Ryan Shazier: 5 Toughest Guys I've Ever Faced (Cowboys related)

[Idgit]

Yep. That's been one of my main points on why he's so good. He simply doesn't shy away from contact. At all. He simply doesn't mind it. It doesn't bother him to smash into other big players over and over again.

To almost everyone else on the field... it gets to them after a while.

I never would have spent the #4 on a RB, no matter who, but, man, does Zeke bring a big stick. His pass protection is great, he's got speed to get to the edge, and the finishes his runs like an all-time great. And he really understands what that mentality does to another team. Not just from the RB position, either...he got the whole offense finishing plays last year. It's like the guy was born to be a RB.

If he stays healthy, he's going to be a great player until he loses that top gear that gets him to the upside. Then he'll be a very good player for years after that. Assuming, of course, that he doesn't sidetrack himself with the off the field stupidity.

 

[AsthmaField]

And he really understands what that mentality does to another team. Not just from the RB position, either...he got the whole offense finishing plays last year. It's like the guy was born to be a RB.

Precisely. Best I've heard it put yet. I'd like more if I could.

There's more to you that just good looks.

 

[Idgit]

Precisely. Best I've heard it put yet. I'd like more if I could.

There's more to you that just good looks.

I'd be even handsomer if this big brain didn't make my face look fat.

 

[ActualCowboysFan]

I disagree, Leary destroyed people last season, and the Broncos thought enough of him to pay him almost $10 million a year for it. I don't think there's any doubt that we would have been better had we been able to retain Leary (not saying that I wanted to pay him $10 million per).

Backups can't be cornerstones

 

[Eddie]

Shazier is who the Cowboys really wanted before Pittsburgh snatched him the pick before us.

Dallas settled for Zack Martin. Worked out fine.

Imagine Jerry being Jerry and taking Johnny Manziel ???

 

[xwalker]

That's pretty high praise for our offense. Here's hoping the OL doesn't fall off any from last year with the absence of Free and Leary.

They can replace Free with Cole Beasley and it would be an upgrade. Collins will kick butt at RT. He'll make a mistake here and there, but he'll be a beast physically.

Even if Green plays RT and Collins moves back to LG, it would be an upgrade. Green was better in two games at LT last season than Free's career best game. Unfortunately Green was injured immediately afterwards.

 

[xwalker]

It may be a bit premature to say we would have been better with Leary. I say that because playing between T Smith and Frederick is a huge advantage for any OL...Leary included. That's not to take anything away from Leary; I liked him as a player. But before you make the projection that we would be better, you might want to see what the crop of guys they throw at the position can do in regular season games. For me, it's between Green, Bell, and Cooper; and I wouldn't be surprised at all if by regular season we've all but forgotten about Leary.

Perhaps that's wishful thinking...but I'm going with it for now.

They actually made Leary's job more difficult than the average OG. They were always cheating to the right to help Free. Martin would cheat over to help Free and Fred would cheat over to cover up for Martin helping Free.

That often resulted in Leary out in space almost like an OT in pass protection.

 

[jday]

They can replace Free with Cole Beasley and it would be an upgrade. Collins will kick butt at RT. He'll make a mistake here and there, but he'll be a beast physically.

Even if Green plays RT and Collins moves back to LG, it would be an upgrade. Green was better in two games at LT last season than Free's career best game. Unfortunately Green was injured immediately afterwards.

You and I have had this conversation before, Walker. And I do lean towards trusting you on this, like I said last time.

But at the same time, I can't ignore the possibility that there may be a little fall off in production initially if for no other reason the lack of continuity between this new group of guys. But I do recognize in terms of ceiling, this group has the potential to be even better than what they were with Free.

 

[phildadon86]

That's a really good point, Surfer. The holy trinity of that line: Smith/Martin/Frederick. Without them, 2014 and 2016 go alot differently.

Without Martin 2015 may have netted us first overall.

