Maybe that vaunted offensive line isn't so good after all

[Red Dragon]

Every sports fan has a tendency to overrate his own team's talent and underrate the talent of other teams. Many times we've heard some fan proclaim, "The Cowboys have the best O-line in the league!" when, frankly, calling the Dallas offensive line "Top-10" would be more like it. The same fans sometimes also call Dez Bryant the best receiver in the league - again, he's in the Top 10.


On Thanksgiving, we saw the reality. The Cowboys' line surrendered 4 sacks, Murray gained only about 70 yards, and Dallas managed just ten points at home against Philadelphia.


Perhaps the unpleasant truth is that this offense cannot just impose its will on anyone it wants. It cannot just operate by giving Murray 30-35 carries a game and bulldozing every defense into submission. The Cowboys certainly ought to keep trying that tactic as long as they can, but it's not foolproof or invincible. December will tell.


Dallas has four games remaining to once again try its hand at the steamrolling offense that worked so well for it in Weeks 2-7. If it fails to work, then it's either Romo having to air it out 30-40 times a game - which sure didn't work out well in 2011, 2012 and 2013 - or season over.

 

[phildadon86]

So you are defining our line as top ten after one bad game? Thats logical.

 

[DandyDon1722]

So you are defining our line as top ten after one bad game? Thats logical.

Exactly - body of work over the long term will always provide you a better evaluation than the anomaly of one game. Throw out the best game and the worst game and what you're left with is a very talented and young offensive line that will only get better with time.

They will be a different group in Philly - you can bet on it.

 

[THEHEREAFTER]

Same thing we said after Washington then we regrouped. Philly got to play with the lead which feeds into their skillset on D. We became one dimensional aside from playing bad.

 

[cheftjpeck]

So for an offensive line to be great .. They can't give up any sacks ... Ummm ok ... Talk to Troy Aikman about that one ...
Bad game for an RB due to bad game by OL? That's never happened before .. May want to check with Mr Smith on that one too ..

I don't think the o-line was exposed .. I think they had a bad game and made bad reads and adjustments.. Young players tend to do that once and a while .. They are still one bad *** line .. Probably one of the best we have had in over a decade ... They can use some tweaking in the off season .. But the OL triplets are a pretty strong foundation

 

[CCBoy]

Tony had a bad day at the office...and team maturity is a force that accumulates as things start to roll more.

 

[Dave_in-NC]

I think Chip found a weakness and exposed it. Hope we fix it before we play them again.

 

[conner01]

i would say more like top 5 than top 10 with both. but the oline is very young and going to get better

 

[Kevinicus]

Tony had a bad day at the office...and team maturity is a force that accumulates as things start to roll more.

The game was out of hand long before Tony started having a bad day (as far as his performance). He was 8/11 with a 7.9 YPA at halftime.

 

[punchnjudy]

In '92 the Eagles sacked Troy 4 times and Emmitt ran for 67 yards on 19 carries. Dallas lost 31-7.

Even that line was susceptible at times. I know Troy didn't elude as many rushers as Tony (though Troy didn't really become a statue until later in his career), but I don't think he held the ball as long either.

Having a top 5 line doesn't mean the qb isn't going to get rocked in some games. There were other games--particularly NFC East games--where Troy was sacked a lot too during super bowl seasons. Admittedly the run blocking was more consistent back then, but Dallas will never have a line that good again. If the line needs to be that strong, Dallas is in trouble.

Edited to add: Emmitt's vision helped the run blocking a lot back then too. As Nate has said repeatedly, their job was a lot easier when he came around because they could just take their man anywhere and he'd find a hole.

 

[big dog cowboy]

 

[links18]

The game plan didn't much help anyone.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

Its not that it isn't "good" its just people overestimate what a good offensive lien is. They give up sacks. A great line gives up sacks and has bad games. People think great line means Romo has 8 seconds to throw every time.

 

[Red Dragon]

So you are defining our line as top ten after one bad game? Thats logical.

