Travis Frederick and Phil Costa

[TwoDeep3]

I am not as down on Costa as some. I believe, when he is healthy he can be an asset.

The rookie Frederick has a ways to go to become a full time starter. That could be accomplished by the end of training camp, but there is some rush to judgment by the team if he is tossed in.

Especially at center.

So the real question is this.

Do you put Frederick in the guard position where Bernadeaux plays and start Costa at center?

Or swap those two and start a rookie at center?

This settles a problem and allows the team to target perhaps Clabo and field a line that could be a lo0t different than the last few years.

Any thoughts?

 

[ThreeandOut]

When Frederick met with Callahan, the player that he wanted him to pattern himself after was Nick Mangold. I think Callahan probably wants him at C long-term. He will likely be in competition with both Costa and Bernadeau for a starting spot this year.

 

[JoeyBoy718]

I see him as the center of the future, but the line might benefit this season if he plays RG. Smith and Livings were successful on the left side. Costa was successful in his very limited playing time at center. The problem was RG and RT. If Parnell (or God forbid, Free) play RT, they'd probably be better with Frederick playing next to them.

 

[jjktkk]

I am not as down on Costa as some. I believe, when he is healthy he can be an asset.

The rookie Frederick has a ways to go to become a full time starter. That could be accomplished by the end of training camp, but there is some rush to judgment by the team if he is tossed in.

Especially at center.

So the real question is this.

Do you put Frederick in the guard position where Bernadeaux plays and start Costa at center?

Or swap those two and start a rookie at center?

This settles a problem and allows the team to target perhaps Clabo and field a line that could be a lo0t different than the last few years.

Any thoughts?

Since Frederick possesses a high I.Q., I don't know if he'll have a hard time adjusting, other than being a rookie. That said, I see Frederick starting somewhere on the Oline. I'd say center, but maybe one of the guard positions.

 

[gimmesix]

I am not as down on Costa as some. I believe, when he is healthy he can be an asset.

The rookie Frederick has a ways to go to become a full time starter. That could be accomplished by the end of training camp, but there is some rush to judgment by the team if he is tossed in.

Especially at center.

So the real question is this.

Do you put Frederick in the guard position where Bernadeaux plays and start Costa at center?

Or swap those two and start a rookie at center?

This settles a problem and allows the team to target perhaps Clabo and field a line that could be a lo0t different than the last few years.

Any thoughts?

I think Frederick is the immediate starter at center. Outside of left tackle, either Callahan mentioned it or someone mentioned that for Callahan center is the most important position on the line.

We've drafted two first-round linemen, a left tackle and a ... (although we would have drafted a guard if one had dropped).

I believe Dallas thinks the guards will play better if they've got Frederick next to them because he's good at providing help blocks while still recognizing and picking up stunts and blitzes. He also sets up the pocket by being hard to push back in the middle.

I do believe Costa would have been the starting center if we had not drafted Frederick, but now Dallas has a clear upgrade and all the other interior guys will be left to fight it out for the two guard spots.

 

[TwoDeep3]

I think Frederick is the immediate starter at center. Outside of left tackle, either Callahan mentioned it or someone mentioned that for Callahan center is the most important position on the line.

We've drafted two first-round linemen, a left tackle and a ... (although we would have drafted a guard if one had dropped).

I believe Dallas thinks the guards will play better if they've got Frederick next to them because he's good at providing help blocks while still recognizing and picking up stunts and blitzes. He also sets up the pocket by being hard to push back in the middle.

I do believe Costa would have been the starting center if we had not drafted Frederick, but now Dallas has a clear upgrade and all the other interior guys will be left to fight it out for the two guard spots.

I just want Bernadeaux out of the line-up. I see him the way most of this board sees Free.

Too many times he was doing his best bull fighter impersonation for me.

 

[TheRomoSexual]

Everyone seems down on the thought of Costa playing guard. Why?

 

[Vintage]

I think Frederick is the immediate starter at center. Outside of left tackle, either Callahan mentioned it or someone mentioned that for Callahan center is the most important position on the line.

We've drafted two first-round linemen, a left tackle and a ... (although we would have drafted a guard if one had dropped).

I believe Dallas thinks the guards will play better if they've got Frederick next to them because he's good at providing help blocks while still recognizing and picking up stunts and blitzes. He also sets up the pocket by being hard to push back in the middle.

I do believe Costa would have been the starting center if we had not drafted Frederick, but now Dallas has a clear upgrade and all the other interior guys will be left to fight it out for the two guard spots.

I guess the question is ...

Are we better with Costa at C and Frederick at OG? Or Bernie at OG and Frederick at OC?

I suspect we are better off with Costa at OC and Frederick at RG. I am suspecting we go with Frederick at OC, though.

 

[TheRomoSexual]

I guess the question is ...

