What's with this Offensive Line

[Drederick Tatum]

How can this offensive line not be stomping mud holes in people? I'm serious, just going by the size of these guys they should be annihilating everyone in front of them. I like Kosier, he has great technique and gets down field excellently at the second and third level, but lets substitute Montrae Holland (322 lbs) in his position for size for just a second to illustrate how big this line can be. They ought to have been and should be a monster line, but they haven't met expectations. What is missing??
http://img159.*************/img159/5136/dallasoline.jpg
These guys should be mauling people.

They average 327 lbs w/ Kosier and 330 lbs w/ Holland ! come on!

I think Kyle Kosier if healthy should be the starter, I like Montrae too, he looked pretty good and tenacious once they got him into shape and focused. Regardless what you think about about Cory Procter he is pretty good in pulling guard duty (if you've watched),on pass protecting he's horrendous.

Overall these guys should be shredding people in front of them, imo with no exceptions, but I haven't seen it (sans the 1st half of the 2007 playoff game against the Giants).

What's the missing element?

I am really hoping Hudson Houck can dial these guys in just right to get the maximum potential out of them as a unit.

 

[DallasEast]

Last season, there were key injuries on the left side of the offensive line which impacted both how effective they were and dedication to running plays. This season should prove or disprove just how good the OL really is by focusing on the running game more.

 

[dallasfaniac]

Injuries hurt us last year, but overall you can't just look at weight to determine anything. They could be fat tub of lards without any strength or have terrible leverage etc. Heck, I don't know the numbers off the top of my head and don't really want to take the time to research but aren't our linemen pretty tall on average? I mean, I think Kosier is the shortest at like 6-5, which is near the top end of what you used to look for at guard.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

Kosier looks like John Goodman in that pic

 

[DallasEast]

Kosier looks like John Goodman in that pic

Kosier should start wearing that Greco-Roman wrestling ring which Goodman wore in Speed Racer. That would make him look even meaner. :

 

[Drederick Tatum]

I am aware of the injuries, and I am not completely down on these guys. In fact I have a lot of hope and faith that they will be very good barring any injuries this year. With all that said, they are still not the consensus best offensive line in the league, should they be? I think they have the ability to prove it. Many people say the Giants, or that Philly with their pickups in free agency have the best lines in the league. The Cowboy's offensive line can be just as good or better than the Giants and Philly in my opinion, but like what people accuse Romo of, they fade at the end of seasons too, of course Romo will look bad also if the line fades late in the season.

 

[Stash]

I think a big issue with this line is its' comfort level.

If any of them screws up, what's gonna happen?

With their salaries, and given what this team has in reserve, there's no chance they get replaced.

I think that comfort level negatively impacts motivation.

I'm not saying these guys are terrible, but I don't think this line is as good as it can be.

 

[cowboyjoe]

It all goes back to training camp, staying in shape, keep working out, and hitting. Granted older players like Flozell have to curtail somewhat, but if mark tuneii could work out under Coach Jimmy Johnson, so should Flozell.

I think this whole team needs to look at themselves in the mirror as well as the coaches, be accountable and see that they stay in shape throughout the season.

I back that up by what happened in November and December last 2 years under Wade. The players didnt practice at all in pads, and there were reports that the offensive linemen didnt do their cardivacular work those 2 weeks leading up to the playoff game against the Giants.

Just like reports were about Tony Romo being alittle heavier in the rear end, and not staying in shape in late november and december. Need I remind you that there were reports that Tony Romo's practice habits in late november and december of last year, tailed off somewhat.

If the players are made to be accountable as well as the coaches, trainers seeing that they do that work, then yes, we should have a formidable offensive line. We will need it, because of what the Giants did in free agency, getting their top DE back too, along in the draft, and what the Eagles did in the draft. So, yes, we do need our offensive line to stand up and take notice. Because now with the Commanders getting Haynesworth, and their number 1 pick with the DE from Texas and now a decent DE in the supplemental draft, then the Commanders are improving on defense too.

Yes, thats one of the big keys for this team, Kosier staying healthy, Holland showing that he can play center, and guard spelling Kosier and Gurode some if need be. Along with Doug Free finally being a man and stepping up to the plate and being a OT that we need as a good backup, with Brewster stepping up to the plate to rest Columbo some.

 

[CF74]

They get fed before the game.

 

[AbeBeta]

the issue with the line is a) line calls and b) leadership.

This is a line that can beat the crap out of anyone - Gurode is perhaps the most physically gifted player C in the league. He, however, struggles with line calls - blitzes and movement really mess with him. This is likely one of the reasons why we do better with Kosier in the game and also why we went so long with Proctor at G. It is also likely why Philly can kick our ***** so regularly.

The other issue is leadership. There is very little. Columbo shows it sometimes but really, what we've got are bunch of quiet guys who need someone to fire them up and get them to play with attitude.

 

[DallasDomination]

I hope Holland gets that starting spot at left guard. He impressed me with limited action.

 

[DallasDomination]

the issue with the line is a) line calls and b) leadership.

This is a line that can beat the crap out of anyone - Gurode is perhaps the most physically gifted player C in the league. He, however, struggles with line calls - blitzes and movement really mess with him. This is likely one of the reasons why we do better with Kosier in the game and also why we went so long with Proctor at G. It is also likely why Philly can kick our ***** so regularly.

The other issue is leadership. There is very little. Columbo shows it sometimes but really, what we've got are bunch of quiet guys who need someone to fire them up and get them to play with attitude.

colombo is the unspoken leader in that group..My personal opinion.

