lot of talk about our OL

[CowboyChris]

just about everyone on here is in agreement, that something needs to be done about the OL in the offseason, but its not as easy as many think. what should we do? who do we replace? with a line of......

Adams, Allen, Johnson, Rivera, Pettiti

who should be replaced?

Flozel Adams- he is the only lock i think we have on the OL, he should be starting at LT for us next year, i think BP likes him alot.

Larry Allen- is getting old, and not a favorite of BP's, should we force him to retire or just release him? im sure BP is scratching his head on him.

AL Johnson- a player ive never been impressed with, i was mad at the time we drafted him, and still not a fan of his. i seriously doubt BP moves him in the offseason, he in my opinion was a BP pick all the way, no way he dumps him.

Marco Rivera- a player that we simply overpaid for, and although he was injured before the season, im not sold on his abilities, one pet peave i have is acquiring players whos best days are behind them, and Rivera's appears to me that they are well behind him. i expect BP to keep him there for next year largely because of what we are paying him, unless someone can beat him out.

Rob Pettiti- a player who played pretty decent for being a 7th round rookie, i realize he struggled at times throughout the year, i believe a good offseason conditioning program and a year under his belt will keep him at least in the mix


so by that analogy i have the following starting next year....

Adams, ???, Johnson, ???? Pettiti

meaning we need to 2 guards, your thoughts please.

 

[DasTex]

Adams, ???, Johnson, ???? Pettiti

meaning we need to 2 guards, your thoughts please.

Nothing against the guy, and yes I realize he was late draft pick who started all year...but we are in DEEP TROUBLE if he's the starting RT again next year. RT is the biggiest ???? for me. I could live w/

Adams, Allen, AJ or Bentley (please, please), Rivera, ???????

 

[Rogerthat12]

We need a RT..Pettiti is a back-up right now

Allen may be back..but we need talented youth at ALL positions

If LeCharles Bentley come loose you bet Al is riding the pine

 

[CowboyChris]

Nothing against the guy, and yes I realize he was late draft pick who started all year...but we are in DEEP TROUBLE if he's the starting RT again next year. RT is the biggiest ???? for me. I could live w/

Adams, Allen, AJ or Bently (please, please), Rivera, ???????

with Pettiti, you gotta find out if he is a player? i cant see us just dumping him, LT's or RT's dont grow on trees, it takes a little seasoning, and if Pettiti has the capabilities then he could be our long term answer at RT, a position we have had a hole at for quite awhile.

 

[Clove]

I'd like to know what people see in Petitti. I don't see it. The guy has slow feet and that's not fixable. His feet are the reason that speed rushers fake him out or bull rush him, his feet just doesn't move appropriately.

So maybe he can be something down the line, but for next year at least, he has to be benched.

 

[DasTex]

with Pettiti, you gotta find out if he is a player? i cant see us just dumping him, LT's or RT's dont grow on trees, it takes a little seasoning, and if Pettiti has the capabilities then he could be our long term answer at RT, a position we have had a hole at for quite awhile.

I'm not saying to just straight out cut him. I would love to keep him for emergency situations, but not to start....atleat this next year. Maybe in a couple years, but IMO, not next year. When your making average DE's, look like all stars, WITH help from your TE...thats just not cutting it. Can't have that type of production again next year.

 

[CowboyChris]

I'm not saying to just straight out cut him. I would love to keep him for emergency situations, but not to start....atleat this next year. Maybe in a couple years, but IMO, not next year. When your making average DE's, look like all stars, WITH help from your TE...thats just not cutting it. Can't have that type of production again next year.

so basically we just have one hole on the OL? Pettiti?

 

[neosapien23]

with Pettiti, you gotta find out if he is a player? i cant see us just dumping him, LT's or RT's dont grow on trees, it takes a little seasoning, and if Pettiti has the capabilities then he could be our long term answer at RT, a position we have had a hole at for quite awhile.

Hey if Pettitti can beat out a first round tackle, them more power to him. We still need a good backup tackle in case Adams is still ailing from his injury. I don't think he will ge out McNeil though.

 

[DasTex]

so basically we just have one hole on the OL? Pettiti?

It starts there, and thats the key to have better production from the line. Flo will be great sometimes, and average at others, but I'd take him over 80% of the other LT's out there.

