Tag: T.J. Bass

Succession: Cowboys don’t have to fear Zack Martin’s looming retirement

This may be the last season for Zack Martin in Dallas, but the Cowboys are prepared to survive the loss. | From @ReidDHanson

When Zack Martin suggested retirement would be a distinct possibility after the upcoming season, it caught some Cowboys fans off guard. For 10 years the Notre Dame product has been the gold standard at the guard position for Dallas and throughout the league. The thought of 2024 being his last season in the NFL is enough to make any football fan melancholy.

Martin is a seven-time First-Team All-Pro; he’s considered a shoo-in for the Hall of Fame and Ring of Honor and destined to go down as one of the greatest ever to play the game; regardless of team, regardless of position. When he eventually retires, his loss on the Cowboys will be felt. It’s unavoidable but doesn’t have to be as detrimental as retirements of yesteryear.

The Cowboys have felt the pain from sudden retirements before. When injuries pushed Troy Aikman out of the game, Dallas had no one lined up to replace him. When a neck-spine issue forced Michael Irvin to hang up the spikes, the Cowboys were not in position to replace him. Even recently when Travis Frederick suddenly retired, the Cowboys found themselves ill-prepared to replace the perennial All-Pro at center. But when Martin decides to call it quits, be it this year or later down the road, the Cowboys should find themselves in decent position to move forward.

The Cowboys have made their offensive line a priority as of late. They recently used two of their top three picks in the draft to address the position group and still have a handful of promising young prospects developing on the roster.

One prospect in particular, T.J. Bass, projects as a starting quality interior lineman ready to make the leap into the starting ranks. Bass impressed in limited action in 2023 and appears to have all the tools to be a plus-level OG in the NFL. As an undrafted free agent, he comes with a far more modest ceiling than Martin, but he’s shown enough to instill confidence Dallas could survive a sudden retirement from Martin.

The timing of Martin’s looming departure is also somewhat fortuitous for the Cowboys. His exit wouldn’t disrupt a fine-tuned cohesive unit because the offensive line is in a state of flux these days. Someone like Martin would be welcomed on any offensive line but if he has to walk away, now is a good time since the Cowboys are undergoing a regime change up front.

The unit as a whole is going through a pretty clear personnel churn. There are a number of possible outcomes that could unfold, and it could prove beneficial for Dallas if they don’t have to commit to a blueprint right here and right now. It also suggests Bass won’t be wasting away on the bench while Martin finishes up his career.

Tyron Smith and Tyler Biadasz have both left and Dallas hopes to install Tyler Guyton and Cooper Beebe in their place. If things go according to plan, Tyler Smith will then stay at left guard and Bass would be a reserve free to slide into Martin’s spot at RG whenever the day should arise.

If Beebe should struggle, Bass or Brock Hoffman could be the possible fix at center for the 2024 season. At that point the Cowboys will be happy they have Bass waiting in the wings and free to float. If Guyton struggles early, Tyler Smith can slide over to left tackle, paving the way for Bass at left guard. Again, the Cowboys will consider themselves lucky to have someone like Bass standing by.

Losing someone of Martin’s caliber is never a good thing, but the timing and the preparation all make this an ideal time for the unavoidable to happen. The fact it’s not happening immediately is also important because it allows the Cowboys to adjust to the changing circumstances up front and keep their top reserve, Bass, available to fill in where needs dictate.

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Fishing for a spot: Tyler Guyton pick may mean Bass is out of starting opportunity

The addition of Tyler Guyton has repercussions down the roster with this Cowboys player likely to lose a starting opportunity. | From @ReidDHanson

The dominos are starting to fall. For months no one knew whether the Cowboys were going to address center first or left tackle first. Center would indicate Tyler Smith was on his way to LT while drafting a LT would indicate Smith is staying at left guard.

Smith was going to start in either situation but the players filling in the gaps around him didn’t face the same level of assuredness in 2024. Smith moving to LT would bump T.J. Bass to the top of depth chart at LG. Bass had a standout season in spot duty as a rookie and appears to have starting potential in the NFL.

