Tag: Travis Frederick

Cowboys needs at OT could be resolved by drafting CMU’s Bernhard Raimann

Tyler Browning (@DiabeticTyler) puts the intriguing, still-new-to-football offensive lineman from Central Michigan under the microscope with a Cowboys lens.

The Dallas Cowboys once made it their mission to build one of, if not the best offensive lines in football. The Cowboys invested three first-round picks in four drafts on this group at the start of the last decade. One of them, center Travis Fredrick, has since retired and left tackle Tyron Smith is constantly dealing with injury, missing parts or most of each of the last five seasons. Is it time the Cowboys start looking at reinvesting to ensure Dak Prescott is protected?

Their performance in the wild-card round certainly leans in that direction. Central Michigan’s left tackle Bernhard Rainmann is an interesting prospect for Dallas as he’s still relatively knew to play the sport. He didn’t start until the age of 14 so he is still developing as a player.

It shows up in his power, footwork, and I’m sure there is room to grow IQ wise. He is a fantastic athlete, with good movement skills and good initial hand placement. If the Cowboys didn’t want to have to spend a 1st rounder on another lineman and still get a good developmental replacement for Tyron; this might be their best chance.

 

2 Cowboys ranked as best 1st-round picks per slot in last 15 years

Two Dallas Cowboys made PFF’s list of best draft picks at their respective draft slot in the last 15 seasons.

Pro Football Focus recently named the best player at each draft slot in the last 15 NFL drafts. While they may not have reaped much playoff success off their hauls, right near the top of the list sit the Dallas Cowboys.

The Cowboys had three clear candidates for this experiment with Tyron Smith, Travis Frederick, and Zack Martin, all who are Hall of fame Caliber players. Ultimately, Frederick and Martin were the two that made the cut for their draft slots of 31 and 16, respectively.

Smith was noted as an honorable mention for the best No. 9 pick, behind former Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly, but had Smith’s health been better in recent seasons he may have been the third Cowboy selected to the list.

Earlier in the week PFF conducted a similar demonstration but in reverse, as they found the worst draft picks from each first-round slot in the last 15 seasons. Thankfully, the Cowboys were not featured there, avoiding catastrophic picks. That being said, let’s take a look at PFF’s reasoning for the two Cowboys that made the positive version of the list.

Center of Attenion: Tyler Biadasz appears ready to ascend to Cowboys throne

After a strong offseason Cowboys second-year center Tyler Biadasz is looking to become the full-time anchor for the Dallas offensive line.

The Dallas Cowboys concluded their offseason work this past week, and outside of the rookie class, the players are off until training camp. The OTAs and veteran minicamp allowed observers to see who has stepped up their game since last season. One of those players was center Tyler Biadasz, who by all accounts is primed to take the starting center role and run with it.

Biadasz had a few specific goals for the 2021 offseason that he noted in his exit interviews from the previous year, one of which was to get more in sync with the man who helps him start each play, Dak Prescott.

The second-year center is doing everything he can to achieve that goal. From attending extra sessions with the quarterbacks and wide outs to help establish that familiarity, to getting the majority of the first team offensive reps, Biadasz is happy with the progress he and Prescott have made.

“We are on the same page.” Biadasz told the media, before exclaiming that he’s focused on becoming the best version of himself possible.

It’s hard for one to become the best version of themselves. They must build healthy habits by sacrificing things they once loved.

“I was a big french toast guy.” Biadasz told USA Today’s Jori Epstein. “It is one of my favorite breakfasts. I don’t eat it anymore.”

Biadasz path to improvement is far more than just giving up some of his favorite meals, as he added that he’s picked up yoga and he’s stretching more, not to mention attending the aforementioned offensive workout sessions to further his connection with Prescott, and much more.

Teammates are starting to take notice of Biadasz’ hard work as well. Just this week left tackle Tyron Smith commented on the growth of the Wisconsin native, stating,

“He’s grown quick. Ever since his first year, he came with a mature attitude. Very high energy, and we love it. You’d think the kid has been playing for four years.”

Right tackle La’el Collins joined in on the praise for the youngster.

“He’s just figured out everything that he needs to know being the center of the offensive line — making the calls. He’s speaking with more confidence. He’s asking the questions that you want a center to ask against certain different things, adjustments, and everything like that, what to do.”

Collins would go on to deliver Biadasz biggest compliment yet when he compared him to recent Cowboys center Travis Frederick.

