Our offensive line may be much better next year

[Galian Beast]

There is a lot of talk about how this team will find it difficult to have the same success last year, since it is just difficult to do it over again.

I won't get into how the schedule looks pretty easy on paper, but what I will say is that the offensive line is going to be even better next year. Tyron Smith at age 24 will be entering his fifth year in the NFL, Travis Frederick and Ron Leary will be in their third year, and Zack Marin in his 2nd.

I think the offensive line will continue to mesh and take things to another level, much to what Pete Carroll infamously said before we played the Seahawks, that they were lucky they were playing them early in their careers together. It turned out not to be so lucky for them, but the point was still there. This offensive line will continue to get better, and will probably play together for close to a decade.

The big question is what to do at right tackle.

My argument is based on a few different factors. I think we should let Doug Free leave in free agency.

Let's say Doug Free wants anywhere from 3 to 5 million dollars. First off, I think that is money that could be used to get a contributor on defense.

Second, I think you have to look at the draft. What do you think will be easier to find, a right tackle or a defensive playmaker?

You've got to go with right tackle. Much easier to plug in a contributor at RT then it would be to find a guy who can fit on these defensive line and play well for us this year.

And with that point, we have an opportunity to get the next (and hopefully last) guy on our offensive line for the foreseeable future. Why wait another year or two, and then we have to wait for that player to mesh with the rest, we should start that process as soon as possible.

So draft a right tackle in the first three picks of the draft, while we build the defense not just through the draft, but through free agency.

Going off topic a bit, I think that same notion means that we can't in good faith re-sign Bruce Carter. We already have Anthony Hitchens, and we can probably get Durant for cheap. We have to spread the cap more evenly.

I think we need to focus on getting as many players as we can for the defense in free agency and the draft. We want to build the defense through free agency, but I think we can ignore the reality, that building the defense through the draft doesn't mesh with the fact that Romo and Witten don't have much time left. Free agency has to be a factor.

Two free agent defensive linemen who are pro bowl quality are probably necessary. My targets would be JPP and Nick Fairley. I would move Mincey to strong side defensive end.

JPP - Crawford - Fairley - Mincey
Lawrence - Okoye - Bishop - Gardner

As you can see, I haven't relied on any draft pick making the 8. That isn't to suggest we shouldn't draft defensive linemen early, but if they aren't there, we shouldn't become screwed like we were with Lawrence. If we have to draft a running back or an offensive tackle in the first round, so be it.

 

[Woods]

I don't necessarily have an issue with letting Free go, but that RT we pick up in the Draft needs to be starting quality very early on, imp. (I am assuming we keep Parnell then.) I would look at a RT in Round 1 or Round 2 if we let Free go (depending on who else is there in Round 1). Preferably at RT who could also slide into OG in case of necessity (i.e., some versatility). I'm not as high on Parnell as some others on this board.

Also, given how the Cowboys have operated in FA the past 1-2 seasons, I really don't see us going for any high priced FAs (i.e., JPP, Suh, etc.).

 

[Galian Beast]

I don't necessarily have an issue with letting Free go, but that RT we pick up in the Draft needs to be starting quality very early on, imp. (I am assuming we keep Parnell then.) I would look at a RT in Round 1 or Round 2 if we let Free go (depending on who else is there in Round 1). Preferably at RT who could also slide into OG in case of necessity (i.e., some versatility). I'm not as high on Parnell as some others on this board.

Also, given how the Cowboys have operated in FA the past 1-2 seasons, I really don't see us going for any high priced FAs (i.e., JPP, Suh, etc.).

I agree, but I think you can wait as far as the 3rd round, depending on what's out there of course.

I think Parnell gets a starting job somewhere. I think you can sign a backup or you stick with Weems.

We still have Bernadeau, we don't need someone who can slide to guard.

Free Agency has been constricted for us the last few years, it really isn't necessarily restricted for us this year.

 

[Dwight]

Dallas has to be open minded about this. Free agency is just as important as the draft. I prefer Jerry, Stephen and Jason to take the same approach to free agency as they did last year. I don't see any OT in free agency to replace Free. If a talented RT drops to Dallas at the 27 pick, they should make the pick.

I prefer to keep Free but if his asking price is too much let him walk. Use that money on defense.

Some people might disagree with me but I wouldn't mind Dallas trying to pursue Mike Iupati (G) SF, that's if his asking price is not outrageous. Therefore, Zack Martin can move to RT (I prefer him to stay at RG).

