The Dallas Cowboys have been battling offensive line issues the past few years and the remaking of the unit continued into this weekend’s draft. Dallas selected center Travis Frederick in the first round but he was considered by most scouts to be a third round pick.
I’m willing to put aside what other scouts say because that matters very little because when it comes right down to it, the only thing that matter is what your scouts say. The Cowboys liked Frederick and they drafted him, and there is something to be said for the Cowboys sticking to their guns and drafting a player they liked.
What matters more to me is that Dallas hired Bill Callahan, an offensive line guru, two years ago to fix their offensive line and he’s left plenty to be desired. Last off-season the Cowboys signed two average, at best, offensive linemen to over $30 million worth of salary cap dollars instead of signing one stud lineman that could have made a bigger difference. Mackenzy Bernadeau and Nate Livings were players that Callahan wanted and believed in but they were not good enough in their first seasons in Dallas.
Now the Cowboys have drafted a player that most people don’t think is as good as his draft status so the question must be asked; are the Cowboys being influenced too much by Bill Callahan? The Cowboys have now overrated three players because they believe in the ability of Callahan to coach them up.
That’s all fine and dandy but if the player’s talent isn’t there, all the coaching in the world won’t help. I’m not trying to disparage Callahan’s work but it is fair to ask if the Cowboys are putting too much stock in Callahan and not enough in the players? Sure the Cowboys need to better develop their offensive linemen but they also need better players to coach.
Bill Callahan is a good offensive line coach and the Cowboys are lucky to have him, but they may be putting too much stock in him and not enough in the players.
