Opinion: Introducing our new Center: Conner McGovern

[KJJ]

And how do you explain Zeke having problems running the ball? Is that Dak's fault too?

Couldnt be Looney. Nah, not the career backup.

How did Zeke have problems running the ball in 2018 when he rushed for over 1400 yards and averaged 4.7 a carry? He rushed for more yards and had a better rushing average in 2018 than he did last season with Frederick at center. lol I’m not saying Looney is great but it’s his job to lose unless you want to go with a 3rd round pick who has yet to even take a practice snap for the Cowboys. You would rather have McGovern starting at center even though he never even practiced last season? If he or someone else beats Looney out, fine but it’s Looney’s job to lose.

 

[Aerolithe_Lion]

He is more talented and has a ton more upside.

That was a real reach, dude!!!!

really? I thought Looney filled in great in 2018

 

[America's Cowboy]

LOL......what proof? A video of one play in the season? LOL

A stat showing he only gave up ONE sack? LOL

Based on your stats, he was the best player in football giving up one sack. LOL So why is he still a backup if he is soo great?

I have given you the biggest mountain of evidence you need.

Looney at center and every other player stays the same. 56 sacks

Frederick at center and every other players stays the same. 23 sacks.

What other stat do you need? LOL

More proof from those who review NFL players' performances for a living.

From Fansided (November 17, 2018):

The Dallas Cowboys most disappointing offensive lineman is…

by Reid Hanson

For a variety of reasons, the offensive line has been one of the most disappointing units on the Dallas Cowboys, so today we look at which individual specifically is the most disappointing

For the Dallas Cowboys, the offensive line was supposed to be dominant this season. The entire team was built around a run-heavy ball-control offense that bled the clock and limited possessions. This was to help Dak Prescott and the offense as well as Rod Marinelli and the defense.

As we all know, that plan blew up in our faces when Travis Frederick was diagnosed with Guillian-Barre syndrome late in training camp. Suddenly without arguably the best center in football, the Dallas Cowboys were forced to reset their expectations for this offense.

Sadly it didn’t even end there. Zack Martin would go on to suffer a knee injury that substantially bothers him to this day. And Tyron Smith would, once again, be plagued with back issues. It caused him to miss last week already and could keep him from action again this Thursday against New Orleans.

While all of these injuries to Dallas’ best offensive linemen are disappointing, and in Frederick’s case, unexpected, injuries are a part of the game and not exactly a surprising development. So for the sake of this discussion, let’s take a moment to discuss which offensive linemen’s PERFORMANCE is the most disappointing this season…

The candidates: LT Tyron Smith, OG Connor Williams, C Joe Looney, OG Zack Martin, RT La’el Collins

*Joe Looney may be a far cry from All-Pro Travis Frederick, but he’s no slouch either. If anything Looney has exceeded expectations this season. Not only that but Looney seems to be progressing every week and looks like he may be a legitimate Day 1 starter in this league.

Note: From my novice film review, Looney is improving in nearly every part of his game. His power, movement, reach blocks, and his ability to handle games/stunts is all improving.

The rest of the players' reviews is here: https://sportdfw-com.cdn.ampproject...llas-cowboys-disappointing-offensive-lineman/

There is more from other sports websites that say the same. Where is your proof against Looney?

 

[AsthmaField]

OL coach Alexander had that 2018 line so screwed up that I’m surprised they didn’t give up more sacks than they did.

The reasons for the line sucking in 2018 were (IMO):

1. Alexander being the coach
2. Losing continuity on the OL when putting two new starters in (Looney and rookie Connor Williams)
3. Starting the season with an awful WR corps. They couldn’t get open, causing Dak to hold the ball too long.

That whole line was just a mess in 2018. It was a perfect storm of events that made it that way.

 

[CowboyRoy]

How did Zeke have problems running the ball in 2018 when he rushed for over 1400 yards and averaged 4.7 a carry? He rushed for more yards and had a better rushing average in 2018 than he did last season with Frederick at center. lol I’m not saying Looney is great but it’s his job to lose unless you want to go with a 3rd round pick who has yet to even take a practice snap for the Cowboys. You would rather have McGovern starting at center even though he never even practiced last season? If he or someone else beats Looney out, fine but it’s Looney’s job to lose.

7 rushing td and had big problems on short yardage and goal line.

Looney and Williams together in the interior is a disaster.

 

[CowboyRoy]

More proof from those who review NFL players' performances for a living.

From Fansided (November 17, 2018):

The Dallas Cowboys most disappointing offensive lineman is…

by Reid Hanson

For a variety of reasons, the offensive line has been one of the most disappointing units on the Dallas Cowboys, so today we look at which individual specifically is the most disappointing

For the Dallas Cowboys, the offensive line was supposed to be dominant this season. The entire team was built around a run-heavy ball-control offense that bled the clock and limited possessions. This was to help Dak Prescott and the offense as well as Rod Marinelli and the defense.

As we all know, that plan blew up in our faces when Travis Frederick was diagnosed with Guillian-Barre syndrome late in training camp. Suddenly without arguably the best center in football, the Dallas Cowboys were forced to reset their expectations for this offense.

Sadly it didn’t even end there. Zack Martin would go on to suffer a knee injury that substantially bothers him to this day. And Tyron Smith would, once again, be plagued with back issues. It caused him to miss last week already and could keep him from action again this Thursday against New Orleans.