No, not just one game.

 

[xwalker]

Every sports fan has a tendency to overrate his own team's talent and underrate the talent of other teams. Many times we've heard some fan proclaim, "The Cowboys have the best O-line in the league!" when, frankly, calling the Dallas offensive line "Top-10" would be more like it. The same fans sometimes also call Dez Bryant the best receiver in the league - again, he's in the Top 10.


On Thanksgiving, we saw the reality. The Cowboys' line surrendered 4 sacks, Murray gained only about 70 yards, and Dallas managed just ten points at home against Philadelphia.


Perhaps the unpleasant truth is that this offense cannot just impose its will on anyone it wants. It cannot just operate by giving Murray 30-35 carries a game and bulldozing every defense into submission. The Cowboys certainly ought to keep trying that tactic as long as they can, but it's not foolproof or invincible. December will tell.


Dallas has four games remaining to once again try its hand at the steamrolling offense that worked so well for it in Weeks 2-7. If it fails to work, then it's either Romo having to air it out 30-40 times a game - which sure didn't work out well in 2011, 2012 and 2013 - or season over.

It was not just on the OLine. They didn't have enough quick, blitz beating routes. They Eagles knew the Romo would be limited and had a good game plan. They stacked the box against the run and blitz against the pass.

One OLineman can only block one pass rusher. The QB, receivers and play caller have to be able to beat the blitz.

 

[phildadon86]

No, not just one game.

Ok minus washington and philly, what bad games did the line have? Are we talking about the same line that rolled over the "vaunted" defensive front in seattle? The same line that had Murray beat Jim Browns record? Or another line?

 

[xwalker]

I have a proposal to fix the OLine, but only @Fredd would find it amusing.

Put Parnell at LT and move Tyron to RT.

 

[khiladi]

I have a proposal to fix the OLine, but only @Fredd would find it amusing.

Put Parnell at LT and move Tyron to RT.

What's your reasoning for this? Be interested to hear it.

 

[Thomas82]

In '92 the Eagles sacked Troy 4 times and Emmitt ran for 67 yards on 19 carries. Dallas lost 31-7.

Even that line was susceptible at times. I know Troy didn't elude as many rushers as Tony (though Troy didn't really become a statue until later in his career), but I don't think he held the ball as long either.

Having a top 5 line doesn't mean the qb isn't going to get rocked in some games. There were other games--particularly NFC East games--where Troy was sacked a lot too during super bowl seasons. Admittedly the run blocking was more consistent back then, but Dallas will never have a line that good again. If the line needs to be that strong, Dallas is in trouble.

Edited to add: Emmitt's vision helped the run blocking a lot back then too. As Nate has said repeatedly, their job was a lot easier when he came around because they could just take their man anywhere and he'd find a hole.

And then in the rematch, the Cowboys won 20-10, and Emmitt had 30 carries for 163 yards, and everything was all good.

 

[Mansta54]

Every sports fan has a tendency to overrate his own team's talent and underrate the talent of other teams. Many times we've heard some fan proclaim, "The Cowboys have the best O-line in the league!" when, frankly, calling the Dallas offensive line "Top-10" would be more like it. The same fans sometimes also call Dez Bryant the best receiver in the league - again, he's in the Top 10.


On Thanksgiving, we saw the reality. The Cowboys' line surrendered 4 sacks, Murray gained only about 70 yards, and Dallas managed just ten points at home against Philadelphia.


Perhaps the unpleasant truth is that this offense cannot just impose its will on anyone it wants. It cannot just operate by giving Murray 30-35 carries a game and bulldozing every defense into submission. The Cowboys certainly ought to keep trying that tactic as long as they can, but it's not foolproof or invincible. December will tell.


Dallas has four games remaining to once again try its hand at the steamrolling offense that worked so well for it in Weeks 2-7. If it fails to work, then it's either Romo having to air it out 30-40 times a game - which sure didn't work out well in 2011, 2012 and 2013 - or season over.

Ridiculous