Our o-line is fine.. not the prob

[Eskimo]

I agree. Except this is a SB winning OL, IF it's completely healthy. Chances of that given the average age of it's starters.........zero!

I want our top 6 OL back. But we need to go to camp with 6 new players we feel good about.

One significant FA, one more mid tier FA and at least 3 drafted players. And two of them should be first day guys.

We only have one first rounder this year. Where do we get the other pick from? (Note: this year only the first round is on day one, 2nd and 3rd round on day two, the rest of the draft on day three).

If you mean that two of the first three picks would ideally be on OL then I would agree. We do need some more youth and athleticism on the line.

I actually think an ultra athletic, slightly small OL would better fit the talents of Romo, Felix and our great run blocking TEs who can make blocks in space and wall off DL to get us the corner. The only thing is that this has not been Houck's MO and this is not what we did when had our run of success 18 years ago. I really doubt either Jerry, Garrett or Houck are likely to budge on what they think our OL should look like but I think they are being too rigid.

 

[fan62]

I would love to see 3 stats and compare Romo to the other QBs in the league.
How many sacks for each QB?
How many hits each took?
How many times were they forced to throw under pressure or assumed pressure.

 

[Bleu Star]

LT: Flozell Adams (however we draft a OT in the 1st round to replace Flozell next year)

LG: Robert Brewster

C: Andre Gurode

RG: Leonard Davis

RT: Doug Free

I fully endorse this line of thought & love me some Free.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

We have no business drafting a OT early assuming that something serious drops to us or we trade/cut Columbo/Adams. We are going into next year with incumbents Adams and Columbo with Free and Brewster behind them.

Free can play both tackle spots so wither he is a stellar backup swingtackle or he starts if either Columbo or Adams fail.

Brewster is a high third round pick from a scouting department that I am beginning to have faith in since the Parcells days of Johnson and Rodgers.

Basically all you do when you draft an OT early is push him off the roster.

Draft a OG/C early and you push Holland/Proctor off the roster.

 

[Joe_Fan]

Why was everyone so worries when Columbo got hurt now everyone wants to get rid of him? Amazing.

Why? Because Free proved that he could fill in for Colombo and the offense not skip a beat.

Free showed that he was capable of starting at RT, just like Austin proved that he was a better WR than Roy when he went down.

 

[sago1]

[We certainly do need to upgrade our OL & we add some quality young players who will become quality backups or starters sooner rather then later. Our OL was a major factor in our failure to win on Sunday. Just like they were a major factor in our inability to beat the Giants in the 2007 playeroffs--specifically in the 2nd half.

In the 90s a big reason for our SB years was the ability of our OL to protect Aikman & open lanes for Emmitt. Jerry let that OL disintegrate by failure to add quality players to replace them. If we have any hope of going deep into the playoffs in the next few years, we must improve the play of our OL.

Free should work hard in the offseason to improve his body strength so he can seriously challenge Flozel Adams or at least beat out Colombo. I'd spend what money we allowed on bringing in a quality starting LT or drafting one in the early rounds. That all, we found both Larry Allen & Flozel in the 2nd round & if a good OL available then we should draft him. We've also go no quality center behind Gurode cause Proctor isn't the answer; he's just the cheap answer.

 

[JohnsKey19]

If they feel Brewster can play, I'm not so sure they will draft an OL very early as everyone thinks. Not saying I agree or disagree...they must decide where they want to play Brewster, either at T or G, which would enable them to go either G or T at some point in the draft.

This is just me, something tells me Jerry wants another WOW player at WR to make things easier for Romo. We're good enough at WR IMO but I just have a feeling Jerry wants to add another young dynamic player there.

If any of the guys we drafted last year on defense can actually contribute, that would be a major plus. Specifically, Hamlin, Williams and Hodge becasue if anything this team coud use an infusion of speed/range at ILB and S.

 

[cowboyed]

The answer is spending a couple of early draft picks on the offensive line and potentially signing one big-time FA lineman.

If this team starts the same 5 guys next September, then I would rate this teams chance of having another playoff year as very low.

These 5 starters just aren't making it.

I agree there have to be some profound changes on the Oline but Davis is pretty good and so is Columbo if he can fully recover from his injury. Kosier teamed with a powerful quick footed LT would really help against those speedy rushers.

My biggest concern is center. Just because you are durable at that position doesn't mean you are fully and capable of manning that position. Gurode is inconsistent and doesn't seem to assist with and adjust the blocking assignments. In addition to the quarterback, the center is also supposed to be pivotal reading the defense, shoring that line against the oncoming defensive pressure, creating running holes and providing the quarterback time for passing.

The center has to have some smarts as well as physical ability. If we upgrade those two positions and have some credible backups we will be on our way to becoming a consistently dominant line.

Another concern I have is the age of the starters on that line.

 

[802dave]

The guy is a wealth of info
Jewels of Wisdom;


Buehler as Linebacker

I hadn't seen that one.... Wow!:laugh2:

 

[MONT17]

Chances this Oline doesnt sustain a season ending injury again next yr very slim... why replace Flo when the QB needs an All-Madden team to win in January! Romo reminds me of Steve Young... who couldnt win the big game until they went out and signed an ALL STAR team... and he still needed help from the refs!


