Tyron Smith Reportedly at 304 Lbs

[YosemiteSam]

The question that needs to be considered is not so much what Smith might be in the NFL. The question you need to ask is what would Free do if you drafted a LT?

What would happen with Free if we signed Smith? Free is an FA looking for a contract. If we drafted a LT at 9, how would that affect Free? If I'm Doug Free, I'm thinking that I've already proven I can play LT in the NFL. Guaranteed that there are plenty of teams out there who would agree with him. If you draft Smith, that means that your drafting him to play LT. He can not play RT IMO. He's not strong enough, or big enough. Some of you may disagree and that's fine but I don't see it. If I'm Free, why would I sign with Dallas if I know your taking a LT at #9 overall? If your drafting him to be our RT, then your paying way too much for a RT IMO. Again, what would I think if I'm Free? I'm thinking that I would be considering leaving because nobody is going to sign me to LT money if the plan is for me to play RT. If I'm the Cowboys, I don't franchise him to play RT for top 5 LT money, which is what we would have to do. If I'm Free, there is no way I'm willing to settle for RT money when I know I can get LT money and be at the top of that wage scale. I don't think taking a Tackle at #9 is wise.

First off, if you have a sure thing franchise LT on the board, you have to take him. I'm not saying Smith is a sure thing, I'm just making a point.

It doesn't matter that Free is a FA, hell if anything that makes drafting the LT that much more important. Free has proven himself, let him proven himself to stay at LT and force Smith to RT. My best tackle is playing LT be it Smith or Free.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

First off, if you have a sure thing franchise LT on the board, you have to take him. I'm not saying Smith is a sure thing, I'm just making a point.

It doesn't matter that Free is a FA, hell if anything that makes drafting the LT that much more important. Free has proven himself, let him proven himself to stay at LT and force Smith to RT. My best tackle is playing LT be it Smith or Free.

Sure, that sounds easy. Free is an FA this coming season I believe. Perhaps you can convince him of this. Bottom line, if you draft a LT, Free is leaving. If you want to give up on Free for a Rookie Prospect at LT, OK, but you won't keep both. We can't afford to pay 9 money to a draft pick and long term top 10 LT money to Free, which is what I believe we are going to have to do if we want to keep him. Make a choice. Sign Free and look at other options for our 9 pick or take Smith and accept that you've just developed what will likely be a pro bowl caliber LT for somebody else and that somebody else could easily be a team in the East. I don't see any way we can take a LT prospect and keep Free unless we severely overpay. JMO

 

[YosemiteSam]

Sure, that sounds easy. Free is an FA this coming season I believe. Perhaps you can convince him of this. Bottom line, if you draft a LT, Free is leaving. If you want to give up on Free for a Rookie Prospect at LT, OK, but you won't keep both. We can't afford to pay 9 money to a draft pick and long term top 10 LT money to Free, which is what I believe we are going to have to do if we want to keep him. Make a choice. Sign Free and look at other options for our 9 pick or take Smith and accept that you've just developed what will likely be a pro bowl caliber LT for somebody else and that somebody else could easily be a team in the East. I don't see any way we can take a LT prospect and keep Free unless we severely overpay. JMO

Speculation. If Smith is the best player on the board, you have to take him. You can't make decisions like this on "what ifs"

 

[btcutter]

I might be going down on this one, but I'm going down swinging.

You are brave.

But I hope the Cowboys do not take such attitude with a top 10 pick.

I understand that you want to be able to draft a HOF player but teams cannot afford a BUST picking this high. Top ten picks should at the minimum become a very solid starter for 5-10 yrs. I hate to use Greg Ellis as an example. The player picked in the top 10 should AT LEAST have his type of career. Hopefully with more upside of course.

 

[btcutter]

Has Tyron Smith EVER played LT position?? I am not sure but all I saw in the films were RT.

How often/common is it for a RT to get projected to LT and get drafted in the top 10??? I thought usually the best T play on the Left side.

If Smith was SSSOOOO great, why wasn't he playing LT? Maybe we should be looking at the kid playing LT at USC instead.

 

[TheCount]

RETAINING FREE A PRIORITY FOR COWBOYS
The Cowboys are expected to place a high priority on re-signing free agent LT Doug Free.
Free grades out as ProFootballFocus.com's best run-blocking tackle in the NFL this season while more than holding his own as a pass blocker. The labor uncertainty is a factor, but Free has established himself as a nucleus player deserving of a long-term deal.

Graded out as the best run blocking T in the entire league last season? That's crazy, especially considering how bad our run game was. Some of the other guys must really, really suck.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

Speculation. If Smith is the best player on the board, you have to take him. You can't make decisions like this on "what ifs"

If......


If he's the best Tackle on the board. If he becomes a great NFL LT at all. If.............

No thank you. We don't need a LT. We need a Guards and a RT. I think we can get those positions filled a a little later in the draft. I am not for taking a Tackle at 9.

 

[YosemiteSam]

If......


If he's the best Tackle on the board. If he becomes a great NFL LT at all. If.............

