News: Is the Dallas Cowboys offensive line the best ever?

[CCBoy]

Is the Dallas Cowboys offensive line the best ever?
http://thelandryhat.com/2017/06/30/dallas-cowboys-offensive-line-best-ever-2/



...When discussing great offensive linemen throughout Dallas Cowboys history, there’s a solid list of names to choose from. Dating all the way back to the 1960s, we can remember names like Rayfield Wrightand Ralph Neeley, the former a franchise tackle and the latter a highly versatile lineman. Both of these players were dominant and both helped the Cowboys earn the status as ‘America’s Team,’ a label that still sticks to this day.

In more recent times, names like Larry Allen and Erik Williams in the 1990s helped take the Cowboys from the ashes of the late 1980s and turn them into the bullies of the NFL. Let’s throw in center Mark Stepnoski for good measure – there’s still other names we could throw in here.

A tough question is this one: Is today’s offensive line in Dallas the best in franchise history?...

 

[CCBoy]

PFF predicts Dallas Cowboys’ offensive line falls off in 2017


Football analytics website Pro Football Focus believes the Dallas Cowboys offensive line’s play will decline after suffering two major losses this offseason.

The Dallas Cowboys are one of the most popular teams in the world. They are also known for being America’s Team. And just mentioning them sparks memories of some of the NFL’s greatest players like quarterback Roger Staubach and running back Emmitt Smith.But in recent years, and especially among football circles, the Cowboys are likely known more for possessing one of the most dominate positional units in the NFL: Their offensive line. Consisting of three perennial Pro Bowlers, all of whom were first round selections in their individual drafts, Dallas’ O-line is at the very heart of the team’s recent resurgence.

But this offseason, the Cowboys offensive line suffered two significant losses. Although their trio of All-Pros remain intact, (left tackle Tyron Smith, center Travis Frederick, and right guard Zack Martin) two members of last year’s starting squad will not return. Longtime starting right tackle Doug Free decided this offseason to retire after ten years in Dallas. And former starting left guard Ronald Leary cashed in big via free agency and is now apart of the Denver Broncos. Although both Free and Leary were considered the lesser lineman alongside the likes of Smith, Frederick and Martin, chemistry plays a huge part in an offensive line’s success. And their departure is the reason one football analytic website ranked the Cowboys O-line the ninth best in the league going into the 2017 regular season...


http://thelandryhat.com/2017/06/30/pff-predicts-dallas-cowboys-offensive-line-falls-off-in-2017/

 

[CCBoy]

My final view here...

Regardless, the core of the Dallas Cowboys’ offensive line remains the same. And any doubters of just how great they really are will likely be eating crow and ranking them atop the NFL’s best by year’s end.

http://thelandryhat.com/2017/06/30/pff-predicts-dallas-cowboys-offensive-line-falls-off-in-2017/

 

[Bullflop]

I wouldn't be at all surprised if our somewhat revamped OL took a few games to get in sync. Don't be too surprised if they then commence to kick some serious booty by the time they become synchronized with one another. By all standards, I think they will be one of the most physically dominating OLs that the Cowboys have fielded in many a year.

I think they are likely to rival the very dominant one of the 90s when Emmitt Smith was running wild in and out of their offensive backfield. I also believe La'el Collins should add an extra measure of physicality that may have been missing when Doug Free manned the RT spot in the past. Collins is stronger and more agile than Free. He will accordingly be more solid in pass protection, once he gets fully accustomed to that spot.

 

[xwalker]

While I wouldn't be at all surprised if our somewhat revamped OL took a few games to get in sync, don't be too surprised if they then commence to kick some serious booty by the time they become accustomed to one another. By all standards, I think they will be one of the most physically dominating OLs that the Cowboys have fielded in many a year.

I think they are likely to rival the very dominant one of the 90s when Emmitt Smith was running wild in and out of their offensive backfield. I also believe La'el Collins should add an extra measure of physicality that may have been missing when Doug Free manned the RT spot in the past. Collins is stronger and likely more agile than Free. He should accordingly be more solid in pass protection once he gets accustomed to that spot.

