This is what happens when you don't build your team from the trenches out

[arglebargle]

Dallas drafted OL when BP was here as well those guys did not pan out, I guess it is Jerry fault because Parcells could not develop them? Jerry got what was asked for not his job to develop them into players that falls to these guys called coaches.

Yep, Parcells failed at this too. Perhaps identifying and developing good Olinemen is not as easy as some would think?

 

[Nova]

Jerry was forced to go first round due to the lack of higher picks and just as importantly GOOD picks over the lat 10 years.

for those saying we have done enough- show me another team that has only developed as of last year 2 starters in 8 years from draft choices. Gurode and Free were the only home grown O line starters we got from 2002 through 2010. Then came Smith. Has any other team done worse developing draft choices?

Probably not. But then again, we've started doing well with our OL picks since Garrett took over, so what's the use in complaining about what's happened in the past? Yeah it sucks, but things are headed in the right direction. It appears Garrett and Co are 2 for 3 in drafting OL the last 3 years.

 

[Rockport]

please tell me how many teams would be in just dandy position if they lost their best DT and high quality defensive end while also losing their up and coming 2nd year player?

While doing that, using the same criteria, please tell me all of the teams that would still have a position of strength minus their starting Gs and vet backups.

I would love to hear this...

Green Bay, New England and Pittsburgh to name a few.

 

[Rockport]

They've drafted 2 OL in the first round over the last three years. Can we stop acting like they're not trying to improve the offensive line?

As for the defense. Spencer is out. Ratliff is out. Crawford is out. Brent is out. That's four quality players on the defensive line out on a year in which we're changing schemes, and the defensive line still looks pretty good. Not much depth because the guys that are playing right now are the depth.

Of course, we could've accounted for Brent via the draft, but if we had've done that then you'd probably be complaining about the OL not getting any much needed attention.

We're in a crappy situation because of the previous regime's drafting failures in '08 and '09 and just plain bad luck. Not because we're not trying now. You're complaining about things in the past.

Wow, 2 draftees in 3 years. That's really addressing the most important aspect of the team. And we drafted no defensive lineman last year. I don't see we're trying.

 

[Doomsday101]

Probably not. But then again, we've started doing well with our OL picks since Garrett took over, so what's the use in complaining about what's happened in the past? Yeah it sucks, but things are headed in the right direction. It appears Garrett and Co are 2 for 3 in drafting OL the last 3 years.

True in Garrett 3rd draft as HC Dallas has drafted 2 OL players in rd 1. Looking at his drafts We have brought in Smith, Carter, Murray and Harris in 2011. Claiborne, Crawford and Wilber in 2012 and then this years draft that again gives us a 1st rd pick in Fredrick.

 

[Doomsday101]

Wow, 2 draftees in 3 years. That's really addressing the most important aspect of the team. And we drafted no defensive lineman last year. I don't see we're trying.

Crawford and Williams are both DL

 

[Rockport]

Crawford and Williams are both DL

He was talking offensive lineman.

 

[Doomsday101]

Your comment "And we drafted no defensive lineman last year. I don't see we're trying." my response is yes we did draft DL last year.

 

[Future]

Green Bay, New England and Pittsburgh to name a few.

Green Bay and Pitt both have terrible offensive lines.

 

[FiveRings]

I know we love to belly ache about our trenches, but across the DL we have the best pass rusher in the game, and a great complement across him in Spence, and on the OL we have two first rounders, one being a top ten. It's not the best, but it's not the worst either. We're getting there

 

[onlyonenow]

Dallas drafted OL when BP was here as well those guys did not pan out, I guess it is Jerry fault because Parcells could not develop them? Jerry got what was asked for not his job to develop them into players that falls to these guys called coaches.

And you are so sure that it was all on the coaches a regards draft picks?

 

[NorthwestDallas40]

I think maybe we all would have been a little happier had Jerry gone DL at 18 (Floyd) and OL in Round 2, or Fred at 31 and DL in Round 2, rather than the luxury pick of Escobar.