“He reminds me a lot of Trav [Frederick]. He’s got a lot of Travis in him. He’s great to see because we all know how great Travis was.”

Biadasz even shares the same affinity for cargo shorts as Frederick, something his teammates poked fun at, and one of the many similarities between the two bearded-Wisconsinites.

Frederick was one of the best offensive lineman in Dallas’ history. The former Wisconsin product anchored the Cowboys line for the better part of the last decade before retiring in March of 2020. Some might say it is fitting that Frederick’s retirement ultimately helped paved the path in Dallas for his fellow Badger, Biadasz.

Biadasz now seems to have a firm grasp on the starting center job, but only time will tell if the Cowboys young center will live up to the lofty comparisons that his teammates have placed on him.

[listicle id=672078][vertical-gallery id=670875][lawrence-newsletter]

A former Badger center was behind Wisconsin hiring Gary Brown as running backs coach

The Wisconsin football hired former Dallas Cowboy running backs coach Gary Brown on Thursday, the hire made to replace the Badgers’ longtime

The Wisconsin football hired former Dallas Cowboy running backs coach Gary Brown on Thursday, the hire made to replace the Badgers’ longtime running backs coach John Settle who took a job at Kentucky a few weeks ago.

Brown comes to Wisconsin with an impressive resume, coaching running backs in Dallas for a seven-year period that saw three NFL rushing titles — one from DeMarco Murray and two from Ezekiel Elliot — and previous experience with the Cleveland Browns and Rutgers before that.

Head Coach Paul Chryst met with the media today ahead of the program beginning spring practice tomorrow. During the media availability, he touched on the program’s hire of Brown.

“We’re really excited to have the opportunity to work with [Gary] Brown,” Chryst said. “Obviously the fact that he was available, we feel fortunate.”

Chryst also revealed how the hire came to be, giving credit to a former Wisconsin and Dallas Cowboy center who actually ignited the process.

“We’re grateful that Gary [Brown] was available and the process was pretty cool,” Chryst said. “First, Travis Frederick reached out to me. Then pretty quickly I realized he’d be a great fit.”

While topping Settle’s 11-year resume that included developing running backs P.J. Hill, John Clay, Montee Ball, James White, Corey Clement, Dare Ogunbowale and Jonathan Taylor won’t be an easy feat, Brown comes to Madison with years of high-level experience with some of the NFL’s best.

Without former Wisconsin and Dallas Cowboy center Travis Frederick, we may be having a completely different conversation.

Contact/Follow us @TheBadgersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin news, notes, opinion and analysis.

[listicle id=29971]

 

 

 

Tyler Biadasz to miss time; Cowboys offensive line hamstrung again

The Dallas Cowboys offensive line takes yet another hit as rookie center Tyler Biadasz will be sidelined with a hamstring.

The Dallas Cowboys’ offensive line woes just won’t stop. A unit that was once among the best in the league has become a shell of itself, being forced to rotate players so often it’s become nearly impossible to track. If continuity is the name of the game, Dallas is losing in more ways than one.

The newest injury cropped up quite suddenly. During pregame warmups ahead of kickoff against the Pittsburgh Steelers, rookie center Tyler Biadasz was suddenly questionable. It turns out the hamstring pull is severe enough that he’ll miss a couple of weeks, according to Stephen Jones.

In his stead will be Joe Looney, who’s no stranger to filling in for Wisconsin centers. In 2018, when the now-retired Travis Frederick was battling Guillain-Barre Syndrome, he started every game of the season. Looney was named the 2020 starting center this offseason before an injury sidelined him after just one snap against the Cleveland Browns.

Since then, Biadasz has performed admirably, holding onto his starting position despite Looney’s return to form. Considering the team’s record, finding playing time for its youth movement is about all fans have to look forward to.

[vertical-gallery id=657423]

[lawrence-newsletter]

Pro Football Focus says Cowboys OL was a huge liability vs Rams

The Dallas Cowboys offensive line had real problems on Sunday night against the Los Angeles Rams, grading out as the third worst in the NFL.

It doesn’t take a football savant to recognize the offensive line for the Dallas Cowboys was beaten like a drum on Sunday night against the Los Angeles Rams. Quarterback Dak Prescott was under a seemingly endless barrage of pressure led by defensive tackle, and two-time Defensive Player of the Year Aaron Donald.

