Phil Costa: 3 Questions

[baj1dallas]

1 Where do you think he ranked relative to other centers in the league last year (ie worst, above average, best, bottom 25%)?
2 Where do you think he will be this year, will he improve?
3 Do you think he will struggle at all in the opener?

 

[ufcrules1]

I seriously can't believe the season is starting on Wednesday and this guy is our starter after the way he played last year. Seriously, we couldn't find anyone decent in FA/ the draft? This is as bad as Brooking/Bradie playing on this team last year.

 

[theogt]

I look forward to seeing people eat crow on this guy.

 

[SaltwaterServr]

I look forward to seeing people eat crow on this guy.

Concur

 

[baj1dallas]

I look forward to seeing people eat crow on this guy.

Well, it's too late for that, since he already wasn't good last year, right? Or do you think he was good last year and will continue to be that good this year?

 

[Little Jr]

I think he was avg last year and I think he will be better this year. I don't think he was bad as most make him out to be.

 

[Tabascocat]

I look forward to seeing people eat crow on this guy.

Agree, I think he is going to turn out to be a solid center, not great, but good enough. Whatever problem position arises this season, Costa will not be part of it IMO. I think the defensive front 7 will be more of a concern than the O-line after the first few weeks.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Let's recap...

Costa started out miserably last season.

Just awful for the first six games. But especially bad vs New England.

But we need to keep in mind that he was injured the first part of the season, plus he had arguably the worst guard pair in football working next to him in Nagy and Kosier.

As Costa entered the final 10, he gained his health and one of the guards, Nagy was replaced by Holland, who played reasonably well until he inturn was injured towards the end of the season.

If you disregard the first six games of the season, Costa would have ended up being ranked in the low 20's per PFF.

But including the first 6 games of the season, Costa was the 30th ranked center in the NFL (out of 35 being rated).

This season?

Well let's look at the negatives...

He spent the bulk of training camp on the sidelines due to a back sprain.

His arms aren't any longer.

Now what about the positives...

By many of the reports, Costa came into camp bigger/stronger than last season.

He's been a starter for a season, i.e. more experienced.

The little glimpse we had of the last game vs Miami showed some good things.

From outward appearances the guard play this year will be to some degree better than last year.

Where do I think Costa will end up?

I look for him to be the 20th ranked center in the NFL. Slightly below average. But much better than 30th.

Of course he'll have some issues vs the Giants, the whole offensive line will. The starters haven't played together in a game yet. And this is the Giants who have a very good defensive front. Yes there will be issues.

Will the offensive line be good enough vs the Giants to get a win?

We'll see.

To beat the Giants in New York isn't going to be easy.

 

[nalam]

Agree, I think he is going to turn out to be a solid center, not great, but good enough. Whatever problem position arises this season, Costa will not be part of it IMO. I think the defensive front 7 will be more of a concern than the O-line after the first few weeks.

I would take a wait-n-watch mode. He did play better as the season went and also hopefully got Callahan to fix his technique which is bothering me. Strengthwise he is considered one of the strongest guys in the team, yet some LBs who give up 50 or more pounds were tossing him in the backfield ,last year.

 

[Idgit]

I look forward to seeing people eat crow on this guy.

If their evaluation of him isn't related to his actual play in the first place, I'm not holding my breath on any of them re-evaluating him properly.

If things go well, they'll just praise Callahan and eat a bite of crow re: the FA OGs and then slink off to another thread where there's something else to overreact to.

 

[xwalker]

Let's recap...

Costa started out miserably last season.

Just awful for the first six games. But especially bad vs New England.

But we need to keep in mind that he was injured the first part of the season, plus he had arguably the worst guard pair in football working next to him in Nagy and Kosier.

As Costa entered the final 10, he gained his health and one of the guards, Nagy was replaced by Holland, who played reasonably well until he inturn was injured towards the end of the season.

If you disregard the first six games of the season, Costa would have ended up being ranked in the low 20's per PFF.

But including the first 6 games of the season, Costa was the 30th ranked center in the NFL (out of 35 being rated).

This season?

