My prediction: Barring injuries we will have a serviceable OL.

[DrKennethNoisewater]

The team also liked Livings, Bernadeau, Arkin, and Free...so saying the team likes Costa is not exactly a ringing endorsement. We do not evaluate OL very well IMO.

 

[Idgit]

The team also liked Livings, Bernadeau, Arkin, and Free...so saying the team likes Costa is not exactly a ringing endorsement. We do not evaluate OL very well IMO.

I don't think we have evaluated OL well recently, either. But then I think people are also overboard on Livings, Bernadeau, and Free, so take that however you like. Arkin was obviously a developmental prospect and was just a mid-round pick. Nothing wrong with trying to develop those guys.

But they also liked Smith and Frederick and Leary, so if we're going to credit or discredit them, we should look at the whole body of recent work, at least. In any event, when the team's evaluation largely seems to agree with my own, I'm going to feel free to go ahead and take that as validation of my perspective. Especially when contract extensions are involved.

 

[Rockport]

Did you think you saw this in his limited play in 2012, as well? I'd assume so, since you used the word 'constantly.' Because I didn't see it.

And your assumption isn't a good one, since they extended Costa before they drafted Frederick.

We had an obvious need for interior OL coverage, and it happened that Frederick was the remaining guy we had highly rated for us there at 31. Jerry himself referred to him as the last of the Mohicans. The other 4 Mohicans were apparently OGs. At the very least, they weren't Centers.



And yet the team likes him. Go figure. A lot of people don't like players for a lot of not-very-good-reasons. Some people think Anthony Spencer is just-a-guy, for example. And others thought Jason Witten was shot going into his 110 catch season. I don't put a lot of stock in what the average fan does or does not like.

Every pass play that he was in on, and he wasn't in on many last year due to being injured, he got pushed back.

 

[DrKennethNoisewater]

I'll give them Smith, but we can't give them props for Leary and Frederick at this point. I am more than willing to dole them out when they play regular season games, but at this point it is all projection.

 

[xwalker]

But they were not good when they WERE healthy is my point. In 2011 for some of them. And possibly having a rookie starting center as your 20% change is not necessairly 20% change for the good. Rookies struggle, especially offensive linemen.

Run blocking was the number 1 problem for this team in 2012. The lack of a running game then caused problems for the passing game.

Cook was a terrible run blocker. Possibly the worst run blocker on the Cowboys since Cory Proctor was forced into action years ago. Costa and Bernadeau were both better run blockers in the games where they played Center in 2012.

Costa might not be great compared to other starting Centers in the league; however, he looks like an All-Pro compared to Cook.

I'm sure that Frederick will have some issues as a Rookie, but the bar to be better than Cook is really really low.

Leary is reported to look drastically better than he did as a rookie.

Kowalski is now an option that was not available last year due to injury. He was decent in the snaps that he got as a rookie in 2011. It is highly likely that he has gotten bigger and stronger over the past 2 years.

Parnell now has some experience and is stronger and quicker than Free.

Free seemed to play OK after the rotation with Parnell started. It appears based on some reports that Free would not make technique changes required by Callahan until after the rotation started.

Tyron now has a year of experience at LT and playing in Callahan's scheme.

Livings played about half the season with a knee injury. He is probably either healthy by game 1 or replaced by another player.

Bernadeau was not healthy for the entire year. He started the season recovering from lower body injuries and then injured his shoulder mid way through the season.

If healthy, it's hard to imagine the OLine not being somewhat better than last year with the potential to be much better.

 

[xwalker]

people do not like Costa because he is not very good. Really pretty simple.

And yet the team likes him. Go figure. A lot of people don't like players for a lot of not-very-good-reasons. Some people think Anthony Spencer is just-a-guy, for example. And others thought Jason Witten was shot going into his 110 catch season. I don't put a lot of stock in what the average fan does or does not like.

Costa stole Brooke Hogan away from burmafrd.

 

[Idgit]

Costa stole Brooke Hogan away from burmafrd.

Put a moustache on that one, and I couldn't tell her from her father. burm owes Costa a beer as far as I'm concerned.

 

[jobberone]

Every pass play that he was in on, and he wasn't in on many last year due to being injured, he got pushed back.

I didn't see that last year. As others stated he was having problems getting out of his C stance in a timely fashion and was not able to anchor well until he fixed that problem. Last year I didn't see that as it was addressed in 2011.

It's fine you and others have such disdain for players as that drives conversation and you're entitled to your opinion. But the facts from the tape don't support your statement above.

