Could the aging O-line derail a super run again, just like 2010?

[J-man]

I love that Zak has ended his hold out. I think he is still a top 3 OG in the league. And Tyron is a monster, when he's healthy. But I'll be honest as I was thinking about our line in full, their ages, the experience and the injury history, it scared the heck out of me. I suddenly remembered the 2010 playoff loss to Minnesota. IMO we had a great team that year. Because they were so good, the age of the O-line was ignored and it caught up to them, seemingly all at once in that game. Could that happen again within the next couple of years?

We seem to be relying very heavily on a couple of older great players, with very little depth behind them. Either one or both could take a turn down hill at any moment. If Zac and Tyron were to both stumble to injury, age or whatever, what will the line look like? Could we survive a playoff run with Ball and Edoga starting? I don't think so.

No offense to Spoon, but I think they/we may very well end up regretting drafting a future TE with upside instead of drafting a starting caliber OG in rd2 of this draft.
This team needs to make a move, a FA pick up or a trade, to secure more quality O-line depth, before it costs them another Super Bowl run, again.

 

[gtb1943]

I love that Zak has ended his hold out. I think he is still a top 3 OG in the league. And Tyron is a monster, when he's healthy. But I'll be honest as I was thinking about our line in full, their ages, the experience and the injury history, it scared the heck out of me. I suddenly remembered the 2010 playoff loss to Minnesota. IMO we had a great team that year. Because they were so good, the age of the O-line was ignored and it caught up to them, seemingly all at once in that game. Could that happen again within the next couple of years?

We seem to be relying very heavily on a couple of older great players, with very little depth behind them. Either one or both could take a turn down hill at any moment. If Zac and Tyron were to both stumble to injury, age or whatever, what will the line look like? Could we survive a playoff run with Ball and Edoga starting? I don't think so.

No offense to Spoon, but I think they/we may very well end up regretting drafting a future TE with upside instead of drafting a starting caliber OG in rd2 of this draft.
This team needs to make a move, a FA pick up or a trade, to secure more quality O-line depth, before it costs them another Super Bowl run, again.

It was injuries more than age, though Colombo was going downhill quickly. When the Hotel went down, things got really bad. The center of the line was still pretty good but the tackle play killed us.

 

[jazzcat22]

Tyler Smith, Biadasz and Steel are all still young. Tyron Smith is still one of the best OT in the NFL. Just needs an entire year to stay healthy. Remains to be seen. But I am not one to get all Debbie downer saying it will happen again. Martin actually for an OL has some good years left. Don't put him in the retirement home quite yet.

This still has the makings of very good top NFL OL's. Now after that, I thin the depth is ok for a few spots. Farniok showed he can play some, just not sure if a full time starter save the day type. I think there are a few others that can be ok for a few series or a game.
It is not as bad as many of our couch GM's say. A few are claiming that, so they can have an excuse for if Dak plays bad.

I have not seen the extent of the injury about Edoga, as I was traveling and missed some info after that occurred. Any updates?

 

[blueblood70]

I love that Zak has ended his hold out. I think he is still a top 3 OG in the league. And Tyron is a monster, when he's healthy. But I'll be honest as I was thinking about our line in full, their ages, the experience and the injury history, it scared the heck out of me. I suddenly remembered the 2010 playoff loss to Minnesota. IMO we had a great team that year. Because they were so good, the age of the O-line was ignored and it caught up to them, seemingly all at once in that game. Could that happen again within the next couple of years?

We seem to be relying very heavily on a couple of older great players, with very little depth behind them. Either one or both could take a turn down hill at any moment. If Zac and Tyron were to both stumble to injury, age or whatever, what will the line look like? Could we survive a playoff run with Ball and Edoga starting? I don't think so.

No offense to Spoon, but I think they/we may very well end up regretting drafting a future TE with upside instead of drafting a starting caliber OG in rd2 of this draft.
This team needs to make a move, a FA pick up or a trade, to secure more quality O-line depth, before it costs them another Super Bowl run, again.

Well I don't agree with everything you said there but I do agree that in the playoffs with a banged up, worn out offensive line, it has been the problem the last three losses in the playoffs..

they literally are not being able to block the better defensive lines in football,

You remember the 2018 Rams and the 2 niner games.... the thing that we could not get is open holes and good blocking from our line so it's already happened.... so I don't know what you're talking about, it's not about age..

I think it's about attrition by the time we get to the playoffs they are not at their best and there's not a lot you can do about that but hope that luck changes that. Maybe with some better blocking tight ends and a new offensive line coach new play caller maybe we'll do some things better to help the line down the road.

 

[VaqueroTD]

I love that Zak has ended his hold out. I think he is still a top 3 OG in the league. And Tyron is a monster, when he's healthy. But I'll be honest as I was thinking about our line in full, their ages, the experience and the injury history, it scared the heck out of me. I suddenly remembered the 2010 playoff loss to Minnesota. IMO we had a great team that year. Because they were so good, the age of the O-line was ignored and it caught up to them, seemingly all at once in that game. Could that happen again within the next couple of years?