Management has to be creative and open to the teams current situation and needs.

 

[Woods]

One thing I think we were fortunate last year was that our OL was mostly healthy, other than Free. I guess between Free and Parnell, Parnell should be cheaper to keep (assuming they want to go that route). If we can get a young RT, our starting OL should be set for a long time, injuries notwithstading.

 

[ghst187]

i think if we can resign Free for under 4 mil per year, then its a no-brainer bargain IMO

 

[xwalker]

There is a lot of talk about how this team will find it difficult to have the same success last year, since it is just difficult to do it over again.

I won't get into how the schedule looks pretty easy on paper, but what I will say is that the offensive line is going to be even better next year. Tyron Smith at age 24 will be entering his fifth year in the NFL, Travis Frederick and Ron Leary will be in their third year, and Zack Marin in his 2nd.

I think the offensive line will continue to mesh and take things to another level, much to what Pete Carroll infamously said before we played the Seahawks, that they were lucky they were playing them early in their careers together. It turned out not to be so lucky for them, but the point was still there. This offensive line will continue to get better, and will probably play together for close to a decade.

The big question is what to do at right tackle.

My argument is based on a few different factors. I think we should let Doug Free leave in free agency.

Let's say Doug Free wants anywhere from 3 to 5 million dollars. First off, I think that is money that could be used to get a contributor on defense.

Second, I think you have to look at the draft. What do you think will be easier to find, a right tackle or a defensive playmaker?

You've got to go with right tackle. Much easier to plug in a contributor at RT then it would be to find a guy who can fit on these defensive line and play well for us this year.

And with that point, we have an opportunity to get the next (and hopefully last) guy on our offensive line for the foreseeable future. Why wait another year or two, and then we have to wait for that player to mesh with the rest, we should start that process as soon as possible.

So draft a right tackle in the first three picks of the draft, while we build the defense not just through the draft, but through free agency.

Going off topic a bit, I think that same notion means that we can't in good faith re-sign Bruce Carter. We already have Anthony Hitchens, and we can probably get Durant for cheap. We have to spread the cap more evenly.

I think we need to focus on getting as many players as we can for the defense in free agency and the draft. We want to build the defense through free agency, but I think we can ignore the reality, that building the defense through the draft doesn't mesh with the fact that Romo and Witten don't have much time left. Free agency has to be a factor.

Two free agent defensive linemen who are pro bowl quality are probably necessary. My targets would be JPP and Nick Fairley. I would move Mincey to strong side defensive end.

JPP - Crawford - Fairley - Mincey
Lawrence - Okoye - Bishop - Gardner

As you can see, I haven't relied on any draft pick making the 8. That isn't to suggest we shouldn't draft defensive linemen early, but if they aren't there, we shouldn't become screwed like we were with Lawrence. If we have to draft a running back or an offensive tackle in the first round, so be it.

I saw a thread by you last night and I knew 2 more would follow...

They can't let both Free and Parnell go and depend on the draft to get a RT. That's how you end up reaching in the draft and having bad drafts.

Paying Free or Parnell 3M is cheap insurance. The #1 goal of this team in 2015, if they want to win, is to keep Romo healthy. It does not matter what they do on defense if Romo cant' play. Keeping Free or Parnell goes a long ways towards keeping Romo healthy.

 

[Eddie]

What's the big deal? Martin is getting moved over to RT. That was the plan from the get-go. He plays one year at RG to get his feet wet, and then he moves over to a premium position. I know, I know ... he's an All-World OG.

OG's are a dime a dozen. Martin moves to RT and we get an OG in FA for a quarter of what we would have paid Free to stay.

 

[Galian Beast]

I saw a thread by you last night and I knew 2 more would follow...

They can't let both Free and Parnell go and depend on the draft to get a RT. That's how you end up reaching in the draft and having bad drafts.

Paying Free or Parnell 3M is cheap insurance. The #1 goal of this team in 2015, if they want to win, is to keep Romo healthy. It does not matter what they do on defense if Romo cant' play. Keeping Free or Parnell goes a long ways towards keeping Romo healthy.

I don't want to move Martin to right tackle, and disagree that was the original plan, but worst case scenario you could play Martin at tackle and Bernadeau at guard if you don't find someone in the draft who can start.

I think this defense needs a lot more help, and you can't go around paying aging players on the offensive line big money, especially when they aren't great in the first place, and are dealing with injuries keeping them out of games.

