What Will Happen to Tyron Smith?

By:  Bobby Shores

Lost in the shuffle of all the Cowboys free agency madness is the effect that this will have on last years rookie standout Tyron Smith. At the season's end the whole world was ready to stick him at left tackle for the next 10 years and not worry about, unfortunately I think there is more to this than meets the eye......

After an outstanding rookie year last year, coupled with Doug Free's struggles, the decision was made (correctly I think) to move Smith to the left side and Free back to the right, where he excelled in seasons past. The Cowboys not only changed Smith's position, they also replaced the only offensive line coach he had ever known (yes, I know it was only 1 year, but I have to make this more dramatic to make my point) in Hudson Houck with Bill Callahan, on-field mentor Kyle Kosier is being cut who was also responsible for making all the line calls, every other position on the line will probably be different, he is still very young and will not be 22 until the regular season is almost over, he is a Top 10 Pick, he plays in Dallas at the most important position on the offensive line and everybody from the media to the fans keep assuming that left tackle has been secured for the next 10 years.

Yea, that is a lot of change for such a young guy.......Let's look at each one in some more detail.....

Before the start of the 2011 season, the Cowboys made the decision to move veteran offensive guard Kyle Kosier to the right side to help Smith develop, and help him he did. Not only has Kosier been responsible for making the offensive line calls (usually the job of the center), he was able to make sure that Smith knew what to do and how to do it, and was there to help him when he got in trouble. Kosier basically acted as his on-field mentor, and I am not sure that there is anybody currently on the roster than can replace him.

The move to the premier position on the offensive line, the left side, is another big change for Smith. While he was in the spotlight as a Top 10 pick and instant starter last year, moving to left tackle will really put him under the microscope. Not only are two of the Cowboys division foes in the Top 5 in sacks (Eagles & Giants), the Redskins only missed being in the Top 10 by 1 sack, and now Smith will face the top rusher on each team rather than the second or third best rusher.

Another big change for Smith is that the only offensive line coach he has known in the NFL, Hudson Houck, retired after the season. While I have no reason to believe that his replacement, Bill Callahan, is not as good (or even better) than him, I know that they had a special relationship and spent hours after practice and in the film room together. Houck was integral to Smith's success last season, and I only hope that Smith and Callahan are able to form a similar bond.

Continuity is a big part of helping young players develop in the early years of their career, and not only is rookie phenom Smith losing his mentors in Kosier and Houck, it appears that every other position on the line will be different as well, of course there was not a lot of continuity last year either. With the signing of Nate Livings and Mackenzy Bernadeau to most likely replace Kosier and Montrae Holland while the Center position is completely wide open. Stability will be needed at the left guard position for Smith as I am a firm believer that many of the Doug Free's struggles last season can be attributed to the revolving door at the guard spot next to him.

Finally, the reasons I think he could struggle this year is that he is still only 21 years old, playing in one of (if not THE) the most scrutinized football markets in the NFL, playing a highly scrutinized position as a Top 10 pick who excelled his rookie year. All this means there will be lots of pressure for him to build on his rookie success regardless of age, position change, coaching changes, personnel changes, etc.

Changes the Cowboys Need to Make NOW (Part 2)!

By:  Bobby Shores

(This is the second part of a two part series, the first part was released last week)


Yesterday and today we are taking a look at some changes that the Cowboys need to make NOW! While I know that most of them cannot be made until after the season, they need to start preparing, the window of opportunity with this core group of players is closing, and due to mismanagement of the players, coaches, staff, etc. this core group of players has not achieved what their talent level says they should have.

Cowboys Right Tackle Tyron Smith

3) Move Doug Free to Right Tackle and Tyron Smith to Left Tackle - After looking like a Top 10 left tackle last year and being rewarded with a big contract this year it looked like we would be set at left tackle for a couple of years and let Tyron Smith develop slowly at the right tackle spot. The $32 million contract for Free, a young player who looked like a Top 10 Left Tackle seemed like a steal, now it looks like we may have an overpaid Right Tackle.

After a year in which Free has looked like the rookie and Smith has looked like the chiseled veteran it is past time to move them. Free started off on the right side and excelled when he replaced Marc Columbo a couple years back and Smith looks mature beyond his years (mentioned previously here & here) and ready to handle the premier pass rushers of the NFL. Free cannot handle the speed rush or power rush moves of the elite defenders anymore, and it has been obvious nearly every single game this year. This change needs to be made soon before Romo suffers another serious injury.

5) Hire an Offensive Coordinator(OC) - I touched on this in last week's article, but I felt the need to touch on it again here, even after I felt that he called the best game since he took over as head coach this past week against the New York Giants. So what is my problem you are asking? As a head coach I feel you need to be involved in all facets of the game, offense, defense, special teams, etc., and while I don't know for sure I have a feeling that while the Cowboys defense was collapsing, Garrett was to busy dialing up offensive strategy for the next drive instead of helping Rob Ryan plug the hole.

Jerry Jones needs to force Garrett to hire an OC and/or pass/run game coordinators, either way he would still maintain final say over the game plan and play calls, but would also be able to help the defense and special teams. While Garrett is an offensive guy by trade, as a head coach and football lifer he should know enough about the other facets of the game to offer advice and help them reach their potential.