Their peak up to this point was at the end of 2014 with Leary at LG and Parnell at RT.

They were physically dominant at all 5 positions.

 

[FiveTime]

I'd like to see Free at training camp helping Collins learn the position.

 

[Bullflop]

Their peak up to this point was at the end of 2014 with Leary at LG and Parnell at RT.

They were physically dominant at all 5 positions.

There's probably something to be said in favor of that belief, although I felt the OL we fielded in the early to mid 90s was equally as dominant and if not, perhaps even more than that one. Perhaps I'm just brainwashed by the general perception that that particular unit was the most dominant of all times but I would certainly agree that both were about as good as it gets. I'm hoping the one to come might rival those of that era, although I wouldn't mind at all if they were to take a 2nd or 3rd rating to either one. They were both pretty awesome, no doubt.

 

[big dog cowboy]

But this offseason, the Cowboys offensive line suffered two significant losses.

To say Doug "The Human Turnstile" Free is a significant loss is very telling.

Damn PFF idiots making the off season even more unbearable.

 

[diefree666]

What sets this line apart from the 90's is the physical talent. Step got by using incredible technique; Nate was a monster bruiser but not particularly athletic; Tui was very good but certainly not in Tyron's class. Erik pre crash and LA were the two that would start here over their current occupants rather easily. Right now we have 3 on that line compared to 2 on that line; and Collins certainly has potential to get up there. The only real question is left guard and I think we have a pretty decent shot at starting someone that could be better than Nate. So going down the line we have LT: clear edge to current line. LG. BIG edge to 90's line as LA was truly all world. Center: Edge to current line despite how good Step was. RG: Martin clearly is better than Nate. RT - Erik big edge. so the total is 3-2 favoring the current line.

 

[HookEmCowboys]

3 All-Pros and only 9th best?

Who is better?????

 

[CCBoy]

3 All-Pros and only 9th best?

Who is better?????

Here, I'd just challenge the entire NFL: Want a Cowboy?

 

[TheFinisher]

They're a very good unit, arguably the best in the league. But seeing the likes of the Giants dominate them up front twice last season, along with the Vikings and Eagles makes me hesitate when people start talking about this group being historically great.

They've become fantastic at working in synchronized unison in the zone run game, and understand as well as any unit their individual assignments and for the most part execute them to a T. Very technically sound.

However, they struggle with pure size and power. That's what you saw in those games last year we failed to get much movement in the run game.

I do agree that Collins should be an upgrade over Free immediately, and may blossom into something special by the end of the season. That LG spot worries me though, Cooper has been a massive bust and Green hasn't done much to garner my trust either. If we're forced to rely on a Byron Bell or Joe Looney it may not be all peaches and cream, the OL is very much dependent on all 5 guys doing their job. If there's a crack in the armor, the entire suit is vulnerable.

 

[CT Dal Fan]

What is PFF talking about when they haven't even seen La'el Collins play at right tackle yet? Do they realize the Cowboys did just fine early last season when Chaz Green (yes, that Chaz Green) started two games at left tackle when Tyron Smith was banged up?

PFF is just looking for attention. To say the Browns line will be better than Dallas' is a joke. Let's compare the starters:

Dallas: Tyron Smith, Jonathan Cooper, Travis Frederick, Zack Martin, La'el Collins
Cleveland: Joe Thomas, Joe Bitonio, J.C. Tretter, Kevin Zeitler, Cameron Erving

I challenge PFF to go around the NFL and ask some general managers which line they'd rather build an offense around.

 

[CCBoy]

They're a very good unit, arguably the best in the league. But seeing the likes of the Giants dominate them up front twice last season, along with the Vikings and Eagles makes me hesitate when people start talking about this group being historically great.

They've become fantastic at working in synchronized unison in the zone run game, and understand as well as any unit their individual assignments and for the most part execute them to a T. Very technically sound.

