News: BR: The Dallas Cowboys Quietly Have Built 1 of the NFL's Best Offensive Lines

[NewsBot]

If the NFL needed a motto—and it most certainly does not—it would only be appropriate if the league identified itself first and foremost as a society in which rags can turn to riches at an unparalleled speed. We see it each year as somewhere in the range of a dozen teams transition, seemingly on a dime, from "good" to "bad" and vice versa.

Coming off three consecutive 8-8 seasons, the Dallas Cowboys aren't exactly poster children for that sort of fluctuation to and from the realm of competitiveness, but that changes if you're to take more of a micro approach by looking only at the Cowboys' offensive line.

Only 13 months ago, said line was considered to be one of the worst in football.

ESPN's Jean-Jacques Taylor in November of 2012:



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[rkell87]

"Left tackle Tyron Smith went first overall in 2011"

nice to know

 

[Hoofbite]

Quietly?

After all the admiration from guys like Collinsworth during the games last year about how improved the OL was and now a 3rd first round pick?

 

[Doomsay]

A real sneaker for sure, but very glad for it.

 

[Dwight]

That unit may be one of the best by the end of the season.

If Jason G. can improve his game management skills and the defense can make some improvement I can see Dallas sneaking into the playoffs next season due to the weak NFC East Division

But that's a big if.

 

[perrykemp]

Now <that> quietly -- they've invest their 1st round picks in 2011, 2013, and 2014 -- so three of the last four years.

Nobody can question the level of commitment to the OL at this stage.

 

[visionary]

Now <that> quietly -- they've invest their 1st round picks in 2011, 2013, and 2014 -- so three of the last four years.

Nobody can question the level of commitment to the OL at this stage.

Not just 3 rd 1 players but very very good players

 

[Nova]

That unit may be one of the best by the end of the season.

If Jason G. can improve his game management skills and the defense can make some improvement I can see Dallas sneaking into the playoffs next season due to the weak NFC East Division

But that's a big if.

They were one of the best last season. I'd say we we may be THE best by the end of the season.

 

[CyberB0b]

3 first round picks isn't what I would call quiet.

 

[burmafrd]

Sad to see how far the standard has fallen as regards what is considered a Top O line. I can remember a lot of O lines (not just our great one) that would put the current bunch to shame.

But that is one of the prices of the salary cap era and true FA. The time when you could keep a line together for 7-10 years is long gone. Now you are lucky if you can do it for 3-4. Or stockpile talent like we did in the 90's. Our O line actually changed a fair amount from 91-96. I am not sure we had the same lineup 2 years in a row. Which makes what they did and what they became even more incredible.

One unsung O line was the KC line from the late 80's through the mid 90's. That bunch was VERY good and clearly better then any Line I have seen the last 10 years.

 

[Wolfpack]

Love this, what a change.

 

[morasp]

I wouldn't exactly call it a quick turn around, the weakness got exposed badly in the playoffs against the Vikings in 2009.

 

[Meat-O-Rama]

My favorite part of the article is at the end: "...Smith, Frederick and Martin are each only 23 years old. Leary is only 25 and has plenty of room to improve. And Free, who is the old man of the group, only celebrated his 30th birthday in January. "

Not just a pretty good offensive line. A good YOUNG one.

 

[big dog cowboy]

In 2012, Dallas allowed pressure on the quarterback 196 times, according to Pro Football Focus, which was the fifth-highest total in the NFL. They also averaged only 3.6 yards per carry, which ranked 31st in the league.

From a sheer statistical standpoint, we already saw immense improvement in 2013, with the pressure total dropping to 162—PFF graded the line as the eighth-best in football in terms of pass-blocking efficiency—and that yards-per-carry average skyrocketing to 4.5 (also good for a No. 8 ranking league-wide).

As a result, PFF actually ranked the line fourth in football, and that was before it added Martin in the first round of the draft.

It's official. There is nothing to be optimistic about in Cowboyland. We're doomed.

 

[9darter]

Tyron and Zack both born in 90, Frederick in 91. Should be a decade of quality OL performance. Love that.

 

[SilverStarCowboy]

Zach Martin may be the best out of all three. Considered better than any Guard coming out for a long while, he is certainly a fun one to watch Dominate the LOS.

Maybe someone will step up at G and RT to make this line even more formidable. Whoever the other two guys end up being they should look pretty good with a 1st round C, LT and G net to them.

This Offense is going to be fun to see each week, the OL is set for the future as well. Exciting to see the Cowboys catching on and up to the Winners Philosophy on the League and the trench game.

Next up DL, Dallas added the numbers there to surprise as well.

 

[CyberB0b]

Zach Martin may be the best out of all three.

Stuff like this is why I keep coming back. The guy has never even stepped foot on the practice field, yet he may be better than Tyron Smith.

 

[Zordon]

is martin more highly rated than decastro coming out? or even cooper?

 

[Rockport]

Stuff like this is why I keep coming back. The guy has never even stepped foot on the practice field, yet he may be better than Tyron Smith.

It's possible and not worthy of snarky comments.

 

[big dog cowboy]

is martin more highly rated than decastro coming out? or even cooper?

Yes but can't site the source I read last week. I was unsure and wondered about this myself and was pleasantly surprised when my hopes were confirmed. Being highly rated or full of potential sound great on paper but this kids could really really be something special.