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Silver Lining
Draft Could Reverse Aging Of O-Line
Josh Ellis
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
INDIANAPOLIS - Following a 6-10 season, the Cowboys obviously have many needs, and Jerry Jones listed them fully when speaking to the media on Friday.
The very first thing to come to his mind, however, was offensive line, the owner/general manager mentioning "numbers" as the real motivating factor for adding talent to the front five through the draft. Either the owner was referring to the lack of depth on the line, or dollar figures, or another important set of digits.
31. It's the median age of the Cowboys' starting five offensive linemen, with 27-year-old left tackle Doug Free the only player beneath the unit's average.
"Certainly we have some guys who are a little bit older," coach Jason Garrett said on Thursday. "A lot of ways, age is a number. You've got to look specifically, how old are these guys? Have they been banged up? Are they playing old? Are they playing young? Are they spry? Do they have a lot of tread on the tires? All those things. You evaluate it individually and you do it collectively as well and you do that throughout the football team."
On a team that relies on a blend of veterans, young players and those in their prime, the offensive line is easily the oldest, and three of the four players over the age of 31 are under contract moving forward, with left guard Kyle Kosier the only unrestricted free agent.
Though Free's status is somewhat up in the air because of the collective bargaining agreement uncertainty, the Cowboys plan to protect him with a tender offer in the coming days, just as they did in his first go-round with restricted free agency last season. This time, he figures to receive one of the highest tender levels, guaranteeing the Cowboys a first-round pick, or first- and third-round picks should another team lure him away with a contract the Cowboys choose not to match.
While they have occasionally tabbed offensive linemen with selections early in Round 2, the Cowboys haven't chosen one with their first-round choice in three decades. This could be the year, depending on how the Cowboys evaluate the talent available when they go on the clock for the No. 9 overall pick. Many mock drafts don't predict the first offensive linemen coming off the board until the teens of April's lottery, so the Cowboys could have their pick of the litter.
At the NFL Scouting Combine, offensive linemen performed the majority of their on-field drills on Saturday. The Cowboys are sure to be watching closely.
With their early picks, No. 9 and No. 40, the team wants players who can get on the field. If a lineman is one of those choices, it wouldn't be surprising if he claimed a starting job.
"I love young players," offensive line coach Hudson Houck said last week. "Larry Allen was one, Flozell Adams was one; they came in and started as rookies. I love young guys, and if we can get the right guy, we'll put him right in there."
Draft Could Reverse Aging Of O-Line
Josh Ellis
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
INDIANAPOLIS - Following a 6-10 season, the Cowboys obviously have many needs, and Jerry Jones listed them fully when speaking to the media on Friday.
The very first thing to come to his mind, however, was offensive line, the owner/general manager mentioning "numbers" as the real motivating factor for adding talent to the front five through the draft. Either the owner was referring to the lack of depth on the line, or dollar figures, or another important set of digits.
31. It's the median age of the Cowboys' starting five offensive linemen, with 27-year-old left tackle Doug Free the only player beneath the unit's average.
"Certainly we have some guys who are a little bit older," coach Jason Garrett said on Thursday. "A lot of ways, age is a number. You've got to look specifically, how old are these guys? Have they been banged up? Are they playing old? Are they playing young? Are they spry? Do they have a lot of tread on the tires? All those things. You evaluate it individually and you do it collectively as well and you do that throughout the football team."
On a team that relies on a blend of veterans, young players and those in their prime, the offensive line is easily the oldest, and three of the four players over the age of 31 are under contract moving forward, with left guard Kyle Kosier the only unrestricted free agent.
Though Free's status is somewhat up in the air because of the collective bargaining agreement uncertainty, the Cowboys plan to protect him with a tender offer in the coming days, just as they did in his first go-round with restricted free agency last season. This time, he figures to receive one of the highest tender levels, guaranteeing the Cowboys a first-round pick, or first- and third-round picks should another team lure him away with a contract the Cowboys choose not to match.
While they have occasionally tabbed offensive linemen with selections early in Round 2, the Cowboys haven't chosen one with their first-round choice in three decades. This could be the year, depending on how the Cowboys evaluate the talent available when they go on the clock for the No. 9 overall pick. Many mock drafts don't predict the first offensive linemen coming off the board until the teens of April's lottery, so the Cowboys could have their pick of the litter.
At the NFL Scouting Combine, offensive linemen performed the majority of their on-field drills on Saturday. The Cowboys are sure to be watching closely.
With their early picks, No. 9 and No. 40, the team wants players who can get on the field. If a lineman is one of those choices, it wouldn't be surprising if he claimed a starting job.
"I love young players," offensive line coach Hudson Houck said last week. "Larry Allen was one, Flozell Adams was one; they came in and started as rookies. I love young guys, and if we can get the right guy, we'll put him right in there."