But with Smith staying at LG, those starting lineup dreams get put on the backburner. There’s no better guard duo in the league than Zack Martin and Smith and unless Bass throws his hat into the ring at center, he’s likely to be a reserve lineman in 2024.

Bass may not have to wait long to get a starting opportunity back. Minus the void years, Martin is playing on the last year of his deal, and at age 35 may be ready to retire in 2025. Bass, 25, would then be the favorite to replace him.

Bass, a second-year player out of Oregon, has been just the latest success story of undrafted gems the Cowboys have found. His size, movement and strength make him future starting material, and his ability to play both sides make him presently the ideal reserve.

In a parallel universe the Cowboys would have drafted Graham Barton at 24 and handed the starting LG gig to Bass. But the timeline in the here and now has different plans for Bass. Guyton’s addition likely means Bass’s dreams of starting will have to wait another year. He’s one of the first dominos to fall into place but he won’t be the last.

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RASmatazz: Athleticism not a problem for Cowboys’ projected OL

If the Cowboys are forced to play with their current offensive line projection, their Relative Athletic Scores should provide optimism. | From @ReidDHanson

The Cowboys offensive line is in a state of flux. LT Tyron Smith and OC Tyler Biadasz left in free agency opening up enormous holes in the starting lineup. Dallas would like to fill at least one of those vacancies with a rookie draft pick this April. But with so many roster needs and so much unpredictability in the draft, there’s no telling how successful that strategy will be.

If the Cowboys fail in their attempts to fill these starting roles through the draft, they will need to get creative with their preexisting internal options. While there is definitely room for growth in performance, the underlying core trait of athleticism is certainly in the house for the majority of the projected starters if the team is unable to augment the group.

The general consensus the team moving Tyler Smith to LT, T.J. Bass taking over at LG, Brock Hoffman elevating to OC, Zack Martin staying at RG and Terence Steele giving it another go at RT.

The Smith-Bass-Hoffman-Martin-Steele quintet isn’t ideal, but it would allow the Cowboys to focus on other needs like DT, RB and LB early. Bass, Hoffman and Steele are all young undrafted players and would give Dallas a low-pedigree offensive line in 2024.

Is it realistic to think that would work? Is it even realistic to think the Cowboys would allow such an experiment to take place?

Under Will McClay the Cowboys have frequently leaned on the analytics of the prospects in order to make draft decisions. They believe in measurables such as arm length, wingspan, height, weight, and explosiveness in making their draft decisions. Players often need to meet minimum thresholds to be considered in Dallas. How they stack up against other NFL players at their position matters so no one should take Combine numbers or pro day numbers lightly.

Relative Athletic Score (RAS) is a metric used to gauge an NFL draft prospect’s athletic standing relative to the position in which he plays. Using measurables such as height, weight, speed, and other athletic drills, RAS creator Kent Lee Platte can compare a prospect against his positional peers to show teams how this player stacks up against others in the NFL.

RAS is exactly the type of thing the Cowboys care about when making draft decisions. It’s not the end-all be-all in the process nor is it more important than film, but it plays a critical role in determining future success.

Despite being undrafted, Steele and Bass both posted excellent RAS scores as prospects. Bass’s 40-yard dash was his only true blemish but his size, strength and 10-yard split more than made up for it. Steele’s explosiveness wasn’t great but his physical measurements and speed were top notch.

The weak link on this proposed lineup is without question at center with Hoffman. Hoffman’s RAS is less than inspiring which is why Bass might be considered in the mix at center if a plug-and-play LT is acquired early in the draft.

None of this data indicates the quality of play these players will deliver but it shows at least four of them have the physical ability to form a good offensive line and that’s certainly a step in the right direction.

