The Offensive Line

[BlueStar22]

Outside of Bernie, these guys played 16 games for the first time in a loooong time. This is what happens when there is continuity. They should get better going forward. If you can upgrade it, I think we should at every position not manned by #77. That said, can't help but feel pretty good about the unit going into the offseason. Callahan may be gone so it'll be interesting to see if they'll progress.

 

[SDCowboy]

The oline still has a ways to go, but they were definitely better. The Beard and Smith are a great foundation to, hopefully, be built upon.

 

[mldardy]

Draft a guard, maybe bring back Waters but the oline and offense as a whole needs very little in terms of need players at this point. The needs are mostly on the defense.

 

[Yakuza Rich]

I think I learned from this that you can't be switching position of players unless it is an absolutely necessity (injuries) and that you need to take a player, give him a position and let him work to get as good as they are going to get at that position; then tinker with moving him around if need be.

I thought Free had a very good season. I think the switching back and forth from RT to LT did him no favors. He needed to become an expert RT and then tinker with LT if we needed him there in a pinch. I think the same for Tyron last year. Now he's at LT and he was really great.

I also think it tells me how vital the center position is to an O-Line.

I would keep Callahan around for the O-Line if I could. From there, I think we just need to keep stockpiling draft picks and pick up players in the 2nd to 7th rounds and create quality backups and competition.

It was nice to see the O-Line look very competent this year.





YR

 

[Crown Royal]

The offensive line went from a position of extreme weakness on offense in 2012 to one of strength in 2013. By the end of this year, we had one of the better OL in football.

 

[Risen Star]

Continuity, my rear end. We had better players this year. Tyron became elite. Leary was better than Livings. Waters was better than Bernadeau and when Bernadeau had to play down the stretch he was better than last year.

But the most important change was at C. The Cowboys no longer lined up a make a wish kid in front of Romo. That Phil Costa guy that a lot of this fan base tried to defend. He can't play in this league. He's a bum. Travis Frederick arrived and made everybody instantly better.

 

[Crown Royal]

I think I learned from this that you can't be switching position of players unless it is an absolutely necessity (injuries) and that you need to take a player, give him a position and let him work to get as good as they are going to get at that position; then tinker with moving him around if need be.

I thought Free had a very good season. I think the switching back and forth from RT to LT did him no favors. He needed to become an expert RT and then tinker with LT if we needed him there in a pinch. I think the same for Tyron last year. Now he's at LT and he was really great.

I also think it tells me how vital the center position is to an O-Line.

I would keep Callahan around for the O-Line if I could. From there, I think we just need to keep stockpiling draft picks and pick up players in the 2nd to 7th rounds and create quality backups and competition.

It was nice to see the O-Line look very competent this year.

YR

From a technique and assignment standpoint, this OL was far and away better. Even Bernadeau played better. Free still has his moments, but was a very serviceable player.

I would like to see some additional power at the guard position, and some depth added as well. If Waters can come back, that is a bonus. Leary is a liability and scares me. Excellent backup, but with his knee and technique issues he scares me as a starter.

 

[ologan]

I think this was their best game of the year! I really don't remember seeing Orton flat on his back one time. The running game, while we were using it, seemed to be picking up steam and establishing itself, until we mysteriously (?) went away from it. Get us a good guard or two and this could be a real strength to come...........IMO!

 

[Risen Star]

I think this was their best game of the year! I really don't remember seeing Orton flat on his back one time. The running game, while we were using it, seemed to be picking up steam and establishing itself, until we mysteriously (?) went away from it. Get us a good guard or two and this could be a real strength to come...........IMO!

I agree with that. I can only imagine how good it would be had we taken Larry Warford instead of Gavin Escobar. You'd be talking about one of the best young OLs in football.

I'd be looking for Gs and of course an upgrade at RT if it's there.

 

[casmith07]

Kind of sad that a thread with this many good comments is one with the fewest traffic.