 

[xwalker]

Again, being better than Costa is not saying much. Costa's not big enough to handle the big interior lineman of the NFL. Get's pushed around too much.

I have no idea where he was drafted or if he was drafted. I just go by how he's constantly being pushed into the backfield on pass plays. Apparently, even the Cowboys feel he's not a good center since they drafted one in the 1st round.

Every pass play that he was in on, and he wasn't in on many last year due to being injured, he got pushed back.

Costa was at his best when defenders just tried to bull rush him. It was quickness that caused him problems early in the 2011 season, not power.

I suggest getting the coaches film from nfl.com. You can review all of the games from 2012 and 2011.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Costa was at his best when defenders just tried to bull rush him. It was quickness that caused him problems early in the 2011 season, not power.

I suggest getting the coaches film from nfl.com. You can review all of the games from 2012 and 2011.

Many base Costa's failings on two things... The botched snaps vs the Commanders and getting blown up by Spikes in the New England game.

To them it wouldn't matter what he's done since then.

 

[CyberB0b]

Many base Costa's failings on two things... The botched snaps vs the Commanders and getting blown up by Spikes in the New England game.

To them it wouldn't matter what he's done since then.

This too:

http://vimeo.com/34295539

 

[Rockport]

Costa was at his best when defenders just tried to bull rush him. It was quickness that caused him problems early in the 2011 season, not power.

I suggest getting the coaches film from nfl.com. You can review all of the games from 2012 and 2011.

Costa is always getting bull rushed back which collapses the pocket.

 

[Rockytop6]

If you listen to Jerry and Garrett the OL has been serviceable sometimes they make it appear it's been more than serviceable. From the interviews I've heard with Jerry he always acts like he's satisfied with the OL.

What a ringing endorsement! I was encouraged by the post until I read this.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

What a ringing endorsement! I was encouraged by the post until I read this.

Think about it...

If the Cowboys' brain trust were content with the offensive line they wouldn't have invested another first round draft pick in the unit.

In addition they brought in a new offensive line assistant coach in Frank Pollack.

That doesn't scream "satisfied" to me.

 

[CoCo]

Think about it...

If the Cowboys' brain trust were content with the offensive line they wouldn't have invested another first round draft pick in the unit.

In addition they brought in a new offensive line assistant coach in Frank Pollack.

That doesn't scream "satisfied" to me.

Pollack I suspect is here mostly so Callahan can divert some attention to playcalling duties. Its fills a void more than adding resources IMO.

But I agree about them NOT being satisfied no matter what they say publicly. Frederick was not BAA at 31. He was the BAA at THEIR perceived greatest need area. I think its pretty clear that the FO forced that selection. And I'm glad they did.

 

[Rockport]

Costa was at his best when defenders just tried to bull rush him. It was quickness that caused him problems early in the 2011 season, not power.

I suggest getting the coaches film from nfl.com. You can review all of the games from 2012 and 2011.

Bryan Broaddus quote "I have never felt like Phil Costa was a great blocker one-on-one in a power scheme"

 

[ElGatoGrande]

Think about it...

If the Cowboys' brain trust were content with COSTA they wouldn't have invested a first round draft pick in replacing him.

fixed it for you,,, though it does introduce some conflict to your previous posts (surprise) :

 

[KJJ]

What a ringing endorsement! I was encouraged by the post until I read this.

Jerry is never candid about the OL he went out of his way back in 2010 to defend Alex Barron after he cost the Cowboys a game on opening night vs Wash. Jerry said because Barron has long arms when someone beats him he has no choice but to put them in a choke hold. He spent a lot of time defending Doug Free this offseason saying he wasn't going to give up on him. He always seems pleased with the OL. When Garrett was asked about Free he said we like Doug Free he's passionate about football and does things the right way. (yawn)

 

[T-RO]

From the interviews I've heard with Jerry he always acts like he's satisfied with the OL.

Jones was satisfied with the same Titanic before last season started. How did that work out again?

Livings and Bernie are already hurt, people. We replaced one guy when we needed to replace 3. Same song, another verse is what we are going to get.

 

[Verdict]

Jones was satisfied with the same Titanic before last season started. How did that work out again?

Livings and Bernie are already hurt, people. We replaced one guy when we needed to replace 3. Same song, another verse is what we are going to get.

Don't you think that it is reasonable to assume that our offensive line play will be better based on the use of a first round pick on an offensive lineman and better overall health on the offensive line?