Payton34Smith22
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I say Al Johnson is the Cowboys starting center. He is a proven starter, Gurode is not.
So why isn't Al Johnson starting ahead of Gurode??
- Thread starter Charles
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jobberone
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Not sure why this wasn't brought up but Parcells has gone on record as stating that Gurode is stronger but Johnson quicker. He said he hadn't installed the exotic plays and I think he mentioned something about evaluating Gurode pulling and operating in space (I'm sure I'm paraphrasing that or perhaps the last comment is what I read between the lines....someone step in here and confirm or deny the last comment about pulling). But I know I heard him say Gurode was stronger.
Parcells is very ansy about protecting his starting QB....especially with no proven starter even if mediocre behind the starter. We don't have a known Earl Morrall here. And Parcells has stated people attack Bledsoe up the middle and that is what he has done and would do if he were defending Bledsoe.
So I see this as a nobrainer regarding starting the strongest player there when they both appear roughly equal and you fear people will attack Bledsoe up the middle. That's my take from what Parcells has said.
There are other evaluations. Looking at one player this game with the first team and perhaps the other next game. Perhaps he wants to boost Gurodes confidence. Perhaps he wants to see if starting Gurode spurs Johnson to better play. Perhaps that is one way for Parcells to provoke some separation between these two particular players knowing each players psyche. Perhaps he wants to find out now rather than even next week if Gurode can handle the job. If he plays solidly that may be enough to effect other evaluations on the OL. Or even make a decision to stop looking elsewhere for a center or even a guard. It could effect who plays at the guard spots further down the depth chart.
I think it's anyone's right to an opinion but I can't fathom this apparent nonsense about Gurode being dumb. Parcells has said at least twice that Gurode overthinks and is not reacting quickly enough or making mistakes due to that. At no point has the staff ever said he didn't "get it" or couldn't retain his spot due to a lack of intelligence.
Sorry but I also think it's nonsense to not take Parcells at his word. He's said he made a mistake playing him at guard and that there was genuine competition at center. How in the world can you go from competing for the starting position at center surrounded by all pros to being on the bubble in danger of getting cut. And this is out of the mouths of people who are good posters. I can only think of one reason which is truly an agenda. Otherwise you see it for what it is. I'm basing what I'm saying on what Parcells has said and not what I have seen. I haven't been to camp...and neither has the vast majority of you.
What I don't know is whether both are roughly average offensive lineman or both better than average to good or even better. Plus Gurode could certainly step in and play RG should Rivera go down. I see Gurode as a better RG at this point in time than anyone else besides Rivera. I might be wrong now or proven wrong down the road about that.
But there is genuine competition at center for sure and both will be on the active roster game one barring any injuries. Not much for predictions but this one seems as sure a bet as they get.
Responses. I like to hear from people who have been at camp and seen how both have played. Surely you can't really know if they are missing assignments since you don't know their assignments or the plays called but you can certainly give a layman's opinion if you will.
Parcells is very ansy about protecting his starting QB....especially with no proven starter even if mediocre behind the starter. We don't have a known Earl Morrall here. And Parcells has stated people attack Bledsoe up the middle and that is what he has done and would do if he were defending Bledsoe.
So I see this as a nobrainer regarding starting the strongest player there when they both appear roughly equal and you fear people will attack Bledsoe up the middle. That's my take from what Parcells has said.
There are other evaluations. Looking at one player this game with the first team and perhaps the other next game. Perhaps he wants to boost Gurodes confidence. Perhaps he wants to see if starting Gurode spurs Johnson to better play. Perhaps that is one way for Parcells to provoke some separation between these two particular players knowing each players psyche. Perhaps he wants to find out now rather than even next week if Gurode can handle the job. If he plays solidly that may be enough to effect other evaluations on the OL. Or even make a decision to stop looking elsewhere for a center or even a guard. It could effect who plays at the guard spots further down the depth chart.
I think it's anyone's right to an opinion but I can't fathom this apparent nonsense about Gurode being dumb. Parcells has said at least twice that Gurode overthinks and is not reacting quickly enough or making mistakes due to that. At no point has the staff ever said he didn't "get it" or couldn't retain his spot due to a lack of intelligence.
Sorry but I also think it's nonsense to not take Parcells at his word. He's said he made a mistake playing him at guard and that there was genuine competition at center. How in the world can you go from competing for the starting position at center surrounded by all pros to being on the bubble in danger of getting cut. And this is out of the mouths of people who are good posters. I can only think of one reason which is truly an agenda. Otherwise you see it for what it is. I'm basing what I'm saying on what Parcells has said and not what I have seen. I haven't been to camp...and neither has the vast majority of you.
What I don't know is whether both are roughly average offensive lineman or both better than average to good or even better. Plus Gurode could certainly step in and play RG should Rivera go down. I see Gurode as a better RG at this point in time than anyone else besides Rivera. I might be wrong now or proven wrong down the road about that.
But there is genuine competition at center for sure and both will be on the active roster game one barring any injuries. Not much for predictions but this one seems as sure a bet as they get.
Responses. I like to hear from people who have been at camp and seen how both have played. Surely you can't really know if they are missing assignments since you don't know their assignments or the plays called but you can certainly give a layman's opinion if you will.
Fla Cowpoke
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Good post jobberone.
I think some people take offense at the way Charles posts....he really comes off as arrogant. But the message he is sending makes some sense.
By the same token, the posters that say that Parcells knows what he has at center with Johnson and wants to see Gurode against starters make a pretty good point too. I honestly think that is what all of this is about. If you are evaluating a guy, you want to evaluate them against the other team's best.
You do that kind of thing in preseason games that don't count for anything. So Gurode starts. It's pretty simple.
Might be a case of a lot of folks on here overthinking.
I think some people take offense at the way Charles posts....he really comes off as arrogant. But the message he is sending makes some sense.
By the same token, the posters that say that Parcells knows what he has at center with Johnson and wants to see Gurode against starters make a pretty good point too. I honestly think that is what all of this is about. If you are evaluating a guy, you want to evaluate them against the other team's best.
You do that kind of thing in preseason games that don't count for anything. So Gurode starts. It's pretty simple.
Might be a case of a lot of folks on here overthinking.
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I would almost expect to either Johnson or Gurode to start depending on the defensive alignment we face each week.