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Gosselin: 'It's time the Cowboys start playing to their strength'
08:50 PM CDT on Thursday, September 16, 2010
SportsDayDFW.com
Dallas Morning News writer Rick Gosselin chatted with fans and answered questions on Thursday about the Dallas Cowboys as they prepare for their match against the Chicago Bears. Here are some highlights:
Doesn't it make more sense to at least try an unproven youngster like Robert Brewster than to keep trotting out a proven bad offensive lineman in Alex Barron?
That's frustrated me for years the unwillingness by the Cowboys to play young linemen. The Colts always seem to start a rookie on the O-line every year and it's not prevented them from qualifying for the playoffs eight consecutive seasons. The Steelers started a rookie at center last week and they fancy themselves a Super Bowl contender. You draft linemen because they have talent. It's your coach's job to get that talent on the field as soon as possible. But it's been the Cowboys' belief that you need to line up a Pro Bowler at all 22 positions to win. That's why you see them acquire older guys and plug them in as opposed to playing their own draft picks.
Did people scratch their heads at the Cowboys' acquisition of Alex Barron or was that considered a good move at the time?
All it cost was Bobby Carpenter. It was worth the gamble. I think Barron was brought in as insurance -- as a guy who could go into a game in the third or fourth quarter for an injured blocker and finish out a game. I don't think Barron was acquired with the idea he'd be starting on opening night. If the Cowboys had traded Anthony Spencer for Barron, you'd have reason to be upset. But that trade was one discard for another.
What are the top 3 things that the Cowboys need to work on or do to be successful this year?
Running the football and blocking. If you fix those two elements, you won't need to fix a third. The Cowboys have one of the biggest lines in football -- a line built to physically abuse defensive fronts. This line was built to run the football. If the Cowboys become a dominant running team again, it will take the pressure off Romo because it opens up the play-action game. It also takes the pressure off the defense because they won't have to play 30 minutes a game. When the Cowboys won their first Super Bowl, their defense ranked first in the NFL because they were playing only 26 minutes per game. If the Cowboys are to compete for the division, conference and league championships, they must establish a rushing attack. This offensive line was built to do that. It's time the Cowboys start playing to their strength.
To read the rest of the chat, click here.
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08:50 PM CDT on Thursday, September 16, 2010
SportsDayDFW.com
Dallas Morning News writer Rick Gosselin chatted with fans and answered questions on Thursday about the Dallas Cowboys as they prepare for their match against the Chicago Bears. Here are some highlights:
Doesn't it make more sense to at least try an unproven youngster like Robert Brewster than to keep trotting out a proven bad offensive lineman in Alex Barron?
That's frustrated me for years the unwillingness by the Cowboys to play young linemen. The Colts always seem to start a rookie on the O-line every year and it's not prevented them from qualifying for the playoffs eight consecutive seasons. The Steelers started a rookie at center last week and they fancy themselves a Super Bowl contender. You draft linemen because they have talent. It's your coach's job to get that talent on the field as soon as possible. But it's been the Cowboys' belief that you need to line up a Pro Bowler at all 22 positions to win. That's why you see them acquire older guys and plug them in as opposed to playing their own draft picks.
Did people scratch their heads at the Cowboys' acquisition of Alex Barron or was that considered a good move at the time?
All it cost was Bobby Carpenter. It was worth the gamble. I think Barron was brought in as insurance -- as a guy who could go into a game in the third or fourth quarter for an injured blocker and finish out a game. I don't think Barron was acquired with the idea he'd be starting on opening night. If the Cowboys had traded Anthony Spencer for Barron, you'd have reason to be upset. But that trade was one discard for another.
What are the top 3 things that the Cowboys need to work on or do to be successful this year?
Running the football and blocking. If you fix those two elements, you won't need to fix a third. The Cowboys have one of the biggest lines in football -- a line built to physically abuse defensive fronts. This line was built to run the football. If the Cowboys become a dominant running team again, it will take the pressure off Romo because it opens up the play-action game. It also takes the pressure off the defense because they won't have to play 30 minutes a game. When the Cowboys won their first Super Bowl, their defense ranked first in the NFL because they were playing only 26 minutes per game. If the Cowboys are to compete for the division, conference and league championships, they must establish a rushing attack. This offensive line was built to do that. It's time the Cowboys start playing to their strength.
To read the rest of the chat, click here.
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