What's up with Connor McGovern?

[JoeyBoy718]

Is he still hurt or is he just that bad? You don't get more of situation than the current one where young guys are relied on to step up and contribute. The rookie center is already starting. We even have a UDFA rookie starting at OT who isn't even good. Are the coaches so insistent on not moving Zack Martin to OT that they're willing to go with Steele? Or is McGovern so bad at OG that they don't have any options better than Steele? Seems like a prime opportunity to move Martin to OT and see what you got in McGovern. Also might be a good idea in general because we don't know if Tyron Smith is a long-term solution.

 

[Risen Star]

Yes, very disappointing. You'd have to think if he's worth the pick that Martin would be playing OT right now.

 

[ChronicCowboy]

Either McGovern is a bust or Martin refuses to play RT.

 

[Swanny]

This isn't Madden. Moving Martin to tackle isn't that easy. Keep Martin at Guard where we know is world class.

 

[Hawkeye19]

Definitely concerning at this point. Maybe his injury last year set him back in terms of strength? Maybe he is struggling picking up the blocking scheme and knowing his assignments?

 

[John813]

Guess he doesn't translate to a RT in the NFL?

 

[Sydla]

This isn't Madden. Moving Martin to tackle isn't that easy. Keep Martin at Guard where we know is world class.

He played it last week and was fine.

If McGovern could play, moving Martin makes the most sense. But since McGovern seems like a bust at this point, their best alignment is with Steele at RT, which is scary.

 

[MikeB80]

Either McGovern is a bust or Martin refuses to play RT.

i have a different thought process.

The giants talent was all on the defensive line and they are big and physical. Their edge rushers are decent but not as good as the interior players. I don't think the Giants were the team to move martin from inside.

Maybe mcgovern gets a shot going forward. Arizona has better edge guys in jones and kennard so maybe martin plays tackle next week.

There is also the element of martin helping biadasz.

 

[MikeB80]

He played it last week and was fine.

If McGovern could play, moving Martin makes the most sense. But since McGovern seems like a bust at this point, their best alignment is with Steele at RT, which is scary.

how is he a bust? This coaching staff all summer and during week 1 said Knight could not play tackle and was a guard and they didnt seem to like him at all.

Now he is playing left tackle and looks fine doing it. So I am going to wait a while before calling the guy a bust based on this coaching staffs evaluation.

 

[HungryLion]

I’m confused by it. McGovern has talent.

But maybe he just isn’t showing much in practice yet? Maybe the torn muscle really set him back?

I imagine the injury combined with the lack of ability to light weights and gain strength during that time impacted him.

I’m just thinking. College lineman have to increase their strength when they get into the NFL. McGovern couldn’t lift weights for a while because of that injury. His overall strength has to be impacted. Perhaps he is still working on getting it back?

 

[America's Cowboy]

Connor Williams played Left Tackle in college at UT. He could easily be moved to Left Tackle, move Knight to Right Tackle and move Connor McGovern to Left Guard while keeping Zack Martin at Right Guard.

For it not to happen means something is not right with McGovern.

 

[xwalker]

how is he a bust? This coaching staff all summer and during week 1 said Knight could not play tackle and was a guard and they didnt seem to like him at all.

Now he is playing left tackle and looks fine doing it. So I am going to wait a while before calling the guy a bust based on this coaching staffs evaluation.

Find a quote by a coach saying Knight was OG only.

Not a media person making that claim but an actual quote.

Why did Knight practice both if they thought he was OG only?

 

[xwalker]

Is he still hurt or is he just that bad? You don't get more of situation than the current one where young guys are relied on to step up and contribute. The rookie center is already starting. We even have a UDFA rookie starting at OT who isn't even good. Are the coaches so insistent on not moving Zack Martin to OT that they're willing to go with Steele? Or is McGovern so bad at OG that they don't have any options better than Steele? Seems like a prime opportunity to move Martin to OT and see what you got in McGovern. Also might be a good idea in general because we don't know if Tyron Smith is a long-term solution.

Why are fans always searching for players to hate...

They don't want to move Martin. At OG if puts Martin next to both the rookie OC and rookie OT.

They see McGovern as OG only, not OC. Likely due to his unconventional snapping technique.