 

[xwalker]

What's the big deal? Martin is getting moved over to RT. That was the plan from the get-go. He plays one year at RG to get his feet wet, and then he moves over to a premium position. I know, I know ... he's an All-World OG.

OG's are a dime a dozen. Martin moves to RT and we get an OG in FA for a quarter of what we would have paid Free to stay.

Martin would have to work extra hard to play OT because he is well below the average length of an NFL OT.

Averages for NFL Guards
Arm Length 33
Wingspan 78
Height 6-3

Average for NFL OTs
Arm Length 35
Wingspan 83
Height 6-5

Zack Martin
Arm Length 32-7/8
Wingspan 77
Height 6-4

 

[Dave_in-NC]

I saw a thread by you last night and I knew 2 more would follow...

They can't let both Free and Parnell go and depend on the draft to get a RT. That's how you end up reaching in the draft and having bad drafts.

Paying Free or Parnell 3M is cheap insurance. The #1 goal of this team in 2015, if they want to win, is to keep Romo healthy. It does not matter what they do on defense if Romo cant' play. Keeping Free or Parnell goes a long ways towards keeping Romo healthy.

 

[visionary]

No moving Martin to RT, pressure up the middle is romos worst enemy

Pay Free and keep OL together

If Parnell walks, draft a developmental OT depending on whether we think Weems can be the back up or not

 

[xwalker]

I don't want to move Martin to right tackle, and disagree that was the original plan, but worst case scenario you could play Martin at tackle and Bernadeau at guard if you don't find someone in the draft who can start.

I think this defense needs a lot more help, and you can't go around paying aging players on the offensive line big money, especially when they aren't great in the first place, and are dealing with injuries keeping them out of games.

They can probably sign Parnell (age 29) for about 3M per year. He was good in 7 starts this year. Paying 3M to an OT to keep Romo healthy is not a big issue in regards to the Cowboys cap.

It is much easier to find a 4-3 LB in the draft than an quality OT that can start as a rookie. Durant will probably get 2M or more. I prefer to keep a veteran RT over Durant.

 

[NextGenBoys]

What's the big deal? Martin is getting moved over to RT. That was the plan from the get-go. He plays one year at RG to get his feet wet, and then he moves over to a premium position. I know, I know ... he's an All-World OG.

OG's are a dime a dozen. Martin moves to RT and we get an OG in FA for a quarter of what we would have paid Free to stay.

He's not moving to tackle. End of story.

They may have envisioned that at the beginning, but he is not moving from guard. He just made the all-pro team as a rookie. You don't make changes to a position when that happens.

 

[big dog cowboy]

Martin is getting moved over to RT.

That simply isn't going to happen. Some of the media type folk were throwing that out there after we drafted Martin and I read that a lot in here also.

 

[Stash]

My plan (and what I hope the team does) is this:

I would resign Doug Free for essentially a one year deal, two years at best. It would essentially structured as one year. I believe that Jermey Parnell is out the door and will be overpaid by Bill Callahan's new team.

I would draft Texas A&M OT Cedric Ogbuehi in Round 2 and give the young man a redshirt season to rehab and learn the NFL game.

Not only would you be getting top 10 talent in the second round, but you would have a potential Pro Bowl option there for years to improve this line even further.

 

[btcutter]

Free is the leader of this OL. He wants to be here and Dallas wants him here. I don't see him leaving and he will sign a reasonable 3-4 year deal for maybe 3-4 million per year which is very reasonable for a decent RT.
We draft another OT/G to replace Parnell and hopefully replace Free in 3 years. Parnell serviceable but hasn't shown the mental toughness day in and out. Makes too many mental error.

 

[NeonNinja]

What's the big deal? Martin is getting moved over to RT. That was the plan from the get-go. He plays one year at RG to get his feet wet, and then he moves over to a premium position. I know, I know ... he's an All-World OG.

OG's are a dime a dozen. Martin moves to RT and we get an OG in FA for a quarter of what we would have paid Free to stay.

I don't see Martin moving to RT at all. He's All-Pro at guard as a rookie, don't mess with that.

 

[PhillyCowboysFan]

That was the plan from the get-go

Could you please quote anyone from the organization that as stated that.

 

[xwalker]

Martin is getting moved over to RT. That was the plan from the get-go. He plays one year at RG to get his feet wet, and then he moves over to a premium position.

The team has the choice when the turn in the draft card of what position to designate a player. Is an OL a a Tackle or Guard is a DB a CB or Safety, etc.. The Cowboys turned in the card for Martin as a Guard.