 

[Nova]

Wow, 2 draftees in 3 years. That's really addressing the most important aspect of the team. And we drafted no defensive lineman last year. I don't see we're trying.

Not two draftees. Two first rounders. 4 OL draft picks total (I forgot about Nagy).

By comparison, I just looked and New England has only drafted 2 OL period in the same time frame. The 49ers have drafted 3. Baltimore has drafted the same number, 4.

Only the Patriots have spent a 1st rounder on the position... once.

VS two first rounders for us.

We're trying, alright.

 

[Rockport]

Not two draftees. Two first rounders. 4 OL draft picks total (I forgot about Nagy).

By comparison, I just looked and New England has only drafted 2 OL period in the same time frame. The 49ers have drafted 3. Baltimore has drafted the same number, 4.

Only the Patriots have spent a 1st rounder on the position... once.

VS two first rounders for us.

This team has ignored the offensive and to a lesser degree the defensive line for years. You know it and I know it.

 

[cowboysooner]

The mighty Seahawks traded a first round pick and gave 67 million much of it guaranteed for a malcontent slot receiver with a history of drug problems and a guy that attacked his position coach. They used their second round pick on a malcontent running back with injury issues. A few years back they paid Sid rice huge money.

The don't have a first rounder on their dline unless you count Bruce Irvin who is a one way go rush linebacker. They used the sixth pick on a left tackle but their right guard is a seventh rounder. Their right tackle was a waiver wire guy. Their left guard is a guy the Raiders jags and browns decided they did not need anymore.

Nobody screeches about platitudes regarding about how the Seahawks are built. Those guys play hard, they are super physical, they don't get hurt, the keep the same schemes and have continuity.
Guys like Bernie livings Ratliff and used to be hatcher don't help you if they are always hurt. Just play and keep durable tough guys with a few stars and we will be fine.

 

[Nova]

Green Bay and Pitt both have terrible offensive lines.

Green Bay's DL is also bad. In fact, the Steelers defensive line isn't great either

 

[5Stars]

This team has ignored the offensive and to a lesser degree the defensive line for years. You know it and I know it.

Are you really AmberBeer, or did Risen Star come to your house, knock you out and take over your keyboard?

Yes, the have ignored the dline and oline for years, but they are doing something about it that past FEW years.

 

[Rockport]

Are you really AmberBeer, or did Risen Star come to your house, knock you out and take over your keyboard?

Yes, the have ignored the dline and oline for years, but they are doing something about it that past FEW years.

This is my only real complaint of what the Cowboys have been doing over the last 2 years. They have addressed the OL and DL but just not enough in my opinion. I love how Garrett is running this team, making players accountable, creating a more physical team. But I have a huge philosophical disagreement with how they're building the team for the long haul, i.e. not enough drafting the trenches.

 

[bayeslife]

I agree with concept OP, but imagine if Dez and Miles both went down, then we'd be stuck with Harris, Williams, and Beasley starting. That doesn't sound as good either, does it?

Unfortunately, we keep getting hit with injuries on the O-line. I agree that we need to be better about preparing for this stuff, but when you keep getting injured in a line that calls for 5 starters, eventually it's going to look bad. The Eagles have had one of the most stout offensive lines this past decade, but were atrocious last year. What went wrong? I'll let you guess: it's either, they didn't invest enough resources, OR everyone on the line kept getting hurt.

 

[Idgit]

Wait, *what* is what happens when you claim you don't build your team from the trenches out? We're talking about the improved play we've seen on both OL and DL so far early this offseason?

Or are we envisioning again how much worse things will look if we lose multiple players on both sides of the line again? Because I agree that, just one or two more injuries to our OL and one or more injuries to our DL (without getting any of the players who are already injured back), and our depth will be thinner. Is that really what we're reduced to complaining about? That hypothetical injuries will affect our depth? And that our anticipated starters might not be very good? If so, then, well, yeah, those hypotheticals are going to be a problem.