McGovern is the top backup interior player now per reports. He has been active other than game 1.

 

[xwalker]

Connor Williams played Left Tackle in college at UT. He could easily be moved to Left Tackle, move Knight to Right Tackle and move Connor McGovern to Left Guard while keeping Zack Martin at Right Guard.

For it not to happen means something is not right with McGovern.

Dak has said that he can deal without outside pressure better than inside pressure...

OLine coaches teach blocking inside pass rushers as the priority over outside pass rushers when OTs have to choose 1 of 2 pass rushers to block.

 

[MikeB80]

Find a quote by a coach saying Knight was OG only.

Not a media person making that claim but an actual quote.

Why did Knight practice both if they thought he was OG only?

Brad Sham said it repeatedly in interviews leading up to the first game. Then during the first game he talked about how he was told that by the staff. Him and babe talked about it because it was the opposite of what Columbo thought about knight.

You have nfl gamepass so feel free to go back and listen to the rams game and the falcons game. Brad brings it up a number of times. Clearly there will not be a quote because Brad is not going to tell you which coach told him that just like he has never said which coaches - staff members tell him things.

 

[Floatyworm]

Connor Williams played Left Tackle in college at UT. He could easily be moved to Left Tackle, move Knight to Right Tackle and move Connor McGovern to Left Guard while keeping Zack Martin at Right Guard.

For it not to happen means something is not right with McGovern.

Yup...something isn't right...

 

[Sydla]

how is he a bust? This coaching staff all summer and during week 1 said Knight could not play tackle and was a guard and they didnt seem to like him at all.

Now he is playing left tackle and looks fine doing it. So I am going to wait a while before calling the guy a bust based on this coaching staffs evaluation.

Note the phrase "at this point". He clearly isn't good enough to play right now. Maybe he will be able to play in a month or a year. But right now, he's not good enough.

 

[JoeyBoy718]

Why are fans always searching for players to hate...

They don't want to move Martin. At OG if puts Martin next to both the rookie OC and rookie OT.

They see McGovern as OG only, not OC. Likely due to his unconventional snapping technique.

McGovern is the top backup interior player now per reports. He has been active other than game 1.

That's fair. Martin is so good that you'd rather stick him between a rookie OC and RT where he can help out. So I guess the next question would be, do you shuffle other guys around to get your best 5 on the field (assuming McGovern is in that group), or do you fix the liability by going out and getting a OT in free agency/trade?

 

[xwalker]

Brad Sham said it repeatedly in interviews leading up to the first game. Then during the first game he talked about how he was told that by the staff. Him and babe talked about it because it was the opposite of what Columbo thought about knight.

You have nfl gamepass so feel free to go back and listen to the rams game and the falcons game. Brad brings it up a number of times. Clearly there will not be a quote because Brad is not going to tell you which coach told him that just like he has never said which coaches - staff members tell him things.

The media including people that work for the Cowboys have had minimal contact with coaches this year.

The coaches are new which means that Brad does not know them.

Some coach probably said that Knight's best position long term is likely OG which might be true since we have not seen him at OG.

Knight practiced at both and was at OT on some of the video clips that we saw from camp.

 

[America's Cowboy]

Dak has said that he can deal without outside pressure better than inside pressure...

OLine coaches teach blocking inside pass rushers as the priority over outside pass rushers when OTs have to choose 1 of 2 pass rushers to block.

Well, the Cowboys coaches need to do something. Connor Williams is constantly getting beat in pass protection. During Dak's 1 interception, yesterday, the reason it happened was because our rookie Center had been bullrushed 6 yards into the backfield and was right up on Dak's face. His opponent was able to lift a hand up towards Dak, causing Dak to throw it slightly higher than normal, thus the pass was slightly high but on a line which Zeke was unable to catch but instead got intercepted. Zack Martin got beat a few times inside as well, but at least he's the most consistent at blocking well. If Connor McGovern can't at least take over Connor Williams' starting role at Left Guard, McGovern must truly stink since Williams is pretty bad.

I believe Dak's ability to move around, scramble and run hid our current Oline's problems. Now with Dak finished due to injury and the statue Andy Dalton starting, whew, you can bet opposing Defenses are going to bring the heat.