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So far, so good for Cowboys' disparaged line
By RICK HERRIN
Star-Telegram Staff Writer
IRVING - No position on the Cowboys has been an easier target for criticism than the offensive linemen.
They were dog-piled with questions heading into the season. But that's what happens when quarterback Drew Bledsoe gets battered on 49 sacks and running back Julius Jones falls short of his first 1,000-yard season.
"I don't even pay attention to it," left guard Kyle Kosier said. "If there's a finger to be pointed, it's usually at the offensive line."
After three games, the offensive linemen have surprisingly kept the finger pointed away from their direction. They have been a noticeable success, defusing questions marks by producing running lanes for Jones and keeping Bledsoe standing in the pocket.
"They are doing a good job," Cowboys coach Bill Parcells said. "They are showing a little more toughness. We're getting good effort from everybody."
But it's only been three games, and the offensive line faces its biggest challenge Sunday in Philadelphia in a showdown for first place in the NFC East. The blitz-happy Eagles will consistently test tackles Flozell Adams and Marc Colombo with a play-making defensive line that stays fresh by using an eight-man rotation.
Philadelphia is second in the NFL with 16 sacks despite playing the past two games without defensive end Jevon Kearse, who is out for the season with a knee injury.
Meanwhile, the Cowboys' reworked offensive line didn't allow a sack in last week's 45-14 rout of Tennessee and has allowed only three this season. It was the first time in 13 games that Bledsoe wasn't sacked.
Not only is Bledsoe getting extra time to pass, the offensive line has allowed Jones to get off to his best start. The third-year back has 288 yards, including 122 against Tennessee.
"The more they play together, the more they will come together," Jones said of the offensive line. "I think they have done it quicker than a lot of people thought."
The offensive line helped the Cowboys rush for 217 yards against the Titans, the most since 2003.
Other than Adams' difficult season opener against Jacksonville, the line has had few glaring failures. Adams was limited to six games last season because of knee surgery and started the year nursing a strained calf.
Kosier, who signed a five-year, $15 million contract after leaving Detroit, has quietly done well replacing future Hall of Famer Larry Allen.
"I think Kosier is doing very well right now," Parcells said. "I'm very happy with him. He's tough. He just gets it done pretty well. It's not always aesthetically pleasing."
Center Andre Gurode, who is expected to play after getting stomped in the face by Tennessee's Albert Haynesworth last week, has dominated at times in the middle and made few mental errors.
Right guard Marco Rivera, slowed by off-season back surgery last season, is playing closer to the level the Cowboys expected when he was signed away from Green Bay.
Of all the offensive line surprises, Colombo might be the biggest. The former 2002 first-round pick of the Bears has replaced Rob Petitti.
Colombo's fast start will be tested by the Eagles' speed off the edge, and he will go head-to-head with Philadelphia defensive end Darren Howard. Adams will be tested by Trent Cole, who is tied for the NFL lead with five sacks.
Despite the fast start, the offensive linemen understand that the finger-pointing can easily come back their way.
"We really haven't done anything yet," Rivera said. "The season is like a roller coaster. If something goes wrong, we're the first ones they look at. If something goes right, we're the last ones they look at."
_________________________
Our OL is playing pretty darn good so far this season, but this game against the blitz-happy, sack leading Eagles will tell a lot about our OL and about Bledsoe's ability make the right reads & get rid of the ball quickly. Our OL isn't a world beater but sure better then most of us probably expected.
Must admit when we signed Kosier, I didn't know what to expect but sure wasn't excited but he certainly seems to be playing like we want him to--he's not LA but then last few years LA wasn't himself any more either. Gurode is a real big surprise since I doubted he would ever figure out the center position. Adams & Riveria are both healthy and playing pretty good. Colombo is also a pleasant surprise and Parcells gamble last year has certainly paid off.
What's also good is that Kosier/Gurode/Colombo are all around 27 & should anchor this team for at least next 5 years--assuming latter 2 continue play well enough that we resign them to starter money contracts before they hit FA at end of season. Also Parcells mentioned that he might add another OL to the active list (Proctor) in case Gurode can't play the whole game; seems Riveria could move over to C if necessary. I for one didn't know Riveria could play C. The other thing I like is apparently Cowboys believe Proctor can be a good OG/maybe even a starter down the road and same goes for McQuistan at LT.
Of course, all our relative satisfaction with how OL is playing could fall to pieces depending on how they play against the Eagles and a few other of the better teams. It also depends of course on how healthy we can stay.
