O-line

[MichaelWinicki]

I re-watched the 1st half last night specifically to study the O-line performance. Here's my assessment but again its only from the 1st half. May not be representative of the entire game or the season.

Realize in the first half it seemed like we ran a lot of 2 TE sets. So there were several times when Columbo or Adams or both were covered up by a TE. FWIW.

Flo to me was solid for the time he was in there. Not perfect. But certainly not a major contributor to the overall problem. All things considered and though he's getting up in years I wouldn't advocate moving him out at this point. I think there is a good chance we couldn't replicate his production with Free for some time. What Flo brings is simply massive size that is very difficult to move. Sure he struggles a bit with speed guys at times but we have bigger problems IMO.

Kosier. From what I saw last night he's a primary upgrade target. Seems to get lost or confused too easily and doesn't have the physical make-up to overcome those things. I wonder however how much of the uncertainty we see on our line at times is because of Gurode. If he's the director of traffic I think you have to wonder. Or maybe its a combo of him and his line-mates. But collectively, too much uncertainty and confusion. And that I believe is a strong pattern over the life of this line. I don't think its going to get better with this mix.

Bigg. He's big certainly. He can maul. He whiffs at times too and succumbs to the confusion factor at times as well. You can't change everyone and with his age, cost, athleticism and size I would probably change pieces around him and leave him in place. Stengthen the C position and hopefully it strengthens Davis play too.

I think I'd move Free into Columbo's spot for good. Columbo won't get any better at this point and he's very limited agility-wise as we saw Sunday. We'd lose some physicality certainly but I think we need more agility than we currently have and Free for Columbo is probably the surest way to do that right now.

To summarize the 1st half from Sunday I'd say this. The perception that we were only getting beat on the edges is incorrect. Yes, Columbo was getting beat like a drum when left alone. But Flo was very solid while in there. Free gets a pass because of a no warning switch to LT though I doubt he's ready for that much responsibility at this point. Each of the middle guys also had their bad moments.

This is a group overall that I think versus quality pass rushers and significant pressure depends a lot on Romo, short drops and playcalling to bail them out. When a talented team really focuses on pressure we have little margin for error. That needs to change.

I'd start by exploring switching out Free for Columbo. Then consider Gurode's role in the confusion and consider sliding him to RG with a new Center who can not only anchor us but clear some of the confusion.

I don't think the current group of behemoths can ever truly be great pass protectors.

One thing I've thought about that may be to "Madden-ish" is the possibility of moving Columbo to LG.

 

[kramskoi]

I re-watched the 1st half last night specifically to study the O-line performance. Here's my assessment but again its only from the 1st half. May not be representative of the entire game or the season.

Realize in the first half it seemed like we ran a lot of 2 TE sets. So there were several times when Columbo or Adams or both were covered up by a TE. FWIW.

Flo to me was solid for the time he was in there. Not perfect. But certainly not a major contributor to the overall problem. All things considered and though he's getting up in years I wouldn't advocate moving him out at this point. I think there is a good chance we couldn't replicate his production with Free for some time. What Flo brings is simply massive size that is very difficult to move. Sure he struggles a bit with speed guys at times but we have bigger problems IMO.

Kosier. From what I saw last night he's a primary upgrade target. Seems to get lost or confused too easily and doesn't have the physical make-up to overcome those things. I wonder however how much of the uncertainty we see on our line at times is because of Gurode. If he's the director of traffic I think you have to wonder. Or maybe its a combo of him and his line-mates. But collectively, too much uncertainty and confusion. And that I believe is a strong pattern over the life of this line. I don't think its going to get better with this mix.

Bigg. He's big certainly. He can maul. He whiffs at times too and succumbs to the confusion factor at times as well. You can't change everyone and with his age, cost, athleticism and size I would probably change pieces around him and leave him in place. Stengthen the C position and hopefully it strengthens Davis play too.

I think I'd move Free into Columbo's spot for good. Columbo won't get any better at this point and he's very limited agility-wise as we saw Sunday. We'd lose some physicality certainly but I think we need more agility than we currently have and Free for Columbo is probably the surest way to do that right now.

To summarize the 1st half from Sunday I'd say this. The perception that we were only getting beat on the edges is incorrect. Yes, Columbo was getting beat like a drum when left alone. But Flo was very solid while in there. Free gets a pass because of a no warning switch to LT though I doubt he's ready for that much responsibility at this point. Each of the middle guys also had their bad moments.

This is a group overall that I think versus quality pass rushers and significant pressure depends a lot on Romo, short drops and playcalling to bail them out. When a talented team really focuses on pressure we have little margin for error. That needs to change.

I'd start by exploring switching out Free for Columbo. Then consider Gurode's role in the confusion and consider sliding him to RG with a new Center who can not only anchor us but clear some of the confusion.

I don't think the current group of behemoths can ever truly be great pass protectors.

i agree...and people wonder why it's so hard to put together a championship team...a lot of the right pieces have to be in the right places...at the right time...

...i think 2007 saw the line at the height of its powers...2008 and 2009 were both injury years with Kosier and Columbo...depth is the main concern because a line can maybe survive one lost starter but two of them is nearly insurmountable...Philly lost Jackson and look at the mess it made for them...

...looking at profootballfocus...Adams is the worst Dallas lineman by far on the stat sheet but he plays much better on the field...the penalties are what dog him and he's resorting to some rather nasty tricks as he continues to decline...Dallas has to turn their full attention to this area because if Romo is the key then by extension the line is the key...i do believe this line is in the mold of the nineties but it does'nt block nearly as well...you could say that they are balanced...i think what happened sunday was simply something that may never happen again in a playoff game for the Cowboys...effectively losing both starting tackles...just the worst possible timing...but such is life...

...i'm of similar opinion that IF they are going to win a superbowl in the next 2-3 years it will be mostly this line that gets them there and i think it's a matter of health and depth at LT...

...Gurode rates a [9.4] on pff and is the 13th ranked center league-wise...but rather far behind Mangold [Jets] who's rated #1 [31.8 rating]...Gurode is good but he certainly is'nt the best at his position...his pass blocking is below average [-0.8] but his run blocking is a stellar [17.7] best for the Cowboys

...Kosier rates #11 [10.9] and is above average for run, pass and screen blocking...again, he's behind the league leader Jahri Evans of NO who has an amazing 27.1 rating in run blocking...he is Dallas best rated lineman across the board...and best pass blocker

...Davis rates #14 [8.4] and is below average [-1.8] in pass blocking...average screen blocking and good run blocking...second best run blocker

...Columbo rates #20 [2.7] and is a little above average in pass, screen, and blocking...more interesting is that Free's numbers match Columbo's with slightly more snaps...Columbo is dead last in playoff performance among tackles...but you knew this of course...

...Adams rates #51 [-8.8]...a horrible [-10.6] in pass blocking, average on screens and above average run blocking...Dallas worst rated lineman...

...Kosier, Gurode, Davis, Columbo, Adams...in that order of performance for 2009...it would appear that the interior line is less a problem than both tackles, where Free was as good as Columbo over the same number of snaps...he was rated two spots lower at #22 among tackles...


...i think Barber hamstrung the offense at bad times this year...too many negative plays...this is a line that would benefit from quick-hitters Jones and Choice who are decisive runners...Marion has developed lateralitis and it gives the big guys less margin for error...they have to stay on their blocks longer...

...i also agree that Romo's improvisation has bailed the line out many times when someone less mobile would've take many more sacks...the interrelation between the qb and line matters much in how effective the offense as a whole functions...