Cowboys Preseason Thoughts

It's Tuesday night. I'm watching the Astros are on WGN, listening to the Rangers are on the radio (thank God for the internet) and I'm writing about the Cowboys. How's that for a sports geek trifecta?

The Cowboys are thru one preason game which I watched on the NFL network. Alot is being written about TO and Tony Romo and I wanted to weigh in with my two cents about the 2006 season. I think it comes down to one thing, actually five things: the offensive line. It was the deciding factor of the 2005 season when they started out 7-3 and well on their way to the post season, then lost 4 of their last 6, chocking out of the playoffs and letting the Giants and Redskins in. But instead of seriously addressing the offensive line, they go in with more questions. I think the season rests on the performance of the offensive line. If they play well, the cowboys have a chance at the Super Bowl, if not they can be 5-11, ok, 7-9.

Each of the offensive linemen have questions. Let's take a look:
Tackles:
1. Flozell Adams is coming off major knee problems. When he went down last year the Boys had two matadors at the tackles spots (Torrin Tucker and Rob Petitti (more on him later) and Drew Bledsoe got killed. The news on him from camp is encouraging, but bad knees are tough to come back from. If he can get it back to '03 and '04 ProBowl form, then great. If not, expect Bledsoe to run for his life (or stand their like a statue and get killed).
2. Rob Pettiti was the aformentioned matador that got Bledsoe killed in the later part of the season. He was a rookie 6th round pick who should have been sitting on the Bench, but when Jacob Rogers wussed out he was thrust in there. Again, the vibes out of camp this year are good, but he is still a question mark against Strahan, Kearse and every other speek rusher in the league.
3. Mark Colombo was a 1st round bust for Chicago and now he's supposed to be a top back up or maybe even a starter? I'm nervous.
4. Pat Mcquistin and Jason Fabini are on opposite sides. The former is a rookie 7th round pick. He may have talent, but he better watch this year or else the season has good horribly wrong. Fabini is a nine year vet who has struggled with injuries the last couple of years. He may not even make the team.
Gaurds:
1. Marco Rivera was a big disappointment last year as a big free agent signing. He struggled with injuries to his back and was a never a force. Maybe this year will be different, but we'll see.
2. Kyle Kosier is this years big free agent signing replacing Larry Allen who is plying his trade in San Fran. He won't be the steam roller Allen was, but Kosier is more athletic. However, last year he got benched by Detroit. Again, not much to get excited about.
3. Backups: a gaggle of spares led by Cory Proctor and Stephen Peterman (a former 3rd round pick).
Centers:
1. Andre Gurode was the back up last year and I didn't even think they would bring him back, but they did. He's much bigger and more athletic then the other center on the team, but he's evidently dumb as a stump, missing assignments, etc. They say that Parcells will start him until he starts blowing plays.
2. Al Johnson is decent center, but he's smaller than I am and gets pushed around by larger DTs.

In other words, 9 players (not counting the round spares backing up at gaurd) and 9 question marks. I can't imagine all nine coming up positive. I was shocked when the Cowboys selected a back up tight end in the second instead of an offensive lineman. Then a defensive end instead of an offensive lineman. I guess when you look back at their recent history taking OLs early (Jacob Rogers-2nd, Stephen Peterman-3rd, Al Johnson-2nd), maybe they shouldn't have picked one.

To me everything else looks good. There are questions at free saftey and there's a lack of depth at WR (and now injury questions with TO, Terry Glen, and Patrick Crayton). But the big question mark is the offensive line. As the line goes, so goes the season.