Schottenheimer: Open competition at RT

[boysfanindc]

Do you think Troy Aikman wasn't?

Troy Aikman was the #1 overall pick in the 1989 draft. That didn't impress Jimmy Johnson. he drafted another quarterback in the 1st round of the supplemental draft.

When Troy was beginning to emerge as an elite QB, Jimmy rewarded him by acquiring Steve Beuerlein and Bernie Kosar.

Jimmy knew all about Michael Irvin. He played for him at Miami. Didn't prevent him from drafting a WR in the 1st or 2nd round three years in a row.

Roger Staubach stated that the motivation for playing well was related to the quality of his competition. First, he had to beat out Craig Morton during a regular season. Then he had to stave off Danny White for half his career.

Despite the productivity of Golden Richards in the late 70's, his backup, 2nd year player Tony Hill eventually became a little better. Golden got shipped out.

Players that are uncomfortable in their status always have something extra to play for.

They are players that are self motivated to be their best and do not need to be pushed and there are other that due as you suggest. But all players do not need to be pushed.

 

[nobody]

...said four months too late.

Jerry probably wouldn't allow it until now.

 

[zekecowboy]

A few years too late.

30 years to late for open competition.

 

[TheSport78]

Steele and Thomas both suck. We get to see the suckers compete against each other. Fun.

 

[Pass2Run]

Guess this pretty much confirms Dallas is getting out from under Terence Steele's contract this offseason, unless he agrees to a pay cut to stick around as the swing tackle.

He can't play LT. How is he a swing?

 

[Pass2Run]

That one already happened. There is no one on the team as good at LT as Guyton.
The problem with this open competition at RT is that Thomas was awful in his brief trial last game.

Tyler Smith is better than Guyton.

The only problem?

He can not play two positions.

 

[Praxit]

...finally, Steele isnt the guy anymore.

Nothing gets you more pissed when Dak has to hurry the ball because someone got beat.

 

[75boyz]

Nate Thomas stunk after replacing Terence Steele. Let's hope Cornelius performs much better. If not, guess which position the Cowboys will use one of those two 1st round picks on this next draft?



I thought the new Oline Coach was a lineman whisperer who can make the linemen better?

Good call.
Gotta admit, and with the Jets game and them coaching up all the backup olinemen, they earned a lot of respect from me on that performance.

But now, watching these last couple of games, the oline appears to be extremely poor at pass blocking.
The tackles are obviously bad but the interior guys have not been that great either. Actually poor.

Hoping for a whole lot of improvement from that group or like others have been saying, one of the firsts will be used on a tackle.

While everyone else is ragging on Steele, Guyton is the much more concerning player imo.
He's been bad. Just not last year level bad.
YET.

 

[plasticman]

the

Pre salary cap was a different world.

Each team still put 11 men on the field. The team that scored the most points still won. The ball was still oblong in shape.

It was still football and the best chances of winning is to start the best player for each position.

I noticed that, despite Mazi being a #1 draft pick, an undrafted free agent was given more snaps.

Salary cap management is just another way teams can be successful or unsuccessful. The Cowboys management of the salary cap is nothing short of gross incompetence.

 

[phildadon86]

Which means their is no one better than Steele.

Guyton. Put him at RT.

 

[Hawkeye0202]

There should be constant and ongoing open competition at every single position throughout teh season.

No starting player should ever feel safe.

True in theory, and I'm sure all teams would love it, but it's nearly impossible with free agency. Think about it, if you have backups talented enough to challenge every starter, meaning your depth is pretty strong.

 

[Beaker42]

These two statements are contradicting.

Not really

 

[Chocolate Lab]

Weird how fans think a guy like Nate Thomas, a seventh rounder who didn't play a snap his rookie year and only played a handful of snaps at RT before playing pretty well at LT the one and only game he started, now sucks because of 16 or whatever plays when he came in to a situation where we were way behind and had to throw practically every down.

But Tyler Guyton gets to play his entire rookie year -- except for when he was mysteriously benched for career spare Chuma Edoga -- and half his second year, and people say he's still developing and we need to be patient with him.

I get that there are only 17 games so we put a lot of weight on each one, but can people have a little perspective on things?

 

[Jarv]

I'd love that. That'd be tremendous. Though we should get a decent 2 WR as well if we do trade away Pickens. Tolbert ain't it lol.

Ryan Flournoy

 

[Jarntt]

Good news, but what about LT?

 

[Rayman70]

Steele stinks. But didn't the staff know this in camp? Lol.

 

[RustyBourneHorse]

Ryan Flournoy

He has actually been a secretly good surprise for us

 

[RonnieT24]

"will be"?

There should be an open competition at all positions all the time.

Sorry but that's not how it works. Especially on the o-line where teamwork and continuity are key to any success you might have. Then there is the psychological aspect of it. Some guys can play looking over their shoulder and some can't. Not saying it's right, wrong, good or bad.. it just IS. And if a guy can be a GREAT player as long he thinks the coach believes in him why would I trade for an OKAY player just because he doesn't mind being yanked in and out of the lineup every time he makes a mistake or gets beat.

 

[McKDaddy]

Sorry but that's not how it works. Especially on the o-line where teamwork and continuity are key to any success you might have. Then there is the psychological aspect of it. Some guys can play looking over their shoulder and some can't. Not saying it's right, wrong, good or bad.. it just IS. And if a guy can be a GREAT player as long he thinks the coach believes in him why would I trade for an OKAY player just because he doesn't mind being yanked in and out of the lineup every time he makes a mistake or gets beat.

Well, I would counter argue that other teams, ie., real football organizations do this all the time. If a player or player(s) are struggling or the line just isn't performing as a whole, other teams will shuffle existing lineup or bring someone off the bench. In fact, most teams start putting players on notice much earlier than we do. They are professionals. If they can't deal with the expectation they have to perform or run the risk of replacement, they are soft and that may be part of the issue to begin with.

No one is talking about occassional reps. We are talking about sustained level.

As this post was specifically about the RT, let's discuss. I have been a Steele supporter even though I have acknowledged his limitations especially post injury. They saw his play last year, offseason & now are in the 11th week of the season. They should have already been signaling to him that they were looking to make a change. Physically, he just can't deal with the speed \ lateral agility needed. If we hadn't drafted Booker, I would propose sliding him to RG & letting Thomas play RT. There isn't any reason not to try something different.

 

[cmoney23]

THANK THE GODS ABOVE!!!!!!!