The Case for Round 1 OL

[Teague31]

Say it with me Zoners. COHESION. More than any other unit, the OL needs to work as one unit. What killed the OL last year wasn’t so much a talent problem (yes injuries didn’t help) but a cohesion problem. We need 5 guys taking snaps together all off season, not playing musical chairs literally until week one of the season. Once the season starts it’s too late to build cohesion as the CBA limits how many padded practices you can have.
My fear is if we don’t address LG early we are going to play musical chairs again. We will end up with 3-4 different guys alternating snaps at LG and RT all offseason. It’s a recipe for disaster. I would love it if we had a staff that could plug in a current player or later round pick and let them grow but we don’t. Thus I am all on in Daniels in Round 1. He starts day one. Takes every meaningful snap, Collins stays at RT and takes every meaningful snap. The line grows. Together.
And we get back to a dominant ground game
And it gives Dak more time in the pocket
And it keeps the defense off the field.

 

[Stash]

Say it with me Zoners. COHESION. More than any other unit, the OL needs to work as one unit. What killed the OL last year wasn’t so much a talent problem (yes injuries didn’t help) but a cohesion problem. We need 5 guys taking snaps together all off season, not playing musical chairs literally until week one of the season. Once the season starts it’s too late to build cohesion as the CBA limits how many padded practices you can have.
My fear is if we don’t address LG early we are going to play musical chairs again. We will end up with 3-4 different guys alternating snaps at LG and RT all offseason. It’s a recipe for disaster. I would love it if we had a staff that could plug in a current player or later round pick and let them grow but we don’t. Thus I am all on in Daniels in Round 1. He starts day one. Takes every meaningful snap, Collins stays at RT and takes every meaningful snap. The line grows. Together.
And we get back to a dominant ground game
And it gives Dak more time in the pocket
And it keeps the defense off the field.

It's undeniable that it all starts with the offensive line. If that unit isn't working well, nothing else is.

And the early season struggles with the failed Chaz Green experiment support your point about cohesion - and quality.

 

[stilltheguru88]

Lol y’all are obsessed with guard at 19. Yet there were 16 game starters in round 3 last year in a weaker class. Strange but whatever

 

[Sydla]

Say it with me Zoners. COHESION. More than any other unit, the OL needs to work as one unit. What killed the OL last year wasn’t so much a talent problem (yes injuries didn’t help) but a cohesion problem. We need 5 guys taking snaps together all off season, not playing musical chairs literally until week one of the season. Once the season starts it’s too late to build cohesion as the CBA limits how many padded practices you can have.
My fear is if we don’t address LG early we are going to play musical chairs again. We will end up with 3-4 different guys alternating snaps at LG and RT all offseason. It’s a recipe for disaster. I would love it if we had a staff that could plug in a current player or later round pick and let them grow but we don’t. Thus I am all on in Daniels in Round 1. He starts day one. Takes every meaningful snap, Collins stays at RT and takes every meaningful snap. The line grows. Together.
And we get back to a dominant ground game
And it gives Dak more time in the pocket
And it keeps the defense off the field.

Thanks for the walk down memory lane circa 2014 and 2016.

The reality is OG isn't a particularly difficult position to fill. We've shown that when we've built good OLs with a UDFA as our LG and then a FA cast off as our LG last year.

This isn't about building the best OL, it's about building the best "team". Sure, the offense can protect the defense................ until it can't. And we saw that in 2014 and 2016 when the defense couldn't do squat in the biggest game of both seasons despite the fact the OL played well in both GB games.

Sure, if the defensive board is just decimated by the 19th pick, and the OL is the best player by far at that spot, take the OL. But I suspect there are going to be similarly ranked D players still available at 19.

 

[tm1119]

I’m missing the part where cohesion= 1st round pick. Are you suggesting that you can’t find a starting LG beyond a top 20 pick??

 

[CATCH17]

Lol y’all are obsessed with guard at 19. Yet there were 16 game starters in round 3 last year in a weaker class. Strange but whatever

I would go Guard if there is nothing left for us to pick on defense of value. I would hope we try to trade down and pick the guard though.