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Cowboys’ offensive line already accounts for almost 25% of ’24 salary cap

Following the money spent on the offensive line finds Dallas’ depth impressive but two big holes have to be filled. | From @ArmyChiefW3

Budgeting for the offensive line is not an easy task as this group, whose numbers normally hover around 10 every season, can consume a large portion of a team’s salary cap. Even when only one player is paid top dollar, the amount of money spent on linemen can be a burden based on sheer numbers. With so many teams across the league scrambling for viable options, Dallas has assembled a cast of young hopefuls that could provide depth for the next few years.

The Cowboys will need to address the starting left tackle position this offseason, and although the upcoming draft is full of options, bringing back Tyron Smith could be the smart play. So could an agreement with center Tyler Biadasz, who is slated to hit the open market for the first time in his career. Here’s a rundown of what is currenly on the ledger for the group going into 2024.

T.J. Bass, Brock Hoffman give Cowboys crucial interior depth for playoff run

For most of the year it seemed the Cowboys were an injury away from disaster on their O-line, but the emergence of two OGs changes that. | From @ReidDHanson

Over the 2023 offseason, the Cowboys did a spectacular job of filling in holes and building up depth across the roster. They retained their top free agents, signed a few veterans, and conducted a needs-based draft. The result was a championship-level roster capable of withstanding the unavoidable injury here or there. Except for one position group it seemed.

After a full offseason, the Cowboys offensive line was still disturbingly fragile. Dallas failed to select an offensive lineman over the first two days of the draft and did little to instill confidence they could survive a loss to anyone in their starting five.

Throughout the 2023 season their depth would be tested. Injuries at LT, RG and RG gave opportunities to Chuma Edoga, T.J. Bass and Brock Hoffman. While none of them where spectacular in their fill-ins, Bass and Hoffman showed they might have some promise in the NFL. Bass played 344 snaps throughout the season while Hoffman logged 222. The two undrafted interior linemen appeared to develop as the season progressed and finished in Week 18 with their best performances to-date.

It took until the final regular season game of the year, but the Cowboys may have finally discovered they have decent depth on the offensive line after all.

In all fairness, the tackle positions still hold a significant amount of concern. If Smith misses time at LT, Edoga represents an enormous step down in the starting lineup. And since Terence Steele is still struggling mightily in pass protection, there often aren’t enough extra resources available to keep pass rushers at bay.

But the viability of Bass and Hoffman in the interior is comforting regardless. They are on the up-swing in their development and have enough snaps under their belts to seemingly hit the ground running should something happen this postseason.

A final piece of credit is also due to the Cowboys coaching staff and Dak Prescott’s internal clock. With replacements on the field, the Cowboys haven’t just charged on with that “next man up” attitude of old. They’ve often adjusted for the circumstance.

When both starting guards were out last week, the Cowboys sped up the offense and kept responsibilities reasonable. Throughout the season, Prescott has averaged 2.69 seconds to throw. With Bass and Hoffman starting, they dropped that number to 2.4 seconds. Mike McCarthy and Prescott likely understood the limitations and adjusted. It’s a smart move not all teams are willing to do.

It’s been a group effort, and it took until the last week of the season to truly feel it, but the Cowboys have finally found depth on their offensive line.

Dallas expects to have both starting guards back against Green Bay in Round 1 of the playoffs, but it’s good to know the Cowboys could survive a hit to their interior ranks and still survive.

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Breaking down Chargers’ selections in The Athletic’s latest 7-round mock draft

Breaking down each selection for the Chargers in The Athletic’s Dane Brugler’s latest seven-round mock draft.

The Athletic’s Dane Brugler released his new seven-round mock draft on Monday.

Brugler pays close attention to fit (scheme and culture), draft trends, meetings, etc, rather than his own opinion.

The highly-touted draft analyst kicked off the Chargers draft with the selection of Utah tight end Dalton Kincaid.

Here is what Brugler said about the pick:

Talking to one team source about Kincaid’s back injury, there is concern that Kincaid might not be ready for minicamp but no long-term worries, which is obviously good news for the tight end. Justin Herbert would love to see this projection come to fruition on draft night because it would give him arguably the best pure pass catcher in the entire draft.

