Under/Overrated Discussion: Cowboys Staff Down On Andre Gurode?

by KD Drummond on Jun 9, 2011 2:40 PM CDT in Dallas Cowboys General

CBSSports.com Pete Prisco took Pittsburgh's Troy Polamalu to task in his most recent article discussing the leagues most overrated and underrated players. I'm not a big fan of Prisco, but I do like the topic starter. As you may remember, our own DeMarcus Ware recently finished second to Polamalu, the league's defensive player of the year, in an ESPN Power Ranking of best defensive players. Prisco doesn't mention whom he believes the best defensive player in the league is, but he definitely doesn't think Polamalu is it, due to poor, gambling cover skills.

Prisco also takes a look at each of the league's 32 teams and provides one name for each, most underrated and most overrated. For the most overrated Cowboy, Prisco selects a Cowboys in the news recently for his spot in another ranking. C Andre Gurode was recently named the #57 player in NFL Networks' Top 100 players for 2011. Prisco writes the following:

Follow the jump.

Overrated: C Andre Gurode. He went to the Pro Bowl last season. How? He was really bad. Just ask Dallas' scouts and coaches.

Wow. Now, if Prisco has inside information from the Cowboys' staff, then I'd believe that over any advanced stat website. Not saying that the team's evaluations are above reproach, not even close to it. I would say that they are more invested in grading out their own center for their needs. Remember, coaches will take into consideration what they can and can't do because of a player's shortcomings, while an advanced stat site can only speak to how a player performed within a given play. Even in a draft where they selected three offensive lineman including play anywhere Bill Nagy, not too many saw center as a high priority for Dallas.

If Prisco's information is from further down the food chain, then I have my doubts. Advanced stats give us a little better picture of player performance when it comes to trench guys, although each site produces regular anomalies to their evaluation metrics. Pro Football Focus ranks Gurode as the 6th best center in the league. Pro Football Reference Stats gave Gurode an Approximate Value of 8, which isn't elite, but it isn't duck sauce either. I can agree with the overrated moniker, that's not the issue. For Prisco to claim that Cowboys brass feel that Gurode was really bad last year is borderline jumping out there.

If Andre Gurode is actually seen as a liability by the Cowboys, then it's no wonder that three linemen were selected in this past April's draft. Gurode by most accounts is the Cowboys 2nd or 3rd best lineman. It wouldn't be that far of a jump, then, to envision the Cowboys pursuing a starting caliber lineman or two in free agency, whenever that happens. Most of our gazes have been set on the guard position, but should we be considering the Cowboys moving on from Gurode sooner rather than later?

Star_medium_medium

For the record, Prisco's article lists another lineman as the Cowboys most underrated player. Doug Free gets the nod here. The other NFC East teams are represented as follows: NY GIants Under WR Hakeem Nicks, Over S Antrelle Rolle. Philadelphia Under RB LeShaun McCoy Over CB Asante Samuel. Redskins Under RB Ryan Torrain Over CB DeAngelo Hall.

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Gurode was #57 in the Top 100?!!

Wow, I’m not sure I’d give him Top 10 on his own team. Now, I don’t feel Gurode is as bad as Prisco is saying. But, I do think he’s overrated and I agree with Prisco’s NFC East list.

by illcowboy on Jun 9, 2011 2:47 PM CDT reply actions

That Top 100 list shows the difference between fans/media and players.

There are at least 128 skill position players to choose from on offense alone. 32 teams x (QB + RB + 2WR). Add a Safety, CB, LB and pass rusher from each team and that is 256 players to choose from. Whenever fans or the media make a Top 100 list, the first players they run through their heads are those 256.

This list was voted on by 413 active players. So it is obvious that the players think differently than the fans/media. Has fantasy football changed the way fans think and view all players? Fans now only focus on the players that score them FF points?

- Formerly fan since '65.

by fs65 on Jun 10, 2011 2:12 PM CDT up reply actions

Great point

And unfortuantely, yes. The fan base for NFL has grown so big that many of the ratings they get are from FF fans and people that may not even watch a game in it’s entirety. It’s the reason show like NFL Redzone is so successful and ProBowl voting for Ol and DL are often old popularity contests of familiar names but with no serious knowledge from manyof the voting fans. I actually always wonder how many more fan votes skill positions that the trenchwarfare positions in those fan ProBowl vote coutns.

