Projected 2014 starters: Dallas Cowboys

[DFWJC]

I expect to hear that we are drafting a player with our 16th overall pick to play at a key position of need.

I would not say that I am surprised as much as I am disappointed. I mean, it's not as if we don't need a LG as well. We have a guy at the position that has a degenerative problem and can not stay healthy. I don't see why we would not consider playing Martin there. It's not as if he could not play the position. While we may project him to RG, it's pretty widely accepted that he could be a Pro Bowl type LG by most teams.

He's a rookie.
I think he starts out at RG and then progresses from there. Plus, there is the theory that Smith and Fred can cover a potential LG weakness better than Free and Fred can cover a hole at RG. So putting a talent like Martin between Fred and Free stabilizes things.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

Presumably, the team thinks Leary-Martin will be better than Martin-Berny this year. I don't see why it's more complicated than that. And there's no particular reason to think he'll be locked in at RG throughout his career.

Not sure what you mean about how Leary "can not stay healthy". He stayed healthy all last season. Obviously, we don't know how long the knee will hold up, but there's no reason not to play him as long as it does.

Leary was not healthy all season. However, that aside, I agree that it doesn't mean that he is a RG his whole career but if he is the better option at LG, which he probably is, why not play him there and allow Leary and Berny to fight it out at RG? That doesn't make much sense to me.

 

[JoeyBoy718]

I can't take this guy's list seriously because he has 2 LBs listed in a 4-3 defense and has Nick Hayden starting. It's like this guy knows nothing about our team. Anyway, I see our "base" offense having a FB and one TE, so I would take off Escobar and add JC Copeland. Also, I'd add Holloman as a third LB and take off Scandrick. Then replace Hayden with McClain. Also, he has Selvie listed as RDE and Lawrence as LDE. We drafted Lawrence to play RDE. But I see him backing up Selvie to start the season and Crawford starting at LDE.

 

[cmoney23]

It is not going to be one on name recognition that is for sure.

If Crawford is what they say he is, Lawrence is able to contribute as the speed rusher, Melton returns to form and we hit on the seventh rounders and Coleman, there is a chance it can be okay.

A lot of ifs though.

Lot of If's and no one getting HURT!!!

 

[CashMan]

Leary was not healthy all season. However, that aside, I agree that it doesn't mean that he is a RG his whole career but if he is the better option at LG, which he probably is, why not play him there and allow Leary and Berny to fight it out at RG? That doesn't make much sense to me.

When they drafted Martin, I thought the same, but rather than having a very good left side and a ok right side, why not have a good left side and a good right side of the line?

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

When they drafted Martin, I thought the same, but rather than having a very good left side and a ok right side, why not have a good left side and a good right side of the line?

Why would playing Martin at LG prevent that?

 

[Vintage]

If Crawford, Bass, and Lawrence can be solid contributors, the defensive line has a chance

 

[BigStar]

Good God, our Dline is going to be bad this year.

No worse than last year. We lost Hatcher and replaced him with Melton. Ware had 28 tackles/6 sacks (production that could easily be replaced if not improved upon). A rotation of Lawrence, Selvie, Mincey, etc. will reproduce the minimum of 6 sacks left by Ware. Again, no worse than last season, and likely an improvement from the calibre of players in the rotation this go round. We lost a name, not a productive player @ this point in his career.

 

[CashMan]

Why would playing Martin at LG prevent that?

Tyron is an A+, Leary is like a C, Frederick is a solid B, Martin I think is a B, and Free is a C+, that is my opinion.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

Tyron is an A+, Leary is like a C, Frederick is a solid B, Martin I think is a B, and Free is a C+, that is my opinion.

I think that if you put Smith, Martin and Fredbeard all on the same side, you create a situation where you can run on anybody at any time. If you put him on the right side with Free, not so much.

 

[CashMan]

Like I said, you could have a MONSTER side, but then what happens to the other side? I would rather have stability throughout the entire line, then one really good side, and an avg to below avg side.

 

[CashMan]

I am still concerned about that surgery, Leary was supposed to have, at some point on his knee. So, I do not view him as long term, but he is longer term and a little more upside than Bern.

 

[BigStar]

Tyron is an A+, Leary is like a C, Frederick is a solid B, Martin I think is a B, and Free is a C+, that is my opinion.

Agree with your rankings outside of Free. Free would be a D/F without the scheme adjustment allowing him to only focus on the outside rush. Free needs to be replaced as soon as it is feasible; hopefully Weems does what Parnell was expected to last TC.

 

[CashMan]

Free would be a D/F without the scheme adjustment allowing to only focus on the outside rush. Free needs to be replaced as soon as it is feasible.

Hopefully, that is a 1st rd pick next year, or Martin. I know some people question Martins wingspan to perform at RT though.

 

[BigStar]

Hopefully, that is a 1st rd pick next year, or Martin. I know some people question Martins wingspan to perform at RT though.

I know, and the only negative to the pick really. I had hoped he would be the ideal replacement for Free in 2015 but the team seems to love him @ G. Other posters did point out that his wingspan is about on par with Joe Thomas and Jake Long; so not unheard of for him to make the move succesfully.

 

[jterrell]

I expect to hear that we are drafting a player with our 16th overall pick to play at a key position of need.

I would not say that I am surprised as much as I am disappointed. I mean, it's not as if we don't need a LG as well. We have a guy at the position that has a degenerative problem and can not stay healthy. I don't see why we would not consider playing Martin there. It's not as if he could not play the position. While we may project him to RG, it's pretty widely accepted that he could be a Pro Bowl type LG by most teams.

No offense but you are assuming you know more about Leary than you do by quite a long shot.

He started all 16 games last year.
If they felt he was in need of replacement they'd have replaced him....

 

[JD_KaPow]

Hopefully, that is a 1st rd pick next year, or Martin. I know some people question Martins wingspan to perform at RT though.

That would be interesting. I wonder how many teams have ever had 4 1st-rounders starting on the OL.

 

[Rockport]

Kinda disappointing to hear that Martin is penciled in as the RG. I would hope that we didn't spend our #16 overall selection on a RG. LG, that would be OK but you should be able to find RGs all through the draft. OTs and LG, even Centers, not so much.

Martin can play any position on the line. That versatility is valuable. I also disagree that you can find RG's all through the draft.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

No offense but you are assuming you know more about Leary than you do by quite a long shot.

He started all 16 games last year.
If they felt he was in need of replacement they'd have replaced him....

No Offense but so are you.

Here is what we know. We know that he is not a long term solution at LG. We know that NFL people believe Martin to be a much better projection at LG then Leary. What more info is required?

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

Martin can play any position on the line. That versatility is valuable. I also disagree that you can find RG's all through the draft.

Smith can play RT. Do you think that it would be wise to move him to RT because he is versatile enough to play that position?