Are we better with Costa at C and Frederick at OG? Or Bernie at OG and Frederick at OC?

I suspect we are better off with Costa at OC and Frederick at RG. I am suspecting we go with Frederick at OC, though.

I'm so confused. Why are people dismissing the possibility of Costa at guard?

 

[Maxmadden]

Frederick starts period. The question then becomes who do you want to start Livings, Bernadeau or Costa. I want the 5 best lineman. I would think for a rookie that center would be more difficult to learn. So why not give Frederick a year at guard and let him work his way into the center position next year..

I don't think Dallas will sign anymore FA lineman unless they cut Free, and even then they may not. I just don't think they feel the OL is as bad as most fans do.

 

[gimmesix]

I just want Bernadeaux out of the line-up. I see him the way most of this board sees Free.

Too many times he was doing his best bull fighter impersonation for me.

He might be. I think it will be best man wins at the two guard spots with Frederick at center. Of course, in that competition, it's a good possibility that our best men for the guard spots aren't going to be that great.

I will say this for Bernadeau, though: I thought he played pretty well the second half of the season. The bullfighter impersonation mostly happened in the first half after he had missed the preseason because of injury and while he was still adjusting.

 

[JoeyBoy718]

I wouldn't be opposed to a lineup of Smith-Livings-Costa-Frederick-Clabo... Smith and Livings had success on the left side last year. The problems were Bern and Free on the right side and the fact that no centers could stay healthy.

 

[TwoDeep3]

I'm so confused. Why are people dismissing the possibility of Costa at guard?

I don't have an answer for that. It would seem that guard is easier since you are not having to call the signals for the line.

But I never played OL. Fact is, us cornerbacks usually stayed as far away from those guys as possible.

 

[conner01]

I'm so confused. Why are people dismissing the possibility of Costa at guard?

i think playing guard for costa is going to be very tough. having a real center next to him will help but his arms are very short for a guard and while that seems silly it sure does seem to be a factor in players being able to play the position. camp will answer alot of questions but my guess is they hope leary can replace bernie on the oline, frderick can be the center and costa can be the guard/center backup guy on game day

 

[TwoDeep3]

He might be. I think it will be best man wins at the two guard spots with Frederick at center. Of course, in that competition, it's a good possibility that our best men for the guard spots aren't going to be that great.

I will say this for Bernadeau, though: I thought he played pretty well the second half of the season. The bullfighter impersonation mostly happened in the first half after he had missed the preseason because of injury and while he was still adjusting.

I have been wrong more than right. So you may have a real point about the second half.

It's just I cannot get the image out of my mind of Bernie taking two steps back and then losing a defensive tackle that weights over 300 pounds.

Maybe Bernie needs glasses.

 

[Ultimategamer5567]

If Costa can play like he did against the Ravens last year - and I have high doubts about that - then maybe we have a shot at a legit line. But my faith in him isn't much at all. Either way I see Frederick as our C; a man of his intelligence is pretty rare for a linemen, so why waste such natural intellect at G?

 

[burmafrd]

A lot of OL prospects from Wisconsin start right away and do pretty well. Have no idea why you think Fredrick will be any different.

 

[gimmesix]

I guess the question is ...

Are we better with Costa at C and Frederick at OG? Or Bernie at OG and Frederick at OC?

I suspect we are better off with Costa at OC and Frederick at RG. I am suspecting we go with Frederick at OC, though.

I think we're better off with Frederick at center no matter who the guards are. He sets the point of attack, calls out the defensive alignments, gets upfield to block linebackers, etc.

He will make the guards better, whoever they are, because of his ability to help them to the inside.

 

[jobberone]

I think Costa can compete at both C and G. I don't see Cook staying on the team although it's possible. So I see Frederick, Costa and Bernie as the centers on the team to start camp. I think if they will put Costa and Frederick at the positions that helps the team the most. I suspect that will be Frederick at C and Costa will compete with the rest at RG. There may be something to the rumor Livings and Bernie were both playing either hurt or not at full health at times so maybe they can compete at G. Other than Smith the entire line is in competition. And I wouldn't be surprised Smith has to compete at LT. I just don't see anyone pushing him too hard.

 

[gimmesix]

I think Costa can compete at both C and G. I don't see Cook staying on the team although it's possible. So I see Frederick, Costa and Bernie as the centers on the team to start camp. I think if they will put Costa and Frederick at the positions that helps the team the most. I suspect that will be Frederick at C and Costa will compete with the rest at RG. There may be something to the rumor Livings and Bernie were both playing either hurt or not at full health at times so maybe they can compete at G. Other than Smith the entire line is in competition. And I wouldn't be surprised Smith has to compete at LT. I just don't see anyone pushing him too hard.

Hopefully, Parnell is going to have some competition for his spot. I'd like him to win it, but I'd like him to have to win it.