How dependent are Cowboys on OL?

[Cowboy Brian]

I feel fairly confident Dak will be able to overcome especially with Elliott. Dak is playing to secure millions in a new contract.

And our defense could be poised to carry our offense this year anyway.

These obstacles set up nicely for Coach G to optimize for recognition. Maybe another COY.

Coach G job was secure anyway as long as Jerry’s GM.

If Dak gets an injury and phones it in he will still get a huge Jimmy G. contract.

Playing and failing is the only way he loses.

 

[Captain-Crash]

How dependent are Cowboys on OL? with the money they have spent on the offensive line, the don't depend on them at all.. lol

 

[ClappingCarrot]

I feel like we are certainly dependent on our line because our entire offensive scheme is predicated on pounding the ball.

That being said, this site in particular is panicking for no reason, at least right now. Training camp and preseason can be tough and folks get injured. With that said, a lot of players go to work every Sunday with at least something ailing them. People like Smith and Collins not practicing is likely precautionary to ensure that they are ready on September 9th. Losing Fred sucks and I hope he's back soon, but this unit will be ready. My concern has more to do with Looney reading/making the calls that Fred did; not in protecting Dak and creating lanes for Zeke.

 

[Diehardblues]

If Dak gets an injury and phones it in he will still get a huge Jimmy G. contract.

Playing and failing is the only way he loses.

IDK about that . If Dak is similar to last year I could see more of a Bortyles type contract.

 

[Jchilly]

Can our running game with Elliott still be dominating if we are missing a piece or two?

And what will the effects be on our passing game and Daks effectiveness?

Curious what others think the effects could be if the strength of the offense is compromised?

We always seem to struggle with injuries in the OL. Team has no depth.

 

[xwalker]

Almost impossible at this juncture to obtain a better option. If Looney isn't at least viable, it could get bad.

They need a backup for Looney.

There might be a veteran Center that has lost the starting job but is too expensive to keep as a backup available somewhere.

 

[jazzcat22]

Mate Mewton said that not a one of the OL was a pro bowler until Emmitt got there.
Though Nate down played that so,e, but there is also so,e,thrush it it as well.

So if w e are down an OL to start it will not be a catastrophe. Not as long as Zeke is back there.
However, Dak is not Troy Aikman at this point either.

 

[Praxit]

Cornerstone dependent. They are first run team, then pass. The OL is the set up for the 1-2 punch.

 

[jobberone]

The team is very dependent on the OL. There, I've said it. The secret is out.

 

[George]

Can our running game with Elliott still be dominating if we are missing a piece or two?

And what will the effects be on our passing game and Daks effectiveness?

Curious what others think the effects could be if the strength of the offense is compromised?

No we won’t do well without TF. It will affect both pass and run.

 

[Chuck 54]

Can our running game with Elliott still be dominating if we are missing a piece or two?

And what will the effects be on our passing game and Daks effectiveness?

Curious what others think the effects could be if the strength of the offense is compromised?

Show me an NFL team that is NOT dependent on the OL for both the run and pass games success. Show me an offense that isn’t dependent on the QB. How about a defense that isn’t dependent on the DL or the LBs for stopping the run.

Too dependent on our OL? Ummmm, yes. That’s football. How dependent is NE. On the QB? How dependent is Pittsburg on the QB and receivers. How dependent is Carolina on the front 7.

 

[Diehardblues]

Show me an NFL team that is NOT dependent on the OL for both the run and pass games success. Show me an offense that isn’t dependent on the QB. How about a defense that isn’t dependent on the DL or the LBs for stopping the run.

Too dependent on our OL? Ummmm, yes. That’s football. How dependent is NE. On the QB? How dependent is Pittsburg on the QB and receivers. How dependent is Carolina on the front 7.

Dependent and cause for collapse are separate issues.

I certainly didn’t expect our offense to collapse last year when Smith and Elliott went out. How many playoff caliber teams collapse when an OL and RB go out. Their QB’s usually carry them.

Romo carried an offense with some poor OL and weak running game for years. And there’s other QB’s out there who don’t need an All World OL and league leading running back to be effective enough to contend which makes our offense and QB more dependent than most.

 

[kskboys]

I feel like we are certainly dependent on our line because our entire offensive scheme is predicated on pounding the ball.

