Offensive line?

[BourbonBalz]

I just finished watching the 1994 NFC Championship game against the Whiners (guess because I'm so disappointed with this year's Cowboys I needed a pick-me-up in regards to our Boys). Our offensive line absolutely dominated the Whiners, and they were a damn good team. Our starting Oline in that game consisted of guards Kevin Gogan and Nate Newton, tackles Mark Tuinei and Erik Williams, and center John Gesek (Step torn up a knee about 6 weeks earlier). As we all know, our offensive line was a beast. It dominated defenses. But, Newton was an undrafted free agent from Florida A&M, Tuinei was a converted Dlineman and was either undrafted or a low draft pick (don't remember which one) from Hawaii, Gesek (Cal St. Sacramento) was picked up from the Raiders and wasn't anything special, and Gogan was good but never great. Williams was the BEST tackle in the NFL at the time and would have no doubt been a Hall of Famer had it not been for his car accident. My point is, we only had ONE stellar offensive lineman on that team and he played at that powerhouse Central State in college. The rest were absolute nobodys that MADE themselves very good players, with the help of extremely good coaching. Why can't we find offensive linemen that can play today????? It simiply amazes me that we can't solve this puzzle.

 

[jobberone]

Well our castoffs went to Miami and are starting and playing well. Maybe it's our coaching that is lacking. That and age and injury.

 

[BourbonBalz]

I don't buy the age excuse. We don't have a young oline, but we don't have a real old one either. Olinemen normally play pretty well into their mid 30's. We don't have anyone near that. Most are around 31-32. I give Columbo some slack because of his injuries. But I think Davis is just plain lazy. He has not had anywhere near a major injury, but he sure plays like it. Gurode is also around 31/32 as in Kosier. Free is our only "young" olineman (starter anyway), but the rest aren't ancient. Our oline from the 90's played very well into their 30's. Hell, Tuinei was in his 10th, 11th, and 13th years when we won our 3 Super Bowls in the 90's. It's not "just" age. It might be a small factor, but I think it's coaching and the fact that the current linemen just don't have "it". They aren't hungry and they don't "love" football. They're collecting paychecks.

 

[BourbonBalz]

Well our castoffs went to Miami and are starting and playing well. Maybe it's our coaching that is lacking. That and age and injury.

It's a little telling about the Cowboy organization right now, isn't it?

 

[UnoDallas]

everybody' bodys goes at different times - different ages