I think Allen and Riveria can hold up as guards, anyways, their being paid too much not to start. I know many say to cut Allen, but I'd hate to make another hole, unless we shore up someone early in FA.

I'd like to upgrade the center with someone alittle bigger than Al, but I don't know if Parcells is going to do that, since he was his pick.

But, IMO it all starts with RT. This has to be our main goal for next year.

 

[Eskimo]

I don't understand why people excuse Petitti's performance out there this year - he was downright horrid. He had no business starting at RT this year and was consistently abused by second tier DEs. His quickness is poor, the angles in his dropback were poor, he easily got overpowered and his initial punch was very weak. He also didn't seem to work well with TEs when they were supposed to be helping him with double teams.

I just don't see it what other people see. Now I'm not implying he should be cut or will always be terrible. He should improve with a year in the weight room and some instruction from a quality NFL OL coach (assuming Sprano is fired or demoted).

Nevertheless, I really think RT is the #1 hole in our lineup assuming Flo is healthy next year. He is much worse than Al Johnson who gets crucified here.

I would also like someone to point out how he was better this year than Tucker was in 2004?

 

[BadKarma]

Our RT isn't going to miraculously be an effective starter - not in one off-season. He got exposed pretty badly, typical of a rookie. He needs to get stronger, faster and work on his technique.

It's probably to the team's best interest if he were to take a season and learn behind a proven veteran and gain some confidence that he can play in this league.

Really, with the exception of Flo and maybe...maybe Allen, our line isn't good enough to beat other teams in the trenches. Whether it's coaching or lack of talent, this needs to be addressed through FA.

 

[silverbear]

I'd like to know what people see in Petitti. I don't see it. The guy has slow feet and that's not fixable. His feet are the reason that speed rushers fake him out or bull rush him, his feet just doesn't move appropriately.

So maybe he can be something down the line, but for next year at least, he has to be benched.

Or maybe Petitti's natural position would be GUARD, a la Kevin Gogan... Kevin had "slow feet" too, and was badly abused at OT, but he turned into a Pro Bowler when he moved inside (where his "slow feet" weren't such a big problem)...

Me, I'd like to see what Rob could do at guard, being mindful of the old cliche about how an NFL player makes his most significant progress between his rookie year and his second season... I'd also like to see how Marc Colombo looks at tackle in camp next year, with a full offseason in the team program under his belt... and I still believe that Andre Gurode could be effective in a run-oriented offense...

Which does not mean that I don't want the Boys to upgrade their offensive line this offseason...

 

[Clove]

Or maybe Petitti's natural position would be GUARD, a la Kevin Gogan... Kevin had "slow feet" too, and was badly abused at OT, but he turned into a Pro Bowler when he moved inside (where his "slow feet" weren't such a big problem)...

Me, I'd like to see what Rob could do at guard, being mindful of the old cliche about how an NFL player makes his most significant progress between his rookie year and his second season... I'd also like to see how Marc Colombo looks at tackle in camp next year, with a full offseason in the team program under his belt... and I still believe that Andre Gurode could be effective in a run-oriented offense...

Which does not mean that I don't want the Boys to upgrade their offensive line this offseason...

I'd go with that. BTW, Tucker was drafted as a guard.

 

[Qwickdraw]

RT.

Petitti gave up 13.5 sacks (the most by any RT in the league) and I never really saw anything in him that led me to believe he will improve significantly in the offseason. He is a servicable backup, at best, IMO.

It's high time Dallas invested in it's O-Line by using a 1st rounder to sew up a position of need that has been haunting us for as long as I can recall.

-I think Adams and Allen are fine on the left side so there's no need to do anything there unless Allen is released.
-Petitti isn't good enough. We need youth AND talent here as well as someone who can potentially slide over to the LT effectively should Adams go down. (McNeill please)
-I would like to upgrade at Center but not through the draft. C is a mental position in a big way so I would prefer a veteran Free Agent of sorts. (Bentley please)
-I still think the battle between Rivera and Gurode can pay big returns by elevating both players ability to earn the job. I personally like the results when Gurode plays and being that he can backup Center, he is a valuable commodity.

So the result?
Something to the effect of this...

