A Football Life: The Great Wall of Dallas (90s Offensive Line)

[Risen Star]

The icing on the cake was how much they frustrated the likes of Reggie White, who was arguably the leagues best pass rusher at that time. Reggie was so frustrated at the end of the 1995 NFC Champ Game, that he was about to take it out on a Fox cameraman.

Inarguably.

 

[khiladi]

The first year for Aikman, I believe 3 of the 5 OL were playing. I think that 1-15 year, Aikman was sacked the most in the league.

Part of their dominance was a whole list of factors, among them Norv Turner and Emmitt Smitt and the precision of Aikman and Irvin in the timing based scheme. As a whole, that was a complete offense in every sense of the word when it became fine-tuned. Like a Ferrari engine... I don't think there was an offense that could just crush your will like that offense. Others finessed you, this did it all.

 

[khiladi]

The icing on the cake was how much they frustrated the likes of Reggie White, who was arguably the leagues best pass rusher at that time. Reggie was so frustrated at the end of the 1995 NFC Champ Game, that he was about to take it out on a Fox cameraman.

it wasn't even the OL. It was Erik Williams alone who handled Reggie White.

 

[Don Corleone]

The first year for Aikman, I believe 3 of the 5 OL were playing. I think that 1-15 year, Aikman was sacked the most in the league.

Part of their dominance was a whole list of factors, among them Norv Turner and Emmitt Smitt and the precision of Aikman and Irvin in the timing based scheme. As a whole, that was a complete offense in every sense of the word when it became fine-tuned. Like a Ferrari engine... I don't think there was an offense that could just crush your will like that offense. Others finessed you, this did it all.

My son and I watch old Cowboys games from those days. He is only 9 years old. He is in complete shock as to how simple and dominant that offense was. He did get a chuckle when he realized Garrett was playing on Turkey Day in 94. Asked why the head coach was also the QB.

 

[khiladi]

My son and I watch old Cowboys games from those days. He is only 9 years old. He is in complete shock as to how simple and dominant that offense was. He did get a chuckle when he realized Garrett was playing on Turkey Day in 94. Asked why the head coach was also the QB.

Personally think that dynasty goes down as the best dynasty in history... That defense and it's lightning fast pursuit and depth, with players coming in and out, saving energy, was phenomenal.

 

[Don Corleone]

Personally think that dynasty goes down as the best dynasty in history... That defense and it's lightning fast pursuit and depth, with players coming in and out, saving energy, was phenomenal.

It was the best. No tricks, no gimmicks, no tuck rule and tight Patriot games. I describe the most recent Pats dynasty as flukey. The 90s Cowboys would punch their opponents in the mouth.

 

[Red Dragon]

If only Erik Williams hadn't had that car accident.......

 

[DogFace]

Best line ever. There were some in the past with more hof ers but no unit was bigger,stronger,nastier, and disciplined(on the field).

 

[cowboys1981]

Agree. The oline was the best unit to ever play the game. They were bigger, stronger and had an attitude. They are the reason why I prefer the huge, mauling linemen that takes over games by wearing the defense down. That line would be even better if it faced the subpar dlinemen that are fielded today.

We only help by getting these so called zone blockers that aren't as strong. I'd rather have 5 guys who can go out and dominate the line and take the will away from a team.

 

[Kevinicus]

If there was any group that applied that stupid "YOLO" philosophy kids are living by these days it was the Cowboys o-line of the 90s. Even Stepnoski, the cleanest of the bunch, was a spokesperson for legalizing weed.

You say that like it's bad...

 

[Alexander]

What? Erik Williams and Larry Allen say hello.

That o line routinely abused good defensive players.

Absolutely.

This "Emmitt Smith made that line" nonsense is laughable. I cannot count the number of wide open holes anyone's grandmother could have run through.

It was an aggressive, well-coached unit that tried to hurt people.

Watch a game from that era and from the sound of the snap, all you hear is aggression. It was almost tangible.

 

[Zimmy Lives]

You say that like it's bad...

It's bad only if you live your life recklessly. You can live your life to the fullest and still be responsible.

If you are referring to weed being bad, I am all for its legalization; it is no more dangerous than alcohol. Unfortunately, it is illegal.

