O-line depth OK

[gimmesix]

Why are people panicking about our offensive line depth? It's not nearly as bad as it's made out to be ... and isn't what it ended up being last year.

Consider that we never really had Montrae Holland last year, but he was solid in his brief appearance and has succeeded as a starter. So both guard spots are taken care of.

Then, although we kept Cory Proctor for now, getting Duke Preston puts us in good position to improve our center depth. So three out of the five positions are taken care of.

Now, there are definitely some uncertainties with the backup tackles, although Doug Free looked pretty good up until the final game of the preseason ... and Pat McQuistan hadn't looked bad either. However, with Holland able to step in at guard, Dallas can slip Leonard Davis out to tackle if necessary. Davis isn't ideal, but he's probably at least as good as most backup tackles out there.

There is no doubt we need to improve as far as bringing in eventual replacements for the starters, but we've at least got players who can step in adequately for the short term and should find some degree of happiness in that. The backup line played well in three out of four preseason games, and that's because the depth isn't as bad as many want to make it out to be.

 

[Doomsday]

I think most of "us" are worried because we saw what happened to our season last year when Kosier went down and Adams got banged up. None of us want to see that happen again this season. Hopefully you are right and we are in decent shape.

 

[AdamJT13]

We allowed the fewest sacks of any team in the preseason -- three.

Everyone else in our division allowed double-digit sacks, and the Giants allowed the second most (15).

Someone on the team must be able to pass block.

 

[1fisher]

We allowed the fewest sacks of any team in the preseason -- three.

Everyone else in our division allowed double-digit sacks, and the Giants allowed the second most (15).

Someone on the team must be able to pass block.

I'll bet that fact gets overlooked by the chicken littles.....

good observation

 

[UnoDallas]

how about OT Ryan O'Callaghan

 

[Doomsday]

I'll bet that fact gets overlooked by the chicken littles.....

good observation

I love how some of you get all high and mighty on this board like you are football gods or something. Us "chicken littles" as you call us are going off of what we have seen from the Olinemen behind our starters. I have 2 eyes and Ive seen opposing linemen flying by Proctor, Holland, Free and McQuistan in every single preseason game. Sorry if I dont have confidence in guys I see get beat in the limited action they have got.

 

[RS12]

Wish we could have seen Jared Allen versus Free, Kevin Williams versus Proctor. Doubt it would have been pretty.

 

[dcfanatic]

Why are people panicking about our offensive line depth? It's not nearly as bad as it's made out to be ... and isn't what it ended up being last year.

Consider that we never really had Montrae Holland last year, but he was solid in his brief appearance and has succeeded as a starter. So both guard spots are taken care of.

Then, although we kept Cory Proctor for now, getting Duke Preston puts us in good position to improve our center depth. So three out of the five positions are taken care of.

Now, there are definitely some uncertainties with the backup tackles, although Doug Free looked pretty good up until the final game of the preseason ... and Pat McQuistan hadn't looked bad either. However, with Holland able to step in at guard, Dallas can slip Leonard Davis out to tackle if necessary. Davis isn't ideal, but he's probably at least as good as most backup tackles out there.

There is no doubt we need to improve as far as bringing in eventual replacements for the starters, but we've at least got players who can step in adequately for the short term and should find some degree of happiness in that. The backup line played well in three out of four preseason games, and that's because the depth isn't as bad as many want to make it out to be.

Didn't watch the game last night huh?

 

[dcfanatic]

We allowed the fewest sacks of any team in the preseason -- three.

Everyone else in our division allowed double-digit sacks, and the Giants allowed the second most (15).

Someone on the team must be able to pass block.

We didn't play the Skins, Giants or Eagles this summer.

 

[AdamJT13]

Wish we could have seen Jared Allen versus Free, Kevin Williams versus Proctor. Doubt it would have been pretty.

DeMarcus Ware abuses All-Pro left tackles in his sleep.

