Archer: Frank Pollack comes with Bill Callahan's seal of approval

[Cotton]

Frank Pollack comes with Bill Callahan's seal of approval
February, 20, 2015

By Todd Archer | ESPNDallas.com

INDIANAPOLIS -- Bill Callahan has a reputation for being one of the best offensive line coaches in the NFL, so his departure for the Washington Redskins should be viewed as a blow to the Dallas Cowboys.

But Callahan sings the praises of his replacement, Frank Pollack.

Pollack played for Callahan and spent the past two years on the Cowboys’ staff as the assistant offensive line coach. When Callahan was calling plays in 2013, Pollack was heavily involved with the offensive line. When Callahan returned more to his line responsibilities in 2014, Pollack was not relegated to the background. Callahan leaned on him a lot with a line that had three Pro Bowlers in Tyron Smith, Travis Frederick and Zack Martin.

“He brings a lot to the table,” Callahan said. “He’s experienced. He knows the position as well as anybody across the league. He has done a great job with the players. I have always felt confident in giving him a drill, taking it and rolling with ideas off of him. He’s got a creative aspect that he will bring to the table. He is a good technician. He can analyze technique. He can fix problems. If there is any issue he’s experienced enough to fix it or rectify it. That’s big in coaching: your ability to fix problems and find solutions. That goes a long way. You have got to have that ability and he certainly has it.”

The decision to leave for Callahan was not a difficult one professionally after losing the play-calling duties in 2014, but it was not easy to walk away from a talented line. The Cowboys blocked Callahan from talking to the Cleveland Browns and Baltimore Ravens about offensive coordinator jobs after the 2013 season.

“Professionally, there are those situations across the league,” Callahan said. “It’s pretty common knowledge that if you’re not released and you’re not given permission, you can look at it couple of ways. It’s a compliment in that respect. I took it as that and stayed and did the best I could under adverse circumstances, which weren’t too hard. We had the best line in the league. It was kind of fun to coach. I really enjoyed coaching last season. I had a ball. I had more fun than any other time in my career. It was great. They were a great group to be around.”

 

[Angrymesscan]

With Tyron, FredEpicbeard and Martin I can't see this line trailing off, I think those are three guys that really have the HOF and GOAT hunger and pretty well in their sights, whoever joins those three better have his shit together or they'll run him out of town...

 

[BipolarFuk]

Remember when everyone hated the Frederick pick. Epic stuff.

 

[Angrymesscan]

I never hated it, I thought they might have been able to trade down a little further, but C was high on my whishlist.

 

[Newt]

Remember when everyone hated the Frederick pick. Epic stuff.

I remember hating it, thought it was a huge reach. I'm over that now...

 

[Cowboysrock55]

Remember when everyone hated the Frederick pick. Epic stuff.

I actually loved it, but I do remember a lot of people hating on it. Especially the media.

 

[Simpleton]

I was a huge fan of Frederick, he would've been my top choice at 47 so I didn't really give much of a fuck that we took him 16 picks earlier.

 

[ravidubey]

Everyone liked the player, just not where the team was forced to take him.

 

[Clay_Allison]

I think some people were failing to acknowledge the reality that he wasn't going to last as long as they thought. I remember quite a few people saying he could have been had in the second, and that was just silly.

I think people were also seeing the entire draft as a disaster because of the UTTER STUPIDITY of the Escobust pick.

 

[jsmith6919]

I thought it was a bit of a reach but really doubt he would have been there for our 2nd, I was more upset at us getting trade raped, if we had got at least a 6th or a 7th thrown in I don't think anyone would have been near as mad

 

[Plan9Misfit]

Remember when everyone hated the Frederick pick. Epic stuff.

I liked it, and was pretty open about it. I thought it was a little high for him, but I liked the pick because it meant more o-line.

 

[Cowboysrock55]

I liked it, and was pretty open about it. I thought it was a little high for him, but I liked the pick because it meant more o-line.

I explicitly remember talking about how much better I thought Frederick was then the interior Olineman who went before him. I was so glad we got him instead of Justin Pugh.

 

[Clay_Allison]

I explicitly remember talking about how much better I thought Frederick was then the interior Olineman who went before him. I was so glad we got him instead of Justin Pugh.

Kyle Long wouldn't have been bad if we'd taken him with our original first. I liked him better than Pugh.

 

[Cowboysrock55]

Kyle Long wouldn't have been bad if we'd taken him with our original first. I liked him better than Pugh.

Yeah I liked Long but there was some fear that he was still a little raw. I know a lot of people on this board really didn't want him. He has turned out to be a pretty good player. Obviously Terrance Williams and Frederick are a way better move but you're right Long would have been a solid pick.

I remember some experts after the Frederick pick claimed that some NFL teams had him rated as a fourth round pick. It's part of the reason why I don't give a shit what "some" NFL teams think. Obviously those NFL teams were retarded. The only bad thing anyone seemed to have about Frederick was that he had a bad forty time. It has had zero impact on his game and he blocks on the second level about as good as any center in the NFL.

 

[Clay_Allison]

Yeah I liked Long but there was some fear that he was still a little raw. I know a lot of people on this board really didn't want him. He has turned out to be a pretty good player. Obviously Terrance Williams and Frederick are a way better move but you're right Long would have been a solid pick.

I remember some experts after the Frederick pick claimed that some NFL teams had him rated as a fourth round pick. It's part of the reason why I don't give a shit what "some" NFL teams think. Obviously those NFL teams were retarded. The only bad thing anyone seemed to have about Frederick was that he had a bad forty time. It has had zero impact on his game and he blocks on the second level about as good as any center in the NFL.

I'm a sucker for bloodlines, assuming the guy is rated in a given range I consider successful NFL family members a bonus point.

 

[dallen]

Remember when everyone hated the Frederick pick. Epic stuff.

I wasn't super thrilled with when the pick happened. I'd been watching a lot of Wisconsin games lately because Arkansas had just hired Bielema so I knew he was a beast. I thought he would have lasted longer so I wasn't sure the value was there. But I knew we'd gotten a good player that should have been able to help us at a position of need. I would have considered myself lukewarm but hopeful

 

[dallen]

If you want to have some fun go read some of the articles from 2013 about the Frederick pick.

NFL Network's Mike Mayock's instant reaction: "I had a third-round grade on this guy."

Bleacher Report's Matt Miller's instant reaction: "I hate this pick."

So, if you thought the Cowboys reached for Wisconsin center Travis Frederick, you're not alone.

He could play guard or center, but the problem is, the Cowboys have already invested eight-figure contracts in both their guards recently and they already have a center in Phil Costa.

If Frederick has a tenured career as one of the top centers in the league, he'll be worth the pick. For now, though, it's fair to wonder how much further he could have fallen if the Cowboys had waited.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1619674-travis-frederick-and-the-worst-picks-in-the-2013-nfl-draft/page/3