Well let's look at the negatives...

He spent the bulk of training camp on the sidelines due to a back sprain.

His arms aren't any longer.

Now what about the positives...

By many of the reports, Costa came into camp bigger/stronger than last season.

He's been a starter for a season, i.e. more experienced.

The little glimpse we had of the last game vs Miami showed some good things.

From outward appearances the guard play this year will be to some degree better than last year.

Where do I think Costa will end up?

I look for him to be the 20th ranked center in the NFL. Slightly below average. But much better than 30th.

Of course he'll have some issues vs the Giants, the whole offensive line will. The starters haven't played together in a game yet. And this is the Giants who have a very good defensive front. Yes there will be issues.

Will the offensive line be good enough vs the Giants to get a win?

We'll see.

To beat the Giants in New York isn't going to be easy.

Great post!

I hear Alec Baldwin as Tony Bennett, "great, great":
start at :40
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gUEcF5UqN4g

 

[Risen Star]

1 Where do you think he ranked relative to other centers in the league last year (ie worst, above average, best, bottom 25%)?
2 Where do you think he will be this year, will he improve?
3 Do you think he will struggle at all in the opener?

1. Worst in the league. The single worst penciled in starting player I've seen here since the 1980s.

2. I think anyone would improve with a little experience but he's so far from the acceptable bar it's not even relevant. It's a sin that this guy is the starting center for the Dallas Cowboys. I'm as embarrassed by that as I was Quincy Carter under center for this team.

3. I think he will struggle on a weekly basis. I think there will be at least a half dozen plays where I will have to laugh to keep from crying, as he gets molested at the snap.

 

[big dog cowboy]

1 Where do you think he ranked relative to other centers in the league last year (ie worst, above average, best, bottom 25%)?
2 Where do you think he will be this year, will he improve?
3 Do you think he will struggle at all in the opener?

1. Don't care that was last year
2. Don't know - no one does but should improve
3. Likely - that Dline is good.

 

[burmafrd]

callahan should be Assistant Coach of the Year if costus a season ends up an average center

 

[Eskimo]

He was probably bottom 5 last year.

This year he will probably be below average if he can stay healthy.

 

[Doomsay]

He has no excuses on the periphery because he has pro-bowl like FA guards protecting his gaps. He could do really well this year and apparently management thinks that he is an above average center. If that was not the case, they would have addressed the situation in the offseason.

 

[Bluestang]

The Giants only have 3 healthy DTs on their roster right now.

One of those is a rookie.

Costa may have a solid game against them, but the Cowboys as a whole may be able to run the ball against them really well in the opener.

 

[ufcrules1]

1. Worst in the league. The single worst penciled in starting player I've seen here since the 1980s.

2. I think anyone would improve with a little experience but he's so far from the acceptable bar it's not even relevant. It's a sin that this guy is the starting center for the Dallas Cowboys. I'm as embarrassed by that as I was Quincy Carter under center for this team.

3. I think he will struggle on a weekly basis. I think there will be at least a half dozen plays where I will have to laugh to keep from crying, as he gets molested at the snap.

I never ever agree with you. I actually think you are a bit out of your mind, but you are 100% right this time. Enjoy it, it doesn't happen often.

 

[jnday]

He has no excuses on the periphery because he has pro-bowl like FA guards protecting his gaps. He could do really well this year and apparently management thinks that he is an above average center. If that was not the case, they would have addressed the situation in the offseason.

If they think he is an above average center, the whole group needs run off. Costa can work real hard and become an average center. I have higher expectations than average, but with this team average has been the norm for the last 15 years. I don't remember the first poster on this board that thought Costa should remain the starting center at the end of last season. Funny how things change to the point that posters are now defending him.

 

[Cowboys&LakersFan]

I seriously can't believe the season is starting on Wednesday and this guy is our starter after the way he played last year. Seriously, we couldn't find anyone decent in FA/ the draft? This is as bad as Brooking/Bradie playing on this team last year.

Do you ever stop complaining?

Anyways last year Costa was below average this season I hope he'll be average, but we'll see.