Nervous about our offensive line after hearing Big Nate's comments

[ondaedg]

Good and accurate post. Bengals o line was near worst in the league. KC's oline had all five new starters replaced from a year ago. Green Bay's oline was a revolving door of starters at best to include losing their all pro LT, then the guard tjat replaced him after 3 or 4 games leaving g their 3rd body at LT from mid season onward.

Dallas can not accomplish the success these teams did last year without having a perfect 2016 type health and aged line for the reasons you mention.

To add to your post the Pats have never really invested into OL like we have in terms of draft resources. They’ve always had a “good” OL but never one that just runs over opposing DLs. Good play design and scheme can make any OL look good.

 

[VaqueroTD]

Tyron wasn't "hurt". He was back to practicing after missing one public OTA.

Nate's point was he has played the position at the level and at that age.... he knows what is realistic. He said no one would admit it yet, but dude is on pace to miss several games again this year if already being held out for back issues.

 

[75boyz]

To add to your post the Pats have never really invested into OL like we have in terms of draft resources. They’ve always had a “good” OL but never one that just runs over opposing DLs. Good play design and scheme can make any OL look good.

Yep, no doubt. And coaching, like you said previously as well.

 

[reddyuta]

there is a great OC still available in FA and we have cap space to sign him but Stephen is just too cheap to sign any meaningful contributors/

 

[Oz-of-Cowboy-Country]

We don’t need to have a top 5 oline every year to be competitive. Good coaching and talent at the skill positions can overcome less than stellar oline play. Look at last year’s Rams and Bengals.

Our oline as it stands now is better than most of the playoff teams from last season. Would we be better off with a top 5 OL? Heck yeah but it’s arguable that we need another RB, a WR, a DB, and a DT as much or more than OL.

Physical attributes lead to a QB's style of play. Shorter QB"s tend to be more athletic than taller QB's. Meaning shorter QB"s can take off quicker than taller QB's. So says the simple laws of physics. So a taller QB who knows he can't run will learn to make quicker decision. Where as a shorter QB will hold onto the ball longer waiting for something to open up. Athletic QB's tend to think if one DL breaks free, they can just out run him. But, if this athletic QB isn't super fast, they often end up just getting sacked. That's why you'll always see some happy footed QB leading the league in sacks.

So what the Rams and Bengals accomplished last year, with lesser OL play, was due to their tall non-running QB's making quicker decision. A good team building HC or GM would understand his QB's style of play and put a team around him that allows him to succeed. So some of the taller QB's can get away with not having the best OL's, because they've conditioned themselves mentally to handle that situation. Just because the Rams and Bengals can get away with it, doesn't mean that Dallas can. We must remember, Dak needs one hundred yards on the ground to win.

 

[Acceptablename]

Was listening to a recent podcast of Hanging with the Boys and don't have a lot of confidence in our OLine after hearing Big Nate talk about it.

Nate was reporting about Tyron Smith already having back problems in training camp. Nate basically said if he's having it this early you can go ahead and assume he's missing significant games this year, which I agree with.

The crew started talking about Tyron's backup because we saw how much it hurt last year. They talked about Zack Martin's comment on Tyler Smith learning 2 positions as a rookie. Zack basically said that it's much easier to learn two positions on the same side instead of going back and forth because at least some of the technique stays the same. Newton doesn't sound too high on the remark though. Being practical, he said Zack is a once in a lifetime talent, was Pro Bowl caliber from day one, and what may look easy for Zack is not the same for Tyler. Much longer and funnier bit that Nate launches into on this and why so many superstars are not great coaches, but he's right. And this reminds me of a thread here asking if we should be worried that Smith wasn't on the starters practice team from day one, because that does worry me, and yes, Zack was on the first team from day one.

Didn't hear much good or bad about Tyler, just doesn't seem like Nate is sure he's the one at LT. The crew didn't sound very high on Josh Ball either. They didn't talk much about Connor McGovern either, at least not the parts I listened to. They were pretty much mocking our depth at offensive tackle right now. Nate's philosophy is that if the left tackle and center are not locked up, a team won't have much success, and can get by at the other positions on the line. His jokes about Dak better learning how to run again this year have me worried.

If you listen to Hanging With the Boys, Nate is always the practical one. He's not a homer like Irvin. He's not one of those guys who gets in the dumps like the rest of the media and fans. He keeps it light, practical and makes his predictions and observations like an everyday player using some good examples from his career or others to explain his points.

LINK BELOW if you want to listen to it. One of the better episodes I've listen to. It starts with a great tribute to MB3 from Jesse Holley. Some good stories about MB3 you don't hear.

Hangin' with the Boys: Remembering Marion (dallascowboys.com)

if
Tyron is having back problems now Nate might be right. My question is how many teams have capable back ups up and down the line. By my calculations we’re one dependable player short. By the end of the year we may have that guy. If not we’ll get him in 2023. Ya I don’t like it either.

 

[Jake]

there is a great OC still available in FA and we have cap space to sign him but Stephen is just too cheap to sign any meaningful contributors/

Dallas isn't the only team who could use Tretter and no one has signed him. It seems no one wants to bring the President of the NFLPA into their locker room.

 

[jterrell]

LC was part of the problem at depth. We were fine with Steele at RT. Steele couldn't make it at LT and LC sure as heck wasn't going to either if he couldn't even bother to get in shape.

LC was part of the problem because he rarely played once he signed his extension.
You give him the injury year then he avoids tests, lies to the team about it and gets banned for 6 games.
LC forced his own release.