Jerry should take a page out of Bebartalo's book... Sign everyone with a hand out!

 

[BrassCowboy]

Flo is playing on borrowed time now. Cowboys needs to find his replacement.
If Free cannot play his spot then we need to draft one.

and yes, I think Kosier should be rotated in and out on occasion because he is too small and gets pushed around

 

[BrassCowboy]

Chances this Oline doesnt sustain a season ending injury again next yr very slim... why replace Flo when the QB needs an All-Madden team to win in January! Romo reminds me of Steve Young... who couldnt win the big game until they went out and signed an ALL STAR team... and he still needed help from the refs!


Jerry should take a page out of Bebartalo's book... Sign everyone with a hand out!

Hey Danny, is that you?

 

[Doomsday101]

One bad game and everyone is wanting to fire the o-line coach and replace everyone on the o-line, we are a good coached unit with elite talent. If we replace anybody it should be RW 11, he's horrible and can't get open.. enough with wasting my time about him, hes good as gone.

Seriously who could we replace Flo with that would match his talent? The only guy I sorta-kinda-maybe want gone is Columbo.. why you ask? Because Free plays better. Other than that we have proven game in and out that our o-line is great, besides one game.

I agree. I'm not ready to fire Houch and chances are guy who are manning the Oline this season will be here next however I do think Dallas must look to bring in some new and younger talent who can compete for the job and one day soon be able to replace guys on the Oline.


As for RW I also expect he will be here next season. He has allot to think about this off season and allot or work to do.

 

[CowboysFaninHouston]

One bad game and everyone is wanting to fire the o-line coach and replace everyone on the o-line, we are a good coached unit with elite talent. If we replace anybody it should be RW 11, he's horrible and can't get open.. enough with wasting my time about him, hes good as gone.

Seriously who could we replace Flo with that would match his talent? The only guy I sorta-kinda-maybe want gone is Columbo.. why you ask? Because Free plays better. Other than that we have proven game in and out that our o-line is great, besides one game.

totally disagree. I don't think most are basing their decision on one game. this has been going on all year. we are not a good pass blocking team. we were above averager run blocking team. this offense lived by the big play. in almost every game we won, we had couple of scores on the big play. we hardly made scores by consistantly driving down field and scoring a TD. big plays are nice, but when Minn, GB or Giants took away our big play ability, we struggled. We also scored 7 against Washington and 17 in the second contest. if it wasn't for the defense, we wouldn lose easily.

this offensive line as big as it is, is not very athletic. columbo is got a big heart, nastiness and power, but he is very suspect to DE with double moves and doesn't ahve the lateral ability to recover any longer. Groude is a liability in the middle and Adams is on his last leg. he was better than Free in that game, but that's as much as you expect from a back up who gets called into the game against one of the best DEs in the game.

free should be moved to the right side in place of columbo. its not a coincedence that our offense started to click once we had free on the right side. it provided for a more athletic OL man and opened up a few things in the play book.

davis and Kosier are good, but groude and adams need replaced. I hope we can draft our future LT this year, even if we have to trade up to the teens to get one. if you can shore up the second most important position on the offense for the next 10 years, then you do it. its worth the trade.

I don't have an answer for center as yet. we had our opportunity last year to get one in the draft, instead we decided to get cute. max unger went a few spots ahead of where we picked in the second. we had him rated as a first round talent. we thought he is going to drop to us. instead of trading up, not taking a risk and getting the player we need and want, we got cute. another team who had him rated high, traded up and got him.

 

[Eskimo]

totally disagree. I don't think most are basing their decision on one game. this has been going on all year. we are not a good pass blocking team. we were above averager run blocking team. this offense lived by the big play. in almost every game we won, we had couple of scores on the big play. we hardly made scores by consistantly driving down field and scoring a TD. big plays are nice, but when Minn, GB or Giants took away our big play ability, we struggled. We also scored 7 against Washington and 17 in the second contest. if it wasn't for the defense, we wouldn lose easily.

this offensive line as big as it is, is not very athletic. columbo is got a big heart, nastiness and power, but he is very suspect to DE with double moves and doesn't ahve the lateral ability to recover any longer. Groude is a liability in the middle and Adams is on his last leg. he was better than Free in that game, but that's as much as you expect from a back up who gets called into the game against one of the best DEs in the game.

free should be moved to the right side in place of columbo. its not a coincedence that our offense started to click once we had free on the right side. it provided for a more athletic OL man and opened up a few things in the play book.

davis and Kosier are good, but groude and adams need replaced. I hope we can draft our future LT this year, even if we have to trade up to the teens to get one. if you can shore up the second most important position on the offense for the next 10 years, then you do it. its worth the trade.

I don't have an answer for center as yet. we had our opportunity last year to get one in the draft, instead we decided to get cute. max unger went a few spots ahead of where we picked in the second. we had him rated as a first round talent. we thought he is going to drop to us. instead of trading up, not taking a risk and getting the player we need and want, we got cute. another team who had him rated high, traded up and got him.