LT- Flozell Adams
LG- Larry Allen
C- LeCharles Bentley
RG- Andre Gurode
RT- Marcus McNeill

...how sweet that would be.

 

[ddh33]

I agree with the original post in this thread. Upgrading this line isn't as clear-cut as everyone makes it out to be. There are some hard decisions that need to be made.

Flozell, I agree, is a lock. There's your LT. Just hope he's healthy.

Beyond that, I think the young players will get every opportunity to succeed for Bill. Al Johnson gets another year, I believe. I would imagine that he will have competition in some form though - maybe even Gurode again.

Pettiti will get another chance too, in my opinion. I know that everyone wants a young RT to be a bookend for the next several years. Because of that, everyone seems to like the idea of drafting someone high. I think Bill feels like he has someone who can be that bookend for several years in Rob. I think he likes the kid. I think Bill also wants to get big-time playmakers with early picks - not Offensive Lineman. I do expect competition brought in for Rob too. Most likely, it will be a veteran who Bill can count on if Rob doesn't step up. Maybe Columbo can be that guy?

My hunch is that Larry Allen is gone. By most accounts, he needs to restructure, but he's never exactly seemed like a restructuring kind of guy to me. I think Dallas looks to draft a guard at some point in the early middle rounds. This player and Peterman, and maybe even someone like Gurode, will battle for the job with the best man winning.

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

Pettiti let goes go through uncontested one too may times for me... he is NOT a keeper... that one time he lets a guy go through uncontested could be difference in winning or losing the game... can THAT be fixed? my guess is no... he IS a 6th rounder... so he is what he is... no room for him on our team...

 

[Ashwynn]

2 questions.

1) Petteti wont get any better at all with weight training and an offseason?

2) If he sucks as bad as you say, why keep him as a back up, if he sucks, he sucks, starter or back up. WHat happens when the starter goes down for the year in week 2, we have to play a sucky back up, wont that hurt the oline all over again? If he sucks why not get rid of him totally and hire 2 new RTs?

you guys have no idea what they go through. You think Petteti doesn'tknows he needs to get better. You think 13.5 is not burning a hole in his brain right now. I think he will get better. Hes gunna be servicable and could be a starter. Just cause you did not see it in him, does not mean he does not have it in him.

 

[Mike 1967]

I would attack the right side of the line first...starting with Rivera...then Pettiti
Then I would upgrad the Center position
Then Left Gaurd

Flozell is actually not a weakness IMO. His contribution was painfully obvious after we lost him to injury.

The only way I would replace Flozell is if he cannot come back 95% from the injury.

 

[kmd24]

Petitti suffered a pretty serious injury (high ankle sprain?) against Detroit, I think. He wasn't all that bad early on. I think the jury's still out on the guy.

 

[Vertigo_17]

RT.

Petitti gave up 13.5 sacks (the most by any RT in the league) and I never really saw anything in him that led me to believe he will improve significantly in the offseason. He is a servicable backup, at best, IMO.

It's high time Dallas invested in it's O-Line by using a 1st rounder to sew up a position of need that has been haunting us for as long as I can recall.

-I think Adams and Allen are fine on the left side so there's no need to do anything there unless Allen is released.
-Petitti isn't good enough. We need youth AND talent here as well as someone who can potentially slide over to the LT effectively should Adams go down. (McNeill please)
-I would like to upgrade at Center but not through the draft. C is a mental position in a big way so I would prefer a veteran Free Agent of sorts. (Bentley please)
-I still think the battle between Rivera and Gurode can pay big returns by elevating both players ability to earn the job. I personally like the results when Gurode plays and being that he can backup Center, he is a valuable commodity.

So the result?
Something to the effect of this...

LT- Flozell Adams
LG- Larry Allen
C- LeCharles Bentley
RG- Andre Gurode
RT- Marcus McNeill

...how sweet that would be.

I like your thinking on this, but what about Rivera? Remember, we just paid through the nose for the guy. I don't think we could get rid of him even if we tried (unless the Texans take him) I really think he'll improve next season with another year to get healthy and get his confidence back.

So, this is how I see it...

LT - Flozell/Tucker
LG - Allen w/ Paycut/Gurode
C - Bentley/Johnson/Gurode
RG - Rivera/Gurode
RT - McNeill/Pettiti