OL Overview: Getting Everyone Healthy

[Hardline]

OL Overview: Getting Everyone Healthy

https://www.dallascowboys.com/news/ol-overview-getting-everyone-healthy

 

[Stash]

OL Overview: Getting Everyone Healthy

https://www.dallascowboys.com/news/ol-overview-getting-everyone-healthy

I see a lot to like here. I'm especially excited to see what kind of a job Philbin can do with this group. Green Bay usually had very good offensive lines, but he's never had the talent and ledigree that this line does.

And I'm actually optimistic at the potential depth as well. Knight looks like a find, and I think Connor Williams would make a better swing tackle than left guard. ,eats see what Philbin and a year's worth of NFL training and experience might do for guys like Knight, Mcgovern and even Mitch Hyatt?

 

[NickZepp]

These guys may be too old to stay healthy. We may need to see a massive rebuild in the OL in a year or two.

 

[Zekeats]

They stayed pretty healthy this year. Not sure why this is an issue, every year teams deal with injuries. The past 2-3 season besides T Fred going out for a whole season we have been pretty good as far as injuries go.

 

[SSoup]

These guys may be too old to stay healthy. We may need to see a massive rebuild in the OL in a year or two.

I mean, they're not terribly old. Smith and Martin are the oldest and they haven't turned 30 yet. So it's not like we're talking about guys already years into their thirties who are falling apart any day now. It would take a pretty disastrous turn to justify a massive rebuild, I think.

I think we need to get serious about looking for a replacement LT soon, though. I know, Tyron just turned 29 so he's still young enough. But he's missed a few games a year for 4 straight seasons now. He hasn't been a 16 games-per-year guy since he was 25. It's only a matter of time before him missing 3 games a year (and being hobbled for a handful of others he plays through) turns into him missing 5 or 6 games. And we're left crossing our fingers hoping he's available during the playoff push, and that his backup doesn't have an epic bad performance that sinks us.

3 years from now, I wouldn't be surprised if Frederick and Martin quietly chugging along. Maybe Collins remains or maybe it makes sense to go cheaper at the RT spot. I imagine the LG will be some new mid-round pick (I don't see Connor Williams getting a big extension, so I think the position goes to McGovern or somebody else playing for peanuts).

But that left tackle spot worries me with Tyron being so constantly dinged up and hobbled.

 

[Ranched]

These guys may be too old to stay healthy. We may need to see a massive rebuild in the OL in a year or two.

It may sound strange to talk about age since Smith, Frederick, and Martin are all still just 28 years old. But that’s where mileage comes into play. All of these guys have been full time starters since the moment they entered the NFL.

2019 marks Smith’s 9th season in the pros. This is Year 7 for Frederick and Year 6 for Martin. They have all started in every game they’ve played since being first-round draft picks. And unfortunately, that wear/tear is showing.

 

[Corso]

These guys may be too old to stay healthy. We may need to see a massive rebuild in the OL in a year or two.

It may sound strange to talk about age since Smith, Frederick, and Martin are all still just 28 years old. But that’s where mileage comes into play. All of these guys have been full time starters since the moment they entered the NFL.

2019 marks Smith’s 9th season in the pros. This is Year 7 for Frederick and Year 6 for Martin. They have all started in every game they’ve played since being first-round draft picks. And unfortunately, that wear/tear is showing.

While you both may be right...

It's known that OL players last a long time, well into their 30's.
Sometimes OL players don't hit their peak until well into their 30's.
We'll see how this goes.

 

[Tussinman]

If it wasn't for our "40 million dollar QB" crashing into his ankles this would of been the most healthy Tyron has been since 2016. Frederick and Martin didn't miss a single snap. La'el was a little banged up but had a damn good year.

Really the only obvious liability last year was LG. Connor for the 3rd straight season needed knee surgery (4th knee surgery total in those 3 seasons). His back-up (xavier) got hurt as well so they threw Looney out there for I think the final game. The other LG who was drafted to possible start was on IR all season (McGovern).

That's quite the shambles at LG (3 players injured at one position)

 

[buybuydandavis]

I see a lot to like here. I'm especially excited to see what kind of a job Philbin can do with this group. Green Bay usually had very good offensive lines, but he's never had the talent and ledigree that this line does.

And I'm actually optimistic at the potential depth as well. Knight looks like a find, and I think Connor Williams would make a better swing tackle than left guard. ,eats see what Philbin and a year's worth of NFL training and experience might do for guys like Knight, Mcgovern and even Mitch Hyatt?

I like em too. Young and cheap. McGovern was my favorite draft pick. Got Redmond as RFA too.

With McGovern at LG, Williams could be swing G and T, with Redmond or Looney at C.
With Wiliams at LG, McGovern as interior backup and Knight as T.

Here's a thought. McGovern and Williams split LG, Run vs. Pass. That would leave Williams free to play jumbo TE. I'd like to see that. Really tired of "jumbo" packages with a horde of TEs with little push or anchor. Rather see and extra T. Or two.

 

[Stash]

I like em too. Young and cheap. McGovern was my favorite draft pick. Got Redmond as RFA too.