Luckily for Dallas, they won’t face him again in the regular season. Unluckily, the Cowboys are still missing right tackle La’el Collins for at least the next two weeks and there’s, for the first time in a long time, serious concern about the offensive line.

Pro Football Focus released their key takeaways from Week 1 and part of it reads like a hit piece on the Cowboys:

Led by Aaron Donald, the Los Angeles Rams caused Dak Prescott to play under fire throughout their Week 1 matchup. He was under pressure on 19 dropbacks, the second-most of the week. When a quarterback is under pressure that much, not many good things are going to happen for the offense … As a whole, the Dallas offensive line was the third-lowest graded unit of the day and lost the third-most reps.

As a whole, the Dallas offensive line was the third-lowest graded unit of the day and lost the third-most reps. Tackle Tyron Smith and center Joe Looney didn’t play poorly, as they earned pass-block grades of 77.3 and 69.1, respectively, but the other three (Connor Williams, Zack Martin and Terence Steele) offensive linemen struggled. All three were either beaten by a defender or allowed a pressure on six or more pass-block reps. While the Cowboys won’t face a player like Donald every week — and Martin is likely to bounce back, given he was the highest-graded active guard in pass protection from 2014-19 — Williams and Steele are two reasons to worry, especially with facing Grady Jarrett in Week 2.

It used to be these exact pieces praising the best line in football. Father time has taken its toll on the unit. Tyron Smith and Zack Martin both turn 30 this year. Travis Frederick retired. Combine that with the underwhelming play by 2018 second-round pick Connor Williams and it’s suddenly a group that has ugly warts.

Prior to the game, the football world was shocked to hear that right tackle would be manned by UDFA rookie Terence Steele from Texas Tech, and not veteran Cam Erving who was signed to be the swing tackle this past spring.

If the Cowboys weren’t pleased with Steele’s performance, they lost the opportunity to go with Erving when the latter sprained his MCL on special teams duty. When it rains it pours, even under the canopy of SoFi Stadium.

There’s no reason to expect it to be this bad for the entire year, but a team’s season can go south in a hurry if this specific issue doesn’t get fixed. Week 1 was a flat out reminder that nothing gold stays in the NFL, not even the Dallas Cowboys offensive line.

[vertical-gallery id=654143][lawrence-newsletter]

Looney Tunes: Earning starting nod again for Cowboys will be music to big man’s ears

When it comes to the 2020 Dallas Cowboys offensive line, Looney’s experience may key factor in open competition.

Joe Looney finds himself in a similar situation to the one he endured  in 2018. The unexpected loss of Travis Frederick has thrust him into the spotlight as the projected starting center for the 2020 Dallas Cowboys.

Entering his ninth season, Looney enters his fifth campaign with Dallas after re-signing in the offseason. If he earns the starting nod, it will be just the second time in his career he’s done so.

Looney was signed with the club in 2016 as a free agent. He started one game as an offensive lineman, the final Week 17 contest when the club was resting starters. He was a regular on the field, though, as he was often used as the sixth lineman, appearing in 11 other games in this capacity. That role continued in 2017, but despite not getting much on-field time, Looney was a huge factor in the locker room.

Literally, huge.

In 2018 his opportunity finally came in.

When Frederick announced he was diagnosed with Guillain–Barré Syndrome, it immediately ended any chance of him resuming his role as the starting center. Looney, having a few years of experience under his belt, was thrown into the starter’s role rather abruptly during the preseason. He started all 16 games for the Cowboys that year. For Dallas, it was a year surrounded by a lot of hype as they finished 10-6 after missing the playoffs the previous year.

 

Looney appeared as the starting center in their playoff win against the Seattle Seahawks that season, but the Cowboys found themselves on the losing end in the following round to the Los Angeles Rams.

The following year, Frederick made a triumphant return to the starting lineup, putting Looney back on the sidelines and limiting him to just one start, again in Week 17.

With the Cowboys having an amazing amount of roster turnover, and with them having an idea of Frederick’s plans they wisely rewarded Looney with a new one-year contract for 2020. The Cowboys were thought by some to suddenly have huge shoes to fill on their offensive line, but if Joe Looney didn’t have issues shining in this role in 2018, why couldn’t he do it again?

While all signs point to Joe Looney being the Cowboys starting center in 2020, he does have some younger players behind him on the current depth chart. It’s possible one or more could give him a run for his money and be named starter before opening night.

