Who is to blame for our poor drafting of offensive line or is it strategy thinking?

[birminghambuckeyes]

Drafting offensive linemen has been a problem for Dallas since the early to mid-80s. Think of all of the good offensive linemen the Cowboys have drafted since the mid-80s. Nate and Tuinei were free agents (Landry), I believe Gogan was drafted by Landry, Mark Stepnoski and Erik Williams (both Jimmy), Larry Allen, Flozell Adams, Andre Gurode and Doug Free (Jerry - 4 good offensive linemen in 20 years!). I can't think of anyone else Dallas drafted that was an above average or better starter for Dallas. There have been a few guys who did not work out in Dallas that have played elsewhere, but they were not special.

 

[TheFinisher]

And with good reason.......college offensive lineman are perhaps the hardest position to grade. That's why you see more OL 1st rd busts and more later round finds than most any position.

I'm no expert here and I've certainly done no study backing up this claim. It's my own perception formed over follow many teams drafts over many years and what I've read.

One thing I read that's stuck with me over the years in relation to offensive lineman succeeding/failing in the NFL.
And that's that success for OL in the NFL has more to do with consistent effort than any other position. Will/desire and discipline to make that constant total effort is critical and measuring that in college lineman is difficult.

So with that said, I can understand why the Cowboys have chosen to spend dollars on know FA OL, and not premium picks on college OL.

 

[jnday]

Jerry's philosophy has always been to get his OLineman through Free Agency, that's why we don't spend many high picks on Lineman in the draft. He figures it's better to spend his money for lineman on proven veterans, and for the most part it has worked. That's why I think we'll get 2 solid Lineman in FA this year, it's what Jerry has always done.

I agree that this has been Jerry`s way of fiving the OL , but it has not worked out that great IMO. Going to FA is a quick way to overspend on average OL. Seems like the OL has been made up of cast-off reclamation projects with average production. With that being said, Jerry will go another year without drafting a decent OL. It wouldn`t surprise me to see a few more Alex Barron type of players picked up to plug-in.

 

[NoLuv4Jerry]

So did other teams which is why he was selected with the 19th overall pick.

well 18 teams passed on him...and I don't think you can call the Rams body of work this decade anything to get excited about.

My point is...whomever is doing the scouting of OL...we stink. Heck, we could have done MUCH better in free agency that Alex Barron...that is how BAD we are at scouting OL. He is shaped like a woman...has the mean streak of a kitty kat...and literally gave a game away...and maybe a season. One can only wonder what our season would have been like had we not lost that first game.

 

[burmafrd]

And with good reason.......college offensive lineman are perhaps the hardest position to grade. That's why you see more OL 1st rd busts and more later round finds than most any position.

I'm no expert here and I've certainly done no study backing up this claim. It's my own perception formed over follow many teams drafts over many years and what I've read.

One thing I read that's stuck with me over the years in relation to offensive lineman succeeding/failing in the NFL.
And that's that success for OL in the NFL has more to do with consistent effort than any other position. Will/desire and discipline to make that constant total effort is critical and measuring that in college lineman is difficult.

So with that said, I can understand why the Cowboys have chosen to spend dollars on know FA OL, and not premium picks on college OL.

31 other teams used more and higher draft choices than the Boys have over the last 5 years on the O line. Given its performance, how in the world can you claim that Jerruh's way is even as good let alone better?

 

[Doomsday101]

well 18 teams passed on him...and I don't think you can call the Rams body of work this decade anything to get excited about.

My point is...whomever is doing the scouting of OL...we stink. Heck, we could have done MUCH better in free agency that Alex Barron...that is how BAD we are at scouting OL. He is shaped like a woman...has the mean streak of a kitty kat...and literally gave a game away...and maybe a season. One can only wonder what our season would have been like had we not lost that first game.

By most accounts Barron was projected as a top-15 pick, heck people are talking up Peterson as a top 5 well that does not tell you how they will pan out he may very well live up to the draft slot he is taken in he may not.

 

[ThreeandOut]

Jerry's philosophy has always been to get his OLineman through Free Agency, that's why we don't spend many high picks on Lineman in the draft. He figures it's better to spend his money for lineman on proven veterans, and for the most part it has worked. That's why I think we'll get 2 solid Lineman in FA this year, it's what Jerry has always done.

I think it is the other way around...Dallas has had to resort to free agency because the draft picks haven't panned out. Jerry has said as much in recent years. He had to spend an exhorbitant amount to get Davis because the two lineman drafted in 2004 (Rogers and Peterman) didn't work out. I think his preference would be to have more home grown lineman because they are relatively cheap, but they just haven't been successful doing this.

 

[sonnyboy]

31 other teams used more and higher draft choices than the Boys have over the last 5 years on the O line. Given its performance, how in the world can you claim that Jerruh's way is even as good let alone better?

Do you know this as fact. I don't. 31 teams is a little surprising. I would've guessed 20-25 at least.

Either way, a sound plan that doesn't work isn't definitive evidence the plan it's self sucks.

We just needed to make better signing and draft picks.

One consistent incorrect theme or thought hounded on time and again on this site is that Jerry neglects the OL. That he's only concerned with glamor positions and that's just not true.

If you look at the picks and the FA signings, I'd guess we've invested as much in the OL and most teams.