Maybe that vaunted offensive line isn't so good after all

[xwalker]

What's your reasoning for this? Be interested to hear it.

It's somewhat of a joke. I'm always campaigning to replace Free with Parnell. I spend multiple hours per week reviewing game footage and my favorite thing to review is the OLine. I'm convinced that Parnell would be a great player if he gets enough real-game experience. The Cowboys OL could be even better than it has been with a power run blocking RT instead of a finesse RT.

Free has no additional upside but Parnell does have upside with more experience. Parnell's issues were very few considering that he now has started 4 games compared to about 80 for Free. Coaches generally tend or error on the side of the more experienced player and the Cowboys are not known for benching the player with a bigger contract.

Parnell never played OL before coming to the Cowboys. He was basketball player in college and played 1 year on defense once his basketball eligibility was over. He came to the Cowboys at 270 pounds and had been a TE on the Saints practice squad. He has built himself into a hulking monster that is far stronger than Doug Free and that can physically intimidate defensive players. He's a far better power run blocker than Free. In the first Giants game with Parnell at RT they ran right 18 times. In the 2nd Giants game with Free at RT they ran right 6 times. Parnell didn't allow any sacks in the 3 games he started. People somehow blamed him for the Cowboys having problems in the Skins and AZ game, but again, he didn't allow any sacks.

I think it's more obvious after this game against the Eagles that the Cowboys offensive scheme has some issues with teams that blitz often. People wanted to blame that problem in the Skins game on the fact the Parnell was replacing Free. They wanted to blame both Parnell and Bern when they replaced Free and Leary in the AZ game. In reality, the Cowboys are not scheming properly to get rid of the ball quickly to beat teams that blitz often.

 

[Everson24]

It's somewhat of a joke. I'm always campaigning to replace Free with Parnell. I spend multiple hours per week reviewing game footage and my favorite thing to review is the OLine. I'm convinced that Parnell would be a great player if he gets enough real-game experience. The Cowboys OL could be even better than it has been with a power run blocking RT instead of a finesse RT.

Free has no additional upside but Parnell does have upside with more experience. Parnell's issues were very few considering that he now has started 4 games compared to about 80 for Free. Coaches generally tend or error on the side of the more experienced player and the Cowboys are not known for benching the player with a bigger contract.

Parnell never played OL before coming to the Cowboys. He was basketball player in college and played 1 year on defense once his basketball eligibility was over. He came to the Cowboys at 270 pounds and had been a TE on the Saints practice squad. He has built himself into a hulking monster that is far stronger than Doug Free and that can physically intimidate defensive players. He's a far better power run blocker than Free. In the first Giants game with Parnell at RT they ran right 18 times. In the 2nd Giants game with Free at RT they ran right 6 times. Parnell didn't allow any sacks in the 3 games he started. People somehow blamed him for the Cowboys having problems in the Skins and AZ game, but again, he didn't allow any sacks.

I think it's more obvious after this game against the Eagles that the Cowboys offensive scheme has some issues with teams that blitz often. People wanted to blame that problem in the Skins game on the fact the Parnell was replacing Free. They wanted to blame both Parnell and Bern when they replaced Free and Leary in the AZ game. In reality, the Cowboys are not scheming properly to get rid of the ball quickly to beat teams that blitz often.

I agree with this post. I have thought for awhile now that Tyron Smith would actually be a better right tackle because of his dominating run blocking ability. If Parnell could just keep pass rushing defensive ends from killing Romo, we would have a line that is built much more like the 1990s Cowboys. Tuinei wasn't a dominant run blocker but he kept Troy upright for the most part. If he needed help with a really good pass rusher Norv Turner gave it to him. But Erik Williams on the right side was just flat out dominant and I think Smith could be like that on the right side.

 

[Dave_in-NC]

It's somewhat of a joke. I'm always campaigning to replace Free with Parnell. I spend multiple hours per week reviewing game footage and my favorite thing to review is the OLine. I'm convinced that Parnell would be a great player if he gets enough real-game experience. The Cowboys OL could be even better than it has been with a power run blocking RT instead of a finesse RT.