I thought the offensive line was one of if not the best in football at the end of the year. The only position that was sometimes questionable I think was Bernadeau's, but after he settled in after Waters went down, we basically never heard his name, or anyone else's.

I don't have numbers in front of me, but I'd be willing to bet this offensive line had the fewest holding and false start calls of any Cowboys offensive line in the last 6 or 7 years, maybe more.

We should absolutely not make any major changes on the offensive line, unless an obvious AAA talent just happens upon us in the draft or free agency.

I wonder if anyone who was hating on the Frederick pick is still hating on it now.

 

[BlueStar22]

I think I learned from this that you can't be switching position of players unless it is an absolutely necessity (injuries) and that you need to take a player, give him a position and let him work to get as good as they are going to get at that position; then tinker with moving him around if need be.

I thought Free had a very good season. I think the switching back and forth from RT to LT did him no favors. He needed to become an expert RT and then tinker with LT if we needed him there in a pinch. I think the same for Tyron last year. Now he's at LT and he was really great.

I also think it tells me how vital the center position is to an O-Line.

I would keep Callahan around for the O-Line if I could. From there, I think we just need to keep stockpiling draft picks and pick up players in the 2nd to 7th rounds and create quality backups and competition.

It was nice to see the O-Line look very competent this year.





YR

Rumors of a rift between Callahan and Garrett are out there. If Garrett stays, it'll be interesting to see if Callahan does also.

 

[BlueStar22]

I think this was their best game of the year! I really don't remember seeing Orton flat on his back one time. The running game, while we were using it, seemed to be picking up steam and establishing itself, until we mysteriously (?) went away from it. Get us a good guard or two and this could be a real strength to come...........IMO!

The running game went for 7 carries for 9 yards in the 2nd half. Bad decision to go away from it but wonder if that's why they did.

 

[Yakuza Rich]

From a technique and assignment standpoint, this OL was far and away better. Even Bernadeau played better. Free still has his moments, but was a very serviceable player.

I would like to see some additional power at the guard position, and some depth added as well. If Waters can come back, that is a bonus. Leary is a liability and scares me. Excellent backup, but with his knee and technique issues he scares me as a starter.

Taking everything into account, I was happy with Leary. I would always be worried about injuries on the O-Line. Outside of corners, I think they are as likely to get injured as anybody. And if you're without one starter, it can be a massive problem. The only thing that worries me about Leary is that he could be gone for good at any moment and from reports, he doesn't practice a lot because of his knees. So he's missing valuable reps and I wonder how much he can improve. I think if he's your biggest liability, then you're probably doing pretty well on the O-Line. I agree, we still need to look at guard and I think we need to keep Costa around just in case Frederick gets injured. Either that or find a player that can reasonably play both guard and center.





YR

 

[Yakuza Rich]

Rumors of a rift between Callahan and Garrett are out there. If Garrett stays, it'll be interesting to see if Callahan does also.

Callahan has shown me more of an improvement with the O-Line than Garrett has shown with me in his entire time here with the offense. I'm not happy with the play calling out there, but Garrett needs to reign that in as well. In essence, I think we would be firing the wrong guy.





YR

 

[sideon]

If they find a decent guard then this line will only get better.

 

[Crown Royal]

Taking everything into account, I was happy with Leary. I would always be worried about injuries on the O-Line. Outside of corners, I think they are as likely to get injured as anybody. And if you're without one starter, it can be a massive problem. The only thing that worries me about Leary is that he could be gone for good at any moment and from reports, he doesn't practice a lot because of his knees. So he's missing valuable reps and I wonder how much he can improve. I think if he's your biggest liability, then you're probably doing pretty well on the O-Line. I agree, we still need to look at guard and I think we need to keep Costa around just in case Frederick gets injured. Either that or find a player that can reasonably play both guard and center.


