Upgrade the O-line? Here's something puzzling.

[Hoofbite]

I don't think theres any question Dallas needs a new RT.

You can't coach Colombo to do something that his body just can't do.

He could have all the technique in the world but his ability to move and get where he needs to be is squashed.

Davis needs to go too. How a guy that large can get abused so easily is beyond comprehension.

 

[Gemini Dolly]

Can we get a translation?

He is saying the O-lines issues is not all the fat dudes' fault. Sometimes, Romo may hold on to the ball too long. Also, lack of running was a problem early on in the season. He is questioning whether the lack of runs was because of Garrett's play calling or perhaps it was Romo checking out of those runs.

 

[SilverStarCowboy]

So lets pretend that Dallas can field a decent line with better coaching and some late round competition or NFL Free Agent. Which is pretty redundant considering what has actually transpired over time with this Franchise.

Dallas takes the best Defensive talant available at each Draft spot with the 1st, 2nd and 3rd choices?

In no particular order, Saftey, Defensive Tackle and ILB?

 

[bsheeern]

This is not not a good example for your argument. Mike Martz's offense is mostly responsible for Chicago's offensive line leading the NFL in sacks.

Well what about the Steelers? They have one of the highest sack totals given up in the NFL. Their QB got hit quite a bit. Even if he's responsible for about 25% of that they are still middle of the pack in the league and if the win the superbowl will have given up almost more sacks/QB hits than any other superbowl winning team in the history oF the league.

 

[Hoofbite]

Well what about the Steelers? They have one of the highest sack totals given up in the NFL. Their QB got hit quite a bit. Even if he's responsible for about 25% of that they are still middle of the pack in the league and if the win the superbowl will have given up almost more sacks/QB hits than any other superbowl winning team in the history oF the league.

Which makes them an exception.

Why anyone would look to the exception and say "that's the way", I dunno.

 

[Hostile]

The main problem with our O-line is run blocking. They just aren't good enough at it for as big as they are.

 

[Deep_Freeze]

The main problem with our O-line is run blocking. They just aren't good enough at it for as big as they are.

I have to agree with this. Seems like all is talked about is getting rid of half the line, well that ain't going to happen no matter how much you wanna talk about it on a message board, cause there are alot more things to consider than that.

Better coaching and a new RT, and this thread is at least a step in the right direction. Rome wasn't built in a day, yet everyone here keeps talking about building the Great Wall of China in this particular draft and free agency.

Improve the defense, and hope we can get a few more years out of Kosier and Davis, along with drafting people to develop to take their spots cause just like we don't need a great WR to win, we don't need the Great Wall of China......what we need a good complete team.

We dug this hole with bad drafts and such, and it won't be fixed in one offseason with all new personnel cause believe it or not, they could be the same or worse than what we have.

 

[burmafrd]

As big and as strong as our O linemen are its a total disgrace how we keep getting stoned on short yardage plays.

 

[JD_KaPow]

The Packers can't run the ball and they're in the SB.
The Steelers have a bad OL and they're in the SB.
The Saints had a poor defense and they won the SB.
The Colts had awful special teams and they were in the SB.
The Ravens had a poor offense (and Trent Dilfer at QB) and won the SB.

Obviously, we don't need to improve anything to win it all!

 

[percyhoward]

The main problem with our O-line is run blocking. They just aren't good enough at it for as big as they are.

Except for Free, they can't get to the second level. This is where I think we really missed Cricket and Phillips.

 

[Stautner]

So most here want a completely new O-line with the exception of Free and somewhat Gurode.

So what team in the NFL gives up the most sacks? Stats aren't the end all of discussions but It might surprise you as to which teams are at and near the top.

Do we really need an overhaul or just better coaching?

People like to blame coaches because that's a one stop solution. One change, and everything's okay.

it may well be that we need a new O-line coach, but it isn't a one stop solution.

