A Changing of the Guard For the Dallas Cowboys

The first set of OTA’s will get under this week at Valley Ranch. While many of the Valley Ranch media members closely watching the battle between the young guns for the  number three wide receiver position vacated by Jacksonville Jaguars signee Laurent Robinson a deeper look and attention should be paid to the battle to be waged at the interior of the offensive line.

It’s no huge secret that solid interior guard play can help a young center evolve and acclimate to the NFL game at a faster rate. In the offseason the Dallas Cowboys decided to address the interior of the offensive line and the guard/center theory by signing free agent guards Mackenzy Bernadeau and Nate Livings.

Adding the two free agent guards could have been exactly what offensive  coordinator and  offensive line coach, Bill Callahan, ordered for third year undrafted free agent center Phil Costa. Instead former Carolina Panther Bernadeau is on the mend from a tear in his hip that will sideline one of the newest Cowboys until the start of training camp.

Bernadeau could end up falling behind at locking down the starting offensive guard position due to the injury and the depth at guard that the Cowboys have secured this offseason. Prior to injury Mackenzy Bernadeau was likely to compete with Phil Costa for the starting center job but the injury will end that competition before it even began.

Unlike last season when Dallas carried a larger number of offensive linemen on the opening day roster due to inexperience and turnover along the offensive line, this year like the cornerback position the guard position will be one of the team’s deepest position. Young players David Arkin, Bill Nagy, Kevin Kowalski and undrafted free agent Ronald Leary will all compete the starting guard position opposite apparent entrenched free agent signee Nate Livings.

If one of these young players begin to emerge during OTA’s and mini-camp this summer then competition will make for an interesting decision for Jerry and Stephen Jones when it comes down the the final 53 man roster.

One Landry Hat favorite is Kevin Kowlaski or Killer Kowalski as known by some fans throughout the Cowboys faithful. Kowalski’s Versatility will help him during camp competition being able to play both guard and center positions. Kowalski played 114 snaps during the 2011 NFL season yielding only one sack on Tony Romo with no other QB pressures. The Cowboys are high on the 6’4″ 300 pound

second year undrafted free agent from Toledo University and will likely make the 53 man roster barring

unforeseen injury.

Memphis undrafted free agent Ronald Leary will likely make the 53 man roster despite a degenerative knee issue simply to prevent another team from signing the NFL ready guard off the Cowboys practice squad if the team were to attempt to try and hide the player that the Cowboys debated drafting during the 2012 NFL draft.

The Cowboys feel Leary is a player who can make an immediate impact which is indicated by $205,000 of Leary’s $390,000 base salary for the 2012 season being fully guaranteed along with his $9,000 signing bonus.

After Kyle Kosier’s release back in March the Dallas Cowboys have turned over the entire 2010 offensive line with the exception of Doug Free who will be moved from left tackle to right tackle in order to allow, last years first round selection, Tyron Smith to protect Tony Romo’s blindside for years to come.

The Dallas Cowboys have finally succeeded in rebuilding one of the oldest offensive lines in the NFL and with the premier and athletic pash rushers of the NFC east the infusion of youth came at a much needed time but fans should expect the growing pains associated with youth.