Offensive Line Projections

[casmith07]

Just a quick thread on some observations based on free agency...

I feel as if the offensive line for 2012 can go one of three ways, based on what occurs in the draft next month. The team obviously likes Philip Blake, and I think his selection will determine what happens. Either way, I think we get Glenn or DeCastro in round 1.

Scenario 1:

LT - Tyron Smith
LG - MacKenzie Bernadeau
OC - Philip Blake
RG - David DeCastro/Cordy Glenn
RT - Doug Free

In Scenario 2, Philip Blake is not there. I think we see this to start:

LT - Tyron Smith
LG - Nate Livings
OC - MacKenzie Bernadeau
RG - David DeCastro/Cordy Glenn
RT - Doug Free

And Scenario 3 is what nobody wants to see - DeCastro and Glenn being gone:

LT - Tyron Smith
LG - Nate Livings
OC - Phil Costa
RG - MacKenzie Bernadeau
RT - Doug Free


Thoughts, Comments, Concerns, Zoners? Also, would love to have someone in the know chime in (CS, SDogo, etc.)

 

[Teague31]

i really don't like that nagy and arkin are already afterthoughts. oh well, fits right in with our OL drafting the last decade (other than tyron).

 

[baj1dallas]

To me there's a zillion possibilities and I want to wait until some of the camps to see who might have made what kind of improvement since the beginning of last year. Who knows maybe Arkin spent the offseason training in Siberia with Ivan Drago and comes back ready to mutilate people.

 

[casmith07]

i really don't like that nagy and arkin are already afterthoughts. oh well, fits right in with our OL drafting the last decade (other than tyron).

I don't feel that they're afterthoughts at all. I just think that they still need a little more time in development.

Bernadeau was definitely given a contributor's contract...that's why I sense that they might be looking at him at OG or OC.

As for Livings, he was given backup swing guard money. I think Nagy could easily unseat him in that regard, and I think he's got that Dockery/Holland status on him. I just think the reason why they gave him multiple years is because of the unknown of trying to hit on backups in the draft, and the development time, etc. With a guy like Livings on the roster, you know he can play in a pinch, and therefore you can stick him in there if someone goes down to injury and not have a turnstile on that side of the line.

All my opinion, of course. I haven't ever seen Livings play...just trying to think critically about the salary numbers, draft needs, and direction of the team.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

I'm not convinced that Glenn is a target at all.

In addition I'm not convinced that Peter Kronz and Brandon Brooks are not.

 

[diehard2294]

I think scenerio 2 seems more likely...

for me if Decastro is there dont get cute..take him like we did last yr with Tyron

any scenerio with Costa at center is a nightmare

 

[casmith07]

I'm not convinced that Glenn is a target at all.

In addition I'm not convinced that Peter Kronz and Brandon Brooks are not.

Good point on Peter Konz. I forgot about him.

I think he becomes the automatic starter at Center if drafted.

 

[Zimmy Lives]

Just a quick thread on some observations based on free agency...

I feel as if the offensive line for 2012 can go one of three ways, based on what occurs in the draft next month. The team obviously likes Philip Blake, and I think his selection will determine what happens. Either way, I think we get Glenn or DeCastro in round 1.

Scenario 1:

LT - Tyron Smith
LG - MacKenzie Bernadeau
OC - Philip Blake
RG - David DeCastro/Cordy Glenn
RT - Doug Free

In Scenario 2, Philip Blake is not there. I think we see this to start:

LT - Tyron Smith
LG - Nate Livings
OC - MacKenzie Bernadeau
RG - David DeCastro/Cordy Glenn
RT - Doug Free

And Scenario 3 is what nobody wants to see - DeCastro and Glenn being gone:

LT - Tyron Smith
LG - Nate Livings
OC - Phil Costa
RG - MacKenzie Bernadeau
RT - Doug Free


Thoughts, Comments, Concerns, Zoners? Also, would love to have someone in the know chime in (CS, SDogo, etc.)

Cas,

I'll give you an Buffalo head Nickel if Dallas drafts a guard in the 1st round. I still think defense will be the priority in the first two rounds with o-line addressed in the 3rd.

 

[TheSport78]

Give me scenario #2 all day

 

[Cowboy Brian]

I will whine like a baby if we don't get DeCastro. Look at the success of the Tyron pick last year...

 

[cowboysooner]

I think there are about 8 guards who will be available in the first 4 rounds who will be rated above their draft position. It is certainly not DeCastro/Glenn or bust.

 

[honyock]

I don't feel that they're afterthoughts at all. I just think that they still need a little more time in development.

Bernadeau was definitely given a contributor's contract...that's why I sense that they might be looking at him at OG or OC.

As for Livings, he was given backup swing guard money. I think Nagy could easily unseat him in that regard, and I think he's got that Dockery/Holland status on him. I just think the reason why they gave him multiple years is because of the unknown of trying to hit on backups in the draft, and the development time, etc. With a guy like Livings on the roster, you know he can play in a pinch, and therefore you can stick him in there if someone goes down to injury and not have a turnstile on that side of the line.

