The Dallas Cowboys’ offense has been the team’s most consistent weapon this season, but in Sunday night’s loss to Philadelphia, a weak offensive line played a key role. Why do they need a reboot?
The “the landry hat” is a popular item that was worn by Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott. The hat has been the source of much controversy, but it is not the only thing that needs to be fixed. The offensive line also needs to be rebooted.
FRISCO, Texas (KTRK) — They lead the Dallas Cowboys onto the field every game, with Tyron Smith always coming in first, assuming the left tackle is healthy. La’el Collins will be right behind him, if he’s fit and ready to play. The next three players are Zack Martin, Connor Williams, and Tyler Biadasz.
It happens once a week, therefore it’s not a coincidence.
For years, the Cowboys’ offensive line has been the team’s driving force. They were dubbed the greatest offensive line in football for a few years. Then you’ve got one of the greatest. It’s easy to understand why Smith and Martin, who are often regarded as the greatest guard in football, are regular Pro Bowlers.
However, as the Cowboys try to rebound from a disastrous 2021 season that ended with a wild-card defeat to the San Francisco 49ers, it’s time to reinvest in the position not because they should, but because they must.
Collins and Martin were questioned about the offensive line’s performance shortly after the Niners’ defeat.
In 2021, the Cowboys’ offensive line had trouble with pass protection and penalties. Julio Cortez/AP Photo
Is the line up to their expectations?
Collins said, “I wouldn’t say so.” “I believe we have a lot of work ahead of us.” We didn’t even come close to realizing the potential of that space and the abilities we have.”
Is there anything that might be done to enhance the line?
“It’s no secret that we need to improve,” Martin said. “We were hit in the mouth early on, but kudos to our players for battling back and making it a game.” We need to improve.”
The Cowboys must ask and answer some significant questions:
Is Joe Philbin the best coach for the job?
The Cowboys’ offensive line was the most penalized in the NFL, and part of it may be attributed to poor coaching. The line received 54 penalties in all, 49 of which were accepted. The Raiders of Las Vegas came in second with 47 and 40 points. The Los Angeles Rams and Seattle Seahawks had the fewest offensive line penalties accepted (16).
Leaders of the Offensive Line Penalty
| Team | Accepted Sanctions | Penalties in total | Yards |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. The Cowboys of Dallas | 49 | 54 | 425 |
| 2. Raiders of Las Vegas | 40 | 47 | 315 |
| Minnesota Vikings (#3) | 33 | 39 | 279 |
| Buffalo Bills, No. 4 | 32 | 38 | 276 |
| Kansas City Chiefs, No. 5 | 32 | 38 | 262 |
The 49 penalties resulted in a loss of 373 yards.
Against San Francisco, the line was flagged five times with four Accepted Sanctions as Williams and Collins were called for a hold and a false start each.
Williams was the league’s most penalized lineman (15 overall, 12 accepted) throughout the regular season, and when the coaches decided to bench him, his replacement, Connor McGovern, did not fare much better.
“We share similar attitudes and techniques, such as not stopping a run play. Coach Mike McCarthy stated, “We all understand it.” “There’s no need to stop a run play.” It’s just basic arithmetic. Do the arithmetic on minus-2 versus minus-10. But we’ve had too many holding on run plays, so as a coach, we’ll keep a close eye on that, individual by person, technique by technique, concept by concept, scenario by circumstance, and so on.
Is it time to say goodbye to Smith?
Since 2015, he hasn’t played a complete season. In 2021, he was forced to miss five games due to a persistent ankle problem and one due to COVID-19. He is just 31 years old, yet he is set to begin his tenth season. In the playoffs, he had a bad effort against San Francisco.
“I get to see Tyron every day,” McCarthy said, “but I also have a knowledge of not just how it occurs and what goes into it.” “I believe athletes, especially at his position, go through a series of injuries.” He’s a key piece of the puzzle. He’s in a situation where he’s under a lot of pressure. I just have faith in him and our process. So, certainly, I don’t see why he can’t go back on track and play a complete season.”
Smith is slated to cost the Cowboys $17.5 million in cap space and $13.5 million in salary, but cutting him may save them about $5.5 million. However, this raises another question: who will be the replacement?
At the absolute least, the Cowboys must begin the transition process by selecting Smith’s replacement in the first round of the draft. The Cowboys presently own the 24th overall selection.
Is it time to let Collins go or return him to guard?
Collins had hip surgery in 2020 and was subsequently banned for five games for breaching the league’s substance-abuse policy. The guaranteed money left on his deal ($6.48 million) has been nullified as a result of the punishment, allowing the Cowboys to get out of his contract without incurring a significant salary-cap penalty. After starting 27 of 33 regular-season games in his first two seasons, they feel offensive lineman Terence Steele, an undrafted free agency in 2020, has the look of a ten-year veteran.
Collins had his greatest season in 2019, received a contract deal, and seemed to be a mainstay for years to come, so it’s been a frustrating run.
Moving him back to left guard, where he started his career, may be the solution. McCarthy hinted at it while Collins was returning from suspension, but it never materialized. Williams is slated to become a free agency in March, but his penalties make it more probable that he will leave rather than return at this time.
With Collins at guard, the Cowboys could go with Steele at right tackle and Josh Ball, a 2021 draft selection who missed his rookie season due to an ankle injury, as a backup tackle possibility.
Is Biadasz the center’s answer?
For the better part of the previous two decades, the Cowboys have been spoilt by the Pro Bowl performances of Andre Gurode and Travis Frederick. In his second season, Biadasz started every game but had nine penalties. He lacks the power of Gurode and Frederick, and the Cowboys looked to be conducting a race for the position by giving Williams a lengthy look throughout training camp, but he struggled with shotgun snaps. They started giving McGovern backup-center repetitions once the season started.
Biadasz should be considered a starter, according to one pro scout, and he is better with more sturdy guys surrounding him. He doesn’t have to be concerned about Martin. Williams’ and McGovern’s discrepancies harmed him.
Looking for a center in the draft makes sense, but the Cowboys may have more pressing needs elsewhere on the roster.
McCarthy assumed he was inheriting a line with four blue-chip players in Smith, Frederick, Martin, and Collins when he was elected coach in January 2020. Frederick announced his retirement before the 2020 season. Smith and Collins have both sustained injuries. Only Martin has been able to sustain that level of performance.
The Cowboys’ offense in 2021 was statistically excellent, but they couldn’t run it well enough (they rated 20th in yards before contact per rush) or protect Dak Prescott well enough (he ranked 23rd in average time QBs had to pass), particularly against the Niners when it counted most.
The line has to be restarted.
The Dallas Cowboys finished the season with a disappointing 7-9 record. The team’s offensive line was not performing well, and it needs a reboot. Reference: dallas cowboys coaching staff.
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