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Watkins: Backup offensive line didn't play well
Backup offensive line didn't play well
August, 21, 2011
By Calvin Watkins
ARLINGTON, Texas -- When the night was over, the Cowboys running game averaged 4.8 yards per carry, but just 2.7 in the third quarter.
There were three sacks, three tackles for loss and two quarterback hurries credited to the offensive line.
Did we mention backup left guard Pepa Letuli was benched in the middle of a third quarter series? Kevin Kowalski, who replaced Letuli, wasn't much better.
"It's disappointing for him," offensive line coach Hudson Houck said of Letuli. "Really it's disappointing for our team and that’s exactly what we did. The guy makes a couple of mistakes in a row, then he’s not going to be in there. I'm not going to put the runners or the quarterback in any jeopardy if we can help it."
Two backup linemen, tackles Sam Young (false start) and Jermey Parnell (holding) were called for penalties.
After the first week of the preseason, there was a thought the Cowboys backup offensive line was getting better. With starter Montrae Holland out with his back injury, the Cowboys tried out Phil Costa, David Arkin and Bill Nagy at the left guard position. Arkin started the preseason opener and Nagy got the call on Sunday vs. the Chargers.
Houck was to the point when asked about his backup offensive linemen's performance: "We have to see [the tape]. I don't think it was very good, obviously, but we didn't run the ball very well. Too many penalties."
Whenever Holland returns, it should soldify the first-team line. Costa is better than Arkin and Nagy, plus he can play center, backing up Andre Gurode.
Who the swing tackle will be is in question.
Last year it was Alex Barron and after Sunday's efforts that appears to be an issue as well.
"We didn’t play quite as well with the backup group," coach Jason Garrett said. "They had some good defensive linemen in there [with the] second unit and we didn’t hold up quite as we needed too."
Backup offensive line didn't play well
August, 21, 2011
By Calvin Watkins
ARLINGTON, Texas -- When the night was over, the Cowboys running game averaged 4.8 yards per carry, but just 2.7 in the third quarter.
There were three sacks, three tackles for loss and two quarterback hurries credited to the offensive line.
Did we mention backup left guard Pepa Letuli was benched in the middle of a third quarter series? Kevin Kowalski, who replaced Letuli, wasn't much better.
"It's disappointing for him," offensive line coach Hudson Houck said of Letuli. "Really it's disappointing for our team and that’s exactly what we did. The guy makes a couple of mistakes in a row, then he’s not going to be in there. I'm not going to put the runners or the quarterback in any jeopardy if we can help it."
Two backup linemen, tackles Sam Young (false start) and Jermey Parnell (holding) were called for penalties.
After the first week of the preseason, there was a thought the Cowboys backup offensive line was getting better. With starter Montrae Holland out with his back injury, the Cowboys tried out Phil Costa, David Arkin and Bill Nagy at the left guard position. Arkin started the preseason opener and Nagy got the call on Sunday vs. the Chargers.
Houck was to the point when asked about his backup offensive linemen's performance: "We have to see [the tape]. I don't think it was very good, obviously, but we didn't run the ball very well. Too many penalties."
Whenever Holland returns, it should soldify the first-team line. Costa is better than Arkin and Nagy, plus he can play center, backing up Andre Gurode.
Who the swing tackle will be is in question.
Last year it was Alex Barron and after Sunday's efforts that appears to be an issue as well.
"We didn’t play quite as well with the backup group," coach Jason Garrett said. "They had some good defensive linemen in there [with the] second unit and we didn’t hold up quite as we needed too."
