When should we know who the left guard will be in 2017

[jrumann59]

I see a talent level similar to Kyle Kosier being our left guard. Maybe some of you will remember him. Always injured but played through the injury. He was also around in Tyron Smith's rookie season.

He also helped gurode with line calls. Kosier was to guard what free was to tackle. Not overly gifted but was a technician that beat his man with guile and veteran know how.

 

[Macnalty]

He also helped gurode with line calls. Kosier was to guard what free was to tackle. Not overly gifted but was a technician that beat his man with guile and veteran know how.

Well said.

 

[Ranched]

Around the same time Zeke is cleared from his mess...

Once they have a few padded practices, they will probably give it to Cooper by default because I am certain Green will have a debilitating hangnail by that point.

LOL. The 'Boys did draft Green in the third round to play tackle. The idea was that he would one day replace Free. That day has arrived. Constant injuries with that "hangnail" have held Green back, although in a string of games he played for an injured Tyron Smith, he looked credible. But moving him inside is a new proposition.

Bottom line, as per Scouting Report: Heady player with potential position versatility, but lacking an area where he truly excels. His foot quickness and movement skill will appeal to zone-scheme teams but he must improve his strength and ability in pass protection if he wants to be anything more than a backup.

 

[Doc50]

Depending on injuries, there's a fair chance that we take the best PS OG in the league or pick up a veteran at the final cuts.

Either way, our roster will have some unexpected names.

 

[Derinyar]

I think Cooper and Green both make the team in some fashion. Cooper has taken a good number of C reps. If he doesn't win starting LG, I suspect its entirely possible that he takes Joe Looney's interior backup spot. Chaz Green will not get cut, if he's not healthy he will go to some version of IR. If he doesn't win the starting spot he'll likely be a primary backup, if healthy. The guys who need to win a spot or be in risk of being gone are guys like Looney, Cleary, Bell. Skipper likely gets a PS slot if he shows much of anything.

 

[Redball Express]

First week of training camp?

Do you think the coaches already know who it will be?

Three guys according to the media are all equal at this point in time. One who cannot stay healthy, Chaz Green, one who has washed out at some of the best NFL clubs this decade(other than Cleveland), Jonathan Cooper, and a journeyman one game starter last year, Emmett Cleary.

I am coming to the conclusion the left side of the line is going to have some issues when push comes to shove even with Tyron Smith anchoring the left tackle position, the opposing defenses will attack LG relentlessly. I hold fast that we should of dumped Ron Leary and honestly I thought LG would of already been decided. This will separate the men from the boys if we have a revolving door at LG. It seriously looks like our weak link this year will be worse than our achilles heel last year at RT with Doug Free.

All hands on deck for this first Giants game Sept 10th.

I think we will know by mid-season.

RT too.

I have a feeling..

our OL is going to be challenged to live up to their rep.

I mean we already lean on them to run the ball..

pass protect..

control the TOP. .

control the LOS..

block for punts..

block for FG.s..

form their own club where they aren't suppose to accept interviews about the OL..

If only the rest of the team had as much responsibility to hold the organization together.

 

[links18]

2 to 1 Green injures himself warming up before the first official practice.

Heck, I ripped a calf muscle in my sleep last night. Darn nocturnal epilepsy.....

 

[GORICO]

First week of training camp?

Do you think the coaches already know who it will be?

Three guys according to the media are all equal at this point in time. One who cannot stay healthy, Chaz Green, one who has washed out at some of the best NFL clubs this decade(other than Cleveland), Jonathan Cooper, and a journeyman one game starter last year, Emmett Cleary.

I am coming to the conclusion the left side of the line is going to have some issues when push comes to shove even with Tyron Smith anchoring the left tackle position, the opposing defenses will attack LG relentlessly. I hold fast that we should of dumped Ron Leary and honestly I thought LG would of already been decided. This will separate the men from the boys if we have a revolving door at LG. It seriously looks like our weak link this year will be worse than our achilles heel last year at RT with Doug Free.