I agree with much of what you said.

In terms of Gurode, sometimes it is hard to grade the work of the Center due to the complexity of the role and the interaction with the other interior OL. He has made the Pro Bowl a few times and was 2nd team all-pro this year so some people must think he does a good job. I do know that centers with his power and mobility are very hard to find. He has fixed the problems with his shotgun snaps and there are very few fumbled exchanges between him and Romo over the course of the season. However, he is ageing and we do need to begin to look for his successor. One other option is to move Gurode back the Guard if we want to find a better technician/blocking assignment caller.

Colombo is a serious liability and had been all-year. Free is a better player today and should have been starting in the playoffs - horrific decision by the coaching staff here. I do think Free is the future LT unless we find someone better. In that sense, it is good that we saw he can play RT well, too.

Kosier was getting pushed around a lot late in the year. As good as he is in space, he should probably be transitioned into a backup. I think he has one year left on his deal.

Adams is on his last legs. Ideally if we find a RT in the draft or Brewster or FA, I would trade Adams to a team desperate to upgrade LT. We need some picks to accelerate the rebuilding of the OL and he can facilitate this. I would not be comfortable with Adams at LT next year due to durability concerns anyways. Free will be the man here unless we find someone better to play LT.

Davis is a feast or famine player. I wish we weren't tied to that ridiculous contract. However, he can be a dominant run blocker when he is on and moves fairly well for a man his size. Even when he misses in the open field, he is so big that his man often is out of the play anyways. We're probably stuck with him. I wish he were a better pass blocker.

 

[Doomsday101]

I agree with much of what you said.

In terms of Gurode, sometimes it is hard to grade the work of the Center due to the complexity of the role and the interaction with the other interior OL. He has made the Pro Bowl a few times and was 2nd team all-pro this year so some people must think he does a good job. I do know that centers with his power and mobility are very hard to find. He has fixed the problems with his shotgun snaps and there are very few fumbled exchanges between him and Romo over the course of the season. However, he is ageing and we do need to begin to look for his successor. One other option is to move Gurode back the Guard if we want to find a better technician/blocking assignment caller.

Colombo is a serious liability and had been all-year. Free is a better player today and should have been starting in the playoffs - horrific decision by the coaching staff here. I do think Free is the future LT unless we find someone better. In that sense, it is good that we saw he can play RT well, too.

Kosier was getting pushed around a lot late in the year. As good as he is in space, he should probably be transitioned into a backup. I think he has one year left on his deal.

Adams is on his last legs. Ideally if we find a RT in the draft or Brewster or FA, I would trade Adams to a team desperate to upgrade LT. We need some picks to accelerate the rebuilding of the OL and he can facilitate this. I would not be comfortable with Adams at LT next year due to durability concerns anyways. Free will be the man here unless we find someone better to play LT.

Davis is a feast or famine player. I wish we weren't tied to that ridiculous contract. However, he can be a dominant run blocker when he is on and moves fairly well for a man his size. Even when he misses in the open field, he is so big that his man often is out of the play anyways. We're probably stuck with him. I wish he were a better pass blocker.

Colombo did a good job vs Philly and how was Free going to play for Colombo in the vikes game when Flo went down? I don't see how Colombo move was so horrific

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Colombo is a serious liability and had been all-year. Free is a better player today and should have been starting in the playoffs - horrific decision by the coaching staff here. I do think Free is the future LT unless we find someone better. In that sense, it is good that we saw he can play RT well, too.

To me that was the biggest question of the game, surpassing all other questionable decisions by the coaching staff... "Why have Columbo out there?"

And even if they thought he could perform OK, it wasn't long before we found out that he couldn't– So why leave him in there?

Horrible decision making.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Colombo did a good job vs Philly and how was Free going to play for Colombo in the vikes game when Flo went down? I don't see how Colombo move was so horrific

It's because you could see from about the get-go Columbo was looking awful.

Let's be frank, any Philly DE not named Trent Cole is a stiff.

Edwards was a far better challenge. Plus the Vikings have two better DT's so there was even less help that could be given Columbo.

Even if it wasn't a horrific decision to start it soon became one to leave him in there prior to Flozell leaving with the injury.

 

[Eskimo]

Colombo did a good job vs Philly and how was Free going to play for Colombo in the vikes game when Flo went down? I don't see how Colombo move was so horrific

His play was horrific against the Vikings and Edwards.

The only reason he didn't stink it up against the Eagles is Juqua Parker is a worse DE than Colombo is a RT. Parker actually had a decent game against us.

Colombo is just not very good anymore. Zoners just in love with him because he pushed Deangelo Hall around 3 years ago.

 

[Doomsday101]

To me that was the biggest question of the game, surpassing all other questionable decisions by the coaching staff... "Why have Columbo out there?"

And even if they thought he could perform OK, it wasn't long before we found out that he couldn't– So why leave him in there?

Horrible decision making.

So who should have been playing? Flo goes down that leaves us with who filling in at Flo spot? The week before Colombo held his own vs Philly so I don't see where that moved hurt us one bit. In the vikes game had Flo not went down maybe you put Free in for Colombo but once Flo went down who plays?