Dallas did what they could here. They used their first overalls election on the OL they thought was best possible fit as a day 1 starter with Tyron like upside.
May not work but the idea was correct.
Now if they get into camp and it isn't working hopefully, they use some of that cap surplus to go get a guy that can stop gap.

 

[Hawkeye0202]

Where is the heck did Nate get Tyron is having back issues in TC. TC has not started.
It was reported Tyron was held out of the 1st OTA's because his back had some tightness, or a little sore. We have heard no reports since then.

Of course some players will have tightness and soreness at first. Even if training and working out, it happens.
And Tyron missed games last season because of a sprained ankle, more so than back or neck issues. IIRC.

Nate, and I love Nate and listening to him, but dang, he could do some research first, and not sound like some posters on here.

Pretty sure this is what he's talking about......

 

[speedkilz88]

Nate's point was he has played the position at the level and at that age.... he knows what is realistic. He said no one would admit it yet, but dude is on pace to miss several games again this year if already being held out for back issues.

Tyron is 31 years old. The 90's Cowboys won their first Super Bowl after the 1992 season when Nate was 31 years old. Nate was voted all-pro in 1994 & 1995 when he was 34 & 35 years old. Made his final pro bowl team in 1998 when he was 37 years old.

 

[Starforever]

As good as Tyron HAS been for the team, he should have been replaced a season ago. So many posters moan about troubled players, but this team hangs on to broke, over the hill, past their prime players, just as well.

 

[Mr_437]

The FO went about the off-season like Tyron isn't going to miss a chunk of games. They have a rookie 5th round pick and a redshirt 4th round to man the backup OT positions...smh.

They should sign one of the veteran OTs still on the market, but I've been thinking this for months.

I will be surprised if the OL plays well and I hope so, but I'm preparing for a cluster f in the trenches.

 

[john van brocklin]

Was listening to a recent podcast of Hanging with the Boys and don't have a lot of confidence in our OLine after hearing Big Nate talk about it.

Nate was reporting about Tyron Smith already having back problems in training camp. Nate basically said if he's having it this early you can go ahead and assume he's missing significant games this year, which I agree with.

The crew started talking about Tyron's backup because we saw how much it hurt last year. They talked about Zack Martin's comment on Tyler Smith learning 2 positions as a rookie. Zack basically said that it's much easier to learn two positions on the same side instead of going back and forth because at least some of the technique stays the same. Newton doesn't sound too high on the remark though. Being practical, he said Zack is a once in a lifetime talent, was Pro Bowl caliber from day one, and what may look easy for Zack is not the same for Tyler. Much longer and funnier bit that Nate launches into on this and why so many superstars are not great coaches, but he's right. And this reminds me of a thread here asking if we should be worried that Smith wasn't on the starters practice team from day one, because that does worry me, and yes, Zack was on the first team from day one.

Didn't hear much good or bad about Tyler, just doesn't seem like Nate is sure he's the one at LT. The crew didn't sound very high on Josh Ball either. They didn't talk much about Connor McGovern either, at least not the parts I listened to. They were pretty much mocking our depth at offensive tackle right now. Nate's philosophy is that if the left tackle and center are not locked up, a team won't have much success, and can get by at the other positions on the line. His jokes about Dak better learning how to run again this year have me worried.

If you listen to Hanging With the Boys, Nate is always the practical one. He's not a homer like Irvin. He's not one of those guys who gets in the dumps like the rest of the media and fans. He keeps it light, practical and makes his predictions and observations like an everyday player using some good examples from his career or others to explain his points.

LINK BELOW if you want to listen to it. One of the better episodes I've listen to. It starts with a great tribute to MB3 from Jesse Holley. Some good stories about MB3 you don't hear.

Hangin' with the Boys: Remembering Marion (dallascowboys.com)

I have been concerned about oline since we did not
Address in free agency.
Our starting center is weak
Smith will miss games.
We have a rookie starter.
We did not sign any experienced depth in free agency.
Our strategy seems to be that we hope everything goes perfectly.
It's a recipe for disaster

 

[Havic]

I've been nervous with the O-line. I really hope we can pick up a quality vet who doesnt make final cuts.

 

[john van brocklin]

I've been nervous with the O-line. I really hope we can pick up a quality vet who doesnt make final cuts.

 

[erod]

Is there a position group on this team that isn't sketchy?

 

[john van brocklin]

The FO went about the off-season like Tyron isn't going to miss a chunk of games. They have a rookie 5th round pick and a redshirt 4th round to man the backup OT positions...smh.

They should sign one of the veteran OTs still on the market, but I've been thinking this for months.

I will be surprised if the OL plays well and I hope so, but I'm preparing for a cluster f in the trenches.

Agreed, we are paper thin on the depth chart
Front office really screwed up here.

 

[john van brocklin]

Is there a position group on this team that isn't sketchy?

Running back seems good.

 

[rambo2]

You have every reason to be nervous about this OL. They took a 1st rounder with a lot of potential upside over more battle tested ones. Every DC is going to spend time on that film of him with 3 penalties and trying to recreate that same situation.

If he falters, I look for the Center to have more issues getting the shotgun to the same point consistently.

It is not often that a team loses two starters on the OL in the same off season and not being players in FA will exacerbate that. If Steele also struggles, that pocket is going to be a mess.

Who were the more battle tested ones?

 

[Typhus]

Well, you should have told him to wait more than two weeks before rolling down the same interstate in the same van at the same time of day with another vanload of weed.

Never understood why Nate felt the need to be a mule.