The left guard position could be a battle between the two Connors, third year man Connor Williams and Connor McGovern (coming back after his 2019 rookie stint was spent on injured reserved). Believe it or not, both names have been brought up to compete with Looney, as they both can shift over and play center. The Cowboys made a splash in the 2020 NFL Draft when they traded into the fourth round to select Wisconsin center Tyler Biadiasz. Of course, questions were raised surrounding the wisdom of inserting Biadiasz into the team’s starting lineup in his rookie year.

 

Left tackle Tyron Smith, right guard Zack Martin, and right tackle La’el Collins seem to have their positions solidified on the offensive line. Looney has the experience factor when entering the 2020 Dallas Cowboys training camp. He has more than proven he has the talent, skill, and size to be the starting center for the Cowboys this year. The youth behind him on the depth chart has plenty of potential and can serve as motivation for Looney, but when it comes to starting a new regime with a new head coach and staff, experience sometimes outweighs everything. Expect Looney to be the one snapping the ball to franchise quarterback Dak Prescott when the season kicks off in September.

This is part of our Countdown to the Regular Season player profile countdown. Up next is RT La’el Collins.

| Antwaun Woods | Tyrone Crawford | Trysten Hill | Jalen Jelks |
| Dontari Poe | Randy Gregory | Gerald McCoy | Dorance Armstrong |
| L.P. Ladouceur | DeMarcus Lawrence | Blake Jarwin | CeeDee Lamb |
| Cole Hikutini | Dalton Schultz | Noah Brown | Sean McKeon |
| Ventell Bryant | Jon’vea Johnson | Blake Bell | Justin Hamilton |
| Cody Wichmann | Tyron Smith | Ladarius Hamilton |
| Neville Gallimore | Terence Steele |

[vertical-gallery id=649716][lawrence-newsletter]

Wisconsin is NFL.com’s ‘Offensive Line U’

NFL.com released their offensive position-U rankings yesterday and, by no surprise, for offensive linemen the Wisconsin Badgers came in…

NFL.com released their offensive position-U rankings yesterday and, by no surprise, for offensive linemen the Wisconsin Badgers came in at No. 1.

The Badgers beat No. 2 Ohio State by 68 points thanks to impressive NFL production by names including Joe Thomas, Travis Frederick, Kevin Zeitler, Ryan Ramczyk, Rob Havenstein and Rick Wagner.

The rest of the top-10 in order was Ohio State, Michigan, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Alabama, Florida, USC, Miami and Iowa.

The other top-10 the Badgers were included in was for the running back position where they fell at No. 8.

Prescott, not Cowboys vaunted OL, responsible for big-play development

A look at Dak Prescott’s quarterback sack rates with and without Travis Frederick.

Inserting the Dallas Cowboys offensive line into any conversation about dominant positional groups has been a constant for years. That designation still stands, but the cracks in the dam may be starting to show. Pro Football Focus, whose grades are oft-debated, has released another super specific top-10. This one is for pass-blocking in terms of long-developing plays and the Cowboys are not on it.

A lot of credit has been given to the big guys up front when it comes to the play of quarterback Dak Prescott, and to be fair, they often deserve it. But when it comes to sacks, it’s often hard to divvy up the praise, or conversely, dish out the blame. It’s often said that sacks are a quarterback stat, and historically there are some quarterbacks that make this seem undeniably true.

Peyton Manning was sacked an average of just 18 times per season, with a career high of 29. He didn’t play with the same team for the entirety of his career, let alone the same offensive line. Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson lives on the opposite end of the spectrum, having been sacked less than 40 times just once, in his rookie campaign when that number was 33.

The style of the player may matter most. Manning is perhaps the most traditional quarterback who’s ever played, while Wilson, who extends plays with extreme regularity opens himself up to be brought down behind the line more often. The difference is so stark that Wilson, in 138 less regular season games, has been sacked 44 more times. Just perusing the all-time sack percentage list lends credence to the idea that mobile quarterbacks suffer in this one specific metric.

Prescott, who mixes his mobility with his pocket passing, becomes a tough nut to crack. In 2019, he was sacked the least he’s ever been all while dropping back to pass more than ever. His sack percentage of 3.7 was good for fourth in the league, behind Drew Brees, Patrick Mahomes and Jared Goff. In 2018, it was the opposite. He was the sixth worst in terms of sack rate at a whopping 9.6% and was brought down 56 times.

