Blogging The Boys
Your Sunday morning Cowboys news.
The Cowboys need to replace a legend.
What’s Up: Replacing Martin is certainly going to be a task and for now, it looks as if it’s the only one of the three interior positions with a question mark. At left guard, Tyler Smith has become one of the NFL’s best guard – earning two straight Pro Bowl selections. The next question for him will be “how much” the Cowboys pay him as he is now eligible for a new contract and Smith will likely be one of the next players on the roster to get an extension.
At center, Cooper Beebe is coming off a solid rookie season and from the sounds of things, Schottenheimer and the coaching staff are looking to keep him at center and build off of last year’s success. So that leaves right guard up in the air. Jones, Charles and the combination of players such as Brock Hoffman and T.J. Bass will all get the chance to compete for the job.
What’s Next: One way to try and replace one of the best guards of all time – a guard that was drafted 16th overall in the first round back in 2014 – is to repeat the process. The Cowboys have the 12th overall pick in the upcoming draft and offensive line could be an option yet again. The Cowboys drafted Tyler Guyton last year in the first round for an offensive tackle option but could go down that route again. There are plenty of options for college tackles that could actually slide inside to guard such as LSU’s Will Campbell, Missouri’s Armand Membou and Texas’ Kelvin Banks Jr. Just like Martin did back in 2014, these college tackles might convert better to the guard spot in the NFL. Maybe the Cowboys go down that route in the first round, or choose later rounds to add depth there. But the later they go in the draft to take a guard, the closer it could be talent-wise to the depth they already have. If they one an immediate impact and replacement for Martin, getting him at No. 12 or even at No. 44 in the second round could be the best option.
The Force remains strong in Zack Martin.
The recently retired All-Pro guard for the Dallas Cowboys appeared on Chris Long’s podcast ‘Green Light’ where he began by answering Long’s question about who his most hated team was throughout his career.
“Philly by far. Not even close,” Martin said.
When Long asked him why, Martin gave a caveat.
“I hate them, by far my least favorite team, but I also loved playing Philly. I loved playing in Philly, it’s my favorite away stadium by far, not even close. Great grass. And...
