jrcowboys;2928275 said:
Guys:
I did a quick review of the first half concentrating mostly on the OL (OT). Both Free and Mc had problems, but I didn't see them overpowered except on one occasion Free was bull rushed back almost to the QB. Best guess: these guys have a chance to be adequate for a couple of games, but long term they have a ways to go. Mc seems a little slow and Free a little weak. I don't think they are hopeless, but both still need work. Note: Free was working against an outstanding pass rusher (guy from UT)-don't know who Mc was working against.
By the way the OG play seemed OK and I didn't notice the center, which is good.
One other observation: Romo seemed much happier and was talking to a lot of guys on the sideline.
PS: In an earlier game I noticed the starting OL seemed to be in the best shape in a loooong time.
Thoughts?
JR
Sounds right. I still think, for McQ, it's a matter of him still not being comfortable with the techniques and proper footwork. Didn't he start playing football late? Like when he was a Junior or Senior in high school? I think he was a baseball player before that.
You can only get so much value out of practice. Live games are the only way you can get really used to the speed of the defense. I still think there may be a mental issue at play here with McQ as well.
And for backups, Free and McQ are the most promising we've had in the last 10 years at least save Oliver Ross who we could not pay at the time so we let walk. Hell, I'd take Free and McQ over Collins, Young, Voller and Pettiti, all of whom started games for us.
To be listed, a player must have played at least one game for the team during this season.
Backup Tackles
Gailey
1998 - Oliver Ross
1999 - Solomon Page
Campo
2000 - Solomon Page
2001 - Solomon Page, Aaron Gibson, Char-ron Dorsey
2002 - Javier Collins(starter), Char-ron Dorsey, Aaron Gibson, Marques McFadden, Kurt Vollers, Tyson Walter
Parcells
2003 - Ryan Young(starter), Kurt Vollers, Javier Collins, Tyson Walter
2004 - Kurt Vollers(starter), Ben Noll, Jacob Rogers, Tyson Walter
2005 - Rob Pettiti(starter), Marc Columbo, Ethan Brooks, Ben Noll
2006 - Jason Fabini, Kyle Kosier, Pat McQuistan
Phillips
2007 - Doug Free, Pat McQuistan, Joe Berger
5 out of the 10 years we went to the playoffs. I'm sure we were all screaming about depth back then. Actually, we were all screaming about getting a starting right tackle once Williams retired.
And I didn't even list the back up guards. I can, but here are some of the low lites.
Guards
Gailey
1998 - Tony Hutson, Everett McIver
1999 - Everett McIver(starter), Tony Hutson, Tom Myslinski
Campo
2000 - Jorge Diaz, Al Jackson
2001 - Kelvin Garmon, Matt Lehr
2002 - Kelvin Garmon, Andre Gurode, Matt Lehr, Jeremy McKinney, Ross Tucker
Parcells
2003 - Gennero DiNapoli, Matt Lehr, Torrin Tucker
2004 - Matt Lehr, Torrin Tucker
2005 - Stephan Petterman, Torrin Tucker
2006 - Stephan Petterman, Torrin Tucker
Phillips
2007 - Joe Berger, Cory Proctor
Centers
Gailey
1998 - Clay Shiver, Mike Kiselak
1999 - Mark Stepnoski(starter), Ben Fricke
Campo
2000 - Ben Fricke, Craig Page
2001 - Ben Fricke, Matt Lehr
2002 - Matt Lehr
Parcells
2003 - Matt Lehr
2004 - Al Johnson(starter), Andre Gurode (starter at Guard)
2005 - Al Johnson(starter), Andre Gurode(starter at Guard)
2006 - Al Johnson
Phillips
2007 - Cory Proctor
So how does Cory Proctor stack up against the world beaters of Ben Fricke, Matt Lehr, Clay Shiver and even Al Johnson? And Preston has starting experience. Give me Proctor and Preston vs any of the scabs we trotted out as backups over the last 10 years.
And for back up guard. Holland makes me feel better than having the likes of Torrin Tucker, Stephan Peterman, Kelvin Garmon, Jorge Diaz or Gennero DiNapoli.
I just think it's convenient for "reporters" to pick on something as a weakness for this team since most of them have projected a mediocre to poor season. So this year it is the lack of depth on the oline. Give me a break.
If we can make the playoffs with the depth we had in past years, there is no reason to think we can't make the playoffs now.
