Watkins: Fixing the offensive line still a must

[Cotton]

Fixing the offensive line still a must
February, 11, 2014

By Calvin Watkins | ESPNDallas.com

The Cowboys have all sorts of issues with their roster and it starts with improving the defensive line and the secondary.

It seems the Cowboys are always trying to upgrade the talent base along the secondary.

As we move forward with the offseason, making sure the interior of the offensive line gets better is imperative to the success of the offense. Last season, the Cowboys upgraded the offensive line at center by drafting Travis Frederick. So that spot is secure.

Brian Waters was added prior to the start of the season to upgrade the right guard spot.

Waters might not return, since he signed a one-year deal, so the Cowboys have to decide if Mackenzy Bernadeau, who started 11 games in 2013 and all 16 in 2012, remains as the right fit for the line in 2014. Bernadeau played well when Waters was lost with his triceps injury and is the projected starter at right guard.

Ronald Leary was Jerry Jones' prized undrafted free agent in 2012 and he started every game last season. The only issues with Leary is a chronic knee condition, which puts his long-term availability at risk. Leary was a solid starter at left guard and he becomes a free agent after the 2014 season, so the Cowboys have to decide at some point do they want him for the long haul.

The draft is short on talented guards this year, so investing a first-round pick on one is shaky.

Mel Kiper and Todd McShay don't have one interior player selected in their latest mock drafts. The highest-ranked interior offensive lineman for Scouts Inc., is USC guard Marcus Martin at No. 35. Baylor guard Cyril Richardson, whom the Cowboys talked to at the Senior Bowl, is ranked No. 63.

Of the two mock drafts on NFL Draft Scout between Rob Rang and Dane Brugler, UCLA's Xavier Su'a Filo is the only interior lineman drafted. Brugler has Filo, a guard, going to Seattle with the 32nd pick of the draft.

Getting an interior player given the uncertain future of Leary, and while Bernadeau did a nice job last season, you're not sure if the Cowboys believe in him for a few more years, though he's signed through 2015.

The middle rounds appear the best way to address the interior of the line, and outside of the Frederick selection last spring, the Cowboys haven't had much success there when it comes to the line. In 2011, the Cowboys drafted guard David Arkin in the fourth round and Bill Nagy, a center, in the seventh round.

Each made the team but had little impact and are no longer with the Cowboys.

Free agency is the way the Cowboys have fixed the guard spots, whether it's Leonard Davis, Kyle Kosier, Nate Livings or Bernadeau. With little money in free agency due to the tight cap space, the draft will have to address these spots this year.

 

[Smitty]

I'd bring back Waters for sure, if he'll come back. I think he was better than Bernadeau AND Leary.

Leary was actually disappointing down the stretch. The 3rd and goal play at Washington where Murray lost like 7 yards? Leary got absolutely embarrassed. He was blown up and was culprit #1 on why that play lost so many yards.

 

[ravidubey]

Any "fixing" mentality should be changed to one of "constantly building". That's what Jimmy Johnson did and why we had guys like Gogan ready when a Gesek wasn't there or how a pro-bowl level talent in Ron Stone could be waiting in the wings.

And building means building, not wildcatting. You wouldn't take shortcuts putting in your home's foundation by grabbing stone from a quarry you'd never heard of. Similarly the 4th round isn't for reaching for longshots from backwater schools.

That round is unpredictable enough without adding the added uncertainty of a small school and division II competition. This has really hurt us of late with projects like McGee, Arkin, Matt Johnson, Black Wiener, Brandon Williams, and AOA all flopping badly. I mean they aren't even in the league any more. The best we've managed since Marion Barber and Chris Canty were knockout hits has been Doug Free, Victor Butler, and Tashard Choice.

For a team to go far into the playoffs, 4th rounders must contribute. At this point we're lucky when our 2nd rounders manage to stay healthy enough to play.

That's too much shit to overcome.

 

[Cotton]

Any "fixing" mentality should be changed to one of "constantly building"

Absolutely. that is why our depth is so terrible at times, and it just rotates from one position to another from year to year, because we don't take on the mentality that the team has to constantly be improving for the future, not just to win right now.

 

[Clay_Allison]

Any "fixing" mentality should be changed to one of "constantly building". That's what Jimmy Johnson did and why we had guys like Gogan ready when a Gesek wasn't there or how a pro-bowl level talent in Ron Stone could be waiting in the wings.