With McGovern at LG, Williams could be swing G and T, with Redmond or Looney at C.
With Wiliams at LG, McGovern as interior backup and Knight as T.

Here's a thought. McGovern and Williams split LG, Run vs. Pass. That would leave Williams free to play jumbo TE. I'd like to see that. Really tired of "jumbo" packages with a horde of TEs with little push or anchor. Rather see and extra T. Or two.

I'm not sure they can afford to bring back Looney anymore.

 

[buybuydandavis]

If it wasn't for our "40 million dollar QB" crashing into his ankles this would of been the most healthy Tyron has been since 2016. Frederick and Martin didn't miss a single snap. La'el was a little banged up but had a damn good year.

Really the only obvious liability last year was LG. Connor for the 3rd straight season needed knee surgery (4th knee surgery total in those 3 seasons). His back-up (xavier) got hurt as well so they threw Looney out there for I think the final game. The other LG who was drafted to possible start was on IR all season (McGovern).

That's quite the shambles at LG (3 players injured at one position)

Adam Redmond was arguably another LG we lost. Put on IR in November. Though I wondered how injured he really was. I have a vague recollection of thinking that Redmond got put on IR just as some other guys had gotten healthy.

Luckily that was our deepest position. We lost 4 guys and were left with our 2018 starter at C. That's some depth.

 

[buybuydandavis]

I'm not sure they can afford to bring back Looney anymore.

Nobody wanted him for trade last year. I don't see him costing that much, but we likely have a very cheap option in Redmond. I don't see it as a matter of affording him as much as simply having very cheap alternatives. We don't *need* to spend the couple mil more for Looney.

 

[beware_d-ware]

If Frederick recovers back to his All-Pro form, that'll be huge. We know that Tyron and Martin will play like All-Pros for as long as they're healthy (and I'm feeling better about Tyron's health now than I did at this time last year), and Collins has improved to where he's an All-Pro or very close to it. Ramczyk and Lane Johnson are probably the class of the NFL at RT, but he's not far off.

LG's the only weak spot, and we even have a potential upgrade stashed there in Connor McGovern.

If Frederick recovers, this line could go 2014-16 death mode again. 4 out of 5 starters are absolute studs, and C-Will or McGovern just need to be the Doug Free.

 

[NickZepp]

While you both may be right...

It's known that OL players last a long time, well into their 30's.
Sometimes OL players don't hit their peak until well into their 30's.
We'll see how this goes.

The last 3 years or so the OL has been through a ton of injuries up front. It's hard to say how good this unit has been because of that. Martin has been our best lineman even while injured. Tyron has been less consistent because of various injuries. I think he even missed a few games last year. Talent isn't the problem it's wear and tear and staying healthy enough to be good. They've had issues the last couple years because of injuries.

 

[buybuydandavis]

If Frederick recovers back to his All-Pro form, that'll be huge. We know that Tyron and Martin will play like All-Pros for as long as they're healthy (and I'm feeling better about Tyron's health now than I did at this time last year), and Collins has improved to where he's an All-Pro or very close to it. Ramczyk and Lane Johnson are probably the class of the NFL at RT, but he's not far off.

LG's the only weak spot, and we even have a potential upgrade stashed there in Connor McGovern.

If Frederick recovers, this line could go 2014-16 death mode again. 4 out of 5 starters are absolute studs, and C-Will or McGovern just need to be the Doug Free.

Me too on most everything, particularly Tyron's health. He wasn't moving in the "Old Man Bad Back" look of 2017-18. He was just playing.

I'm more positive on Connor Williams than most. He had struggles in 2019. I didn't see them last year. And he should only get better. Still a young guy at only 22. Still younger than any of our big studs when they made a pro bowl. The oline is one position that your body ages into, and LG is all about *power*.

I wish I had heard word on Connor's knee surgery and rehab after, and how much it's setting back his offseason training.

 

[America's Cowboy]

Get healthy? They never fire out whenever they get beat, pushed back or aside. What does health have to do with that? I say they are simply not pushed better in practice to perform better. If you're not healthy, you shouldn't be playing. Period. How about we better prepare them in practice?

 

[big dog cowboy]

OL Overview: Getting Everyone Healthy

 

[Stash]

Nobody wanted him for trade last year. I don't see him costing that much, but we likely have a very cheap option in Redmond. I don't see it as a matter of affording him as much as simply having very cheap alternatives. We don't *need* to spend the couple mil more for Looney.

It sounds like I like him a little more than you do. And I expect some team in the league to like him more too. But I'd love to have him back at a good price.

 

[buybuydandavis]

It sounds like I like him a little more than you do. And I expect some team in the league to like him more too. But I'd love to have him back at a good price.

Maybe you do. I like to get younger and cheaper, squeeze out late round comp picks, and it seems time with Looney. I don't think we're quite there yet, but we're close.

4 starters set.
Williams, McGovern, Knight, Hyatt, Looney, Redmond. That's 10.

I think we try to get Looney for camp. Guys get injured. But he may not make the season roster if there are young guys we don't want to expose.

I wonder if they'd rather keep SuaFilo than Looney. It said something that Looney wasn't even considered in the competition for LG. Just the last man standing.