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Phillips: Kosier Shouldn't Be Forgotten Free Agent
Kosier Shouldn't Be Forgotten Free Agent
Rob Phillips
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
IRVING, Texas - The offensive line is mostly a thankless job. It really is.
No other high-profile position gets such unbalanced negative/positive reinforcement from observers. Like fullbacks and long snappers, these guys only get noticed when something goes wrong -- and unfortunately, the Cowboys' line rightfully grabbed everyone's attention at times last season.
Filled with 30-something starters, the group did not consistently control the line of scrimmage during the Cowboys' 1-7 start to 2010. Things improved in the final eight games, but in April the organization decided to get younger and more athletic up front. They drafted tackle Tyron Smith ninth overall -- their first first-round offensive lineman since 1981 -- and guard David Arkin in the fourth round. Both are projected as future starters, with Smith instantly sliding to left or right tackle.
Attention has now shifted to the Cowboys' impending free agents elsewhere on the roster: will they re-sign starting defensive end Marcus Spears and starting strong safety Gerald Sensabaugh? Neither position was addressed in the draft.
Fittingly, left guard Kyle Kosier seems like a forgotten man.
He shouldn't be.
Kosier has reached the end of the five-year, $15 million deal he signed back in 2006 as a relatively unknown acquisition. Noticing Kosier on film as a 49er, the Cowboys gave him a modest $5 million signing bonus, and he has been a steady starter ever since. It's been a solid investment despite Kosier's injury problems in two of the past three seasons.
Before the lockout, indications were the Cowboys would like to re-sign Kosier. If not, their internal options are limited.
Arkin, a standout at Missouri State, is making a huge jump from the Missouri Valley Conference. The logical replacement would be ninth-year veteran Montrae Holland, who signed a two-year extension last spring. But he has only four starts since arriving in a trade from Denver in 2008. When Kosier missed 13 games that season, the Cowboys inserted Cory Procter into the lineup instead.
The Cowboys must decide if they can adequately replace Kosier as soon as this season. Injuries have been a problem; he played in only three games in 2008 due to an ankle injury and missed three of the Cowboys' disastrous first eight games in 2010 with a sprained MCL and a strained Achilles' tendon.
But when he's fully healthy, he's been the glue to a generally effective offensive line.
In Kosier's 64 starts since 2006, the Cowboys went 44-22 and averaged 374.5 yards and 25.8 points. They made the playoffs in all three seasons in which he started a full 16 games (2006, 2007, 2010).
In the 16 games Kosier missed in 2008 and 2010, the Cowboys went 6-10 and averaged 336.5 yards and 21.6 points.
Granted, offensive and team success are dependent on more than the left guard. But Kosier (6-5, 309) has been a solid pass and run blocker, comfortable in space and athletic enough to be effective on the move. He helped Doug Free adjust to a starting role at left tackle last season and has been an asset to five-time Pro Bowl center Andre Gurode.
Kosier turns 33 this November. At some point, the Cowboys will have to find a full-time replacement - especially if injuries continue to linger.
But now might not be time yet.
Kosier Shouldn't Be Forgotten Free Agent
Rob Phillips
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
IRVING, Texas - The offensive line is mostly a thankless job. It really is.
No other high-profile position gets such unbalanced negative/positive reinforcement from observers. Like fullbacks and long snappers, these guys only get noticed when something goes wrong -- and unfortunately, the Cowboys' line rightfully grabbed everyone's attention at times last season.
Filled with 30-something starters, the group did not consistently control the line of scrimmage during the Cowboys' 1-7 start to 2010. Things improved in the final eight games, but in April the organization decided to get younger and more athletic up front. They drafted tackle Tyron Smith ninth overall -- their first first-round offensive lineman since 1981 -- and guard David Arkin in the fourth round. Both are projected as future starters, with Smith instantly sliding to left or right tackle.
Attention has now shifted to the Cowboys' impending free agents elsewhere on the roster: will they re-sign starting defensive end Marcus Spears and starting strong safety Gerald Sensabaugh? Neither position was addressed in the draft.
Fittingly, left guard Kyle Kosier seems like a forgotten man.
He shouldn't be.
Kosier has reached the end of the five-year, $15 million deal he signed back in 2006 as a relatively unknown acquisition. Noticing Kosier on film as a 49er, the Cowboys gave him a modest $5 million signing bonus, and he has been a steady starter ever since. It's been a solid investment despite Kosier's injury problems in two of the past three seasons.
Before the lockout, indications were the Cowboys would like to re-sign Kosier. If not, their internal options are limited.
Arkin, a standout at Missouri State, is making a huge jump from the Missouri Valley Conference. The logical replacement would be ninth-year veteran Montrae Holland, who signed a two-year extension last spring. But he has only four starts since arriving in a trade from Denver in 2008. When Kosier missed 13 games that season, the Cowboys inserted Cory Procter into the lineup instead.
The Cowboys must decide if they can adequately replace Kosier as soon as this season. Injuries have been a problem; he played in only three games in 2008 due to an ankle injury and missed three of the Cowboys' disastrous first eight games in 2010 with a sprained MCL and a strained Achilles' tendon.
But when he's fully healthy, he's been the glue to a generally effective offensive line.
In Kosier's 64 starts since 2006, the Cowboys went 44-22 and averaged 374.5 yards and 25.8 points. They made the playoffs in all three seasons in which he started a full 16 games (2006, 2007, 2010).
In the 16 games Kosier missed in 2008 and 2010, the Cowboys went 6-10 and averaged 336.5 yards and 21.6 points.
Granted, offensive and team success are dependent on more than the left guard. But Kosier (6-5, 309) has been a solid pass and run blocker, comfortable in space and athletic enough to be effective on the move. He helped Doug Free adjust to a starting role at left tackle last season and has been an asset to five-time Pro Bowl center Andre Gurode.
Kosier turns 33 this November. At some point, the Cowboys will have to find a full-time replacement - especially if injuries continue to linger.
But now might not be time yet.