And building means building, not wildcatting. You wouldn't take shortcuts putting in your home's foundation by grabbing stone from a quarry you'd never heard of. Similarly the 4th round isn't for reaching for longshots from backwater schools.

That round is unpredictable enough without adding the added uncertainty of a small school and division II competition. This has really hurt us of late with projects like McGee, Arkin, Matt Johnson, Black Wiener, Brandon Williams, and AOA all flopping badly. I mean they aren't even in the league any more. The best we've managed since Marion Barber and Chris Canty were knockout hits has been Doug Free, Victor Butler, and Tashard Choice.

For a team to go far into the playoffs, 4th rounders must contribute. At this point we're lucky when our 2nd rounders manage to stay healthy enough to play.

That's too much shit to overcome.

Gogan was drafted under Landry, he was already the starter at RT when Jimmy Johnson took over.

 

[L.T. Fan]

Any "fixing" mentality should be changed to one of "constantly building". That's what Jimmy Johnson did and why we had guys like Gogan ready when a Gesek wasn't there or how a pro-bowl level talent in Ron Stone could be waiting in the wings.

And building means building, not wildcatting. You wouldn't take shortcuts putting in your home's foundation by grabbing stone from a quarry you'd never heard of. Similarly the 4th round isn't for reaching for longshots from backwater schools.

That round is unpredictable enough without adding the added uncertainty of a small school and division II competition. This has really hurt us of late with projects like McGee, Arkin, Matt Johnson, Black Wiener, Brandon Williams, and AOA all flopping badly. I mean they aren't even in the league any more. The best we've managed since Marion Barber and Chris Canty were knockout hits has been Doug Free, Victor Butler, and Tashard Choice.

For a team to go far into the playoffs, 4th rounders must contribute. At this point we're lucky when our 2nd rounders manage to stay healthy enough to play.

That's too much shit to overcome.

But do you expect any different or like me you hope for different because remember Jones isn't going anywhere. That is why I wait and see.

 

[ravidubey]

Gogan was drafted under Landry, he was already the starter at RT when Jimmy Johnson took over.

My implication was he brought in Gesek but kept Gogan cross-trained and ready to start even after he lost out to the clearly more talented Big E. I remember Gogan being a clumsy lout under Landry and then coming back as a stud. That happens with good coaching and solid roster churn.

I think had he remained the starter as when Johnson arrived, he'd have never become a better player.

But do you expect any different or like me you hope for different because remember Jones isn't going anywhere. That is why I wait and see.

By definition we have no other choice.

Hopefully this new guy in charge of the draft can change the standards by which we approach the first four rounds. No Div II schools, under any circumstances short of the guy being superhuman. That alone would be a godsend.

 

[boozeman]

I'd bring back Waters for sure, if he'll come back. I think he was better than Bernadeau AND Leary.

Leary was actually disappointing down the stretch. The 3rd and goal play at Washington where Murray lost like 7 yards? Leary got absolutely embarrassed. He was blown up and was culprit #1 on why that play lost so many yards.

No. You move on from Waters who will demand at least $1.5 to $2.0 of the sparse cap space we have.

You draft a guard who is flexible to play either right or left guard.

 

[L.T. Fan]

Yep. Waters fell out of the lineup when he was needed the most and wasn't missed.

 

[boozeman]

Yep. Waters fell out of the lineup when he was needed the most and wasn't missed.

He played very well, but Bernadeau also stepped up.

That said, that doesn't mean count on him duplicating his performance.

But knowing how we assume things, it would not shock me.

 

[Clay_Allison]

My implication was he brought in Gesek but kept Gogan cross-trained and ready to start even after he lost out to the clearly more talented Big E. I remember Gogan being a clumsy lout under Landry and then coming back as a stud. That happens with good coaching and solid roster churn.

I think had he remained the starter as when Johnson arrived, he'd have never become a better player.

I think it was because Gogan was better as a Guard than he was as a tackle moreso than getting benched for Gesek really did wonders.

 

[dallas0593]

Yep. Waters fell out of the lineup when he was needed the most and wasn't missed.

That is a complete understatement. I think he was severely missed. Besides the fact he is a much more physical player then either Bern or Leary his leadership and preplay reads are for better then either of the 2 statues at guard

 

[Smitty]

That is a complete understatement. I think he was severely missed. Besides the fact he is a much more physical player then either Bern or Leary his leadership and preplay reads are for better then either of the 2 statues at guard

Agreed. He's our best guard. If he is replaced with someone better, fine, but if you are trying to win next season you don't go into the year with just Leary and Bernadeau.