Offensive Line Discussion Thread

[The_Slamman]

I think this deserves its own thread.

 

First, Terence Steele deserves major props.  I know that some people were concerned this offseason about penalties… especially with the loss of Connor Williams.  We know the coaching staff made penalties a priority this offseason.  Frankly, the coaches’ hard work paid off.  The cowboys had 10 penalties.  Terence Steele was clearly the biggest contributor with an impressive 4 penalties in 1 game.  He is clearly filling the void left by Williams.  
 

Tyler Smith contributed with 1 penalty and 1 sack.  
 

The OL, assawhole, was porous.  McGovern has a high ankle sprain and will miss more time.

 

But, Peter’s should be ready fairly soon.

 

what is the ideal lineup moving forward?
 

 

[HDsportsfan]

There is no ideal lineup with who we have.

[Texas_OutLaw7]

Tyler Smith was great with rookie mistakes. I see no reason to bench him for Peters at this point. 

[Tony7188]

The ideal lineup for me would be to play Tyler Smith at LT until Peters is ready and then move him back to LG. Him at LG would strengthen the interior. 

Peters-Tyler-Biadasz-Martin-Steele

If Peters has an injury, then put Tyler back at LT until Tyron returns.

Edited September 14, 2022 by Tony7188

[The_Slamman]

What about smith, McGovern, Biadasz, Martin, Peters?  

[WizardHawk]

2 hours ago, The_Slamman said:

What about smith, McGovern, Biadasz, Martin, Peters?  

Probably about as good as it’s going to get for now.

[Dallas94Ware]

10 hours ago, The_Slamman said:

What about smith, McGovern, Biadasz, Martin, Peters?  

Steele? He has slightly improved every game he has played. He is a reliable RT and works well next to Martin. I would hate to stop his development for a 40 year old. Probably better to slide Tyler back inside, where his best assets can make him an allpro.

Do you want an allpro level LG or a one or two probowls in 10 seasons level LT?

Or more easily worded - do you want another Z. MARTIN or another F. ADAMS?

Edited September 14, 2022 by Dallas94Ware

[Texas_OutLaw7]

Impressive for a rookie.

[Northland]

15 hours ago, The_Slamman said:

What about smith, McGovern, Biadasz, Martin, Peters?  

Agree.  Steele sits.

[Northland]

4 hours ago, Texas_OutLaw7 said:

Impressive for a rookie.

The kid did very well.

[Dallas94Ware]

1 hour ago, Northland said:

Agree.  Steele sits.

Why? 

Biadasz and Connor get to play, but the one consistent and healthy OL besides Martin has to sit?

[Northland]

24 minutes ago, Dallas94Ware said:

Why? 

Biadasz and Connor get to play, but the one consistent and healthy OL besides Martin has to sit?

Four penalties against Tampa.  Steele was awful.  Steele needs to play better.  If he doesn't he becomes our swing tackle.  I can live with a left side of Martin and Peters.

Tyler Smith was alright at LT.  I would have preferred he play at guard but the future is now for him at LT.  

[Dallas94Ware]

2 hours ago, Northland said:

Four penalties against Tampa.  Steele was awful.  Steele needs to play better.  If he doesn't he becomes our swing tackle.  I can live with a left side of Martin and Peters.

Tyler Smith was alright at LT.  I would have preferred he play at guard but the future is now for him at LT.  

One game shouldnt make a player be benched indefinitely. Especially not for a 40 year old with no long term value.

Sorry for the lengthy onslaught ahead. I played OT at Notre Dame and in all but my sophomore year in HS (where I was a rather large but productive split end/tight end), and after being a graduate assistant, I was an assistant in the OL coaching room, so OL is kind of where my heart is..so Ive a lot to say on it!

What Steele offers long term is a solid answer at an affordable price for severa years. I am not sure how it works with exclusive rights etc etc etc, finances and directing was never my thing...but I do believe has another tender year coming up, and short of an all pro season, I dont think his contract demands the year after could really be unreasonable. So allowing him continued development time and experience is beneficial for the long term...

....AND the short term. While he does need to play stronger, and those penalties were painful, he is a reliable player with good footwork, good cohesion with Martin, who makes very few mistakes overall. I get that typical Dallas Cowboy fanbase mentality is all about "most recent memory overriding everything else" but dont let one game erase everything we know to be true about Steele. The penalties sucked. But overall he has been, outside of Martin, the most consistent HEALTHY player on that line. Benching him for a player with no future on the team offers no benefit for the future of the team, and likely, very little even for the present. Peters was not very good the last couple seasons, struggled with some injury stuff, and has not been able to keep his feet under him in years. Helpful signing given Tyron is gone for the year, and has something to offer the team in spot duty or as a well experienced backup who may need to fill in for injuries soon, probably as early as Week 2 - but i think you sre GREATLY overstating the invalue of Steele and what he has meant to this line and what he can mean to this line over the next few years.