 

[xwalker]

You and I have had this conversation before, Walker. And I do lean towards trusting you on this, like I said last time.

But at the same time, I can't ignore the possibility that there may be a little fall off in production initially if for no other reason the lack of continuity between this new group of guys. But I do recognize in terms of ceiling, this group has the potential to be even better than what they were with Free.

Yes, it's possible that La'el forgets the plays and makes a mess of things. He did forget a play once when he was starting at LG and CZ denigrated him for weeks about it.

Last season Zack Martin basically played RG and RT on some plays. He helped Free that much.

 

[tyke1doe]

https://theplayerstribune.com/ryan-shazier-the-5-toughest-guys-ive-ever-faced/

This is one of the best most insightful post/reads on technique inside the chalk.
Excellent explanation by Shazier.

He has a future as a football analyst.

 

[Screw The Hall]

That was well written and insightful, makes me like Shazier even more than I already did.

 

[Yakuza Rich]

I'm glad Shazier pointed out the intricacies of O-Line play. This is what made Emmitt so great, he was so great at reading the running lanes, timing the play and allowing his O-Line to get out and block and burst thru when the O-Line wasn't able to get there. Most RB's can't do that and that's a big reason why zone blocking was created to help exploit the athleticism of the tailback without him being hamstrung by an inability to read plays and have the timing down.





YR

 

[Melonfeud]

Shazier hasn't been in the league long enough for an "ever faced" list.....

Copy,but he's certainly entitled of ranking his experiences,,, yes?,,,the pulled quote by the O.P. was some rarified fantastic stuff that's seldom if ever found in the day to day of this Cowboys Zone,,,no?,,,

 

[tyke1doe]

At the time, I wanted anyone but Romo, so I wasn't all that happy... glad to be wrong. As soon as he went to the Browns, I knew his career was over.

 

[JBell]

Shazier is a beast. Hope Jaylon turns out to be on his level.

 

[xwalker]

I'm glad Shazier pointed out the intricacies of O-Line play. This is what made Emmitt so great, he was so great at reading the running lanes, timing the play and allowing his O-Line to get out and block and burst thru when the O-Line wasn't able to get there. Most RB's can't do that and that's a big reason why zone blocking was created to help exploit the athleticism of the tailback without him being hamstrung by an inability to read plays and have the timing down.

YR

Studying OL play is my favorite thing in football. It's about so much more than some fans/media think. It's not something a Sumo Wrestler could do. They don't just stand around and run blindly into people.

It's precision combined with brute force. Timing is everything. One second late on a block and a run play is no gain. Another near identical play with the right timing and it's a huge gain. The instincts of who blocks who is also fascinating. Some guys just seem to have it from the get-go while others never quite get it, despite their physical ability. The intricacies of good coaching vs not that good is also very interesting. The Cowboys have some great players now, but they scheme that Bill Callahan implemented is terrific. On the flip side, the old OL coach Houck was way overrated. The scheme did nothing to help the players. They basically just lined up and blocked the guy in front of them. Callahan's scheme had people believing that Doug Free could run block. That would never have happened with Houck.

I'm ecstatic that they Cowboys decided to make the OL the identity of the team. It makes everyone else better from the QB, RB, WRs to the defense.

 

[Bullflop]

I genuinely don't expect anything from Jaylon, there are just too many question marks surrounding him and his knee. I think that the Cowboys know that he won't be able to go this year (or at least the first 6 games), which is why they're giving Durant a look.

It's gotten to be much more than a mere look by now -- Justin Durant has been signed by the Cowboys as of today!!

 

[Screw The Hall]

This is one of the best most insightful post/reads on technique inside the chalk.
Excellent explanation by Shazier.

He has a future as a football analyst.

I couldn't agree more. I think Mr Shazier may have a future in the booth.

 

[paladin]

You can disagree that's your right but why you wanna be wrong I don't know

Dang!
Do I have your permission to use this line on my wife?
Umm...
Also, do you have a couch I can crash on?