All hands on deck for this first Giants game Sept 10th.

Mac---personally i am almost terrified about our left guard situation...we need tough and powerful guards to make this O line humm....i am afraid of seeing Snacks in week 1
plowing his way through our O line interior and dropping Zeke for 5 yd loss?....Collins is perfect replacement for Leary who was a mauler..but Collins will play tackle this year.
I am hoping for a miracle with Cooper...He is the strongest upper body of our replacements....i just cant believe that his ankle issues cost him lateral movement and speed?
Cant that be rehabbed?....lineman are not running backs or receivers or defensive backs....look at Travis Fredrick...his 40 was so slow they thought he should be at best round 3?..and now he is best center in NFL.....i hope we figure out our O Line before season starts and not just put a band aid on it....that we will be NFL #1 O line again...what are your thoughgs Mac?

 

[GORICO]

I fully expect for Cooper to have every opportunity to win the left guard spot and I'll be greatly disappointed if he somehow fails to do so.

From the way I see it, and how Linehan mentioned it in a recent interview, agree and Cleary were playing there in minicamps in an effort to increase the line's flexibility. Linehan stated that once camp started, players would be playing at their expect positions.

I think that Green and Cleary are tackles first and foremost, and I wouldn't want anyone to trust Green as a starter to stay healthy. He has to prove it before I believe it.

And for the record, I'm not ruling out Byron Bell as option B for the left guard spot. Word is that he played well there for the Titans two years ago.

Stas---- I too hope Cooper balls out in TC....i hope he becomes an interiior O Line Mauler...just imgagine if we had ...Allen from the 90's...bench press 725...total Mauler
yes i am greatly worried about our inteiror O Line...i think Collins is locked in at right tackle...and if somehow Cooper could regain form and find his speed and mobility again
to go along with the power he has gained while training in NFL then we will ball out this year...the whole season rests on our Left Guard potential

 

[CT Dal Fan]

My understanding was Joe Looney was working as the first team LG at OTA's. Then he hurt his back, forcing the Cowboys to use Jonathan Cooper, Emmett Cleary, and then Chaz Green at the position.

Cooper was working for a while at center, probably to see if he could replace Looney as the three-spot gameday backup if, indeed, Looney ends up winning the job. I think the staff is privately pulling for Cooper to step up and win the spot, but he just hasn't been the player everybody thought he would be.

As for Green, I can't see him as a guard. He just doesn't play with power. He's probably the swing tackle once again.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

We will know by the 3rd or 4th preseason game and it's likely to be self evident.

We have the HoF game so we get an extra PS game and I am not certain how Garrett intends to handle the rotations in the games. Whoever starts in the dress rehearsal will almost certainly be the starter. I'm guessing that will be game 4.

My guess is that Bell ends up starting. He has the most experience, plays well at OG even if he is not a tackle, and has a history of staying healthy. Looney is kinda weak at the poa and I just don't trust Cooper to not get hurt or play well.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

My understanding was Joe Looney was working as the first team LG at OTA's. Then he hurt his back, forcing the Cowboys to use Jonathan Cooper, Emmett Cleary, and then Chaz Green at the position.

Cooper was working for a while at center, probably to see if he could replace Looney as the three-spot gameday backup if, indeed, Looney ends up winning the job. I think the staff is privately pulling for Cooper to step up and win the spot, but he just hasn't been the player everybody thought he would be.

As for Green, I can't see him as a guard. He just doesn't play with power. He's probably the swing tackle once again.

I put zero stock into what goes on in OTAs and early TC. It's the second preseason when what the coaches intend becomes apparent IMO. First game coaches like to give guys a shot and teach lessons to young guys. Marinelli in particular likes doing that.

 

[GORICO]

My understanding was Joe Looney was working as the first team LG at OTA's. Then he hurt his back, forcing the Cowboys to use Jonathan Cooper, Emmett Cleary, and then Chaz Green at the position.