Recently Fired HC's Tony Sparano & Todd Haley

While I believe that Norv Turner is the logical offensive coordinator, if the Cowboys decide to go the route of passing and/or running game coordinator, there are already some good options out there, options that have a history with the Cowboys. Tony Sparano and Todd Haley. Both of these guys are recently fired head coaches who will need to prove themselves in a lesser capacity if they wish to reach the pinnacle of professional football again. With head coaching experience they will be able to help Garrett manage the game and the clock better and should know their role on the team and how to maintain that role.

The need for Garrett to focus more on the "big picture" reared its ugly head again this week when precious seconds ticked away at the end of the game with the Giants on the 1-yard line. The "Andy Reid" style of clock mismanagement has got to stop, and the only way is for Garrett to focus on the entire team and not just the offense.

What do you guys think of the changes? While I know that these are not exhaustive lists, I think they are a good starting point. Let me know what else, or what else we should do differently in the comments.

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Doug Free is "Free" to leave the Cowboys

Ok, I know I need some work in the headline department, but with the deadline passing for teams to use the "Franchise tag" on players I was very surprised to see that the Cowboys did not tag Doug Free.

Doug Free was drafted in the 4th round (122nd overall) in the 2007 draft out of Northern Illinois.  He barely played at all (partially due to a back injury) until 2009, in that year he came in at right tackle and played the last 7 games of the regular season for Marc Colombo after he broke his leg.  While offensive line play largely goes unnoticed, everyone noticed when the Cowboys lined up against the Vikings in that playoff game.  Colombo was back off the injured list from his broken leg and even though he hadn't played in weeks, and Doug Free was doing an exceptional job at RT, the Cowboys still started Colombo over him.  In that game Colombo was apparently not fully recovered because I believe he gave up no less than 3 sacks and 4-5 QB hurries against the Viking's 2nd best defensive end (Ray Edwards).  Somebody with more time than me can check those stats.  Doug Free does not get a free pass for that game though because Flozell Adams went out early with a calf injury and Free replaced him at left tackle and he struggled with Jared Allen.  I cut him some slack since he had been playing on the opposite side with different techniques for the majority of the season and it is difficult to come in and play the opposite side against one of the premier pass rushers in the league. After the season the Cowboys had seen enough of Doug Free and how good he could be to release Flozell Adams and move Free to the 2nd most important position on the field, Left Tackle, protecting the franchise QB's blind side.

While the 2010 season was a huge disappointment for the Cowboys and especially the offensive line, the one bright spot was Doug Free.  He was the anchor and most reliable part of the Cowboys offensive line, and he was doing it at the most important position.  If you look at the rest of their offensive line it goes something like this:
Left Guard-Kyle Kosier - 2nd best lineman last year, 32 years old, very good pulling guard, contract expired, has trouble staying healthy, if they cannot get Logan Mankins (must be new CBA first) and don't draft instant help then they should sign him to a 1-year "prove you can stay healthy" deal.
Center-Andre Gurode - 32 years old, earned a Pro Bowl berth based on reputation, has declined rapidly the past 2 seasons.  I believe he is still a good center and that his decline is largely based on having to help Kosier's replacements at LG and constantly having to help Leonard Davis on the other side of him because Davis is constantly getting beat.
Right Guard-Leonard Davis - 32 years old, looks to be overweight the last 2 seasons and not worth the big money that he is due anymore.  Whether its weight or just getting old, Davis's problem is he gets beat off the line consistently.  Against the 4-3 defenses the 3-technique is past him and in the backfield before he even gets out of his stance.  The only thing he does good anymore is head on blocking when the guy is right in front of him.
Right Tackle-Marc Colombo - 32 years old, to slow getting off the line, it looks like all the injuries he has had in his career are finally catching up to him.  I don't see much use for Colombo anymore on the Cowboys, he is to slow to play tackle and I do not think he is strong or big enough to play guard.  They need to cut their losses.

Back to the original reason I started this post, why not place the franchise tag on Doug Free?  He plays the second most important position on the offense, is young at only 27 years old, just coming into his prime.  When I compare him to the other top notch young LT's in this league I only see Cleveland's Joe Thomas as being definitely better.  I see him being on the same level as Miami's Jake Long (maybe a little better) and he is definitely better than the Raven's Michael Oher.  The only reason he is not a bigger name is because he was drafter in the 4th round and they are all 1st round picks.  Many of you may be thinking "they did not franchise him because of the $$$ it would take".  Well the franchise tag for O-linemen this year is about $10 million which is a good number for a franchise left tackle, and just because they franchise him does not mean they have to pay him all that.  It just means that if he leaves the Cowboys get 2 first round draft picks and they have the right to work out a long term contract with him.  Now it looks like they are going to let him hit the open market where he will be the #1 free agent offensive lineman and there are plenty of teams that will pay a lot of money to have a true franchise left tackle protecting the face of their franchise.  Of course Jerry Jones will probably beat any deal out there, but why risk it, why would you let someone have the opportunity to run the price up?  Franchise left tackle's don't walk through the door every day....

What will probably happen is the Cowboys will tender him with the highest tender, meaning he can negotiate with other teams and the Cowboys have the right to match any offer he receives.  If they do not match the offer then they will receive a 1st & 3rd round draft pick as compensation, while that seems like a lot, look at the Cowboys history of drafting and developing offensive lineman....its bad.  The last homegrown offensive lineman that was any good was Larry Allen, next is Andre Gurode and it took a long time for him to develop and he has only had 1 or 2 real good years.  Cowboys fans better hope that Doug Free is not allowed to go 'Free"....yea it was a bad pun