 

[BoysFanInAustin]

Absolutely.

This "Emmitt Smith made that line" nonsense is laughable. I cannot count the number of wide open holes anyone's grandmother could have run through.

It was an aggressive, well-coached unit that tried to hurt people.

Watch a game from that era and from the sound of the snap, all you hear is aggression. It was almost tangible.

I loved hearing people use that quote in bold to diminish the greatness of Emmitt and hype up the dominance of the OLine. Why is it then that runners like Derrick Lassic, Lincoln Coleman, Chris Warren, Blair Thomas, and Sherman Williams struggled to even break 50 yards? Is anyone's grandma better than NFL players?

 

[Alexander]

I loved hearing people use that quote in bold to diminish the greatness of Emmitt and hype up the dominance of the OLine. Why is it then that runners like Derrick Lassic, Lincoln Coleman, Chris Warren, Blair Thomas, and Sherman Williams struggled to even break 50 yards? Is anyone's grandma better than NFL players?

Did Derrick Lassic, Chris Warren, Blair Thomas and Sherman Williams do much of anything in the NFL? At all? Backup RB for Dallas was basically an afterthought, like a third QB because Smith was so durable.

It is not an argument that lends itself to extremes, unless you really want it to go that way because of hero worship.

Smith was a great running back. But that line, at the time, made him an all-timer. To pretend otherwise pretty much tells me you did not even watch the games during that era.

Let me guess, you think it is a "team game" but when it comes to slighting Emmitt Smith, it becomes something different?

 

[BoysFanInAustin]

Did Derrick Lassic, Chris Warren, Blair Thomas and Sherman Williams do much of anything in the NFL? At all? Backup RB for Dallas was basically an afterthought, like a third QB because Smith was so durable.

It is not an argument that lends itself to extremes, unless you really want it to go that way because of hero worship.

Smith was a great running back. But that line, at the time, made him an all-timer. To pretend otherwise pretty much tells me you did not even watch the games during that era.

Let me guess, you think it is a "team game" but when it comes to slighting Emmitt Smith, it becomes something different?

Would anyone's grandma do anything in the NFL? And I have every Dallas game from 1986 to the present. Emmitt had some tremendous runs that he did on his own. The Monday Night game vs Washington when he ran 75 yards and dodged and spun around Commander tacklers for a touchdown is one. The Monday Night game where Emmitt broke 4 would be tacklers for the Falcons is another. Am I slighting the OLine? Absolutely not, but to say that Emmitt was only good because of the huge holes opened up by the OLine is too cliché. Emmitt doesn't get enough credit for being a great runner in his own right.

 

[Don Corleone]

Absolutely.

This "Emmitt Smith made that line" nonsense is laughable. I cannot count the number of wide open holes anyone's grandmother could have run through.

It was an aggressive, well-coached unit that tried to hurt people.

Watch a game from that era and from the sound of the snap, all you hear is aggression. It was almost tangible.

They dictated the game. It was a unit that was a well oiled machine. They were a nasty bunch that would put the hurt on opponents.

I could have run behind that line for a good average. You could run a Mack truck through the holes they made for Emmitt.

 

[RonSpringsdaman20]

Big E was a potential HOF'er before his injury/accident. Stepnoski was a very good center, and well worth his third round pick, The line was not overrated, it well coached.
anyone who had to deal with Newton pulling knew they were in trouble.

 

[cowboys1981]

Personally think that dynasty goes down as the best dynasty in history... That defense and it's lightning fast pursuit and depth, with players coming in and out, saving energy, was phenomenal.

We didn't need a kicker to win our Superbowls. No deficit of victory in our SB run was by less than 10 pts. The NFL will never see that again. Maybe that's why they threw this "cap" crap into the mix.

 

[BAT]

What? Erik Williams and Larry Allen say hello.

That o line routinely abused good defensive players.

Even Erik Williams said that blocking for other RBs was not the same as blocking for Emmitt. Other RBs ran too fast according to Big E. Methinks Emmitt had rare vision & patience to wait for his blockers and also attack angles. He had big boys in front who took a little while to get moving sometimes.

 

[theSHOW]

my grandmother could have got through those holes our OL was opening.... cane and all.