By RICK HERRIN
Star-Telegram Staff Writer
IRVING - No position on the Cowboys has been an easier target for criticism than the offensive linemen.
They were dog-piled with questions heading into the season. But that's what happens when quarterback Drew Bledsoe gets battered on 49 sacks and running back Julius Jones falls short of his first 1,000-yard season.
"I don't even pay attention to it," left guard Kyle Kosier said. "If there's a finger to be pointed, it's usually at the offensive line."
After three games, the offensive linemen have surprisingly kept the finger pointed away from their direction. They have been a noticeable success, defusing questions marks by producing running lanes for Jones and keeping Bledsoe standing in the pocket.
"They are doing a good job," Cowboys coach Bill Parcells said. "They are showing a little more toughness. We're getting good effort from everybody."
But it's only been three games, and the offensive line faces its biggest challenge Sunday in Philadelphia in a showdown for first place in the NFC East. The blitz-happy Eagles will consistently test tackles Flozell Adams and Marc Colombo with a play-making defensive line that stays fresh by using an eight-man rotation.
Philadelphia is second in the NFL with 16 sacks despite playing the past two games without defensive end Jevon Kearse, who is out for the season with a knee injury.
Meanwhile, the Cowboys' reworked offensive line didn't allow a sack in last week's 45-14 rout of Tennessee and has allowed only three this season. It was the first time in 13 games that Bledsoe wasn't sacked.
Not only is Bledsoe getting extra time to pass, the offensive line has allowed Jones to get off to his best start. The third-year back has 288 yards, including 122 against Tennessee.
"The more they play together, the more they will come together," Jones said of the offensive line. "I think they have done it quicker than a lot of people thought."
The offensive line helped the Cowboys rush for 217 yards against the Titans, the most since 2003.
Other than Adams' difficult season opener against Jacksonville, the line has had few glaring failures. Adams was limited to six games last season because of knee surgery and started the year nursing a strained calf.
Kosier, who signed a five-year, $15 million contract after leaving Detroit, has quietly done well replacing future Hall of Famer Larry Allen.
"I think Kosier is doing very well right now," Parcells said. "I'm very happy with him. He's tough. He just gets it done pretty well. It's not always aesthetically pleasing."
Center Andre Gurode, who is expected to play after getting stomped in the face by Tennessee's Albert Haynesworth last week, has dominated at times in the middle and made few mental errors.
Right guard Marco Rivera, slowed by off-season back surgery last season, is playing closer to the level the Cowboys expected when he was signed away from Green Bay.
Of all the offensive line surprises, Colombo might be the biggest. The former 2002 first-round pick of the Bears has replaced Rob Petitti.
Colombo's fast start will be tested by the Eagles' speed off the edge, and he will go head-to-head with Philadelphia defensive end Darren Howard. Adams will be tested by Trent Cole, who is tied for the NFL lead with five sacks.
Despite the fast start, the offensive linemen understand that the finger-pointing can easily come back their way.
"We really haven't done anything yet," Rivera said. "The season is like a roller coaster. If something goes wrong, we're the first ones they look at. If something goes right, we're the last ones they look at."
_________________________
Our OL is playing pretty darn good so far this season, but this game against the blitz-happy, sack leading Eagles will tell a lot about our OL and about Bledsoe's ability make the right reads & get rid of the ball quickly. Our OL isn't a world beater but sure better then most of us probably expected.
Must admit when we signed Kosier, I didn't know what to expect but sure wasn't excited but he certainly seems to be playing like we want him to--he's not LA but then last few years LA wasn't himself any more either. Gurode is a real big surprise since I doubted he would ever figure out the center position. Adams & Riveria are both healthy and playing pretty good. Colombo is also a pleasant surprise and Parcells gamble last year has certainly paid off.
What's also good is that Kosier/Gurode/Colombo are all around 27 & should anchor this team for at least next 5 years--assuming latter 2 continue play well enough that we resign them to starter money contracts before they hit FA at end of season. Also Parcells mentioned that he might add another OL to the active list (Proctor) in case Gurode can't play the whole game; seems Riveria could move over to C if necessary. I for one didn't know Riveria could play C. The other thing I like is apparently Cowboys believe Proctor can be a good OG/maybe even a starter down the road and same goes for McQuistan at LT.
Of course, all our relative satisfaction with how OL is playing could fall to pieces depending on how they play against the Eagles and a few other of the better teams. It also depends of course on how healthy we can stay.