While all of these injuries to Dallas’ best offensive linemen are disappointing, and in Frederick’s case, unexpected, injuries are a part of the game and not exactly a surprising development. So for the sake of this discussion, let’s take a moment to discuss which offensive linemen’s PERFORMANCE is the most disappointing this season…

The candidates: LT Tyron Smith, OG Connor Williams, C Joe Looney, OG Zack Martin, RT La’el Collins

*Joe Looney may be a far cry from All-Pro Travis Frederick, but he’s no slouch either. If anything Looney has exceeded expectations this season. Not only that but Looney seems to be progressing every week and looks like he may be a legitimate Day 1 starter in this league.

Note: From my novice film review, Looney is improving in nearly every part of his game. His power, movement, reach blocks, and his ability to handle games/stunts is all improving.

The rest of the players' reviews is here: https://sportdfw-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/sportdfw.com/2018/11/28/dallas-cowboys-disappointing-offensive-lineman/amp/?amp_js_v=a3&amp_gsa=1&usqp=mq331AQFKAGwASA=#aoh=15851889063256&referrer=https://www.google.com&amp_tf=From %1$s&ampshare=https://sportdfw.com/2018/11/28/dallas-cowboys-disappointing-offensive-lineman/

There is more from other sports websites that say the same. Where is your proof against Looney?

looney is a far cry from Frederick. There’s your proof

looney may be a day one starter? Looks like the rest of the nfl didn’t agree. 2 years in a row.

and when teamed with another slouch in Williams, the line is back in big trouble.

 

[America's Cowboy]

looney is a far cry from Frederick. There’s your proof

looney may be a day one starter? Looks like the rest of the nfl didn’t agree. 2 years in a row.

and when teamed with another slouch in Williams, the line is back in big trouble.

All talk.

 

[Kaiser]

OL coach Alexander had that 2018 line so screwed up that I’m surprised they didn’t give up more sacks than they did.

The reasons for the line sucking in 2018 were (IMO):

1. Alexander being the coach
2. Losing continuity on the OL when putting two new starters in (Looney and rookie Connor Williams)
3. Starting the season with an awful WR corps. They couldn’t get open, causing Dak to hold the ball too long.

That whole line was just a mess in 2018. It was a perfect storm of events that made it that way.

And on top of that, Martin and Tyron played through injuries that would have kept a lot of players on the sidelines.

 

[KJJ]

7 rushing td and had big problems on short yardage and goal line.

Looney and Williams together in the interior is a disaster.

Spin what you want but Zeke had a 1400+ yard season in 2018 and the Cowboys won the NFC East with 10 wins and won a playoff game. Like I keep telling you it’s Looney’s job to lose unless you want to hand the job to a 3rd round pick who didn’t even have a rookie season last year. If you want to see a disaster hand the job to an inexperienced player who’s never started an NFL game. They’ll be competition for the job but it’s Looney’s job to lose. Discussion over!

 

[Bullflop]

I'll be looking forward to seeing how the battle for the center position goes this year!

Seems more than likely to me that it should be between McGovern and Looney.

It would pit a young hopeful stud, versus the a veteran who's been there before!

 

[JoeyBoy718]

2021 OL will be: LT Collins, LG McGovern, C Looney, RG Martin, RT Williams

 

[Typhus]

It is possible but IMO it is Looney's position to lose. At least for the upcoming season.

Beards retirement comes as a shock, but this team does at least have depth/options at C.
This roster has much more pressing needs going into the draft than C, and that's in consideration of the lack of available centers almost ever in FA.
Extremely important position to fill, but this roster is better prepared than most of the league to do that.

 

[AsthmaField]

2021 OL will be: LT Collins, LG McGovern, C Looney, RG Martin, RT Williams

You may be right about that but, IMO, they’d play Williams at LT and leave Collins on the right side. Connor is definitely the more nimble of the two.

Anyway, I do think that Tyron has a few more years left in him before they have to worry about that.

 

[CowboyRoy]

All talk.

Looney is a backup, nothing more. Frederick as an all pro. The drop in play was dramatic. IF I showed you articles that agreed with that of view, what would it prove? I can do so easily.

Your claim that Looney did an incredible job and we have nothing to worry about is laughable.

Or what is your claim? Its actually not quite clear.

 

[CowboyRoy]

Spin what you want but Zeke had a 1400+ yard season in 2018 and the Cowboys won the NFC East with 10 wins and won a playoff game. Like I keep telling you it’s Looney’s job to lose unless you want to hand the job to a 3rd round pick who didn’t even have a rookie season last year. If you want to see a disaster hand the job to an inexperienced player who’s never started an NFL game. They’ll be competition for the job but it’s Looney’s job to lose. Discussion over!

What is so magical about 1400 yards when you get 350 carries. Never understood that. Unless you want to talk about durability.

LOL.....the entire problem right now is that Looney does have the job. ay have the job. Looney is a backup and nothing more. Whatever you want to think the line completely fell apart when Looney and Williams were in the middle of the line. That scenario is what we are looking at again. This time with Williams coming off a serious knee injury.

Whomever wins the job doesn't matter. Unless of course its McGovern and he is some hidden Gem at center.

Looney is basically a backup guard that snaps the ball. His ability to call protections, lead the line, and help out the guys next to him like Frederick did are limited.

 

[charron]

Im believing looney starts over MG as of today. Maybe MG can beat him out in camp but MG hasn't played center in years. He played it 1 year before moving back to guard. He will certainly make a good backup, and he needs to get reps on the ST units so he can take over next year. Its also possible he starts at left gusrd if they move williams williams to tackle but that is just speculation on our part.