However, they struggle with pure size and power. That's what you saw in those games last year we failed to get much movement in the run game.

I do agree that Collins should be an upgrade over Free immediately, and may blossom into something special by the end of the season. That LG spot worries me though, Cooper has been a massive bust and Green hasn't done much to garner my trust either. If we're forced to rely on a Byron Bell or Joe Looney it may not be all peaches and cream, the OL is very much dependent on all 5 guys doing their job. If there's a crack in the armor, the entire suit is vulnerable.

The Giants, Vikings, and Eagles have all put a lot of value into the interior of their defensive lines. All three have one of the top level defenses in the NFL...but teams still scored against all three, as did the Cowboys. Even last season. Games got a little out of hand when the Dallas defense didn't pull their own weight in such games.

 

[the_h0wey]

Is the Dallas Cowboys offensive line the best ever?
http://thelandryhat.com/2017/06/30/dallas-cowboys-offensive-line-best-ever-2/



...When discussing great offensive linemen throughout Dallas Cowboys history, there’s a solid list of names to choose from. Dating all the way back to the 1960s, we can remember names like Rayfield Wrightand Ralph Neeley, the former a franchise tackle and the latter a highly versatile lineman. Both of these players were dominant and both helped the Cowboys earn the status as ‘America’s Team,’ a label that still sticks to this day.

In more recent times, names like Larry Allen and Erik Williams in the 1990s helped take the Cowboys from the ashes of the late 1980s and turn them into the bullies of the NFL. Let’s throw in center Mark Stepnoski for good measure – there’s still other names we could throw in here.

A tough question is this one: Is today’s offensive line in Dallas the best in franchise history?...

According to a very stupid PFF article I read last week we have the 9th best line in the league going into this year. I literally LOL'ed when I read it

 

[CCBoy]

According to a very stupid PFF article I read last week we have the 9th best line in the league going into this year. I literally LOL'ed when I read it

Goes to prove that a single snap shot of any group of statistics just doesn't say it all in football. For a single game in a season, the worst team in the NFL can sometimes beat the very best.

 

[xwalker]

There's probably something to be said in favor of that belief, although I felt the OL we fielded in the early to mid 90s was equally as dominant and if not, perhaps even more than that one. Perhaps I'm just brainwashed by the general perception that that particular unit was the most dominant of all times but I would certainly agree that both were about as good as it gets. I'm hoping the one to come might rival those of that era, although I wouldn't mind at all if they were to take a 2nd or 3rd rating to either one. They were both pretty awesome, no doubt.

The most unfortunate thing is that Erik Williams (pre-accident) and Larry Allen only played a couple of games together LA's rookie year before EW's accident.

Post-accident EW was not the same.

If you say the 92 or 93 OL was the best, I won't argue.

 

[tyke1doe]

Ask me when we've reeled off three Super Bowl wins and put together a demoralizing drive like the 90s Cowboys did in Super Bowl 28 when we ran Emmitt Smith all but one play.

 

[dallasdave]

According to a very stupid PFF article I read last week we have the 9th best line in the league going into this year. I literally LOL'ed when I read it

Yeah PFF needs to get their head out of the dirt !!!!

 

[dallasdave]

I wouldn't be at all surprised if our somewhat revamped OL took a few games to get in sync. Don't be too surprised if they then commence to kick some serious booty by the time they become synchronized with one another. By all standards, I think they will be one of the most physically dominating OLs that the Cowboys have fielded in many a year.

I think they are likely to rival the very dominant one of the 90s when Emmitt Smith was running wild in and out of their offensive backfield. I also believe La'el Collins should add an extra measure of physicality that may have been missing when Doug Free manned the RT spot in the past. Collins is stronger and more agile than Free. He will accordingly be more solid in pass protection, once he gets fully accustomed to that spot.

Collins will be a big change for the good. Free really was just there, he did not MAN the position but Collins will.