No thank you. We don't need a LT. We need a Guards and a RT. I think we can get those positions filled a a little later in the draft. I am not for taking a Tackle at 9.

I think Free is an average LT. I think he can get better, but he is average. I think he is WAY over-hyped by the fans. The guy wasn't dominating last year.

Franchise LT > Doug Free. Free is not a franchise LT. He would make an awesome RT though.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

I think Free is an average LT. I think he can get better, but he is average. I think he is WAY over-hyped by the fans. The guy wasn't dominating last year.

Franchise LT > Doug Free. Free is not a franchise LT. He would make an awesome RT though.

I agree with you that he could make a fine RT. I don't agree that he is an average LT. I mean, regardless of what you or I think, I believe it really comes down to what the rest of the league and what Free himself, believes his value might be. It's about money for Free and that is understandable. As I see it, this contract is very important for him and his career. If he establishes himself as a LT, then he will make a lot of money for a considerable amount of time in the NFL, barring injury or the like. If he caves, he will be stuck with a much less lucrative contract because of position and he's likely to be stuck with that for his entire career. I doubt his agent would even allow him to think in that manner. I just don't see very much upside to Free settling for this kind of situation, as an FA. I could very well be wrong but I don't see it.

 

[natesboys051]

The Cowboys will probably draft a CB (Amukamara) or DE, so I wouldn't worry too much about drafting Smith if you don't like him, even though I would draft him. He could end up playing for the Giants or Eagles and blocking Ware and Spencer.

Dallas really doesn't evaluate offensive linemen in the draft very good or draft them very good or even draft them lately. Dallas really doesn't evaluate their own offensive linemen very well, because they are reluctant to change it and hesitant and slooooooow. It was reported that a Cowboys source doesn't think Smith is "ready to play". If that report is true, no wonder this line is in such terrible shape and no wonder the James Martens, Jacob Rodgers, Sam Youngs, Robert Brewsters, Cory Proctors, Joe Bergers, Pat McQuistans, E.J. Wheatleys, Al Johnsons, and Montrae Hollands of the world have provided zero starters. Who is evaluating the offensive line and the linemen in the draft? Other teams identify, draft, and can get offensive linemen on the field much faster and better than the Cowboys.

The Cowboys acted very naive when they traded down in 2009 and left Andy Levitre (see him tossing Steelers around like rag dolls and playing nasty at LG for the Bills) and Phil Loadholt on the board. Loadholt would have been a much better option than Colombo in 2009. It was the Vikings who took Loadholt and played him as a rookie while their DE ran under, around, and through Colombo. Plus, some people thought Colombo could still play after his 2nd major leg injury and after getting whipped by Ray Edwards in a divisional playoff game. Adams was booted, and Colombo was put in the sunshine and got a free pass. When has Jerry Jones ever drafted an offensive linemen in the first round?

The argument for drafting Smith at 9:


Two word argument for Smith:

Mark Colombo


Two word argument for drafting a DE:

Igor Olshansky


Two word argument for drafting a CB:

Terence Newman

Counter:

Terence Newman and a deep CB class/Mark Colombo and Doug Free and Igor Olshansky and three free agent DEs



Two word argument for drafting Quinn:

Anthony Spencer

Counter:

Anthony Spencer/Quinn character concerns/serious past medical/position change/can he play the run and cover like Spencer?/Mark Colombo, Igor Olshansky, and 3 free agent DEs


DE VS Smith

5 reasons to draft Smith at 9:

Romo
Witten
Austin
Bryant
Felix Jones

Counter:

The Eagles zone leak embarrassing Olshansky and Dallas' front 7. Igor likes to dance while getting dominated up front and embarrassed on national t.v. He likes to call out the offensive coordinator's play calling in the media, and that guy is the head coach now. Olshansky's 2010 tape would get him cut by most teams. Spears, Bowen, and Hathcer are free agents.

Counter for Smith:

Mark Colombo is the worst RT in the NFL, imo. Smith straight up blocked Cameron Jordan to at least a draw (as a junior), and Smith has more upside at his position and is only 20 years old. Smith is a LT, in the mold of D'Brickashaw Ferguson, who has RT experience. He's the best pass blocker in this draft and is a very good run blocker who can get Felix Jones in space and on the edge and to the second level on a consistent basis. Smith's strength, athleticism, and wide base is exactly the type of attributes that Dallas needs and should want on it's old and fading fast offensive line.

Again, Tyron Smith is a potential franchise LT with RT experience and is 20 years old. He is 7 years younger than Free, and he is a much better athlete with big time upside and more much more upside than Free. If Free gets hurt, who is going to LT? Brewster? Young? Davis? Your CB at number 9? Your DE at 9? Your team is done! Is Free even going to be here in 2011? This is a weak offensive tackle free agent class, and if you pass on Smith or Sherrod, you will not only miss out on the top 6 OTs, you will most likely miss out on the top interior offensive linemen as well.

Tyron Smith should be in the mix at 9, and he better be with this offensive line. How many times has Mark Colombo imploded in a divisional playoff game? 2 Watch three guys block Micheal Strahan on Romo's last effort pick against the Giants in 2007. Jason Witten was one of them. That worked out well.