 

[landryscorner]

Flozell getting blasted by speedy linebackers coming from edges
Gurode snapping the ball to early or at Romo's face
Kosier's injury
Flozell getting false starts
Columbo getting false starts

multitude of problems here, if
we get some injuries on the
cowboys line early in the year
it's gonna be a long season for romo
and the Rb's

 

[UnoDallas]

What is this in years for H Houck to be back ? 2


Hired by Dallas on January 18, 2008, Houck spent the previous three seasons in a rebuilding process as the offensive line coach for the Miami Dolphins.
In 2005 and 2006 he directed a Dolphins line that helped produce a team rushing average of 4.0-or-better in both seasons, marking the first time since the 1986 and 1987 campaigns that Miami had topped the 4.0-yard plateau in consecutive years. Immediately after taking charge of the line in 2005, Houck produced a unit that ranked fourth in the NFL in sacks allowed with 26 - a figure that was half the total permitted by the club in the season before his arrival.
With the Chargers in 2004, Houck helped to revitalize an offensive line which featured five new starters from the previous year. The Chargers ranked 10th in the NFL in total offense, and sixth on the ground, as they rushed for 136.6 yards-per-contest. LaDainian Tomlinson ran for more than 1,300 yards in each of Houck's three years there, including more than 1,600 in his first two. The Chargers line permitted just 21 sacks in 2004, the fourth-lowest total in the NFL and the eighth-fewest in that franchise's 45-year history. Overall in Houck's three seasons with the Chargers, the offensive line allowed an average of only 24.6 sacks-per-season. Their total of 74 sacks over a three-year period was the fourth-lowest in the NFL over this stretch.

I expect to see a different line this year

 

[Nexx]

wasnt flo also playing with essentially one arm for half the season?

 

[Idgit]

What is this in years for H Houck to be back ? 2


Hired by Dallas on January 18, 2008, Houck spent the previous three seasons in a rebuilding process as the offensive line coach for the Miami Dolphins.
In 2005 and 2006 he directed a Dolphins line that helped produce a team rushing average of 4.0-or-better in both seasons, marking the first time since the 1986 and 1987 campaigns that Miami had topped the 4.0-yard plateau in consecutive years. Immediately after taking charge of the line in 2005, Houck produced a unit that ranked fourth in the NFL in sacks allowed with 26 - a figure that was half the total permitted by the club in the season before his arrival.
With the Chargers in 2004, Houck helped to revitalize an offensive line which featured five new starters from the previous year. The Chargers ranked 10th in the NFL in total offense, and sixth on the ground, as they rushed for 136.6 yards-per-contest. LaDainian Tomlinson ran for more than 1,300 yards in each of Houck's three years there, including more than 1,600 in his first two. The Chargers line permitted just 21 sacks in 2004, the fourth-lowest total in the NFL and the eighth-fewest in that franchise's 45-year history. Overall in Houck's three seasons with the Chargers, the offensive line allowed an average of only 24.6 sacks-per-season. Their total of 74 sacks over a three-year period was the fourth-lowest in the NFL over this stretch.

I expect to see a different line this year

Why? Because Houck is in year 2?

They didn't run-block well last year, and it's a mistake to count on them being healthy across the board again this year. If our depth can't deliver better than it did last season, or if Kosier can't get all the way back by the start of the season, the OL could easily be our downfall on offense this season.

 

[RainMan]

By biggest beef with Flozell has always been his attitude, or at least how it presents itself on the television screen.

By no means do I think he's a bad guy, a locker room cancer, or anything like that. I just don't get the feeling he gets that mad on Sundays or that losses necessarily eat him up.

Nate Newton, Erik Williams, even a guy like Marc Columbo bring that attitude. Flozell has always seemed a little 'blah' about things, be it a false start, a whiff, etc.

 

[UnoDallas]

Why? Because Houck is in year 2?

They didn't run-block well last year, and it's a mistake to count on them being healthy across the board again this year. If our depth can't deliver better than it did last season, or if Kosier can't get all the way back by the start of the season, the OL could easily be our downfall on offense this season.

yes one reason - and this year he have them ready and in shape - they are capable to run block - I really not worried about Kozier - I think every body here is making to much of him - I don't think hes that good - JMO

I believe in HH to find the right back ups to perform at a high level if some one goes down

OL could easily be our downfall on offense this season.

thats why next years draft better be O line heavy

 

[Idgit]

yes one reason - and this year he have them ready and in shape - they are capable to run block - I really not worried about Kozier - I think every body here is making to much of him - I don't think hes that good - JMO

The problem I have with that is that the guy Houck was replacing was a pretty good OL coach, too. It's not like he inherited a team that was out of shape, or that we've done much in the last two offseason to solidify backup positions.

Our OL was having problems with simple twists and stunts, and we were getting eaten alive right up the middle at times last season on running downs.

I believe in HH to find the right back ups to perform at a high level if some one goes down

OL could easily be our downfall on offense this season.

thats why next years draft better be O line heavy

We've added one potential backup this offseason, and he's a mid-round rookie who needs a year in an NFL conditioning program. If we had a better b/u guard than Proctor, we should have seen him last year. Holland played pretty well for a few games, but if Kosier's not back healthy, we're back in a position of having very little tested G depth.

Kosier is one of our very best run blockers, and when it comes to getting a hat on someone on the second level, he's a valuable player. We'll miss him badly if he's gone.

I think and hope the team is high on Free, but if they were, I don't get why we didn't see him some last year when Flo was hurt, battling infection, and playing poorly and exposing Romo late in the year. I've got hopes for the guy, and LT isn't a position where you just throw a starter in if you think your probowl guy can go, but, personally, I thought we'd reached a point where we should have sat Flo for a game or so last year. We obviously didn't feel we had the depth to do that.

 

[burmafrd]

I am frankly worried that Houck has lost it as a coach. As was pointed out, he replaced a guy widely seen as a pretty good O Line coach and the line got worse not only because of injuries. Does he still have it as a coach? we will find out this year.