Should we stop drafting OL?

[sonnyboy]

Perhaps not completely. Maybe stay away from using first day picks. Go ahead and grab someone on occasion in the late rounds who we really like.

Here's why I see it as a good strategy:

1) OL is probably the hardest position to judge well. Not just us, I think across the league you see more poor OL picks and more real solid players coming out of the later rounds.

2) Most teams can only keep 8 on the 53 man roster. Considering you want to enter he season with at least 2 quality back-ups, you don't have much room to stash players for development.
Just look at how bad we got hurt in 2008 having 2 developmental players ( Free, McQuistan) on the 53. Guys we liked but were not ready to play.

3) OL take at least a couple years, sometimes as many as 4 years to get to their peak. We've had a few guys who we gave up on, go on to play well for other teams in their 4th, 5th or even 6th year.

You can't build a winner via FA. Not enough money in a hard cap system. You have to have a lot of players on your 53 man roster playing on rookie contracts for less money. Obviously ever player can't be making 5 mil dollars or more a year.

Just because you build a winner in FA, doesn't mean you can't focus your FA $ more so on one unit.

I'd want to see us focus on having 8 legit OL on the 53 man roster at all times who were acquired via FA.

Each year we should look to sign one FA OL. Someone 26 -30 years old with a proven track record.
Sometimes you sign a star like Davis to big money, somrtimes you get a mid tier type guy.
The idea is to have 8 players on the roster at all times capable of playing.

 

[Wezsh0T]

At first I thought your post was a bad idea, but as I finished reading, it might not be such a bad idea. The only problem I see is that FA usually cost more money and they don't usually sign on to become backups. I don't think you could swing an all FA OL moneywise.

Whatever the answer, it's clear that we need t use different metrics when deciding which linemen to draft. Although, if we really we targeting Max Unger, it looks like that might have been a good pick. I read a Seattle Times article today that said he was doing well in camp for the Seahawks.

 

[Jon88]

We'll be paying more money for free agents until we figure out what the heck we're doing. It's pretty ridiculous, actually.

 

[fan62]

From what I have been told we are seeing pretty awful play already by our starting OL in camp. Can't wait to see what they look like when we start playing half decent teams. I think everyone here will be blaming our OL for our poor start by game 6, and it will go down hill from there. Tony Romo will have no time to pass, and even if he does, they will be off target because of pressure or even supposed pressure. Tony will be running for his life, and will be hurt by week 8. I sure hope they can figure out a way to block a 8 or 9 man line trying to stop the run game.
Just hope I am wrong, about the pass blocking.

 

[Soth]

Jacob Rogers
Stephen Peterman
James Marten
Al Johnson
Rob Pettiti
Pat McQuistan
Doug Free

We simply can't draft OL... period.

 

[tomson75]

Jacob Rogers
Stephen Peterman
James Marten
Al Johnson
Rob Pettiti
Pat McQuistan
Doug Free

We simply can't draft OL... period.

This theory has been shot down more times than Sacamano looking for a prom date.

 

[sonnyboy]

At first I thought your post was a bad idea, but as I finished reading, it might not be such a bad idea. The only problem I see is that FA usually cost more money and they don't usually sign on to become backups. I don't think you could swing an all FA OL moneywise.

Whatever the answer, it's clear that we need t use different metrics when deciding which linemen to draft. Although, if we really we targeting Max Unger, it looks like that might have been a good pick. I read a Seattle Times article today that said he was doing well in camp for the Seahawks.

You hit on one of the flaws! I did consider this and there's an easy fix. Player X is a borderline starter for us at LOG in 2009 with two more years on his deal. We go out a sign a legit PB player at LOG in 2010.

But of course I'm not looking to have 8 legit starters on the roster at all times.
I'd like one true all-pro at LT, 2-3 borderline PB type guys, 2-3 legit starters and perhaps one career low priced back-up or development rookie.

A few ideas behind this theory.

Of all the units on a team, the OL has the fewest roster spots allocated to it relative to the number of starters. 8-5
DB 9-4
LB 8-4
DL 7-3
WR 6-2
RB 3-1
QB 3-1
TE 3-1

With QB, RB and TE you generally have on starter.
Out of the units with multiple starters, OL by far is only as strong as its weakest link.
You can have one weaker player starting at DB, LB and DL and still have a great defense. But you can't afford even one bad starting offensive lineman.

You ever see a 32yr old pro-bowl RB? Pro-Bowl is filled with 30 something offensive lineman.
You can sign a 28yr old pro-bowl LT to a 6yr deal and be fairly certain he'll play it out.

 

[Yakuza Rich]

No.

We almost never draft O-Line in the first round and really haven't done a lot of drafting of the O-Line in the second round either. That's really the big part of the problem, the Cowboys are not going after top tier talent and instead are hoping to get a steal instead.

The other part of the problem is the O-Line is mostly Parcells/Sparano guys. According to Bryan Broadus, the issue with Parcells/Sparano is that they have a very specific type of O-Lineman that they want and they are tough to get to make it in the league because they mostly like smart guys who are good technicians, but they often fall short on athletic ability and size. Parcells really wanted Al Johnson to suceed, but he didn't and was practically 'forced' to start Gurode, who is the far better center. Never in a million years would Parcells have signed Bigg Davis or drafted Flozell. Pretty much, in Parcells tenure he 'scored' on two O-Linemen, Colombo and Kosier.