If sacks are truly a quarterback stat, this season may be the litmus test in Dallas. In 2018, center Travis Frederick missed the entirety of the year due to the Guillain-Barré that helped usher in his retirement just months ago. Without Frederick at the helm, Prescott suffered the first time around. He loses a major resource in identifying defensive schemes and communicating to his line in a timely manner, and if history is any indication, its up to him to save his own skin.

Cowboys News: Prescott racing with Watson, Tank talks Jerry silence

Dallas Cowboys news for June 23, 2020.

It had been weeks since there was any real news on the Dak Prescott contract negotiations until he signed his franchise tag. The tag ensures Prescott will spend another year in Dallas, but it feels more like a bridge to the long-awaited long term deal. Deshaun Watson of the Texans is set to sign an a pricey extension soon. If the Cowboys could sign their signal caller before their Houston counterpart, it could save them millions.

DeMarcus Lawrence speaks on Jerry Jones’ silence, and suggests what he believes will help our country change for the better. Travis Frederick was given the George Halas Award for overcoming adversity. The Cowboys are once again in daily Jamal Adams rumors, below are three trade scenarios where Dallas lands the All-Pro safety. CeeDee Lamb is poised for big things in just his first year, and Leighton Vander Esch should join the ranks of the best linebackers in the league. All that and more, here are the news and notes for June 23, 2020.

Deshaun Watson reportedly pushing for three-year extension, another potential factor for Dak Prescott :: Blogging The Boys

With Houston Texans quarterback DeShaun Watson looking to ink an extension, the Cowboys would be advised to lock in Dak Prescott to avoid his price going up.

Cowboys Travis Frederick named 2020 George Halas Award winner :: Cowboys Wire

The George Halas award is given to the NFL player, coach or staff member who overcomes the most adversity to succeed. Travis Frederick, who overcame Guillain-Barré Syndrome to play another high-level season in 2019, was an easy choice for the prestigious award.

DeMarcus Lawrence shrugs off Jerry Jones’ silence, says NFL money over protests advances change :: Yahoo Sports

DeMarcus Lawrence is indifferent on Jerry Jones’s slinece and believes reaching the youth will provoke change.

‘GMFB’: Rookies we’re most confident in heading into ’20 :: NFL

CeeDee Lamb fell to Dallas at no. 17, and it was a perfect situation for both Lamb and the Cowboys. This dream scenario has raised expectations on all parties involved, especially the young wideout out of Oklahoma.

Cowboys Roster Reset: How offseason signings, Lamb draft pick will impact 2020 :: NFL

Cowboys’ reporter Jane Slater of NFL Network runs down all the notable roster moves Dallas has made in preparation for the upcoming season.

Joe Philbin’s Facing Similiar Issues Former OL Coach Couldn’t Overcome :: Inside The Star

Brian Martin breaks down how familiar issues will challenge new offensive line coach Joe Philbin.

Dallas Cowboys: 3 possible trade scenarios for safety Jamal Adams :: The Landry Hat

Michael H. Vu discusses three trade scenarios for the Cowboys to acquire safety Jamal Adams that include Michael Gallup, Tony Pollard, and Xavier Woods.

Top 10 linebackers in the NFL: Leighton Vander Esch and Roquan Smith poised for huge third-year breakouts :: CBS Sports

Leighton Vander Esch had a stellar rookie year, but injuries and inconsistently contributed to his sophomore slump. CBS Sports’ Sean Wagner-McGough ranks his top 10 linebackers, and explains why Vander Esch is likely for a bounce back season in 2020.

Can Ventell Bryant turn a 100% TD ratio into a 2020 gig with Cowboys? :: Cowboys Wire

Former Temple star Ventell Bryant’s only catch a year ago for the Dallas Cowboys was a Touchdown. In the latest Player Profile Julius Settles Jr. dives into the career of Bryant and how he could possibly stick around with a new coaching staff.

Ezekiel Elliott Primed for Best Season of his Career in 2020:: Inside The Star

John Williams breaks down how star running back Ezekiel Elliott could have his best season yet in 2020.

Dak Prescott is in rare company as a passer and rusher at the quarterback position :: Blogging The Boys

Dak Prescott has done nothing but produce since entering the NFL in 2016, and his statistical accomplishments have put him in a league of his own when it come to rushing and passing touchdowns.

[vertical-gallery id=649076][lawrence-newsletter]