Offseason priority: Screen pass and Bentley

[TwoCentPlain]

I imagine the Cowboys will make a run at the Saints center unless he is franchised. If they get him, I think either Allen takes a paycut or is released. Anyway, the Cowboys need OL who can execute the screen. Can Bentley do well on screens? They need to practice, and practice, and practice the screen pass until they get it right. This will also help protect Bledsoe and allow Jones to get the ball in the open field.

 

[Zimmy Lives]

I think a lot of people are going to be disappointed when Bentley is passed up by the Cowboys in FA. I agree that he is a quality player and would help solidify a porous o-line. However, center is not one of the Cowboys' greatest concerns on the o-line.

Al Johnson may not be the next Mike Webster but he's no Clay Shiver either.

 

[JakeCamp12]

I think a lot of people are going to be disappointed when Bentley is passed up by the Cowboys in FA. I agree that he is a quality player and would help solidify a porous o-line. However, center is not one of the Cowboys' greatest concerns on the o-line.

Al Johnson may not be the next Mike Webster but he's no Clay Shiver either.

Actually when he is getting blown up and pushed 5 yards into the backfield, he resembles Clay quite a bit. Though I think Clay was better at the snap exchange than Al.

 

[AbeBeta]

Bentley is going to get franchised. You think the new Saints HC wants to lose him?

 

[Qwickdraw]

Bentley is going to get franchised. You think the new Saints HC wants to lose him?

want and need are 2 different things.

But I wouldn't be at all surprised if they make keeping Bentley a priority with the liklihood of having a rookie QB next season. They certainly would want to give him the best opportunity to succeed which would mean keeping their Pro Bowl Center.

 

[Sabu1]

I think Al Johnson comes back for another year. They have to play to his strengths though. If they are gonna ask him to play man on man with a 330 lb NT, they are asking him to be pushed back 3 yards at a time.

 

[Ashwynn]

I think a lot of people are going to be disappointed when Bentley is passed up by the Cowboys in FA. I agree that he is a quality player and would help solidify a porous o-line. However, center is not one of the Cowboys' greatest concerns on the o-line.

Al Johnson may not be the next Mike Webster but he's no Clay Shiver either.

Your joking right? Johnson is the smallest 6-5 290 dude I have ever seen. Hes continually getting pushed backwards and into the pocket. I think center is of immediate need, unless Johnsons gunna learn leverage and actually start playing. No guarentees, but hes gotta take a major step up next year if hes gunna be wearing a star in 07. I could provide the protection he provided this year.

 

[Clove]

Your joking right? Johnson is the smallest 6-5 290 dude I have ever seen. Hes continually getting pushed backwards and into the pocket. I think center is of immediate need, unless Johnsons gunna learn leverage and actually start playing. No guarentees, but hes gotta take a major step up next year if hes gunna be wearing a star in 07. I could provide the protection he provided this year.

Completely agree. For those of you who don't know that Johnson gets pushed all over the field, doesn't have Tivo or DVR.

And if you do have those things and didn't pay attention to the middle of the line, you are in denial.

 

[Big Country]

I think a lot of people are going to be disappointed when Bentley is passed up by the Cowboys in FA. I agree that he is a quality player and would help solidify a porous o-line. However, center is not one of the Cowboys' greatest concerns on the o-line.

Al Johnson may not be the next Mike Webster but he's no Clay Shiver either.

Al Johnson was more like Al Roker this past year... He regressed obviously... I wonder if he was playing with some sort of injury... The same reason that T-New was down and out last year and then we hear of his injury later than sooner...

:laugh1:

 

[rathalarge]

Olin Kruez is the same size as Johnson, it's strength and technique that has him at a disadvantage. And remember how good our center in the 90's, Mark Stepnoski was who tipped the scales at 269 lbs.

 

[Zimmy Lives]

Your joking right? Johnson is the smallest 6-5 290 dude I have ever seen. Hes continually getting pushed backwards and into the pocket. I think center is of immediate need, unless Johnsons gunna learn leverage and actually start playing. No guarentees, but hes gotta take a major step up next year if hes gunna be wearing a star in 07. I could provide the protection he provided this year.

Joking? You'd like to think so wouldn't you.

Fact is, none of us really know, unless we are on the coaching staff, whether Johnson is meeting expectations based on his responsibilities in the blocking schemes. Sure we can watch TIVO and see him get blown off the ball. What we do not know, however, is whether he was manhandled carrying out his assignment or was supposed to receive help from one of the guards.

What we do know (according to press reports) is that he makes all the line calls well, makes few mental mistakes, and can get to the next level quickly. We also know that poor play at both tackle positions weakened the offensive line play as a unit.

Yes, Al Johnson is not a great center. I, believe, though, that RT, LT, and RG were bigger liabilities in 2005.

And I never said he was huge....

 

[Rockytop6]

Projections:

Acquire Bentley in the off season. I sure hope so.

Allen takes a salary cut or walks. I sure hope so. I know someone posted that Allen was our most consistent OL. This is a testimony to the ineptitude of the other OL than it was to Allen's great play. He is very strong and does well in a very limited area. Otherwise he is off balance and cannot pull or do anything that requires any athleticism.

 

[Sarge]

Actually when he is getting blown up and pushed 5 yards into the backfield, he resembles Clay quite a bit. Though I think Clay was better at the snap exchange than Al.

:laugh2: