Star Evaluation: Rock-Steady Frederick Remains Consistent Part of O-Line

Apr 05, 2018 at 09:49 AM

DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer / Senior Manager, Digital Media

While the first couple of waves of free agency have passed, it's never too late to upgrade the roster, something the Cowboys will try to do at the end of this month with the NFL Draft.

Even with that, the majority of the 2018 roster is already in place. In the coming weeks, the staff of DallasCowboys.com will preview those players, analyzing where they've been and where they're going.

Today, we'll continue the series with center Travis Frederick.

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10 September 2017: Travis Frederick (72)
of the Dallas Cowboys during their NFL week 1 regular season 19-3 win over the New York Giants at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Photo by James D. Smith/Dallas Cowboys

©James D. Smith/Dallas Cowboys

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16 September 2017: Zack Martin and Travis Frederick of the Dallas Cowboys departing DFW Airport for their regular season week 2 game against the Denver Broncos at Sports Authority Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado. Photo by James D. Smith/Dallas Cowboys

©James D. Smith/Dallas Cowboys

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17 September 2017: Travis Frederick (72)
of the Dallas Cowboys during their week 2 regular season 42-17 loss to the Denver Broncos at Sports Authority Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado. Photo by James D. Smith/Dallas Cowboys

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25 September 2017: Travis Frederick (72)
of the Dallas Cowboys during their week 3 regular season 28-17 win over the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. Photo by James D. Smith/Dallas Cowboys

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Dallas Cowboys center Travis Frederick (72) during an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Monday, Sept. 25, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. The Cowboys defeated the Cardinals, 28-17. (Ryan Kang via AP)

Ryan Kang/AP Images

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Dallas Cowboys center Travis Frederick (72) during an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Monday, Sept. 25, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

Rick Scuteri/AP Images

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01 October 2017: Travis Frederick (72)
of the Dallas Cowboys during their NFL week 4 regular season 35-30 loss to the Los Angeles Rams at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Photo by James D. Smith/Dallas Cowboys

©James D. Smith/Dallas Cowboys

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08 October 2017: Travis Frederick (72)
of the Dallas Cowboys during their NFL week 5 regular season 35-31 loss to the Green Bay Packers at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Photo by James D. Smith/Dallas Cowboys

©James D. Smith/Dallas Cowboys

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Dallas Cowboys center Travis Frederick looks over the defense prior to a play in action during an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, Oct. 8, 2017 in Arlington, Texas. The Packers defeated the Cowboys 35-31. (G. Newman Lowrance via AP)

G. Newman Lowrance/AP Images

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Dallas Cowboys' Tyron Smith (77), Travis Frederick (72) and Zack Martin (70) stand at the line of scrimmage during an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, Oct. 8, 2017, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)

Michael Ainsworth/AP Images

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21 October 2017: Travis Frederick of the Dallas Cowboys during their walk through practice at San Jose City College Jaguar Stadium before their week 7 regular season game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California. Photo by James D. Smith/Dallas Cowboys

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Dallas Cowboys center Travis Frederick (72) during an NFL football game between the Dallas Cowboys against the San Francisco 49ers in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Oct. 22, 2017. (Tom Hauck via AP)

Tom Hauck/AP Images

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22 October 2017: Travis Frederick (72)
of the Dallas Cowboys during their week 7 regular season 40-10 win over the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California. Photo by James D. Smith/Dallas Cowboys

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29 October 2017: Travis Frederick (72)
of the Dallas Cowboys during their week 8 regular season 33-19 win over the Washington Redskins at FedEx Field in Landover, Maryland. Photo by James D. Smith/Dallas Cowboys

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Dallas Cowboys center Travis Frederick stands on the field during an NFL football game against the Washington Redskins, Sunday, Oct. 29, 2017, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Mark Tenally)

Mark Tenally/AP Images

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DAL Vs KC

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DAL Vs KC

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05 November 2017: Travis Frederick (72)
of the Dallas Cowboys during their NFL week 9 regular season game 28-17 win over the Kansas City Chiefs at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Photo by Sam Smith/Dallas Cowboys

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Dallas Cowboys center Travis Frederick (72) during an NFL regular season football game against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, Nov. 5, 2017 in Arlington, Texas. The Cowboys won, 28-17. (Ric Tapia via AP)

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DAL Vs ATL

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DAL Vs ATL

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12 November 2017: Travis Frederick (72)
of the Dallas Cowboys during their NFL week 10 regular season 27-7 loss to the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia. Photo by James D. Smith/Dallas Cowboys

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A detail view of Dallas Cowboys center Travis Frederick (72) prepares to the snap during a week 10 NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, Nov. 12, 2017, in Atlanta. Atlanta won 27-7. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)

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DAL Vs ATL

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19 November 2017: Travis Frederick (72)
of the Dallas Cowboys during their NFL week 11 regular season 37-9 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Photo by James D. Smith/Dallas Cowboys

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Dallas Cowboys center Travis Frederick (72) rests during a timeout during an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday, Nov. 19, 2017, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)

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DAL vs LAC

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23 November 2017: Travis Frederick (72)
of the Dallas Cowboys during their NFL week 12 regular season 28-6 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Photo by James D. Smith/Dallas Cowboys

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30 November 2017: Travis Frederick (72)
of the Dallas Cowboys during their NFL week 13 regular season 38-14 win over the Washington Redskins at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Photo by James D. Smith/Dallas Cowboys

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Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) bumps fists with center Travis Frederick (72) on the sideline during a 2017 NFL week 13 regular season game against the Washington Redskins, Thursday, Nov. 30, 2017 in Arlington, Texas. The Cowboys defeated the Redskins, 38-14. (James D. Smith via AP)

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Dallas Cowboys offensive lineman Travis Frederick (72) snaps the ball during an NFL football game against the Washington Redskins on Thursday, Nov. 30, 2017 in Arlington, Texas. The Cowboys won the game, 38-14. (Greg Trott via AP)

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10 December 2017: Travis Frederick (72)
of the Dallas Cowboys during their NFL week 14 regular season 30-10 win over the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Photo by James D. Smith/Dallas Cowboys

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17 December 2017: Travis Frederick (72)
of the Dallas Cowboys during their NFL week 15 regular season 20-17 win over the Oakland Raiders at Oakland Coliseum in Oakland, Calif. Photo by James D. Smith/Dallas Cowboys

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Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) throws the ball in the pocket as center Travis Frederick (72) blocks during a week 15 NFL football game against the Oakland Raiders on Sunday, Dec. 17, 2017 in Oakland, Calif. Dallas won 20-17. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)

Aaron M. Sprecher/AP Images

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Dallas Cowboys center Travis Frederick (72), his wife Kaylee, right, pose for a photo as their son Oliver, reaches out to the NFL Man of the Year team nominee award presented to Frederick before an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, Dec. 24, 2017, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Ron Jenkins)

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24 December 2017: Travis Frederick (72) of the Dallas Cowboys during their NFL week 16 regular season 21-12 loss to the Seattle Seahawks at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The award was accepted by Michelle Witten and family. Photo by James D. Smith/Dallas Cowboys

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Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott (21) runs behind the block by Dallas Cowboys center Travis Frederick (72) of a Seattle Seahawks defender in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 24, 2017, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Ron Jenkins)

Ron Jenkins/AP Images

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Dallas Cowboys center Travis Frederick (72) prepares for the snap during a week 16 NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, Dec. 24, 2017 in Arlington, Texas. Seattle won 21-12. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)

Aaron M. Sprecher/AP Images

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31 December 2017: Travis Frederick (72)
of the Dallas Cowboys during their NFL week 17 regular season 6-0 win over the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Photo by James D. Smith/Dallas Cowboys

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Dallas Cowboys center Travis Frederick (72) prepares for the snap during the NFL Pro Bowl football game on Sunday, Jan. 28, 2018 in Orlando, Fla. The AFC team won 24-23. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)

Aaron M. Sprecher/AP Images

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Dallas Cowboys center Travis Frederick (72) set to hike the ball during the NFL Pro Bowl football game Sunday, Jan. 28, 2018, in Orlando, Fla. The AFC won 24-23. (Jeff Haynes/AP Images for Panini)

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Dallas Cowboys center Travis Frederick (72) blocks during the NFL Pro Bowl football game on Sunday, Jan. 28, 2018 in Orlando, Fla. The AFC team won 24-23. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)

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Dallas Cowboys center Travis Frederick (72) during the 2018 NFL Pro Bowl on Sunday, Jan. 28, 2018 in Orlando, Fla. (Detroit Lions via AP)

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New Orleans Saints guard Larry Warford (67) and Dallas Cowboys center Travis Frederick (72) during the 2018 NFL Pro Bowl on Sunday, Jan. 28, 2018 in Orlando, Fla. (Detroit Lions via AP)

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The helmet of NFC center Travis Frederick, of the Dallas Cowboys, sits on a locker behind the bench during the second half of NFL Pro Bowl football game Sunday, Jan. 28, 2018, in Orlando, Fla. The AFC won 24-23. A Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year decal is displayed on the back of the helmet. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)

Phelan M. Ebenhack/AP Images

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What's Been Good:

Just about everything. The Cowboys have been one of the NFL's best rushing teams for the past five seasons, with three different 1,000-yard backs running behind Frederick. Of course, Ezekiel Elliott has been great the past two years, but Darren McFadden had a career year in 2015 and DeMarco Murray set the Cowboys' rushing record for a season in 2014. Frederick not only makes the line calls but is always on point with his shotgun snaps. He's one of the fewest penalized players on the team and is considered the vocal leader of one of the best offensive lines in football.

What's Been Bad:

There really hasn't been anything bad about Frederick's game since the moment he arrived on the scene in 2013. The Cowboys had some issues in the red zone, and that can be attributed to the offensive line. Without Ezekiel Elliott in the lineup in midseason, the offense struggled as well, but again, it's hard to pinpoint that, or anything to Frederick.

2017 Highlight:

It's not easy to find a highlight for the center, but let's go with the Oct. 22 game at San Francisco. The entire line played well, and with Frederick being right in the middle of things, he deserves his share of the credit. The Cowboys rushed for a season-high265 yards and totaled 501 offensive yards – also a season high for 2017. On top of that, the Cowboys did not allow a sack and as a team, were only penalized for 36 yards.

What's Next:

The Cowboys shouldn't see much change at this position. Not only has Frederick been consistent in his play, he also stays on the field as well. The Cowboys have some question marks at just about every other spot on the line, including right guard where Zack Martin still hasn't received a new contract. Left guard is still wide open and right tackle could be as well. But there isn't any question marks at center, other than maybe Frederick rivaling a few others for best center in the NFL.

One of the most consistent performers on the squad.
Doesn't miss plays.
High level of football intelligence and technique.
Never makes those massive mistakes that costs his team opportunities for success.
Plays with outstanding body balance and control.
Rarely see him out of position on a block.
Makes those around him better.
Willing to do whatever it takes to help his teammates.
Plenty of snaps where he assisted Jonathan Cooper and Chaz Green when they broke down.
Outstanding at all levels of blocking.
Came into the league as a questionable athlete but it's truly of one his strengths.
Has been a plug and play player since day one.

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