Anyone who saw Colombo just flat whiff trying to block quick pass rushers knows that. Colombo wasn't undercoached in those situations, he was wasn't capable. On top of that, no amount of coaching is going to get Davis and his fat as out of his stance quicker. Guys that size should get a push on short yardage plays, but they don't.

 

[SilverStarCowboy]

Free will never be a great LT, right now he gets alot of help which will hinder the Team going forward.

I'll go out on an untested limb and say Doug is playing out of position. He's a All-Pro Gaurd waiting to happen.


Then the Running game works better immediately!

 

[percyhoward]

Offensive Line Stats from Football Outsiders

2010 Ranks
Short Yardage: 26th
2nd Level yards: 20th
Open Field yards: 26th

2009 Ranks
Short Yardage: 26th
2nd Level yards: 3rd
Open Field yards: 5th

I believe the difference in the "2nd Level" and "Open Field" yardage can be attributed to the loss of Phillips and Anderson, two of our most athletic run blockers from 2009.

About short yardage. It should also be noted that we had improved to the point that we were among the league leaders in short yardage early in 2010 (up until after the first Giants game). We were actually healthier on the OL after that point, but of course we lost Romo in that game, which could have played a role in defenses not having to respect the threat of the short-yardage pass as much.

That note also has this note attached to it: Our early success in short yardage in 2010 was all Barber. He did not play in that first Giants game after the first quarter. Our short yardage numbers took a nosedive from then on. I think Barber sustained an injury of some kind that wasn't reported.

 

[Stautner]

Free will never be a great LT, right now he gets alot of help which will hinder the Team going forward.

I'll go out on an untested limb and say Doug is playing out of position. He's a All-Pro Gaurd waiting to happen.


Then the Running game works better immediately!

OG needs more power than Free has. Free's biggest asset his quick feet, which is the recipe for an OT.

 

[SilverStarCowboy]

OG needs more power than Free has. Free's biggest asset his quick feet, which is the recipe for an OT.

With this front office nobody can trust anything they do much less the misconceptions that are rationalized.

Screw Parcels theory, Demarcus Ware could have been a disrupting force on every play had we ran the 4/3.

Barbers' career cut short with Jerrys' back pocket, he should have remained a 4th quarter RB.

Romo hasn't had a fair shake yet since the OLine could have been addressed many times over again in the Draft.

Felix should have been used in practice like Mendenhall instead of being treated like a prima donna.

These are all things people paying attention knew. Incompetence runs rampant at Valley Ranch.

 

[Stautner]

With this front office nobody can trust anything they do much less the misconceptions that are rationalized.

Screw Parcels theory, Demarcus Ware could have been a disrupting force on every play had we ran the 4/3.

Barbers' career cut short with Jerrys' back pocket, he should have remained a 4th quarter RB.

Romo hasn't had a fair shake yet since the OLine could have been adressed many times over again in the Draft.

Felix should have been used in practice like Mendenhall instead of being treated like a prima donna.

These are all things people paying attention knew. Incompetence runs rampant at Valley Ranch.

When did Parcells say Ware couldn't play 4-3?

And what does any of this have to do with Doug Free? It isn't just the Cowboys coaching staff saying Free's quick feet are his biggest asset. That was his reputation coming out of college, and that is what he has shown on the field.

After it was apparent julius jones wasn't cutting it, who should have been the primary RB so Barber could remain the 4th quarter guy? Tyson Thompson?

Of course, it's easy to say all these thing sin hindsight. The reality is Barber played his way into a chance to start, Felix spent a lot of his 1st 2 years hurt so he couldn't practice hard very often - and if he were treated as a prioma donna he would have played on game day a lot more, and Romo's O-line, though never great, was pretty stong for a few years, and he somehow managed to put up very good stats. What are you expecting - 6,000 yards per season. Clearly the team has done a poor job of preparing for the O-line getting older and ahving injuries, but its not as if Romo has gone through what David Carr did in Houston.