Ron Leary Not Afraid Of Competition Entering Third Year At Left Guard

[RS12]

IRVING, Texas – It’s been roughly a month since La’el Collins arrived at Valley Ranch – and subsequently, it’s been about a month since people began trying to give Ron Leary’s job away.

The logic is sound. The Cowboys famously boast first-round picks at three of the five spots on the offensive line, and they just gave starting right tackle Doug Free a three-year, $15 million contract.

Thinking critically, that leaves one starting position up for grabs – the left guard spot that’s been occupied by Ron Leary since 2013. The third-year veteran isn’t likely to do a lot of talking about the competition for his job, as he plans to let hisplay speak for him.

“I think you turn on the film – you turn on the film from last year, you know I can play,” Leary said. “I’m just in it to prove to myself that I can be the best Ron Leary that I can be, and all the chips will fall in place.”

http://www.dallascowboys.com/news/2...ort&utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

 

[guag]

Whoever wins, we all win (except the loser).

 

[Idgit]

Leary's going to win it, and Collins will get the year to acclimate and take it over next season. He'll be the primary injury replacement at 2-3 positions for us in the meantime.
This is one of those things where you let the vet get his payday because it's so obviously in the best interest of locker room harmony and the way things run. Unless Collins just completely blows his doors off, which he's unlikely to be able to do.

Now, if RL were to go down for an injury or something, all bets may be off, but all things being equal, I don't think you gain enough on the field to upgrade that spot with a rookie to justify possibly disturbing the wah of your OL veterans.

 

[gimmesix]

Leary's going to win it, and Collins will get the year to acclimate and take it over next season. He'll be the primary injury replacement at 2-3 positions for us in the meantime.
This is one of those things where you let the vet get his payday because it's so obviously in the best interest of locker room harmony and the way things run. Unless Collins just completely blows his doors off, which he's unlikely to be able to do.

Now, if RL were to go down for an injury or something, all bets may be off, but all things being equal, I don't think you gain enough on the field to upgrade that spot with a rookie to justify possibly disturbing the wah of your OL veterans.

I agree. I believe we'll let Collins marinate behind Leary and Free this year if we're able to. Most teams don't care for playing rookies unless they have to because of the learning curve. Dallas has the luxury of waiting with Collins because A) he's not costing us much and B) neither is most of this line.

In fact, I won't be surprised if we bring back Leary for one more year because the price tag won't be that high for an RFA. Might as well keep six starting-quality linemen for as long as we reasonably can unless someone blows our socks off with a trade offer.

 

[xwalker]

IRVING, Texas – It’s been roughly a month since La’el Collins arrived at Valley Ranch – and subsequently, it’s been about a month since people began trying to give Ron Leary’s job away.

The logic is sound. The Cowboys famously boast first-round picks at three of the five spots on the offensive line, and they just gave starting right tackle Doug Free a three-year, $15 million contract.

Thinking critically, that leaves one starting position up for grabs – the left guard spot that’s been occupied by Ron Leary since 2013. The third-year veteran isn’t likely to do a lot of talking about the competition for his job, as he plans to let hisplay speak for him.

“I think you turn on the film – you turn on the film from last year, you know I can play,” Leary said. “I’m just in it to prove to myself that I can be the best Ron Leary that I can be, and all the chips will fall in place.”

http://www.dallascowboys.com/news/2...ort&utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

Doug Free's contract averages 5M per season. If he is cut after 2015, he would have received 6M total. In other words, if Collins, Green or Weems look great at RT, then Free's deal will just be 1 year, 6M.

Leary is restricted next season and will likely get the 2.2M tender amount.

 

[Doomsday101]

I would expect nothing less from Leary than what he said. Right now it is his job and the rookie job to go out and earn it. Same with Free, I expect him to go out and play hard and if someone shows they are the better player then they deserve the job because they went out and earned it. All I know is the OL will have better depth to it than it has seen in a long time

 

[erod]

In the end it won't matter because somebody on the line will get hurt, and Collins will be playing anyway.

 

[Idgit]

I agree. I believe we'll let Collins marinate behind Leary and Free this year if we're able to. Most teams don't care for playing rookies unless they have to because of the learning curve. Dallas has the luxury of waiting with Collins because A) he's not costing us much and B) neither is most of this line.

In fact, I won't be surprised if we bring back Leary for one more year because the price tag won't be that high for an RFA. Might as well keep six starting-quality linemen for as long as we reasonably can unless someone blows our socks off with a trade offer.

That could be, too. I got the sense that we weren't going to necessarily sign him to a big extension with that knee condition, anyway. Not with the big deals looming for Fredrick and Martin, so Collins was that perfect rookie replacement we were going to have to look at next year or the year after.

If I had to bet, I think we'll let Leary go after this season, extend Frederick, and move up Collins. That's the sort of classy move this organization would make, and it pretty much makes everybody happy. We lose a year of RFA on a good young player, but we probably improve the line overall at that point by adding the better athlete with a year of experience and strength training to the starting lineup and get all the player goodwill that comes with doing right by Leary. Leary signs a blockbuster deal in WAS and blows out a knee in camp. Win-win-Fail Commanders.