"I am a true believer. Anthony Spencer will have 7 or more sacks in 2011 and Stephen Bowen can ball!" - Kegbearer
"Leadership is a matter of having people look at you and gain confidence, seeing how you react. If you're in control, they're in control." - Tom Landry

by Kegbearer on Jun 10, 2011 3:06 PM CDT up reply actions

Interesting thread, KD

Love the football part of course, but it’s also the little things that make this a great place to talk football:

but it isn’t duck sauce either

Don't believe everything you think.

by dunkman on Jun 9, 2011 2:53 PM CDT reply actions

It's not duck butter either. :o

Lock n Load

by DIRE WOLF on Jun 9, 2011 3:25 PM CDT up reply actions

Thanks Dire. No dinner for me!

Don't believe everything you think.

by dunkman on Jun 9, 2011 7:21 PM CDT up reply actions

If Gurode was our biggest problem on the O-line we'd have a good O-line

He’s not terrible like Davis and Colombo but he’s not great. I like his strength, his ability to man-up with nose tackles isn’t something that should be overlooked. But, then again, he’s never been the smartest at picking up up stunts and I didn’t exactly see him generating a lot of push in the run game.

The Ohio State Buckeyes are your Sugar Bowl champions... and for the 7th year in a row Michigan still sucks.

by Blue Eyed Devil on Jun 9, 2011 2:56 PM CDT reply actions

We hear alot about how

the corner play was effected by the poor safety play last year. If that is the case, cant the same be said of the O Line ? The O linemen have to “beat their guy” but isn’t the Oline the poster child for having to play as a unit ?

While I dont think Dre should have been as high on the list (or in the pro bowl for that matter), I also don’t think that he is a bad as what Prisco thinks he is.

He who laughs last, thinks slowest
Well.....my days of not taking you seriously have certainly come to a middle
"Pleased to meet you, hope you guess my name"

by BigBad Joe on Jun 9, 2011 2:59 PM CDT reply actions

I've got to say...

As far as his NFC East underrated/overrated list, I agree with virually everything.

Now, as for Gurode, I don’t think he is the #57 player in the league and for that alone (not to mention all his Pro Bowl nods) I would have to agree with the overrated tag…but I do have my doubts about the Cowboys thinking he was really bad. He is certainly not the player he used to be and while on a post a few days ago people were talking about how he abused Haynsworth with the Titans before and after gettign stomped on his head and getting stiches, he certainly didn’t manhandle Fat Albert in 2009 the same way. Personally, I think Gurode is above average center, but not what he used to be…and certainly not as mobile as most teams (and I assume Garrett) would like in their center, but I doubt he gets replaced this year through FA.

by Kegbearer on Jun 9, 2011 3:17 PM CDT reply actions

Most Notably

Underrated: Nicks – he was beastly last year and that is not a good thing since we have had problems covering the Giants before Nicks broke out last year.

Overrated: Hall – this guy is the most opportunistic guy I have ever seen. I have watched him get beat repeatedly only to have an underthrown ball land in his arms or a fumble with nothing but goal posts in his sights. Definitely not pro-bowl talent anymore.

by fuji1232 on Jun 9, 2011 4:07 PM CDT up reply actions

I'd say Samuel overrated. Or Haynseworth.

Hall may be opportunistic, but he did strip Choice, which was difference in ’Skins winning in week 1…

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by BlueNSilverBlood on Jun 9, 2011 8:45 PM CDT up reply actions

I think you make a good point...

and one which gives Prisco’s line about Cowboys scouts not liking Gurode some credence. Gurode is still an above average center with good strength but below average mobility. Since Garrett has put his stamp on the oline there seems to be a shift to more athletic, aggressive lineman. These are two things Andre is not.

If Prisco talked with a scout recently – who would be grading Gurode based on what Garrett wants his lineman to do – it is possibble the scout said something like “Gurode simply doesn’t fit on this line anymore” which Prisco could interpret as Gurode is the worst lineman in the NFL.

