Our offensive line play

[*SHRacerX*]

(10-09-2018, 01:16 AM)wcu Wrote: Our oline play is far from perfect, but it’s sooo much better than last year. It’s well documented on these boards that most think Paul Alexander was a major part of the problem. I’ve certainly wondered how he would fair in Dallas with their all world oline talent. Here are excerpts from two recent articles.

“Late in Sunday's game, the Fox broadcasters talked about Seahawks offensive line coach Mike Solari. Cowboys fans might be interested to know that Solari was Garrett's top candidate to replace Frank Pollack, fired after last season. Solari was apparently on campus, but the Cowboys didn't lock him down. He was quickly hired by the Seahawks and the Cowboys scrambled to hire longtime Bengals offensive line coach Paul Alexander. Everything was fine until we started seeing this O-line getting overwhelmed in losses to the Panthers and Seahawks. It's one thing when a rookie left guard is getting blown off the ball, but why is All-Pro Zack Martin getting shoved back to his quarterback? There are whispers that I'm hearing that Alexander has taught a completely different blocking technique than what players such as Frederick, Tyron Smith and Martin learned under Bill Callahan. It seems crazy you would make fundamental changes to the best aspect of this Cowboys offense. Former Cowboys coach and scout Glenn "Stretch" Smith makes some good points on this developing story in this week's Doomsday Podcast. This appears to be an unforced error by this organization that makes absolutely no sense.”

“Dak’s problems are real, but so are the problems of the offensive line. Tyron Smith isn’t the Tyron Smith of two years ago. La’el Collins is still hit and miss. Connor Williams is learning, but it’s on the hon and sometimes that can be painful. As a whole, this offensive line is nothing like it was a few years ago. It’s a serious issue, and we might not be able to coach our way out of it. It may take some personnel changes down the line.”

There’s also no shortage of forum posts lamenting the fact that Alexander was hired. It seems we’ve been somewhat vindicated. I just wonder what the last few years could have been like with more competent oline play.

Definitely not sorry he is gone and I am not making excuses for the man, but he did lose an All-Pro Center in Frederick to Guillen-Barre Syndrome, a very serious neurological condition.   That really hurt their inside rushing attack and protections.