 

[daveferr33]

Collins will be starting left guard. He doesn't have to be better than Leary, only just as good and he will get the nod.

 

[T-RO]

Whoever wins, we all win (except the loser).

Exactly. It's a win-win all the way around.


Except for the other 31 teams.


And all the athletes in other sports. Hardly a win-win for them.


And I suppose the people in other countries and lands where American football was never adopted. No win-win for them. Not eve a win...


And who can forget those who died before us....


But to be sure it's winning-esque for most all good people...here...now...breathing...and reading this website....in North Dallas. Amen and amen.

 

[WillieBeamen]

I still believe Collins will start...

 

[DCBoysfan]

I think Collins came here to play, I just see him sitting for a year.

 

[gimmesix]

That could be, too. I got the sense that we weren't going to necessarily sign him to a big extension with that knee condition, anyway. Not with the big deals looming for Fredrick and Martin, so Collins was that perfect rookie replacement we were going to have to look at next year or the year after.

If I had to bet, I think we'll let Leary go after this season, extend Frederick, and move up Collins. That's the sort of classy move this organization would make, and it pretty much makes everybody happy. We lose a year of RFA on a good young player, but we probably improve the line overall at that point by adding the better athlete with a year of experience and strength training to the starting lineup and get all the player goodwill that comes with doing right by Leary. Leary signs a blockbuster deal in WAS and blows out a knee in camp. Win-win-Fail Commanders.

I'd rather we tender Leary and trade him, if that's the case. I see no reason to let a starting-caliber lineman go for free. Because of his knee we might not get much, but something's better than nothing.

 

[AbeBeta]

Collins will be starting left guard. He doesn't have to be better than Leary, only just as good and he will get the nod.

You want to get the guy the snaps and you want to do that now. He's a top OL talent. He's not a 4th round pick who is going to need time to develop. You've gotta throw top guys in right away.

But I still think that he might just end up the RT.

 

[Doomsday101]

You want to get the guy the snaps and you want to do that now. He's a top OL talent. He's not a 4th round pick who is going to need time to develop. You've gotta throw top guys in right away.

But I still think that he might just end up the RT.

I agree you give him the chance to compete for the job I don't think it should be handed to him. If he is good enough he will take the spot. Larry Allen was a HOF player as a rookie it took until week 6 before he took over the starting job

 

[itsaboat]

Collins will be starting left guard. He doesn't have to be better than Leary, only just as good and he will get the nod.

Whoever is the better in pass pro should win the job. Leary is a top notch run blocker but he is probably the weakest pass defender on the line. If Collins can translate his left tackle skills inside then I think he has a good chance to start.

 

[AbeBeta]

I agree you give him the chance to compete for the job I don't think it should be handed to him. If he is good enough he will take the spot. Larry Allen was a HOF player as a rookie it took until week 6 before he took over the starting job

That was a billion years ago. At the time we very rarely had rookies playing on the OL. Also, don't forget that Allen came out of a D2 school that has put a total of two players in the NFL. Ever. Allen may have been a HOF talent but he had a ton of stuff going against him out of the chute.

 

[Doomsday101]

That was a billion years ago. At the time we very rarely had rookies playing on the OL. Also, don't forget that Allen came out of a D2 school that has put a total of two players in the NFL. Ever. Allen may have been a HOF talent but he had a ton of stuff going against him out of the chute.

A billion years ago? I think any player earning the job is a good thing. This is not a knock on Collins I think he very well could come in and compete and win the job but it is a job not a charity. Leary as a pro and Free as a pro had to earn it, Romo had to earn it and Collins I have no doubt will earn it, it may not be at the start of the season then again maybe he comes in and prove he is the better player.

 

[xwalker]

That could be, too. I got the sense that we weren't going to necessarily sign him to a big extension with that knee condition, anyway. Not with the big deals looming for Fredrick and Martin, so Collins was that perfect rookie replacement we were going to have to look at next year or the year after.

If I had to bet, I think we'll let Leary go after this season, extend Frederick, and move up Collins. That's the sort of classy move this organization would make, and it pretty much makes everybody happy. We lose a year of RFA on a good young player, but we probably improve the line overall at that point by adding the better athlete with a year of experience and strength training to the starting lineup and get all the player goodwill that comes with doing right by Leary. Leary signs a blockbuster deal in WAS and blows out a knee in camp. Win-win-Fail Commanders.

I predict that Leary will either be on the team in 2016, or they will get a draft pick for him.

 

[AbeBeta]

A billion years ago? I think any player earning the job is a good thing. This is not a knock on Collins I think he very well could come in and compete and win the job but it is a job not a charity. Leary as a pro and Free as a pro had to earn it, Romo had to earn it and Collins I have no doubt will earn it, it may not be at the start of the season then again maybe he comes in and prove he is the better player.

The point was that your comparison was stupid.

I should just come out and say that upfront I guess.