YR

From an ability standpoint, Leary has it. Once he has his hands on you, usually that's it. I haven't read that about practice but it makes sense - usually his hang up is on either technique or assignment. That comes from practicing.

 

[Crown Royal]

Kind of sad that a thread with this many good comments is one with the fewest traffic.

I thought the offensive line was one of if not the best in football at the end of the year. The only position that was sometimes questionable I think was Bernadeau's, but after he settled in after Waters went down, we basically never heard his name, or anyone else's.

I don't have numbers in front of me, but I'd be willing to bet this offensive line had the fewest holding and false start calls of any Cowboys offensive line in the last 6 or 7 years, maybe more.

We should absolutely not make any major changes on the offensive line, unless an obvious AAA talent just happens upon us in the draft or free agency.

I wonder if anyone who was hating on the Frederick pick is still hating on it now.

The only issue I have with the OL right now (outside of depth) is strength. On paper each of these guys look crazy strong - and they are. But there are still times where they just don't play with great power. Those two goal line stands against Washington last week where Murray got stuffed, there were 2-3 OL on the ground. It doesn't happen often, but sometimes they get a little over powered considering their weight.

That said, as a zone run team, it isn't a huge weakness and not one I'm concerned about.

 

[Yakuza Rich]

The only issue I have with the OL right now (outside of depth) is strength. On paper each of these guys look crazy strong - and they are. But there are still times where they just don't play with great power. Those two goal line stands against Washington last week where Murray got stuffed, there were 2-3 OL on the ground. It doesn't happen often, but sometimes they get a little over powered considering their weight.

That said, as a zone run team, it isn't a huge weakness and not one I'm concerned about.

Zone blocking usually means getting more mobile O-Linemen than powerful. I think if there is one thing I noticed about Orton is that his pace of the offense and cadence is much better than Romo's.

The offense had 1 penalty all night long, on a bogus delay of game penalty.

Orton also drew 3 different offside penalties.

Romo's constant audibling, particularly in the last 10 seconds, does not do the O-Line any favors. And defenses seem to really know Romo's cadence because I honestly don't think he's drawn 3 offside penalties in the past 5 years.

To me, it would be great if Romo could learn from that. But this team under this HC never seems to learn those finite details of the game that are crucial to success.





YR

 

[perrykemp]

Also, surprisingly, Bernie played well in the 2nd half of the season...

 

[Crown Royal]

Zone blocking usually means getting more mobile O-Linemen than powerful. I think if there is one thing I noticed about Orton is that his pace of the offense and cadence is much better than Romo's.

The offense had 1 penalty all night long, on a bogus delay of game penalty.

Orton also drew 3 different offside penalties.

Romo's constant audibling, particularly in the last 10 seconds, does not do the O-Line any favors. And defenses seem to really know Romo's cadence because I honestly don't think he's drawn 3 offside penalties in the past 5 years.

To me, it would be great if Romo could learn from that. But this team under this HC never seems to learn those finite details of the game that are crucial to success.

YR

I actually have not watched the game, but I am also not surprised about the cadence and flow of the offense one bit. You are the second poster I have seen post this. Romo absolutely over analyzes and audibles too much.

Before this post is quoted, I want to take a moment to say that I think Romo is a superior qb to Orton, is and should be our starter next year, and that this is not a dig at him. It is a dig at Jerry and the coaching. Romo is an exceptional talent at reading defense - IMO only second to Manning in the NFL. Being second to manning at that is a big deal though. As much as Jerry and Garrett want to see Romo do what Manning does, we would be better served coaching Romo on execution of play, simplicity and tempo. Stop asking Romo to go out and play chess against the defense. Usually he wins the game - he's a damn good player and smart too, but it's a team sport. When you put that much on any QB you are putting the whole game on one player. 11 players in unison is better than 1 really smart guy who is still fallible.

(For what it's worth - I also think this is why Peyton Manning only has one super bowl win in his career thus far).