Cooper was working for a while at center, probably to see if he could replace Looney as the three-spot gameday backup if, indeed, Looney ends up winning the job. I think the staff is privately pulling for Cooper to step up and win the spot, but he just hasn't been the player everybody thought he would be.

As for Green, I can't see him as a guard. He just doesn't play with power. He's probably the swing tackle once again.

CT DAL---- we need a mauler at guard ....can Looney be a mauler or Cooper?..we got to keep Snacks and Giants D line from penetratin our interior or we are dead

 

[CT Dal Fan]

CT DAL---- we need a mauler at guard ....can Looney be a mauler or Cooper?..we got to keep Snacks and Giants D line from penetratin our interior or we are dead

Cooper is one strong dude. Plays with a lot of power. What happened to him is he never quite regained his movement skills after breaking his leg as a rookie. At least, that's what I think Bryan Broaddus on the Cowboys' website said a while back.

 

[JD_KaPow]

I see a talent level similar to Kyle Kosier being our left guard. Maybe some of you will remember him. Always injured but played through the injury. He was also around in Tyron Smith's rookie season.

Makes sense to me.

The "maybe some of you will remember" part struck me funny. One of the fun things on here is that many of us remember Herbert Scott: Kyle Kosier was just the other day.

 

[GORICO]

Cooper is one strong dude. Plays with a lot of power. What happened to him is he never quite regained his movement skills after breaking his leg as a rookie. At least, that's what I think Bryan Broaddus on the Cowboys' website said a while back.

CT DAL---- i am really worried about our Left Guard situation....am i being paranoid?....do we have the personel to step in with strength?

 

[CT Dal Fan]

CT DAL---- i am really worried about our Left Guard situation....am i being paranoid?....do we have the personel to step in with strength?

Don't panic. The left guard will be flanked by Tyron Smith to his left and Travis Frederick to his right. As long as the new guy- Cooper, Looney, Cleary, Green, or anybody- isn't a complete train wreck, this offense will be just fine.

The Cowboys can always move La'el Collins back to guard, too, except he's now viewed as an upgrade over Free at right tackle.

 

[GORICO]

Don't panic. The left guard will be flanked by Tyron Smith to his left and Travis Frederick to his right. As long as the new guy- Cooper, Looney, Cleary, Green, or anybody- isn't a complete train wreck, this offense will be just fine.

The Cowboys can always move La'el Collins back to guard, too, except he's now viewed as an upgrade over Free at right tackle.

CT-- yeah i am hoping Cooper with his strength can put this LG issue to rest in TC

 

[GORICO]

Don't panic. The left guard will be flanked by Tyron Smith to his left and Travis Frederick to his right. As long as the new guy- Cooper, Looney, Cleary, Green, or anybody- isn't a complete train wreck, this offense will be just fine.

The Cowboys can always move La'el Collins back to guard, too, except he's now viewed as an upgrade over Free at right tackle.

CT--what about Cleary?....he back in 2013 at pro day pumped 28 on bp?

 

[xwalker]

If Cooper is our LG, we will have taken a major hit at that position. Hard to believe we don't have ONE OT who can play RT besides Collins. He should be playing LG, & Cleary and Green should compete for the RT spot. It just shows what a luxury Leary was last year, and how weak our depth is right now. Let's wait until the pads come on to make any decisions, but I've seen Cooper with the Browns, & he couldn't even break into one of the worst O-lines in the NFL.

I would not be surprised if they moved Collins back to LG with Green at RT. I give it 60/40, RT/LG.

Green was very good in 2 starts at LT last season. His only issue is staying healthy.

Cooper looked reasonably good in 3 starts with the Browns last season. If healthy, I'm confident he can be at least decent and probably better than that.

Bell has played a lot of games and never looked as bad as Free did last season.

Cleary looked ok in 1 game last season but it was the final and meaningless game.