CFZ The Good News for Josh Ball

[jrumann59]

Going in cold without much prep in practice for his first real NFL action had to be a tough task. He had some really bad plays, but if he can use them to learn and motivate himself, he could surprise. Think back to how bad Steele looked his rookie season and then how he looked last year, and on to this year. Ball should get better with actual game experience. We'll be fine alternating him and Peters.

This probably one of the hardest things to do as a back up OL with little experience.

 

[jrumann59]

He was outstanding at Marshall. Now I know, the NFL is different than Marshall. But I have yet to see anything positive from him.

Well because of his stupidity he would have been at Florida playing.

 

[Acceptablename]

I wasn’t a fan of ball. But he’s a cowboy now. If he’s keeping his nose clean and has grown up I’m pulling for him

 

[Pass2Run]

The good news for Josh Ball is we still have Jason Peters.....

 

[Pass2Run]

If he’s our primary right tackle in next years camp…then our FO did not do their job…

We need Tyron back ASAP.

Ball. Aint. Gonna. Work.

 

[Gonzomandela01]

If Ball just imagines the opposing Defender is his girlfriend I think he'll be fine.

 

[Creeper]

It's one game against NFL first strong talent so we shouldn't draw any conclusions yet.

But in the one game we saw, he really needs to learn the speed of the game. He was really slow reacting to the pass rush in front of him. True, the more he plays the better he will get, but I think we will only see him out there some of the time, with Peters starting and Ball giving him a rest every few series.

This week they go on the road where the offense does not have the advantage on the snap count. I suspect the Cowboys will give him some help with a TE or RB when he is in there or they will go run heavy. Hopefully the Cowboys get a lead early so they can run the football.

Now it is all about Ball's work ethic. He knows what he needs to improve. Will he work hard to do it. We know Steele did. Maybe Peters can help him the way he helped Tyler Smith.

 

[Mr_437]

Ball was good run blocking, but trash pass blocking. I agree with the OP, Ball needs reps for development, however now is not the time. Peters, Smith or Smith need to be at RT.

 

[Jarntt]

But the injury to Steele means that Ball will also be the primary Right Tackle in training camp next year and is likely to begin the 2023 season as the starter.

Hell no

 

[Doomsday]

They really need to play one of the Smiths at RT in my opinion.

Ball is a solid run blocker but completely overmatched in pass protection, I doubt they are going to fix his poor technique overnight and asking Peters to step in over there full-time feels a bit like wishful thinking to me. The idea of having Ball and Peters rotating feels like a disaster waiting to happen.

They can't afford to have the run game get bogged down either, they don't fair well when Dak passes 40 times a game.

 

[xwalker]

He’s awful.

Funny, I remember fans saying the same thing about Steele. Last offseason some in the local media predicted he would be cut. Give the players a chance to develop.

The OP’s point on Ball was about the future, not the present. He was comparing the situation to Steele, who was awful his rookie year. I can’t remember a single poster here that thought Steele was anything but trash his 1st year. They’re different players and humans so just because Steele developed doesn’t mean Ball will, but he has an opportunity to show if he can by getting more quality reps.

I have full confidence the coaching staff will implement a plan for the present to replace Steele that limits the impact of his loss. How much that involves Ball remains to be seen.

Ball is bad....thinking he’s gonna come in get reps and be sufficient is a pipe dream
Steele was probably the best player on this team that nobody heard of or talked about

Good news for him is that most players fail in the nfl so he has nothing to be ashamed of. There are plenty of insurance agencies that are hiring.

99% of CZ ripped Steele to shreds his rookie year.

 

[JayFord]

theres nothing wrong with Ball being the primary right tackle going into next year he was bought in to be developed so he has the rest of this year to do that along with the offseason and camp to be developed into a suitable started if needed

however he cant play this year at all...no way i put him on the field

 

[conner01]

I want Peters at right tackle
But I also remember Steeles first season and he stunk up the place. So can’t really judge Ball just yet. Ball has the physical tools but does he have the mental tools? Time will tell but you can’t risk him starting at this point when you have a much safer option
But I’m not writing ball’s career off just yet

 

[conner01]

99% of CZ ripped Steele to shreds his rookie year.

Exactly
Ball may turn out to be a solid player
With Tyron coming back and peters I wouldn’t be starting ball but Steele did look terrible as a rookie but he’s developed into a fine player and an excellent run blocker
Most players need time to develop physically and mentally

 

[nathanlt]

The injury to Terrence Steele may not be good news in the near term for the Cowboys, but there is an upside for Josh Ball. Real game reps are the fastest way for a player to learn and develop. The Cowboys aren’t going to put the entire burden of replacing Steele on Ball. With Tyron Smith returning, who played right tackle during the 2011 season, and future HOF tackle Jason Peters available, the Cowboys will protect Ball from being overexposed.

But the injury to Steele means that Ball will also be the primary Right Tackle in training camp next year and is likely to begin the 2023 season as the starter. This trial by fire may pay long term dividends for the team if Ball is able to improve his game. If not, there is Matt Waletzko.

In addition to developing 2020 rookie Terrence Steele into a starting NFL tackle, the Cowboys have drafted three more offensive tackles in the drafts of 2021 and 2022. It’s not like the Cowboys didn’t anticipate the need. Now it’s just about development and implementation. Steele and Smith have both been starters this season. Time for the development of Ball and Waletzko.

Would you also say that it was good for Chaz Green to get his reps and player development during the Atlanta game? From the perspective of player improvement, it could be true. Unfortunately, it also comes with the high price of possibly losing your quarterback. That is not worth a single player's development.

 

[lopey]

Peter’s better play right tackle or we are screwed

 

[817Gill]

Ball might develope and be decent. But Waletzko probably won't be on the long.

Waletzko looked much better than Ball in the PS and can play LT. He’s much more valuable moving forward from what I’ve seen of their reps.

 

[Cowboy4ever]

Ball was not Awful on Sunday. He had a few bad plays, that is true. He also had some very good plays where he completely dominated his man in the run game. He has some work to do for sure and will need some help from the scheme to help pass protect, a chip here, keep in a back there, etc. Given some practice reps this week, I think he will be ok - not great, maybe not even good but he won't be destroyed like some on here think.

 

[Oz-of-Cowboy-Country]

Waletzko looked much better than Ball in the PS and can play LT. He’s much more valuable moving forward from what I’ve seen of their reps.

Yeah, maybe I have them confused. I know one looked pretty good in preseason.

 

[817Gill]

Yeah, maybe I have them confused. I know one looked pretty good in preseason.

Yeah it was Waletzko I believe, he didn’t play much but when he did he looked like he belonged. Ball was getting worked.

Let’s hope one or the other pans out to at least a reliable swing T.