Exactly how do you expect a backup left tackle to fare against All-Pros? How about naming one backup left tackle in the league who could shut down Jared Allen or DeMarcus Ware?

 

[AdamJT13]

We didn't play the Skins, Giants or Eagles this summer.

As usual, you don't make any sense at all.

 

[gimmesix]

Didn't watch the game last night huh?

Didn't really read my post, huh?

Or I guess I could have retorted: Didn't watch the first three preseason games, huh?

 

[UnoDallas]

and what did we play in the preseason Vanilla D's
did not show there blitz packages
how we going to do againest Eagles - Gaints - Arizona

I guess we will see

I think Free an Preston can handle most of it the others not so sure

 

[gimmesix]

I think most of "us" are worried because we saw what happened to our season last year when Kosier went down and Adams got banged up. None of us want to see that happen again this season. Hopefully you are right and we are in decent shape.

Part of the problem with Kosier's injury was because we couldn't get Holland ready to go and had to play Proctor. I have no problem with Holland being the backup.

And that also would help if Adams got hurt. If Free isn't able to step in and Holland is the next best backup, we stick Holland in for Davis and move Davis to tackle. Now, Davis is a better guard than tackle, but he's likely a better backup tackle than most teams have.

Now, if we have multiple injuries on the line we're probably in trouble, but so are a lot of teams (and it's possible that Preston can also step in effectively at guard).

 

[dcfanatic]

As usual, you don't make any sense at all.

No, I did. But there weren't any useless stats involved so you didn't get it.

 

[gimmesix]

Wish we could have seen Jared Allen versus Free, Kevin Williams versus Proctor. Doubt it would have been pretty.

So you're going to pit two Pro Bowlers against backups and expect it to be pretty? No, it wouldn't be pretty, but it isn't against most team's starters.

We have to be realistic about backup linemen and what we should expect from them.

I wish Dallas had more linemen to groom as replacements, but for guys who can step in now and be serviceable, I think we're OK.

 

[dcfanatic]

Didn't really read my post, huh?

I read it.

And I laughed when you said that Holland is solid.

Then when you said it would be ok to move Davis to OT I really started laughing.

 

[Doomsday]

Part of the problem with Kosier's injury was because we couldn't get Holland ready to go and had to play Proctor. I have no problem with Holland being the backup.

And that also would help if Adams got hurt. If Free isn't able to step in and Holland is the next best backup, we stick Holland in for Davis and move Davis to tackle. Now, Davis is a better guard than tackle, but he's likely a better backup tackle than most teams have.

Now, if we have multiple injuries on the line we're probably in trouble, but so are a lot of teams (and it's possible that Preston can also step in effectively at guard).

I think they are pretty good at G and C with Preston and Holland in there. Holland did get beat like a rented mule a few times last night though, he whiffed big time on a few run plays. . Tackle is another story, but like some have pointed out most teams are going to struggle if they lose their starting Tackles. Not sure if sliding Davis out there is a viable option but who knows. Hopefully they wont have to find out.

 

[RS12]

DeMarcus Ware abuses All-Pro left tackles in his sleep.

Exactly how do you expect a backup left tackle to fare against All-Pros? How about naming one backup left tackle in the league who could shut down Jared Allen or DeMarcus Ware?

Not talking about shutting down anybody. Talking about adequit pass blocking and opening holes in the running game. Jury is out on Free, and you can have all the rest of em. O Line replacements was a big reason the team missed the playoffs 08. I see no concrete evidence of major improvement.

 

[gimmesix]

and what did we play in the preseason Vanilla D's
did not show there blitz packages
how we going to do againest Eagles - Gaints - Arizona

I guess we will see

I think Free an Preston can handle most of it the others not so sure

We've also got to remember that the backup linemen didn't do any film study on the defensive linemen they were facing. So this was more about seeing how they could handle going toe to toe.

Blitz protection, etc., is more about knowing assignments, recognition (the mental side of the game) than it is the physical part, which is primarily what we saw.