Yes, Tyler wad alright. We gave him perhaps a bit too much help at times (Girls Talk Boys Talk podcast on dc.com actually spoke about this pretty accurately and how it actually hurt the unit) because he didnt play poorly. But he was clearly out of his strengths. This kid is a mauler, and will shine at guard. Yes, ideally, he will turn into a valuable OT. But remenber recent releasee Lael Collins? At LG that kid was a phenom, even keeping pace with Darren McFadden up the field on a pull assignment. At RT? Sure, he was alright. Some good games, some bad. A pro bowl. Maybe two. But nothing so great. That season at LG though? Amazing. That is what we risk with Tyler at LT, especially before he is more experienced. That said, this actualy has little to do with my point about Steele - though, in essence, Tyler at LT and Steele at RT offers more value longterm than Peters at either spot, and moving Tyler back to LG and allowing Peters to play LT (where he usually plays, anyway) may just offer more short term value, while also allowing Steele and Tyler to continue getting better.

(Ive said it hundreds of times on this forum...player has a good game, this forum thinks they deserve a huge payday and are an all pro...player has a bad game, they are worst in rhe NFL, need to be cut right now, and every scout who brought him here needs to be fired and blacklisted from football).

 

Edited September 15, 2022 by Dallas94Ware

[Tony7188]

5 hours ago, Northland said:

Four penalties against Tampa.  Steele was awful.  Steele needs to play better.  If he doesn't he becomes our swing tackle.  I can live with a left side of Martin and Peters.

Tyler Smith was alright at LT.  I would have preferred he play at guard but the future is now for him at LT.  

It would be cool to move Tyron to RT if Steele continues to struggle. He's played there before and has the experience to a quality swing tackle.

So the OL would be Peters-Tyler-Biadasz-Martin-Smith

[Northland]

10 hours ago, Dallas94Ware said:

One game shouldnt make a player be benched indefinitely. Especially not for a 40 year old with no long term value.

Sorry for the lengthy onslaught ahead. I played OT at Notre Dame and in all but my sophomore year in HS (where I was a rather large but productive split end/tight end), and after being a graduate assistant, I was an assistant in the OL coaching room, so OL is kind of where my heart is..so Ive a lot to say on it!

What Steele offers long term is a solid answer at an affordable price for severa years. I am not sure how it works with exclusive rights etc etc etc, finances and directing was never my thing...but I do believe has another tender year coming up, and short of an all pro season, I dont think his contract demands the year after could really be unreasonable. So allowing him continued development time and experience is beneficial for the long term...

....AND the short term. While he does need to play stronger, and those penalties were painful, he is a reliable player with good footwork, good cohesion with Martin, who makes very few mistakes overall. I get that typical Dallas Cowboy fanbase mentality is all about "most recent memory overriding everything else" but dont let one game erase everything we know to be true about Steele. The penalties sucked. But overall he has been, outside of Martin, the most consistent HEALTHY player on that line. Benching him for a player with no future on the team offers no benefit for the future of the team, and likely, very little even for the present. Peters was not very good the last couple seasons, struggled with some injury stuff, and has not been able to keep his feet under him in years. Helpful signing given Tyron is gone for the year, and has something to offer the team in spot duty or as a well experienced backup who may need to fill in for injuries soon, probably as early as Week 2 - but i think you sre GREATLY overstating the invalue of Steele and what he has meant to this line and what he can mean to this line over the next few years.

Yes, Tyler wad alright. We gave him perhaps a bit too much help at times (Girls Talk Boys Talk podcast on dc.com actually spoke about this pretty accurately and how it actually hurt the unit) because he didnt play poorly. But he was clearly out of his strengths. This kid is a mauler, and will shine at guard. Yes, ideally, he will turn into a valuable OT. But remenber recent releasee Lael Collins? At LG that kid was a phenom, even keeping pace with Darren McFadden up the field on a pull assignment. At RT? Sure, he was alright. Some good games, some bad. A pro bowl. Maybe two. But nothing so great. That season at LG though? Amazing. That is what we risk with Tyler at LT, especially before he is more experienced. That said, this actualy has little to do with my point about Steele - though, in essence, Tyler at LT and Steele at RT offers more value longterm than Peters at either spot, and moving Tyler back to LG and allowing Peters to play LT (where he usually plays, anyway) may just offer more short term value, while also allowing Steele and Tyler to continue getting better.

(Ive said it hundreds of times on this forum...player has a good game, this forum thinks they deserve a huge payday and are an all pro...player has a bad game, they are worst in rhe NFL, need to be cut right now, and every scout who brought him here needs to be fired and blacklisted from football).

 

We can go back and forth on this issue but I'm not going to.  Steele by all reports had a lousy camp followed by an awful game 1.  If this trend continues he's a candidate to sit.