Position Outlook:
These two positions - guard and center - could have an entirely different look next year, although it doesn't mean all of the pieces will be removed.
A lot will hinge on the draft at the end of this month. Unlike other years, the draft will come before not only free agency, but also the decisions that are made about the current roster as well.
So if a key player is taken at either guard or center, it might affect what the Cowboys do in regards to players such as Leonard Davis and Kyle Kosier. The future of last year's starting guards remains questionable. Kosier will be an unrestricted free agent when the lockout is over and Davis might be a salary-cap casualty, assuming of course that a new cap is included in the next CBA. Considering Davis was benched early last year for Montrae Holland, who returns with a year left under his contract, it was the first signal that the Cowboys might be looking past Davis in the future. Although let's not forget that when the team decided to put more of an emphasis on the run in the second half of the season, Davis' play did improve. His huge contract would be tough for the Cowboys to absorb if he is released or even traded.
While Andre Gurode has made five straight Pro Bowls, his future at center isn't set in stone. If the Cowboys were able to acquire a young, talented center, the option of moving Gurode out to one of the guard spots is always possible. Remember, the Cowboys were close to drafting center Max Unger in the second round in 2009, so the idea of sliding Gurode out to guard was considered two years ago.
In terms of backups, there isn't much depth at this position, other than Holland. Last year's rookie, Phil Costa, is a versatile backup with the ability to play guard and center. And the Cowboys have had Travis Bright on the practice squad for two years. But that's one reason why these positions are needed, because the backups don't seem to be potential starters anytime soon.
Draft Prospects:
The reason these positions are usually lumped together in any kind of rankings system is because the good ones typically can play both. And to get picked high as an interior lineman, you have to either be dominant at one spot, or have the versatility to play two positions.
That's why the top prospect on the board is Florida's Mike Pouncey, a guy who can probably play either guard or center. Pouncey, the brother of Pittsburgh's Maurkice Pouncey, a Pro Bowl center as a rookie last year, played guard as a junior at Florida and then switched to center last season. He's projected by some teams as either/or.
The same goes for Baylor's Danny Watkins, an older rookie who will be 27 when the football season begins. Although he got a late start in the game, having been a firefighter in Canada for five years before stumbling into the sport, Watkins is a tough, versatile prospect that has several teams more than intrigued. An All-Big 12 performer as an offensive tackle last year, he is projected to play guard and possibly center. If he can get on a roster, having the ability and/or experience to play all five spots would be quite an asset.
Florida State's Rodney Hudson is also listed as a guard/center. Lehigh's Will Rackley, who is listed as a guard/offensive tackle, was among the Cowboys' 30 Pre-Draft visitors over the last two weeks.
Eventual Available Vets:
This doesn't seem to be a route the Cowboys would go, considering that if this position becomes a need, it would be as a result of releasing veterans. Any additions would likely be through the draft. But with the Cowboys, you never know.
So the top free-agent centers would be Carolina's Ryan Kalil, who is only 25 and considered one of the league's best. Chicago's Olin Kreutz is not the same player he was a few years ago and is declining, but still serviceable. Arizona's Lyle Sendlein will likely return to the Cardinals with a new deal.
As for free-agent guards, New England's Logan Mankins seems to be the cream of the crop. Not many expect him to leave the Patriots. Atlanta has a pair of free-agent guards in Harvey Dahl and Justin Blalock, making it rather tough to sign both. While Kosier is considered to be in the top five of free-agent guards, Miami's Richie Incognito is another player who will help a new team in 2011.
Draft Nuggets:
Slippery Rock's Brandon Fusco is a guard/center combo who was given the Gene Upshaw Award in 2010 as the top offensive linemen in Division II football. Fusco also took home the Division II Rimington Trophy as the top center ... TCU's Jake Kirkpatrick was actually a basketball, tennis and baseball player in high school, with just one year of football experience. TCU football coaches saw him in a pickup basketball game and asked him to try out for the team. Three years later, he won the Rimington Trophy as the NCAA's top center ... Penn State's guard/center Stefan Wisniewski is the nephew of former Raiders' All-Pro Steve Wisniewski.
Look Back:
Three things stand out the most about Larry Allen's rookie season of 1994. He was the guy Reggie White tossed around in the Thanksgiving Day game; he was the guy who ran down Saints linebacker Darion Conner on an interception during a Monday night game; and it was Allen who tried to play in the NFC Championship Game on one leg, hobbling around against the 49ers in a tough loss.
But after that, things got better for Allen, who not only cracked the starting lineup in 1995, but began a Pro Bowl streak that lasted for seven years. Ten Pro Bowls later, he is easily the most decorated offensive lineman in Cowboys history.
He portrayed a unique combination of strength and versatility - able to play both guard and tackle at a high level, earning All-Pro honors at both positions.
Although the Cowboys released Allen, he returned to California to sign with the 49ers, where he earned yet another Pro Bowl selection in 2006.
But the Cowboys certainly got everything they could've ever hoped for from a raw, inexperienced second-round pick from Sonoma State. It's only a matter of time before Allen is not only inducted into the Cowboys Ring of Honor, but also the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.