I'd really like to see Hudson Houck get some of his own draft picks in here. He's only had one so far, Robert Brewster, and he got injured. I'd like to think that Houck wasn't fooling people all of these years and knows how to coach O-Linemen. So let's give him an actual chance to do that first.




YAKUZA

 

[UnoDallas]

I guess you could build a whole team that way - but then you don't have the chemisrty - now say we get a top 15 pick next year - so who do you draft - OL - no it takes most of them

a top 15 OL starts

I think you draft one of these guys he starts LT next year

Sam Young, Notre Dame Height: 6-7. Weight: 318
Anthony Davis*, Rutgers Height: 6-6. Weight: 335 Jr.
Bryan Bulaga*, Iowa Height: 6-6. Weight: 305 Jr.
Trent Williams, Oklahoma Height: 6-5. Weight: 310
Adam Ulatoski, Texas Height: 6-8. Weight: 310

At OG these start


OG
John Jerry, Ole Miss Height: 6-5. Weight: 350
Brandon Carter, Texas Tech Height: 6-7. Weight: 360
Vladimir Ducasse, UMass 6-5 Weight 330
Mike Iupati, Idaho 6-5 Weight 330


WR - no it takes most like three years to develop

Dez Bryant you would not draft him ??????????

This is why Danny Snyder is in the position hes in - hes tryin to buy a SB has he done it yet - No

 

[UnoDallas]

No.

We almost never draft O-Line in the first round and really haven't done a lot of drafting of the O-Line in the second round either. That's really the big part of the problem, the Cowboys are not going after top tier talent and instead are hoping to get a steal instead.

The other part of the problem is the O-Line is mostly Parcells/Sparano guys.

Exactly - and Big ole manboobs would not know as good O line unless one slaps him in the face like last year - Jake Long was a gimme

I don't know why peopl think BPPPPPPPP is such a great ball coach
all he did was draft one of the best LBErs I have seen LT

other than that who he have Phil Simms at QB - LOL - the only reason the one that Super Bowl Simms was like 22 out of 35

BPP method three yards an cloud of dust

Thats why we wasted more money on Vanderjack because all BPP wanted to do was keep it close enuf to win by a field goal

I say Belichek was the reason BPP even got to the SB
an one win was lucky that Norwood could not kick it straight

 

[reddyuta]

this theory will be shot to pieces when we draft our future left tackle with our first pick next year.It wont be a bad idea to draft a C/G hybrid player either.

 

[dogunwo]

At first I thought your post was a bad idea, but as I finished reading, it might not be such a bad idea. The only problem I see is that FA usually cost more money and they don't usually sign on to become backups. I don't think you could swing an all FA OL moneywise.

Whatever the answer, it's clear that we need t use different metrics when deciding which linemen to draft. Although, if we really we targeting Max Unger, it looks like that might have been a good pick. I read a Seattle Times article today that said he was doing well in camp for the Seahawks.

Maybe there is a way we can sign 2nd tier guys in FA instead of breaking the bank. I guess its hard to get those guys, teams never let them go.

 

[Idgit]

Stash was right about his earlier rant re: Unger. Especially with Jason Williams getting off to a slow start, and Carpenter looking good. We could sure use that interior depth about now.

 

[Hostile]

I think we should have a season where the scouts do nothing but evaluate college OL and Draft all OL filling holes for other positions from Free Agency.

This forum would melt down.

 

[rkell87]

Exactly - and Big ole manboobs would not know as good O line unless one slaps him in the face like last year - Jake Long was a gimme

I don't know why peopl think BPPPPPPPP is such a great ball coach
all he did was draft one of the best LBErs I have seen LT

other than that who he have Phil Simms at QB - LOL - the only reason the one that Super Bowl Simms was like 22 out of 35

BPP method three yards an cloud of dust

Thats why we wasted more money on Vanderjack because all BPP wanted to do was keep it close enuf to win by a field goal

I say Belichek was the reason BPP even got to the SB
an one win was lucky that Norwood could not kick it straight

brutal

 

[burmafrd]

Well if we took 7 OL next draft the law of averages would have us get at least two that were good. As long as one is a tackle we would be OK.
Desperate situations call for desperate measures.

 

[burmafrd]

I ignore the so called forum experts when that idiocy gets spewed. BP will go into the HOF; where are you going UNO? To the local 7/11.

 

[masomenos]

I think we should have a season where the scouts do nothing but evaluate college OL and Draft all OL filling holes for other positions from Free Agency.

This forum would melt down.

More so than if we spent an entire offseason scouting and drafting special teamers and backups?

:laugh2:

 

[Hostile]

More so than if we spent an entire offseason scouting and drafting special teamers and backups?

:laugh2:

Okay, so it's my way of getting even. I see the point of this year's Draft strategy even if it is not an avenue I would have taken.

 

[28 Joker]

No.

Draft two LTs, just like you drafted two CBs and two RBs.

Draft a CG or two.

Draft another RT/G to compete with Brewster.

At this point, Free is hope and not a plan. You need a safety net or two. I would draft two LTs is I could get the value.