder how much better Davis would look at LT with Romo as his QB and Flo would look with a stiff like Kurt Warner sitting back in the pocket for days at a time???

Flash back to Flo standing there with his hands on his hips while Bledsoe was
being buried---thats how it would look

 

[TellerMorrow34]

There is no reason to ruin two spots on the line by moving Davis from his dominate RG spot to the LT spot where he's only above average. He's a great RG. No reason to take two positions into the season weakened.

 

[ddh33]

If you had to move Davis to tackle, then you could go get a guy like Rex Hadnot at RG and feel pretty good about your line.

I would prefer to keep Flozell, but you have to be realistic too. If he wants huge dollars, it may not happen. Bigg isn't a bad fallback option.

 

[CoCo]

Last year many in the media and many fans were up in arms about us signing Davis and giving him so much money. He had been a disaster (or at least had failed to live up to everyone's lofty expectations) in Arizona and many in the MSM predicted that he was overhyped and that he was a bust and that any team that spent a lot of money on him would regret it.

Then Jones bucked traditional logic and did spend a lot of money on him. He ignored the traditional logic and took a chance on a guy that he saw as a great talent. Davis responded by being one of our best linemen and earning a pro-bowl invitation. And is it really such a surprise? It's not like players leaving Arizona to other teams have not proven that Arizona was the problem, not them.

Now, when there is talk of moving Davis to tackle, the same people are coming out in droves to attack even the thought of the move. They are saying that hey, maybe Davis proved them to be idiots for their earlier predictions, but they are certain now that he can only be a pro bowler at guard and there is no way that he could be a left tackle.

Granted, I would prefer we stick with Adams. I'd even prefer it if one of the young guys stepped up and filled the void if Adams left. But, I'm really sick of all this BS being thrown at Davis. The people who doubted him last year were completely wrong. Now they are making similiar predictions about him this year and his possible move to tackle. I think it is just as likely that they are wrong this year as they were last year.

He is a special talent with amazing skills and physical abilities. I understand the outsiders jumping at the chance to criticize any possible move that Jones may think of making. But Davis and Jones took their criticism last year and shoved it up their butts. Here's to hoping, that if Davis does move to LT, that they do the same thing again this year.

Yup. Been sayin the same for a while now.

People are too dismissive of Bigg at LT.

It will be really interesting to see whether Flo stays or not and what we do if he leaves.

 

[AbeBeta]

Davis not only has said he's best suited to play inside but this last year he was among the best interior linemen in the league.

Stupid teams create multiple holes by moving players around. If we don't re-sign Flo -- and I think there is still a good chance we do -- we will replace him with either a pick, McQ, or Free.

 

[jterrell]

Davis is a Pro Bowl Guard. Appreciate him for what he is instead of trying to make him something he is not.

You do not move him to tackle and make him an average Tackle.

That is simply not going to happen.

Jerry brings it up as a bargaining chip but Leonard Davis is a Guard and as a Guards was a big part of our success on the OL. If you move him to Tackle you downgrade two positions at once.

That would be foolishness at the highest levels.

David played Tackle so we have film of it. He wasn't able to handle speed rushers. He is a massive guy who needs to get his hands on you to dominate you. He is a Larry Allen type and needs to play Guard to use his strengths.

 

[TellerMorrow34]

Davis is a Pro Bowl Guard. Appreciate him for what he is instead of trying to make him something he is not.

You do not move him to tackle and make him an average Tackle.

That is simply not going to happen.

Jerry brings it up as a bargaining chip but Leonard Davis is a Guard and as a Guards was a big part of our success on the OL. If you move him to Tackle you downgrade two positions at once.

That would be foolishness at the highest levels.

David played Tackle so we have film of it. He wasn't able to handle speed rushers. He is a massive guy who needs to get his hands on you to dominate you. He is a Larry Allen type and needs to play Guard to use his strengths.

Couldn't agree more.

 

[skinsscalper]

I'm not in the blind love for Houck camp. Flo played under Houck when Houck was here before. He sucked. He didn't turn it around until Parcells came around.

I don't believe in the Houck magic wand. Houck benefited from coaching (arguably) one of the most talented O-lines in the history of the league (90's Cowboys) and he's made a comfortable living on that 15 year old success. He wasn't waving any magic wands at the end of his tenure here and he manged to coach Flo into being a serviceable LT, while his successor turned him into a Pro Bowler.

Houck also inherited a pretty solid group in San Diego. He didn't really turn any projects into All-Pro players. Which exactly what some people are expecting him to do here. The job he did in Miami last year was nothing to get excited about either. I can here the argument already: "He didn't have anyone in Miami". Well, that's exactly what we've got at LT if Flo leaves and all of a sudden Houck is supposed to turn McQuistan, Free or Marten into something special? Don't get me wrong, Pat, Free or Marten may be the long term answer, but I don't think it's going to be because Houck willed it out of them. They either have it or they don't. This "Houck will fix it" mantra is terribly flawed.