Would You Be Disappointed if we kept the same 5 OL?

[ArmyCowboy]

I see Colombo as a surprise training camp cut. Free will be anointed the starter at RT, Flozell stays one more year and we draft Pouncey to push Kosier and eventually take over for Gurode. Dallas wanted Max Unger last year so you know they're still looking for that G/C.

If a tackle gets cut, I think it'll be Adams.

He's older than Columbo, makes a lot more money and Free seems to be a natural LT, rather than a RT.

 

[TheSport78]

If a tackle gets cut, I think it'll be Adams.

He's older than Columbo, makes a lot more money and Free seems to be a natural LT, rather than a RT.

True but if injury occured, at least Flozell could slide over to RT if needed. Colombo only plays one position, and that limits him I think. We just signed Flozell to a huge contract a little under two years ago so we would take a pretty good cap hit if he was released. Plus Colombo is coming back from two big injuries, and considering his injury history I don't think that should go unnoticed with the Cowboys' decision this offseason.

Free is a pretty athletic player, so he may be a better LT in time like you said, but last season he showed that he has the ability to play both sides. I see a lot of promise in Free.

 

[NextGenBoys]

Nope because when they are healthy they among the best in the league. However we need to start looking at the future.

When they are healthy they are potentially one of the best in the league.

Still too many mental lapses.

But I wouldn't be disappointed either. We just need depth for injuries, and to groom.

 

[TheSport78]

When they are healthy they are potentially one of the best in the league.

Still too many mental lapses.

But I wouldn't be disappointed either. We just need depth for injuries, and to groom.

I agree. I don't mean to be rude but it sure seems like our OL is pretty dumb. Flozell doesn't talk, Kosier is athletic but can get bullrushed and confused by delays and stunts (see Vikings game), Gurode isn't very smart (although he speaks pretty eloquently), Davis is...well Davis, and Colombo seems the brightest out of the 5 but he's coming back from injury and his status is up in the air.

 

[CF74]

I wouldn't be surprised to see at least 1 new starter but I doubt even that. If we don't draft 3 O-line this year then yeah I'll be disappointed. Don't expect them to start right away but the clock is ticking and this old bunch wears down towards the end of the year.

Many of us said this season would ride on this O-line and it did, up until it caved in...

 

[RS12]

One word- Upgrade.

 

[AustnIsMySaviour]

no because 90% that's whats going to happen.

 

[Randy White]

disappointed, especially if we land Iupati and he doesn't beat out Kosier for the starting spot.

I also believe the team should convince Flozell Adams to retire and if he doesn't want to, cut him. Free should be the starting LT for the Cowboys next season and I'm afraid that if that doesn't happen, we're not going very far in 2010.

At the very least, I expect a new starter in either of those positions, preferably in both.

 

[Randy White]

I see Colombo as a surprise training camp cut. .

That's not going to happen.. Cololumbo will never be a " training camp cut ".

None of the linemen who started last year will ever be " training camp cut ".

 

[Hostile]

I think we will have the same 5 starters. What we need most of all is depth. Guys who can push for a star4ting spot.

 

[TheSport78]

I think we will have the same 5 starters. What we need most of all is depth. Guys who can push for a star4ting spot.

If this happens then I see another early exit from the playoffs. Free needs to be on the field next year; no ifs, ands, buts about it.

 

[burmafrd]

At the top of his game Flo is still a elite LT. I do not see that from Free YET since he has not played enough LT to really evaluate. Colombo has had only one injury in 3 years with us and that was a broken leg that should heal with no after effects. I can see Free fighting it out with Colombo for the RT spot, but I do not see him as yet threatening at LT.

 

[Teague31]

if the team gives him a legit shot, i think free starts at RT week 1.

 

[DeaconBlues]

If this happens then I see another early exit from the playoffs. Free needs to be on the field next year; no ifs, ands, buts about it.

And which tackle did Free outplay last year?

Wishful thinking is nice, but I would rather have someone actually outplay another.

 

[TheSport78]

And which tackle did Free outplay last year?

Wishful thinking is nice, but I would rather have someone actually outplay another.

It's not about outplaying; the NFL is a BUSINESS, and a "what have you done for me lately?" league. Free is younger, more durable at this point in his career, showed that he can be a solid NFL starter, and has tons of more upside compared to Colombo. There comes a point where you just need to get younger on the offensive line. I'm almost positive we're the only team in the league with ALL 5 OL starters over 30. It's time to get younger.

 

[Hoofbite]

And which tackle did Free outplay last year?

Wishful thinking is nice, but I would rather have someone actually outplay another.

Colombo looked like piss when he came back.

If its the injury, that's fine. If that is what is expected from here on out, Free should get the start.

 

[UnoDallas]

I want:
Adams/Iupati/Gurode/Davis/Colombo

With Jason Fox drafted in the 3rd so backup tackles are Free and Fox being built up for the future.

If it happens that way


Free/Iupati/Gurode/Davis/Fox could start as soon as 2011. w/ Colombo as #1 backup-

my O line wish list

yup Fox, Ducasse, Jared Veldheer, Derek Hardman

 

[Randy White]

biggest MYTHS that football fans believe in is that a player ( particularly an older player ) will automatically be just as good ( if not better ), the following season, as he was the previous season. It doesn't necessarily work with players in their prime, much less players in the twilight of their careers.

FLO didn't have a " great " year in '09. He didn't even have a " good " year. He had an " average" season for a LT, which is a big drop off from his prime years. He's going to be 35 years old in a couple of months, and unlike wine, football players don't get better with age at this stage of their careers ( few exception noted ).

Is he able to play one more year ? Possibly, but it won't be at the same level that he played this past season, which, in turn, was not at the same level he played the year before. What he's going to do, if brought back, is push back Free's playing time and development. Unless injuries dicates otherwise, Free will be the starting LT for this team at some point in the future. He was being groomed to take over that position until the team was forced to start him at RT because of Columbo's injury. Which point on that future, is the decision the team needs to make, and imo, the sooner they make the change, the better they're going to be in the long term.

Free may not ever be as good as FLO was at the prime of his career ( very few OTs that ever wore the Cowboys uniform were ), but right now, today, he can offer something that FLO cannot: youth and health.