When will you be in another position to draft an OT with this much talent and ability? If you pass on him, you might get another chance next year when you are back in the top 10. Except, he will not be there. He is coming out now. Spears, the last first round DE is about to walk, and Dallas really doesn't care.

Let's put YOU in the Cowboys war room. They need analysts that can make rationale sense about OL. Your posts 'reek' of common sense and good judgment....spot on!! I remember Jason Garrett making a pitch to Jerrah and staff regarding drafting Felix over Mendenhall. We need someone to pitch Tyson Smith or other top tier OT in this upcoming draft.

 

[Cover 2]

Has Tyron Smith EVER played LT position?? I am not sure but all I saw in the films were RT.

How often/common is it for a RT to get projected to LT and get drafted in the top 10??? I thought usually the best T play on the Left side.

If Smith was SSSOOOO great, why wasn't he playing LT? Maybe we should be looking at the kid playing LT at USC instead.

Because Charles Brown was already on the left side.

 

[YosemiteSam]

Mark Colombo
Igor Olshansky
Terence Newman
Anthony Spencer

If I could only replace one of those with a 1st round pick. Thats easy. I replace Colombo.

 

[btcutter]

Because Charles Brown was already on the left side.

So is Brown THAT much better than Smith that USC is keeping a top 10 NFL picking playing RT instead of LT. That's a question, btw.

 

[Bigdog]

Let's put YOU in the Cowboys war room. They need analysts that can make rationale sense about OL. Your posts 'reek' of common sense and good judgment....spot on!! I remember Jason Garrett making a pitch to Jerrah and staff regarding drafting Felix over Mendenhall. We need someone to pitch Tyson Smith or other top tier OT in this upcoming draft.

I also read that Phillips wanted Chris Johnson but we took Felix instead. Johnson so far has had a better career but at the time I think I would have drafted Felix over Johnson. I stll believe that Felix will be a very good back in this league.

 

[btcutter]

I also read that Phillips wanted Chris Johnson but we took Felix instead. Johnson so far has had a better career but at the time I think I would have drafted Felix over Johnson. I stll believe that Felix will be a very good back in this league.

I am very worried about our WAR room after hearing those comments. If we were looking for solely a "complementary" back ( a philosophy that I completely disagree with--draft a starter...not part timer in the 1st round) Johnson was still a better "complementary" player to Marion Barber than Jones just on speed alone.

Our WAR room seems to lack good judgement....that worries me!

 

[natesboys051]

I am very worried about our WAR room after hearing those comments. If we were looking for solely a "complementary" back ( a philosophy that I completely disagree with--draft a starter...not part timer in the 1st round) Johnson was still a better "complementary" player to Marion Barber than Jones just on speed alone.

Our WAR room seems to lack good judgement....that worries me!

At the time, the entire Cowboys staff KNEW that Jerrah wanted FELIX period. It seems to me that Jason Garrett was JUST pitching the 'positives' about Felix over Mendenhall because Garrett kept saying "do we draft a RB like we have already (referring to Barber) or do we go after someone 'special' with elite speed and size (referring to Felix instead of Chris Johnson who was the fastest RB in the draft albeit kinda light in the pants).

Hopefully, in this draft, we actually have a 'strategy' to improve our Offense and Defense. We can do BOTH by drafting the BPA OT in Rd 1, BPA OG in Rd 2, BPA NT in Rd 3, BPA CB in Rd 4, BPA big RB (i.e. John Clay 6'1" 260lbs) or FS (Teejay Johnson TCU 6'0" 194lbs) in Rd 5 and 6. This would allow the Boys to play 'smash-mouth' (i.e. ball control) football with the big boys (i.e. Green Bay, Pittsburgh, Ravens, Saints, Jets, Giants, & Patriots). It was also give our OL two new BIG BODIES and our defense a mammoth NT (by sliding Ratliff to DE).

If everyone remembers the 90's, the Boys HAD to best OL and DL in football and everyone copied our model (which included DL 'rotations' to keep everyone fresh and fast). Jerrah could also sign via Free Agency an athletic ILB to backup Sean Lee or Brookings and any other perceived 'depth' weakness.

Jason Garrett remembers the 90's Cowboys very well and has a PLAN in his mind to model THIS year's NFL Draft/free agency signings/off-season workouts after that team (which will resemble the aforementioned big boy TEAMS of the league).

 

[Cover 2]

So is Brown THAT much better than Smith that USC is keeping a top 10 NFL picking playing RT instead of LT. That's a question, btw.

He was a 3rd or 4th round pick in the last draft. Players that good generally don't get moved from their spot.

 

[btcutter]

He was a 3rd or 4th round pick in the last draft. Players that good generally don't get moved from their spot.

Not sure I buy that but who's playing LT after Brown left for NFL. USC rather play a "rookie" than Smith at LT? Doesn't make sense to me.

I am just worried about a RT being projected to LT. I hear LT projecting to RT in NFL but rarely vice versa (since college best OL usually mans the LT spot).