Kincaid has been pegged as a top target for Los Angeles throughout the draft cycle, given their need to address the position as they search for a bonafide No. 1 TE since Hunter Henry.

Kincaid is a prolific receiver with great hands who can win all over the field with his athleticism and play speed and can create yards after the catch. He would be a good weapon for Justin Herbert from Day 1.

In Round 2, the Chargers selected South Carolina cornerback Cam Smith.

J.C. Jackson is unlikely to be ready to go at the start of the 2023 season as he will still be recovering from the knee injury he sustained in Week 7. Plus, as long as Brandon Staley is head coach, Los Angeles will always be in the market for corners. So it wouldn’t be surprising to see them target one early.

At 6-foot-1 and 189 pounds, Smith has the size and length that Staley covets in players at the position. He is a very sound player with fluid hips and footwork to mirror receivers, an aggressive nature and ball skills.

In Round 3, L.A. took USC edge defender Tuli Tuipulotu.

The Chargers need more players capable of disrupting opposing quarterbacks behind Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack. Tuipolutu, the 6-foot-3 and 266-pounder, has shown plenty to fit that billing, having logged 42 pressures and 13.5 sacks last season.

In Round 4, Los Angeles selected Oklahoma running back Eric Gray.

Whether Austin Ekeler is traded or not, it’s unlikely he won’t be on the team beyond the 2023 season at this point, so they will be in search of players to fill out that room. Gray is an explosive and physical runner with the receiving chops to eventually take over a backfield.

In Round 5, L.A. drafted Princeton wide receiver Andrei Iosivas.

It’s no secret that the Bolts must inject more speed into the wideout group. Iosivas, a three-time Ivy League champion in the indoor heptathlon, would do just that. While his routes need more refinement, Iosivas can get to top speed vertically quickly and outpace defenders in the open.

In Round 6, the Chargers took California safety Daniel Scott.

JT Woods is still a work in progress. Alohi Gilman is slated to start alongside Derwin James as it stands, but they would benefit from another playmaker on the back end. Scott is an experienced and intelligent player who can man the deep parts of the field and serve as a core special teamer.

To close out the draft, Los Angeles drafted Oregon guard T.J. Bass.

The interior part of the offensive line has its starters set with Zion Johnson, Corey Linsley and Jamaree Salyer. But depth is needed. Bass is a decent athlete with good lower-body strength that shows up in the run game and is aware in pass protection. He offers the versatility to play tackle in a pinch.

Assessing T.J. Bass’s performance at the 2023 NFL Combine

TJ Bass had a solid showing at the NFL Combine, but he can certainly stand to gain some ground at Oregon’s Pro Day.

It makes sense that they’re saving the big boys for the final day of the 2023 NFL Combine. While a lot of people like to tune in and watch the quarterbacks and wide receivers work and check out the defensive backs who make the highlight plays, it is often the men up front in the trenches who have some of the biggest impacts on the game.

For the Oregon Ducks, there will be a lot to watch on Sunday in Indianapolis, with three of the six former players taking the field. Alex Forsyth, Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu, and T.J. Bass are all going through drills and working to up their draft stock ahead of April.

Here is our breakdown of everything that Bass was able to do on Sunday at the combine.

Browns bolster their putrid front seven in this 2023 NFL Mock Draft

A front seven makeover for Jim Schwartz

The Cleveland Browns are handing over the defensive reigns to new defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz hoping to turn around that unit. The Browns’ current roster aligns well with what he asks his defensive backs to do. But if the team wants a total defensive turnaround the defensive line and front seven need improvement.

This draft has plenty of options and fun prospects along the defensive line and is a much better defensive tackle class than last year’s. The Browns will likely attack the interior defensive line in free agency by adding some young pieces through the draft.

Now for this week’s seven-round Browns mock draft.

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