The trouble with the hole at guard

[Verdict]

Right now one might arguably conclude that there is a reasonable expectation that we can get adequate play at four of the five offensive line spots. I think that is a fair assumption (regardless if it turns out to be accurate or not).

There seems to be a vast difference in opinion about how good we are at the 5th spot which at this point is the guard opposite of Leary. Many posters seem satisfied with Arkin. I'm not really sold on him, but more importantly, the Cowboys don't seem satisfied with him either (and the rest of the guards) since they seem to be in the market for a starter.

The problem with just sending a live warm body out to play in the other guard spot (who does little other than suck good oxygen out of the air and say Ole' as he watches his QB get pummelled) is that teams "game plan" to exploit weaknesses like that. You can game plan to protect one of your minor weaknesses, but a major weakness will get exploited most of the time (and it limits what you can do because someone else is helping that weak link out).

The good news in all this is that if the Cowboys are willing to go out and spend decent money to plug the last perceived hole on the line that probably means that they are pretty satisfied at the other four postions ..... because plugging one hole in the bottom a bucket is meaningless if the bucket has more than one hole in it.

 

[speedkilz88]

Broaddus:

It appears that the front office reached out to former New York Jets guard Brandon Moore in an effort to try and bring him on board to start at the right guard spot on this club, but Moore elected to stay away from the field and retire from the game. My view of Moore wasn’t as positive as what this front office had at the time, but I don’t want to focus on that. I have said that all along and I believe it even more now, it’s about keeping Travis Frederick at center and not moving him to guard, but they also want to put the best five players on the field and if Frederick gives them that option, they would do it. I have observed Mackenzy Bernadeau these last two practices and I believe that he can handle this job. I like what I have seen from Ronald Leary and that gives me hope as well, but I honestly believe that keeping Frederick at center is in the best long term interest of this team. I have had my issues with Phil Costa but in this scheme he has a much better chance of succeeding, but I also feel like Frederick is a better player. As much as everyone thought that Moore was the right option, I didn’t feel that way. It’s been my experience that sometimes the moves you don’t make are the best ones.


http://www.dallascowboys.com/news/a...t-Option/dcacd16f-6c4d-41c8-9626-b5f19cedc101

 

[Doomsday101]

Kind of funny during the 2012 draft when people where talking up David DeCastro we got an earful about how that position was not all that important now some of the same act as if we don't fill that spot right now the season is over with. Got to love this place. lol

 

[Verdict]

Kind of funny during the 2012 draft when people where talking up David DeCastro we got an earful about how that position was not all that important now some of the same act as if we don't fill that spot right now the season is over with. Got to love this place. lol

Maybe so .... but I was one of the guys who wanted DeCastro last year.

 

[Doomsday101]

Maybe so .... but I was one of the guys who wanted DeCastro last year.

I was high on DeCastro as well. Can't say that I'm disappointed in getting Claiborne but DeCastro was player that I like very much.

 

[davey999]

Broaddus has always been high on Bernadeau. No idea why.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

Maybe so .... but I was one of the guys who wanted DeCastro last year.

I was not.

 

[Verdict]

I was high on DeCastro as well. Can't say that I'm disappointed in getting Claiborne but DeCastro was player that I like very much.

I think the important issue about that draft was whether or not the pick (Mo or Decastro) filled a hole. I think it did. It cost us ammo (picks) but probably saved us cap room.

 

[CATCH17]

Maybe so .... but I was one of the guys who wanted DeCastro last year.

I wasn't a fan of his as mid to early 1st rounder.

I felt he went about where he should. Especially if a physically limited player like Frederick can go in the 1st round.


I was a fan of the guy who went to Buffalo that year. Believe he played for Georgia. I think Buffalo ended up using him as an offensive tackle but I wanted him at guard.


Cooper and Warmack were a lot better than Decastro imo.

 

[Verdict]

I was not.

As it turned out we could have traded back and still got DeCastro. But as they say ...." if a worm had a machine gun the birds wouldn't eat him".

 

[CATCH17]

As it turned out we could have traded back and still got DeCastro. But as they say ...." if a worm had a machine gun the birds wouldn't eat him".

Instead we got the best defensive player in the draft.

 

[Doomsday101]

Instead we got the best defensive player in the draft.

Which is why I had no problem with Claiborne, could have even gone with Barron but DeCastro was the pick I was looking for had Dallas not moved down in the draft

 

[Verdict]

Instead we got the best defensive player in the draft.

I was ok with the trade up. I was just saying that the real cost of trading up wasn't a second round pick, it turned out to be Decastro, an additional pick in the trade down, and our second round pick. Obviously there was no way we could have known that at the time .... but that was the real cost of the trade. Either way makes sense. I am just glad we filled a hole with the pick.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

As it turned out we could have traded back and still got DeCastro. But as they say ...." if a worm had a machine gun the birds wouldn't eat him".

I was not for trading up and taking Mo either but I just didn't like DeCastro like a lot of other's did.

 

[CATCH17]

I was ok with the trade up. I was just saying that the real cost of trading up wasn't a second round pick, it turned out to be Decastro, an additional pick in the trade down, and our second round pick. Obviously there was no way we could have known that at the time .... but that was the real cost of the trade. Either way makes sense. I am just glad we filled a hole with the pick.

The bigger goof was not addressing the guard spot this offseason. They just better hop Doug Free doesn't have a season last year or their status quo theme will have really cost us a whole season.

 

[fjones]

I wasn't a fan of his as mid to early 1st rounder.

I felt he went about where he should. Especially if a physically limited player like Frederick can go in the 1st round.


I was a fan of the guy who went to Buffalo that year. Believe he played for Georgia. I think Buffalo ended up using him as an offensive tackle but I wanted him at guard.


Cooper and Warmack were a lot better than Decastro imo.

I think you are referring to Cordy Glenn, and I agree he could have provided a good base at either tackle or guard. Buffalo got great value at 2nd round (41 pick)

 

[Verdict]

I think you are referring to Cordy Glenn, and I agree he could have provided a good base at either tackle or guard. Buffalo got great value at 2nd round (41 pick)

I think there was a guy who went later in the first round, but I don't recall the name. Zeitler maybe?

 

[Verdict]

Maybe Zeitler went to Cincy?

 

[burmafrd]

the only people who said that guard is not a problem are those that somehow have the idea that a good O line is a luxury we cannot afford.

 

[fjones]

Maybe Zeitler went to Cincy?

Yup late in the first (27)