"There are no traffic jams along the extra mile." ~ Roger Staubach

by TK19 on Jun 9, 2011 4:45 PM CDT up reply actions

I think Gurode is a bit overrated, but I find it hard to believe the Cowboys

staff is telling this guy they think so, too. As always, I hate that kind of innuendo with nothing to back it up.

by Fernie67 on Jun 9, 2011 3:30 PM CDT reply actions

Completely agree with the other NFC East rankings.

Particularly Hakeem Nicks, who is a beast and looks like he’s only getting better. The Giants have a stellar 1-2-3 punch at WR, led by a phenomenol Nicks who scares me.

by jazzbo251 on Jun 9, 2011 3:56 PM CDT reply actions

Prisco is a moron....I'm amazed he still is allowed to write for sportsline.com

Palomalu was hurt last year, thats why he didn’t play well as he normally does. Without him, the Steelers defense would just be decent to good.

Of course Prisco doesn’t mention that fact of course.

If a healthy Palomalu played for the Cowboys, we’d be an automatic SB contender for sure.

In Romo we Trust

by Terry on Jun 9, 2011 4:03 PM CDT reply actions

Prisco is a troll

He is short little man who could not even play high school football so he he decided to make a career of bashing players and coaches everywhere he has been. I will take football advice and oppions from The Psychic Friends Network before ever listening to him.

by Birddog26 on Jun 9, 2011 4:25 PM CDT reply actions 2 recs

well said

In Romo we Trust

by Terry on Jun 10, 2011 8:50 AM CDT up reply actions

Pro Bowl voting

I find it hard to see Gurode as #57 but its the players and the coaches who keep sending him to the pro bowl. A smart man would hold that in some regard as players and coaches have better insight than commentators and fans.

by jfdebois on Jun 9, 2011 4:49 PM CDT reply actions

Gurode

The players who played against him voted him 57. That has to account for something. HOFer is a whole other matter. He’s certainly not a liability. His biggest downside is his age.

by pfloyd1 on Jun 9, 2011 5:04 PM CDT reply actions

Gurode - Classic Example

Classic example of a guy who after he retires – people will look back and say “Wow, what a great career.”

by Rome One on Jun 9, 2011 5:40 PM CDT reply actions

and a good guy.

Lock n Load

by DIRE WOLF on Jun 9, 2011 5:41 PM CDT up reply actions

The intangibles for Gurode are negative

He is a big strong guy and does not get blown off the line. But he is slow to react to a blitzing LB and not a smart enough guy to play center in the NFL. He gets help from Koiser. I also think his snap to the QB causes other OL to jump early sometimes when he delays the snap, That is the intangible that I am talking about. I think that is why Dallas wanted Unger so bad.

by cowboy1966 on Jun 9, 2011 7:18 PM CDT up reply actions

+1

by Kegbearer on Jun 10, 2011 8:32 AM CDT up reply actions

Doug Free - Underrated

If Doug Free has another big step up in his game – no one will underrate him again.

He is on the verge of gatting that all important “Rep” as a “Player.”

by Rome One on Jun 9, 2011 5:51 PM CDT reply actions

look

Gurode is going to be fine, he is a good player for sure

Bruce Carter+Sean Lee=BRUCE LEE!!!!

by Archie Barberio on Jun 9, 2011 8:49 PM CDT reply actions

Just imagine

If Bill had known what he had at center who do you think he would have taken with that 2nd round pick that he used on Al Johnson?

by TruBluToTheCore on Jun 10, 2011 2:54 AM CDT reply actions

Yeah and BP was the one that put Gurode back at center

but of course you dont mention that.

Prisco is full of shite. Now if Red Ball wants a very fast and quick line then indeed Gurode does not fit. But that is a long way from saying he was terrible last year.
Typical Mediot drivel worth nothing.

by burmafrd1944 on Jun 10, 2011 7:10 AM CDT reply actions

I went into this thinking Gurode was fine but

that picture says Wade like Gurode. Sorry, Dre, yer outa here….

Don't believe everything you think.

by dunkman on Jun 10, 2011 7:38 AM CDT reply actions

I doubt that Dallas goes the free agency route to fill the offensive line:

unless you count Kyle Kosier as a free agent signing since he is a free agent at the moment. Next year’s draft is deep in quality centers. I expect Dallas to use its late first or second round pick on a center in the 2012 NFL draft.

by ScarletO on Jun 10, 2011 10:31 AM CDT reply actions