Hard to believe it’s been two years

[Bobhaze]

I was very surprised and disappointed to learn today that our 3 best and highest paid offensive linemen- Tyron Smith, Zack Martin and La’el Collins- have not played together in a regular season game since the 2019 season.

Let that marinate.

So the best three OL on a team that spends top cap dollars on those three linemen have not played together since mid 2019. Injuries to Smith and Collins caused both to miss 28 games between them last year. And somehow this front office continues to call OL “one of the main strengths of the team.”

We talk a lot as fans about a player’s ability. But the first ability a player must have is “availability”. You can’t keep paying these guys so much cap space to never have them play together.

In my mind, no matter what happens this year, OL has moved to a top priority in the upcoming draft.

 

[Hardline]

The biggest disaster our offensive line suffered was the loss of Travis Frederick.

 

[Bobhaze]

The biggest disaster our offensive line suffered was the loss of Travis Frederick.

Or not being able to get their current 3 best to even get on the field at the same time.

 

[youngjerryjones]

it's tough - the one thing that i hope is tyron can stay healthy. I understand not wanting to move zack out, I think him kicking to RT attributed to his calf injury last year from the difference of what you have to do with your feet as a guard and tackle, he probably barely practices this and knows that it will compromise his body and play all at the same time. If he's more comfortable at RG then leave him there, rather have all-pro play than a disgruntled captain who thinks in the back of his head he's going to get hurt from the switch.

If tyron and zack can play into the bye week, stay healthy then getting LC back will be a blessing. This is definitely the best team before the bye week so it will be crucial to get a W and figure out what we can do with Steele at RT in both the run and pass game. Expecting sprinkle to be activated again as well, let me know your guys thoughts.

 

[Jake]

We have people who still talk about our offensive line like it's 2016. Watch some other teams, look at our running game. Stop the "Zeke is fat" nonsense when he's clearly not. The truth is this line isn't what it was 5 years ago.

 

[Bobhaze]

We have people who still talk about our offensive line like it's 2016. Watch some other teams, look at our running game. Stop the "Zeke is fat" nonsense when he's clearly not. The truth is this line isn't what it was 5 years ago.

I am saying now that our OL is no longer a team strength. Sadly, it seems our FO always waits until something ISD broken to fix it. Always reactive, no foresight.

 

[JW82]

Or not being able to get their current 3 best to even get on the field at the same time.

Or refusing to address the Oline with a real draft pick in way to long.

 

[Cebrin]

I was very surprised and disappointed to learn today that our 3 best and highest paid offensive linemen- Tyron Smith, Zack Martin and La’el Collins- have not played together in a regular season game since the 2019 season.

Let that marinate.

So the best three OL on a team that spends top cap dollars on those three linemen have not played together since mid 2019. Injuries to Smith and Collins caused both to miss 28 games between them last year. And somehow this front office continues to call OL “one of the main strengths of the team.”

We talk a lot as fans about a player’s ability. But the first ability a player must have is “availability”. You can’t keep paying these guys so much cap space to never have them play together.

In my mind, no matter what happens this year, OL has moved to a top priority in the upcoming draft.

Great post. While everyone is handing out the anointed oil to Brady I hope that they see that KC kicked field goals the whole SB game because they had no line. This game isn't Tennis, and Mahomes may he one of the best talents I've ever seen at QB in years.

 

[AsthmaField]

So that means that 2020 was the only season that they all missed playing together. So one season. Add one game for this season so far.

It shouldn’t be surprising though. We all know that the OL was injured all of last season, as it was a big topic this past offseason. Injuries were the concern for this season.

However, none of that big 3 have been hurt this year. Martin missed the one game because of COVID protocols, and Collins will miss a few for whatever suspension he has.

It isn’t like they’re getting decrepit and just can’t stay healthy enough to play together. It is just league rules getting in the way.

So calling the OL broken is disingenuous, IMO.

 

[Pompey-Cowboy]

I was very surprised and disappointed to learn today that our 3 best and highest paid offensive linemen- Tyron Smith, Zack Martin and La’el Collins- have not played together in a regular season game since the 2019 season.

Let that marinate.

So the best three OL on a team that spends top cap dollars on those three linemen have not played together since mid 2019. Injuries to Smith and Collins caused both to miss 28 games between them last year. And somehow this front office continues to call OL “one of the main strengths of the team.”

We talk a lot as fans about a player’s ability. But the first ability a player must have is “availability”. You can’t keep paying these guys so much cap space to never have them play together.

In my mind, no matter what happens this year, OL has moved to a top priority in the upcoming draft.

I hear you my friend but the draft this April had to be all about the D. It was way too poor to do anything else.

 

[Bobhaze]

We have people who still talk about our offensive line like it's 2016. Watch some other teams, look at our running game. Stop the "Zeke is fat" nonsense when he's clearly not. The truth is this line isn't what it was 5 years ago.

When all 5 starters are in place on the field together, I see our once top three OL now as maybe top 16.

 

[blueblood70]

Or not being able to get their current 3 best to even get on the field at the same time.

