Thoughts on our offensive line?

[mr.jameswoods]

I will be honest, I don't know enough about offensive linemen to really make a judgement about what constitutes a good offensive line. However, for the last 2 years, everyone says we have one of the best offensive lines in the NFL because our guys are big. However, they don't seem that skilled or quick. Flozell looked like he got beat on nearly every play because he lacked quickness. How can we blame Romo when he was getting blindsided on nearly every play because our guys were too fat to react in time? I'm probably wrong so let me have it

 

[hendog]

Flo needs to go and we need quality depth.

 

[Monster Heel]

Flo's not going anywhere and the Cowboys don't know how to draft offensive linemen. Have to live with them.

 

[Jimz31]

This year, our offensive line was just that....offensive.

We need more athletic guys on the line....more intelligent ones that can see a blitz coming and know how to pick it up and that partly has to do with coaching as well.

Kosier going down was bigger than most think. We just definately need help on the offensive line as well as depth, depth, depth....

 

[Kolemmitt]

We are using them wrong.

When you have the big beefy line that we do they want to maul their opponents, they are out of their element when they are forced to pass block out the shotgun 40 times a game. That means acheiving true balance on offense, running out of the I formation or double tight 20 to 30 times a game, not 10 shotgun draws.

 

[STAR GAZER]

There have been threads on this topic a number of times.

It seems everyone wants to put too much blame on a variety of other issues. Sure there are mistakes that many have made, but none more so than our O-Line. It's partially due to injury.

Size and agility are both important. It seems that our size isn't compensating for the lack of agility. I say they need to drop some weight to increase upon their quickness going into next season, and practice more intensely on their drills. I think more emphasis on athleticism would be key to improving.

We also need more talent and depth. We can't acquire this via the draft. Hopefully we can pick-up some talent in free agency. Draft prospects take too long to mature and they are often a hit and miss approach.

This should be one of our keys to improving for next season. I would say it is one of if not the most important needs right now.

 

[masomenos]

This year, our offensive line was just that....offensive.

We need more athletic guys on the line....more intelligent ones that can see a blitz coming and know how to pick it up and that partly has to do with coaching as well.

Kosier going down was bigger than most think. We just definately need help on the offensive line as well as depth, depth, depth....

Yeah, our offensive line was so much worse this year. I mean, in 2007 they allowed 25 sacks. This year, 31. 11 of those were when Johnson and Bollinger were in. And running the football, sheesh...4.2 YPC in 2007 and 4.3 in 2008.

 

[Apollo Creed]

Yeah, our offensive line was so much worse this year. I mean, in 2007 they allowed 25 sacks. This year, 31. 11 of those were when Johnson and Bollinger were in. And running the football, sheesh...4.2 YPC in 2007 and 4.3 in 2008.

Stats don't hide that Romo was running for his life on most pass plays, forced to make the first guy miss. These guys had a horrible year, across the board. No excuses for them, Romo hasn't had a consistent pocket to throw in weeks.

 

[Shinywalrus]

Yeah, our offensive line was so much worse this year. I mean, in 2007 they allowed 25 sacks. This year, 31. 11 of those were when Johnson and Bollinger were in. And running the football, sheesh...4.2 YPC in 2007 and 4.3 in 2008.

Your point is well taken - the struggles are overblown, but I think the stats underrepresent some of the actual problems. I suspect the number of hurries and QB hits is significantly higher.

The truth is that we weren't much of a run blocking line last year, so I don't know that we regressed there. The two places we did regress, however, were Flozell's performance against speed rushers, which he managed to bring up to a passable level in 2007 for some reason, and our line's (and backfield's) propensity for and skill in picking up extra blitzers.

Deon has a long way to go in pass protection, Witten was less effective this year (injuries, perhaps?) in chipping, Martellus takes poor angles and the level of communication, primarily between Flo, Cory and Andre, as to assignments and schemes, was drastically reduced.

I'm not sure where the assignment communication responsibilities lie within the Cowboys scheme, although it typically lies with the center. The free LBs and stunts coming through so much more this season is something I tend to put on Gurode, as much as I like him. Even if Proctor was the weak link, it's Andre's job to be the clear communicator of responsibilities and the approach to various defensive looks.

 

[hendog]

Stats don't hide that Romo was running for his life on most pass plays, forced to make the first guy miss. These guys had a horrible year, across the board. No excuses for them, Romo hasn't had a consistent pocket to throw in weeks.

Yea but Troy had 3 rings by now. No excuses right. Are you bipolar?

 

[RoadRunner]

The offensive line needs a complete overhaul. I wouldn't mind if Jerry canned every last bum other than Kosier. The Oline coach needs to be shown the door, but that would hurt Jerry's plans for "continuity".

 

[landryscorner]

Flozell=overrated overpaid
Colombo=overpaid
Audre Gurode=dumbest center we have ever had, overpaid, overrated


our line sucked this year

were stuck with flozell...thats an ugly thought, the guy might have strength
but he has no movement, teams are putting their speedy linebackers on him in 3-4 defenses and there eating him up....its disgusting to watch

 

[ThreeSportStar80]

Overrated and over paid is the theme I'm hearing but I don't agree... It's the scheme in which they're in.

 

[Shinywalrus]

Flozell=overrated overpaid
Colombo=overpaid
Audre Gurode=dumbest center we have ever had, overpaid, overrated


our line sucked this year

were stuck with flozell...thats an ugly thought, the guy might have strength
but he has no movement, teams are putting their speedy linebackers on him in 3-4 defenses and there eating him up....its disgusting to watch

Colombo is overpaid? Really? Barring the few late round finds still on their rookie contracts, please find me a veteran RT who is more efficient at Colombo's rate of pay - and keep in mind, Colombo is on a NEW contract, so prone to being at the top of the general pay scale for his position because of cap inflation.

And granted, Gurode makes mental mistakes that he definitely needs to address, but he has simply HANDLED some of the most beastly NTs in the league this season with aplomb. "Overrated" strikes me as being a bit underresearched.

 

[Eddie]

Flozell=overrated overpaid
Colombo=overpaid
Audre Gurode=dumbest center we have ever had, overpaid, overrated


our line sucked this year

were stuck with flozell...thats an ugly thought, the guy might have strength
but he has no movement, teams are putting their speedy linebackers on him in 3-4 defenses and there eating him up....its disgusting to watch

That's why Jerry Jones committed one of the prime cardinal sins ... never pay for age.

Flo is up there in age, yet Jerry gives him a mega contract. Now we're stuck with an old LT who can't get it done anymore.

 

[percyhoward]

Other than depth, there are no major issues with this line.

 

[RoadRunner]

Other than depth, there are no major issues with this line.

Except heart, desire, discipline, and performance.

 

[percyhoward]

Except heart, desire, discipline, and performance.

Then you'd have to conclude that most of the offensive lines in the league lack those things, since our line did better than most.

 

[Apollo Creed]

Then you'd have to conclude that most of the offensive lines in the league lack those things, since our line did better than most.

And having such a mobile QB really inflates their stats, and hides their protection woes.

Ask Barber and Choice how hard it was to get yards, they had to battle for every one.

 

[percyhoward]

And having such a mobile QB really inflates their stats, and hides their protection woes.

Ask Barber and Choice how hard it was to get yards, they had to battle for every one.

Not when the line was healthy, though. Like I said, depth is the issue. With the injuries we sustained, we were still top 10 in yards per carry and (with Romo) sacks allowed.

Pittsburgh and Arizona would kill to have our line.