Free has no additional upside but Parnell does have upside with more experience. Parnell's issues were very few considering that he now has started 4 games compared to about 80 for Free. Coaches generally tend or error on the side of the more experienced player and the Cowboys are not known for benching the player with a bigger contract.

Parnell never played OL before coming to the Cowboys. He was basketball player in college and played 1 year on defense once his basketball eligibility was over. He came to the Cowboys at 270 pounds and had been a TE on the Saints practice squad. He has built himself into a hulking monster that is far stronger than Doug Free and that can physically intimidate defensive players. He's a far better power run blocker than Free. In the first Giants game with Parnell at RT they ran right 18 times. In the 2nd Giants game with Free at RT they ran right 6 times. Parnell didn't allow any sacks in the 3 games he started. People somehow blamed him for the Cowboys having problems in the Skins and AZ game, but again, he didn't allow any sacks.

I think it's more obvious after this game against the Eagles that the Cowboys offensive scheme has some issues with teams that blitz often. People wanted to blame that problem in the Skins game on the fact the Parnell was replacing Free. They wanted to blame both Parnell and Bern when they replaced Free and Leary in the AZ game. In reality, the Cowboys are not scheming properly to get rid of the ball quickly to beat teams that blitz often.

That's a good read. I never knew that about Parnell. Good stuff.

 

[xwalker]

That's a good read. I never knew that about Parnell. Good stuff.

There will be a line up posters that will dispute my take on it. I could probably name all of them.

Nevertheless, I stand by my take on it. I've spent a lot of time reviewing Parnell and Free and all snaps they they ever taken with the Cowboys including the preseason.

I really enjoy watching Parnell because with his size and power he can make defenders look silly. I would really like for them to re-sign Parnell and let Free go as both are free agents after the season.

 

[Brooksey]

Every sports fan has a tendency to overrate his own team's talent and underrate the talent of other teams. Many times we've heard some fan proclaim, "The Cowboys have the best O-line in the league!" when, frankly, calling the Dallas offensive line "Top-10" would be more like it. The same fans sometimes also call Dez Bryant the best receiver in the league - again, he's in the Top 10.


On Thanksgiving, we saw the reality. The Cowboys' line surrendered 4 sacks, Murray gained only about 70 yards, and Dallas managed just ten points at home against Philadelphia.


Perhaps the unpleasant truth is that this offense cannot just impose its will on anyone it wants. It cannot just operate by giving Murray 30-35 carries a game and bulldozing every defense into submission. The Cowboys certainly ought to keep trying that tactic as long as they can, but it's not foolproof or invincible. December will tell.


Dallas has four games remaining to once again try its hand at the steamrolling offense that worked so well for it in Weeks 2-7. If it fails to work, then it's either Romo having to air it out 30-40 times a game - which sure didn't work out well in 2011, 2012 and 2013 - or season over.

I don't think a bad game by Leary and Romo means the Offensive line is not one of the best in Football.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Martin had a bad game also.

 

[visionary]

It was not just on the OLine. They didn't have enough quick, blitz beating routes. They Eagles knew the Romo would be limited and had a good game plan. They stacked the box against the run and blitz against the pass.

One OLineman can only block one pass rusher. The QB, receivers and play caller have to be able to beat the blitz.

We weren't prepared because this came completely out of the blue

No one could have foreseen this

Except of course for the fact that the Commanders did exactly the same thing a few weeks back when they beat us

This is on the coaching staff, like several past games

Garrett led teams don't adjust and fold late jn the year

Rinse and repeat

 

[Bluefin]

That's a good read. I never knew that about Parnell. Good stuff.

Xwalker and I are probably the two biggest Jermey Parnell fans you will find.

It's amazing how far Parnell has come in the NFL.

He quit playing football after the 8th grade to focus on his basketball prospects, and as X posted, didn't pick the game up again until his round ball eligibility expired and he played some defensive line.

You just don't get many stories like this.

Parnell will turn 29 next July, but he should have a lot of tread left in his NFL career.