LC is into injured..Martin was not inured both were fluke things so please stop overacting. They are not inured and should have been all on the field the first 2 games..such is life, when healthy they are strength when on the field it is a strength..


unforeseen circumstances created 2021s issue not injurie's this time..let that marinate ..the post was unnecessary because we didn't lose them we cant mention thing got Martin and we played well without him, and lc well RG strikes agin we all know this is very unfair 5 game suspension and hope it gets appealed and reduced..

the loss of Tferd also unforeseen

yes we have run of bad luck but that doesn't change why the FO should think otherwise, what group is as important and stronger when together? the WRS lol cant think of another..maybe stop question this years draft and say why did we take Lamb we already had 2 great wrs options , maybe that draft 1st round offered up an OT option? this year they did the right thing IMO..the defense needs a 100% rebuild and will need more ie DE/DT/S possibly next draft high.

also, what if they replaced these guys with high resources and they got on the C list or get hurt. Happens around football..OL is tough as important cohesive group of 5 to keep them together and its almost always drop off when you lose them..
as KC how they dealt with it against TB in the SB, NOT WELL.. that new OL they had from just skimming over game day finals they didn't look like much of an upgrade and they got all five new OL..odd huh

 

[Creeper]

The focus on the problem of the week is misguided. Everyone step back and look at the big picture. It is true, the injuries on the OL hurt the team last year. The suspension of Collins will hurt this year. But injuries happen in the NFL, and teams suffer in the W-L column as a result. The defense was not injured last year. They played their best players for the most part and they were awful. This team needs a defense. Perhaps the loss of Collins or Tyron wouldn't hurt so much if the defense could hold the opponent under 30 points. This week they are going with one backup on the OL, probably something half the teams in the league will do, and people are whining like children over it. It is one guy! But the reason people are whining is because deep down they know the defense is going to give up more than 30 points and the offense will have to outscore them. And of course that all comes down to Dak, the $40 million QB. That is a really bad place for a football team to be.

The amount of money the Cowboys have invested on offense compared to defense is a joke, and most of that money on defense is going to 1 player. There are some truths. One is you don't need to draft all of your offensive linemen in the 1st round to win.

Let's be honest about this team. The OL is not that good to begin with. But the DL is much worse. If your OL can't run block and your DL can't rush the passer the problem is bigger than one player.

 

[blueblood70]

When all 5 starters are in place on the field together, I see our once top three OL now as maybe top 16.

disagree, i say still around 10

i guess holding their own against TB best front 7 is football wasnt enough proof..?? right but to keep your narrative alive you must say that...

 

[CowboyFrog]

I am saying now that our OL is no longer a team strength. Sadly, it seems our FO always waits until something ISD broken to fix it. Always reactive, no foresight.

Its also a shcker if you go look at total resources by team to the OL we are not near the top anymore, I'm not saying its a bad thing, was just a little shocking. I know KM recieved alot of credit for the Tampa gameplan and I liked some of it but, we try alot of runs out of 2 TE with a WR tight...I'm not sure that is a good run formation for this OL anymore...

 

[phildadon86]

We have people who still talk about our offensive line like it's 2016. Watch some other teams, look at our running game. Stop the "Zeke is fat" nonsense when he's clearly not. The truth is this line isn't what it was 5 years ago.

Zeke is supposed to be able to run thru DTs for 90 million. Didnt you know? Or phase thru them like the flash. lol.

In all honesty. Anyone that watched the game Thursday and saw that one run where Zeke took the edge and then high stepped like Sanders and says he didn't look more explosive is lying to themselves.

 

[MichiganCowboyFan]

Or refusing to address the Oline with a real draft pick in way to long.

Micah Parsons was the right pick.

The two Connor's were picked recently and were both solid picks at G.

La'el was a steal and the league has screwed him over since before the draft he was eligible for. We got him on a super discount, making up for the Byron Jones bust pick... he's been a stud when healthy, and now the league is screwing him over again.

 

[SteveTheCowboy]

I was very surprised and disappointed to learn today that our 3 best and highest paid offensive linemen- Tyron Smith, Zack Martin and La’el Collins- have not played together in a regular season game since the 2019 season.

Let that marinate.

So the best three OL on a team that spends top cap dollars on those three linemen have not played together since mid 2019. Injuries to Smith and Collins caused both to miss 28 games between them last year. And somehow this front office continues to call OL “one of the main strengths of the team.”

We talk a lot as fans about a player’s ability. But the first ability a player must have is “availability”. You can’t keep paying these guys so much cap space to never have them play together.

In my mind, no matter what happens this year, OL has moved to a top priority in the upcoming draft.

Not sure howyou missed it. Maybe the zeke ha....er....criticism covered it up?

Our o line has been a disaster for two years.

Our drafts seem two years behind the needs.

 

[Diehardblues]

I was very surprised and disappointed to learn today that our 3 best and highest paid offensive linemen- Tyron Smith, Zack Martin and La’el Collins- have not played together in a regular season game since the 2019 season.

Let that marinate.

So the best three OL on a team that spends top cap dollars on those three linemen have not played together since mid 2019. Injuries to Smith and Collins caused both to miss 28 games between them last year. And somehow this front office continues to call OL “one of the main strengths of the team.”

We talk a lot as fans about a player’s ability. But the first ability a player must have is “availability”. You can’t keep paying these guys so much cap space to never have them play together.

In my mind, no matter what happens this year, OL has moved to a top priority in the upcoming draft.

I suppose it depends on where we are with their contracts. Can we just release them? Probably not. And who’d trade for them with injuries or off field issues?

Martin probably only one who’d fetch some trade bait but can’t imagine folding up the tent on him.

While I’d agree with your premise here not sure it’s a real possibility . At least until we know where we are with their contracts.

 

[Diehardblues]

When all 5 starters are in place on the field together, I see our once top three OL now as maybe top 16.

You’re saying that when we have all of our staters on OL in we are now only middle of the league. Again, what are you basing this analysis or evaluation on?