We seem to be relying very heavily on a couple of older great players, with very little depth behind them. Either one or both could take a turn down hill at any moment. If Zac and Tyron were to both stumble to injury, age or whatever, what will the line look like? Could we survive a playoff run with Ball and Edoga starting? I don't think so.

No offense to Spoon, but I think they/we may very well end up regretting drafting a future TE with upside instead of drafting a starting caliber OG in rd2 of this draft.
This team needs to make a move, a FA pick up or a trade, to secure more quality O-line depth, before it costs them another Super Bowl run, again.

What would also be ironic is that the players they drafted 123 as a reaction to that season are now the ones that would cause it again. LOL

As Aikman always says, you’re only an injury or two away from mediocrity. For sure, this unit is showing some red flags on that. Only need to take a look at the end of last season, AND we had better depth too. Hoping some of the young unproven guys work out.

 

[noshame]

This offense theoretically makes it easier on the OL, it just has to be executed and that's the question.

 

[erod]

This o-line is plenty good enough. Lots of Super Bowls have been won with lesser lines than this.

Tyron is the only "aging" guy.

Let's not let this be an excuse.

 

[speedkilz88]

The Cowboys won Super Bowls in the 90s with Mark Tuinei & Nate Newton in their 30s.

 

[Diehardblues]

It’s not likely Tyron plays a full season . Hasn’t since what 2015? But at least we are more prepared with Tyler .

I was more worried about not having Martin. No doubt our 2 perineal All Pro veteran OL are on the last couple years they are still a force . And add in Tyler another talent they form a strong enough OL to get it done .

 

[VaqueroTD]

The Cowboys won Super Bowls in the 90s with Mark Tuinei & Nate Newton in their 30s.

They also quickly collapsed after the third Super Bowl when they lost a lot of push from that older offensive line. Not even Larry Allen could save the day.

It can go both ways. Andrew Whitworth good story on the Rams. Ray Donaldson and Mark Tuinei for us in the 90’s. Health is everything. Zack, we should be okay… Tyron, you know the drill. End up with another bad luck case with one of the young guys like Steele last year and suddenly that line is shaky.

 

[PackersNation]

OP must be referring to the 2009 season. In 2010 the Cowboys were 6-10.

 

[starfan1]

OLine has to get better at pass blocking period!! They are still respectable at run blocking I think top 10 but that was with Steele in. When he went down they struggled agaist quality fronts. The pass blocking was bottom half of the league and if that continues then you are asking dak to be more than who he is and that spells trouble. I also think having a better WR corps will help dramatically

 

[erod]

The Cowboys won Super Bowls in the 90s with Mark Tuinei & Nate Newton in their 30s.

Gesek, Donaldson, others, too.

 

[Flamma]

It can happen to any team. Weren't the two starting tackles out for the Chiefs the year they lost to Tampa in the SB? Mahomes was running on every play.

My concern is who eventually replaces Tyron and Martin. I'm happy with who they got to replace Tyron. I think we'll be ok for several years. But I'm never upset when they draft OL in the first round. It's not exciting, just necessary.

 

[Carson]

It can happen to any team. Weren't the two starting tackles out for the Chiefs the year they lost to Tampa in the SB? Mahomes was running on every play.

My concern is who eventually replaces Tyron and Martin. I'm happy with who they got to replace Tyron. I think we'll be ok for several years. But I'm never upset when they draft OL in the first round. It's not exciting, just necessary.

Tyron is Tyler Smith.

Martin has a few years left to find his replacement.

 

[John813]

OP must be referring to the 2009 season. In 2010 the Cowboys were 6-10.

I suddenly remembered the 2010 playoff loss to Minnesota

https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201001170min.htm
Sunday Jan 17, 2010

The game was played in 2010.

 

[PackersNation]

I suddenly remembered the 2010 playoff loss to Minnesota

The game was played in 2010.

Then goes on to say: "we had a great team that year."

As I said, the OP must have been referring to the 2009 season and not 2010.

The end.

 

[John813]

Then goes on to say: "we had a great team that year."

As I said, the OP must have been referring to the 2009 season and not 2010.

The end.

There was no confusion on the year the OP was talking about.
You are just here to split hairs.

 

[Mac_MaloneV1]

The premise that Dallas is 2 OL injuries away from not being able to make a playoff run is true for every team.

What if Lane Johnson (33) and Travis Kelce (36) go down?

No team can accommodate those kinds of losses.

 

[glimmerman]

Well I don't agree with everything you said there but I do agree that in the playoffs with a banged up, worn out offensive line, it has been the problem the last three losses in the playoffs..

they literally are not being able to block the better defensive lines in football,

You remember the 2018 Rams and the 2 niner games.... the thing that we could not get is open holes and good blocking from our line so it's already happened.... so I don't know what you're talking about, it's not about age..

I think it's about attrition by the time we get to the playoffs they are not at their best and there's not a lot you can do about that but hope that luck changes that. Maybe with some better blocking tight ends and a new offensive line coach new play caller maybe we'll do some things better to help the line down the road.

Yeah I think if we went into the playoffs with a O-Line like Romo had the year of Dez catch no catch then we would have win a SB by now. Of course we don’t have the type of RB we had then unless these young rookies can take over. If we can go into it healthy we have a chance. Man I miss Fredbeard.