That being said, this site in particular is panicking for no reason, at least right now. Training camp and preseason can be tough and folks get injured. With that said, a lot of players go to work every Sunday with at least something ailing them. People like Smith and Collins not practicing is likely precautionary to ensure that they are ready on September 9th. Losing Fred sucks and I hope he's back soon, but this unit will be ready. My concern has more to do with Looney reading/making the calls that Fred did; not in protecting Dak and creating lanes for Zeke.

Zach Martin will make the calls.

 

[percyhoward]

The offense suffered from Tyron's absence much more than it suffered from Zeke's absence last year.

with both Smith and Elliott
212 points on 86 drives (2.47 points per drive)
25.8 points per game

with Smith, without Elliott
88 points on 36 drives (2.44 points per drive)
25.5 points per game

with Elliott, without Smith
19 points on 21 drives (0.90 points per drive)
9.4 points per game

with neither
14 points on 23 drives (0.61 points per drive)
6.4 points per game

But the drop off from Fred to Looney is nothing compared to the sky dive from Tyron to Green/Bell. We should be okay until the next OL injury, especially if the defense lives up to the hype.

 

[Reid1boys]

Can our running game with Elliott still be dominating if we are missing a piece or two?

And what will the effects be on our passing game and Daks effectiveness?

Curious what others think the effects could be if the strength of the offense is compromised?

I know I am hearing how great Sequon Brkely i gonna be, but yet we hear that the Giants O-linesucks. I know you dont like fantasy football, but all im hearing is how much Zeke will be hurt by Fredbeard being out, and Barkely is moving way up... is the Giants Oline better than ours.... even without Fred?

 

[Reid1boys]

The C-boys are altogether too reliant upon their OL. Let's hope they pick up another backup (or two) before the regular season starts. I'd hate to see Dak being forced to take off running on every other down. That really wouldn't be a recipe for success.

Start going down the list of the top 6 teams in the NDL... whomever you want to put in your top 6.
Now start listing where or who they are too dependent upon. There is not a single team in the nfl that doesnt rely heavily on something.

 

[Reid1boys]

Dependent and cause for collapse are separate issues.

I certainly didn’t expect our offense to collapse last year when Smith and Elliott went out. How many playoff caliber teams collapse when an OL and RB go out. Their QB’s usually carry them.

Romo carried an offense with some poor OL and weak running game for years. And there’s other QB’s out there who don’t need an All World OL and league leading running back to be effective enough to contend which makes our offense and QB more dependent than most.

Romo was a veteran QB, Dak was in his 2nd year.... not even close in ability atthis point.

 

[Diehardblues]

I know I am hearing how great Sequon Brkely i gonna be, but yet we hear that the Giants O-linesucks. I know you dont like fantasy football, but all im hearing is how much Zeke will be hurt by Fredbeard being out, and Barkely is moving way up... is the Giants Oline better than ours.... even without Fred?

I’d say no. Our OL with Frederick out should still be one of the best OL in NFL.

IMO what makes Barkley a bigger upside is Eli a bigger threat downfield than Dak is. Plus Eli has some of the best weapons to throw to. Barkley should provide much needed support for Eli even if the OL isn’t much improved.

 

[Reid1boys]

I’d say no. Our OL with Frederick out should still be one of the best OL in NFL.

IMO what makes Barkley a bigger upside is Eli a bigger threat downfield than Dak is. Plus Eli has some of the best weapons to throw to. Barkley should provide much needed support for Eli even if the OL isn’t much improved.

I dont disagree with your statements... but you also kind of made my point. We still have a pretty damn good line.

 

[Diehardblues]

Romo was a veteran QB, Dak was in his 2nd year.... not even close in ability atthis point.

This we can agree on but remember Romo’s OL begin fading near the end of 2009 and by 2010 in his 3rd full season needed complete overhaul which begun in 2011.

Romo didn’t really have the luxury of this All World OL until 2014 which was his most effective season.

It’s difficult ever seeing Dak develop into a near elite prolific downfield passing QB and enough to elevate less supporting cast.

In 2016 Dak walked into an offense loaded with talent that was ready with Romo’s return to pick up where it left off in 2014. Granted he made the most of it but his weaknesses had already been exposed later in the season by better defenses.