All my opinion, of course. I haven't ever seen Livings play...just trying to think critically about the salary numbers, draft needs, and direction of the team.

I agree in general with you about Bernadette and Livingwell and about the young guys. They may have been signed to possibly be immediate starters and also to hedge against Arkin/Nagy/Kowalski not being quite ready to step in and start yet. I still wouldn't be surprised to see one of Nagy and Arkin be a starter at guard, if not game 1, by sometime during the season. Neither of the two FA's were given "we're committed to you as starter" money. With their salaries and given that all of the young guys are still being paid cheap rookie contract money, anything is possible about who wins the jobs. Several posters have pointed out that there are now about 7 interior linemen who'll all be given a chance to win the starting jobs.

If we get Decastro, I'd guess that means that one of the young guys gets released. I'm a big fan of Nagy...for some reason, I latched onto him last year and have been rooting hard for him, I think it'd be a nice story if he becomes a solid starter. But hey, it's a coldblooded business, and they'd cut bait with him or another of the second year guys in a second if they needed room for a stud rookie.

 

[casmith07]

Cas,

I'll give you an Buffalo head Nickel if Dallas drafts a guard in the 1st round. I still think defense will be the priority in the first two rounds with o-line addressed in the 3rd.

Bookmarked

 

[casmith07]

I agree in general with you about Bernadette and Livingwell and about the young guys. They may have been signed to possibly be immediate starters and also to hedge against Arkin/Nagy/Kowalski not being quite ready to step in and start yet. I still wouldn't be surprised to see one of Nagy and Arkin be a starter at guard, if not game 1, by sometime during the season. Neither of the two FA's were given "we're committed to you as starter" money. With their salaries and given that all of the young guys are still being paid cheap rookie contract money, anything is possible about who wins the jobs. Several posters have pointed out that there are now about 7 interior linemen who'll all be given a chance to win the starting jobs.

If we get Decastro, I'd guess that means that one of the young guys gets released. I'm a big fan of Nagy...for some reason, I latched onto him last year and have been rooting hard for him, I think it'd be a nice story if he becomes a solid starter. But hey, it's a coldblooded business, and they'd cut bait with him or another of the second year guys in a second if they needed room for a stud rookie.

I pretty much agree with all of this.

Even Bernadeau can be jettisoned if need be for a minimal penalty.

 

[Disturbed]

Starting lineup...a good young line. Biggest concern may be center, but one of the veterans signed may be able to provide adequate backup.

LT - Tyron Smith
LG - David DeCastro
OC - Kevin Kowalski
RG - David Arkin
RT - Doug Free

 

[johnnyd]

Starting lineup...a good young line. Biggest concern may be center, but one of the veterans signed may be able to provide adequate backup.

LT - Tyron Smith
LG - David DeCastro
OC - Kevin Kowalski
RG - David Arkin
RT - Doug Free

Think we might keep Decastro at RG were he played exclusively in college.

 

[VACowboy]

Starting lineup...a good young line. Biggest concern may be center, but one of the veterans signed may be able to provide adequate backup.

LT - Tyron Smith
LG - David DeCastro
OC - Kevin Kowalski
RG - David Arkin
RT - Doug Free

I like this idea, but I don't think there's any way Garrett puts three brand new starters in front of Romo, especially all three interior guys. I could see...

Smith
Livings
Bernadeau
DeCastro
Free

...to start the season, with Kowalski/Arkin/Nagy seeing playing time as the year goes on. I especially have hopes for Killer at the pivot.

 

[casmith07]

I like this idea, but I don't think there's any way Garrett puts three brand new starters in front of Romo, especially all three interior guys. I could see...

Smith
Livings
Bernadeau
DeCastro
Free

...to start the season, with Kowalski/Arkin/Nagy seeing playing time as the year goes on. I especially have hopes for Killer at the pivot.

...that's three brand new starters on the interior.

 

[Disturbed]

I like this idea, but I don't think there's any way Garrett puts three brand new starters in front of Romo, especially all three interior guys. I could see...

Smith
Livings
Bernadeau
DeCastro
Free

...to start the season, with Kowalski/Arkin/Nagy seeing playing time as the year goes on. I especially have hopes for Killer at the pivot.

I think Smith, DeCastro, and Free are starters. I believe the young guys (Arkin, Nagy, Kowalski) will be much improved after training camp and the last year of experience. So I would prefer the young guys on the line continuing to improve, not old backup guys (Livings and Bernadeau).

One exception might be if Bernadeau can play center. He might be a good in that role.

 

[speedkilz88]

I think Livings is slated to play LG, that's where he played for the bengals and that also puts a veteran next to Tyron Smith who is playing LT fulltime for the first time in his career.