These two positions - guard and center - could have an entirely different look next year, although it doesn't mean all of the pieces will be removed.
A lot will hinge on the draft at the end of this month. Unlike other years, the draft will come before not only free agency, but also the decisions that are made about the current roster as well.
So if a key player is taken at either guard or center, it might affect what the Cowboys do in regards to players such as Leonard Davis and Kyle Kosier. The future of last year's starting guards remains questionable. Kosier will be an unrestricted free agent when the lockout is over and Davis might be a salary-cap casualty, assuming of course that a new cap is included in the next CBA. Considering Davis was benched early last year for Montrae Holland, who returns with a year left under his contract, it was the first signal that the Cowboys might be looking past Davis in the future. Although let's not forget that when the team decided to put more of an emphasis on the run in the second half of the season, Davis' play did improve. His huge contract would be tough for the Cowboys to absorb if he is released or even traded.
While Andre Gurode has made five straight Pro Bowls, his future at center isn't set in stone. If the Cowboys were able to acquire a young, talented center, the option of moving Gurode out to one of the guard spots is always possible. Remember, the Cowboys were close to drafting center Max Unger in the second round in 2009, so the idea of sliding Gurode out to guard was considered two years ago.
In terms of backups, there isn't much depth at this position, other than Holland. Last year's rookie, Phil Costa, is a versatile backup with the ability to play guard and center. And the Cowboys have had Travis Bright on the practice squad for two years. But that's one reason why these positions are needed, because the backups don't seem to be potential starters anytime soon.
Draft Prospects:
The reason these positions are usually lumped together in any kind of rankings system is because the good ones typically can play both. And to get picked high as an interior lineman, you have to either be dominant at one spot, or have the versatility to play two positions.
That's why the top prospect on the board is Florida's Mike Pouncey, a guy who can probably play either guard or center. Pouncey, the brother of Pittsburgh's Maurkice Pouncey, a Pro Bowl center as a rookie last year, played guard as a junior at Florida and then switched to center last season. He's projected by some teams as either/or.
The same goes for Baylor's Danny Watkins, an older rookie who will be 27 when the football season begins. Although he got a late start in the game, having been a firefighter in Canada for five years before stumbling into the sport, Watkins is a tough, versatile prospect that has several teams more than intrigued. An All-Big 12 performer as an offensive tackle last year, he is projected to play guard and possibly center. If he can get on a roster, having the ability and/or experience to play all five spots would be quite an asset.
Florida State's Rodney Hudson is also listed as a guard/center. Lehigh's Will Rackley, who is listed as a guard/offensive tackle, was among the Cowboys' 30 Pre-Draft visitors over the last two weeks.
Eventual Available Vets:
This doesn't seem to be a route the Cowboys would go, considering that if this position becomes a need, it would be as a result of releasing veterans. Any additions would likely be through the draft. But with the Cowboys, you never know.
So the top free-agent centers would be Carolina's Ryan Kalil, who is only 25 and considered one of the league's best. Chicago's Olin Kreutz is not the same player he was a few years ago and is declining, but still serviceable. Arizona's Lyle Sendlein will likely return to the Cardinals with a new deal.
As for free-agent guards, New England's Logan Mankins seems to be the cream of the crop. Not many expect him to leave the Patriots. Atlanta has a pair of free-agent guards in Harvey Dahl and Justin Blalock, making it rather tough to sign both. While Kosier is considered to be in the top five of free-agent guards, Miami's Richie Incognito is another player who will help a new team in 2011.
Draft Nuggets:
Slippery Rock's Brandon Fusco is a guard/center combo who was given the Gene Upshaw Award in 2010 as the top offensive linemen in Division II football. Fusco also took home the Division II Rimington Trophy as the top center ... TCU's Jake Kirkpatrick was actually a basketball, tennis and baseball player in high school, with just one year of football experience. TCU football coaches saw him in a pickup basketball game and asked him to try out for the team. Three years later, he won the Rimington Trophy as the NCAA's top center ... Penn State's guard/center Stefan Wisniewski is the nephew of former Raiders' All-Pro Steve Wisniewski.
Look Back:
Three things stand out the most about Larry Allen's rookie season of 1994. He was the guy Reggie White tossed around in the Thanksgiving Day game; he was the guy who ran down Saints linebacker Darion Conner on an interception during a Monday night game; and it was Allen who tried to play in the NFC Championship Game on one leg, hobbling around against the 49ers in a tough loss.
But after that, things got better for Allen, who not only cracked the starting lineup in 1995, but began a Pro Bowl streak that lasted for seven years. Ten Pro Bowls later, he is easily the most decorated offensive lineman in Cowboys history.
He portrayed a unique combination of strength and versatility - able to play both guard and tackle at a high level, earning All-Pro honors at both positions.
Although the Cowboys released Allen, he returned to California to sign with the 49ers, where he earned yet another Pro Bowl selection in 2006.
But the Cowboys certainly got everything they could've ever hoped for from a raw, inexperienced second-round pick from Sonoma State. It's only a matter of time before Allen is not only inducted into the Cowboys Ring of Honor, but also the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.
