StanleySpadowski said:
Interior linemen often don't "give up" high numbers of sacks due to how most places account for them. They typically only put the sack on the linemen if they are engaged with the defender. I don't believe that any site credits any of Dallas' interior linemen with more than 3 allowed.
Look at some of the numbers floating around this site. Pettiti 13.5, Tucker 12.5, Allen 2.5, Johnson 1.5, Rivera 2.75 are all pretty common numbers. I don't remember an approximation for Adams off the top of my head but it was only a couple. Now those numbers only add up to 32.75. Do you really believe that TEs, RBs and Adams were responsible for the other 16? If that's the case, the line's fine and those areas need addressed.
Allen only engages a defender if the defender engages Allen if that makes any sense. Unless there's a player lined head up on him who fires into him, he doesn't block anyone in pass protection. I saw it a half dozen times in the Pro Bowl alone. Pick any quarter of any Dallas game this year and rewatch it. You'll see what I'm talking about, Allen in space at the line, head turned watching someone get blown up in the backfield.
What's worse, the player who attempts to block someone and fails, getting the "sack allowed" or the player who stands there and watches it happen?
ABSOLUTELY!!! Over the course of a 16 game season.. do you really believe its impossible for a team to allow 14 sacks to BLITZERS (LB's, Safeties, Corners)? That's who you're TE's, RB's tend to block... and then you count the few times that those blitzers come in unblocked. Very easily adds up to 14 over the course of a season.
I 100% disagree with you. Larry Allen was the best Cowboys linemen this season... without a doubt. Go thru and watch some of the highlight videos (see
www.cowboysvids.com ) you will notice on 99% of the plays Larry Allen is engaged with at least 1 defender. Watch the Julius Jones video from the Carolina game... there's only 1 play on that video that Larry doesn't completely dominate the person he was blocking.
In pass protection.. EVERY lineman stands there waiting for a player to engage them. Ya know.. they drop back a few steps and accept the oncoming blitzer/rusher. If no one engages them... they either keep watching for incoming rushers or move to assist a fellow lineman with their block. Pass blocking 101.
On run blocking... he friggin blows people up! Anyone that he engages on run blocking is most always either totally dominated or blocked to the point where the runner is already beyond them. During the Carolina game, I made it a point to watch Larry on many plays and he often blocked more than 1 defender on each play (upwards of 3 on a couple of plays).
Bottom line, in my opinion, Larry Allen is the LAST thing we need to worry about with our offensive line.