 

[Teague31]

I’m missing the part where cohesion= 1st round pick. Are you suggesting that you can’t find a starting LG beyond a top 20 pick??

I’m saying this staff can’t.

 

[Sydla]

I’m saying this staff can’t.

Can't?

Seems to me the LG playing on the 2014 and 2016 teams you want to get back to was an UDFA.

 

[Prime21]

Deep at interior OLine. Should be 8-10 year starters in round 3.

 

[Dalmations202]

And my case against OL in Rd 1.

Nelson, Daniels, Price, Corbett, BSmith, Wynn, Hernandez, CWilliams (on many boards), and Ragnow all play the IOL.
IOL is not highly coveted as far as drafting goes, so they always drop.

And we don't think any of these guys will make it to 50?

Not to mention that there are several T like McGlinchy and Miller who could be taken and move Collins back to G permanently.

And you aren't going to give Martin or Fleming even a chance to start on this line and show what they can do.

I just don't see Dallas taking a IOL before Rd2. In fact, I expect it in Rd 2.

 

[Sydla]

Please no on Kolton Miller.

 

[Dalmations202]

Please no on Kolton Miller.

I know very little on Miller, and don't particularly want a T drafted unless value, but he was on the 30+ list and Dallas did talk with him. I guess they saw something in him.

 

[Rayman70]

Please no on Kolton Miller.

agree!! No way on Miller. He is more up and down than a yo yo. Too rich at 19.

 

[Rayman70]

It's undeniable that it all starts with the offensive line. If that unit isn't working well, nothing else is.

And the early season struggles with the failed Chaz Green experiment support your point about cohesion - and quality.

Chaz Green is kin to saying a curse word. Kick this dude to the curb and draft Braden Smith and Hernandez. Smith can play some tackle too. Hernandez is a friggin mauler.

 

[CalPolyTechnique]

I think people simply fall in love with idea of having five 1st rounders on the o-line.

If you can't develop an OG in the 3rd round or so someone isnt doing their job right.

 

[Rayman70]

I think people simply fall in love with idea of having five 1st rounders on the o-line.

If you can't develop an OG in the 3rd round or so someone isnt doing their job right.

not I..I just want the best players we can find protecting our franchise RB and QB.

 

[Killerinstinct]

We are a run first team that uses play action in the passing game. The identity of the team is that of one that can just dominate the line of scrimmage and pound the rock. Just break their will. Nothing deflates a defense more than having an offense shove the ball down their throat with a 20 play scoring drive that culminates in a one yard td run. Eating the clock and leaving the defense well rested. Control the time of possession. That is what the Cowboys want to be. In order to do that you must have a great O-line and you are only as good as your weakest link. I think LG is the top priority. If the opp comes to trade down and get an additional pick while solidifying the OL it should be done.

 

[Sydla]

I know very little on Miller, and don't particularly want a T drafted unless value, but he was on the 30+ list and Dallas did talk with him. I guess they saw something in him.

He's your classic uber toolsy guy that doesn't have the play to back it up.

Miller is huge bust, big reward. I wouldn't want to take that risk.

 

[Sydla]

Chaz Green is kin to saying a curse word. Kick this dude to the curb and draft Braden Smith and Hernandez. Smith can play some tackle too. Hernandez is a friggin mauler.

Draft Hernandez AND Braden Smith?

The only way we could do something dumber than taking an OG at 19 would be taking an OG at 19 and then using our 2nd or 3rd round pick on another OG (which is where Smith will likely go).

 

[Sydla]

We are a run first team that uses play action in the passing game. The identity of the team is that of one that can just dominate the line of scrimmage and pound the rock. Just break their will. Nothing deflates a defense more than having an offense shove the ball down their throat with a 20 play scoring drive that culminates in a one yard td run. Eating the clock and leaving the defense well rested. Control the time of possession. That is what the Cowboys want to be. In order to do that you must have a great O-line and you are only as good as your weakest link. I think LG is the top priority. If the opp comes to trade down and get an additional pick while solidifying the OL it should be done.

The 2014 and 2016 teams led by the OL, had a UDFA playing LG and a 4th round pick playing RT.

LG is a need. But it's a need that can be addressed without having to invest top assets to do so.