He avoided eight years of pounding on his body during high school and college and has been a back-up in the NFL.

We'll never know what Parnell can be unless he gets on the field and stays there.

 

[yimyammer]

Xwalker and I are probably the two biggest Jermey Parnell fans you will find.

It's amazing how far Parnell has come in the NFL.

He quit playing football after the 8th grade to focus on his basketball prospects, and as X posted, didn't pick the game up again until his round ball eligibility expired and he played some defensive line.

You just don't get many stories like this.

Parnell will turn 29 next July, but he should have a lot of tread left in his NFL career.

He avoided eight years of pounding on his body during high school and college and has been a back-up in the NFL.

We'll never know what Parnell can be unless he gets on the field and stays there.

Intriguing, if they're close in talent but Parnell is cheaper then I lean toward going with the younger, cheaper player plus couldn't they use him as a passing option in goal line situations?

Having said that, I can't help but wonder what the coaches see y'all don't see. Nothing personal but if y'all are correct and the coaches are wrong then the team is pretty much ****ed for obvious reasons

 

[jobberone]

Pass blocking esp stunts and blitzes are not easy for OL the first year or three.

 

[Bluefin]

Having said that, I can't help but wonder what the coaches see y'all don't see. Nothing personal but if y'all are correct and the coaches are wrong then the team is pretty much ****ed for obvious reasons

The coaches see that Doug Free started playing a lot better in 2013 and there was no longer a huge need to replace him.

Free is a proven veteran and the coaches know what they are going to get.

They like that.

Jermey Parnell has everything you want physically, but he's still green from an experience standpoint.

And when Darrion Weems went down in training camp, Parnell suddenly had to start playing LT again and wasn't given a chance to compete at RT.

The coaches had no reason to rock the boat.

 

[ufcrules1]

Horrible thread. Dallas has the #1 offensive line in the league and they played well above average against the Eagles.

 

[jobberone]

Agree with Parnell as RT. He needs to compete at LT. Not sure he can beat Smith out but he is at least as good an athlete maybe better than Smith.

 

[mahoneybill]

In '92 the Eagles sacked Troy 4 times and Emmitt ran for 67 yards on 19 carries. Dallas lost 31-7.

Even that line was susceptible at times. I know Troy didn't elude as many rushers as Tony (though Troy didn't really become a statue until later in his career), but I don't think he held the ball as long either.

Having a top 5 line doesn't mean the qb isn't going to get rocked in some games. There were other games--particularly NFC East games--where Troy was sacked a lot too during super bowl seasons. Admittedly the run blocking was more consistent back then, but Dallas will never have a line that good again. If the line needs to be that strong, Dallas is in trouble.

Edited to add: Emmitt's vision helped the run blocking a lot back then too. As Nate has said repeatedly, their job was a lot easier when he came around because they could just take their man anywhere and he'd find a hole.

Troy also had an 11 sack games against the Eagles....

 

[Bluefin]

Horrible thread. Dallas has the #1 offensive line in the league and they played well above average against the Eagles.

DeMarco Murray failed to record a run of 10 yards or longer for the first time this season against Philadelphia.

 

[CATCH17]

It wouldn't look as bad if the QB had options to get rid of the ball quicker.

This OLine is really good but you can't attack defenses that are aggressive like we do.

 

[ufcrules1]

DeMarco Murray failed to record a run of 10 yards or longer for the first time this season against Philadelphia.

So what? Maybe he had a bad game. The offensive line played good enough for us to win.

 

[Bluefin]

The offensive line played good enough for us to win.

That doesn't translate to "well above average" from my viewpoint.

 

[DandyDon1722]

So what? Maybe he had a bad game. The offensive line played good enough for us to win.

I don't think they did They held us to virtually season lows in rushing and passing. But I'll bet you a six pack they'll play good enough to win next time. Whether we will or not is a different story.

 

[CF74]

Teams have figured out there's blood in the water and all they have to do is sell out to stop the run, blitz Romo on obvious passing downs, and force us to pass more which Romo can't do anymore.. Especially on a short week, our QB needs more time to recoup from the previous game hence blood in the water...