Offensive line Reality Check

[ondaedg]

The last three weeks have made it clear to me what our OLine is and what it isn’t. We are NOT a mauling road grader unit. This idea that we impose our “will” on defenses and wear them down as football analysts have been saying and continue to say isn’t happening unless I’m in a different reality than all of you are. The evidence is our well known struggles converting short yardage and goal line situations. And our struggles with strong active NTs/DTs. Typically units with big physical centers/guards fit this category and we clearly do not. Martin is one of the greatest of all time but he isn’t a Larry Allen type of g as he uses more leverage and technique rather than brute strength. And we’ve all seen CW and TB struggle against stronger opponents.

Straight ahead blocking assignments just don’t make sense with this unit. I always felt that we are at our best when we used zone and single cut blocking schemes aka the old Denver/Terrell Davis system. This takes advantage of our strengths and keeps us from trying to match up against stronger defensive lines. What say you?

 

[Zordon]

Steele, the two left guards, and the center have below average strength. Martin is still good but he just turned 31. Smith is in and out of the lineup. Collins is out of shape and post-hip surgery.

 

[perrykemp]

Steele, the two left guards, and the center have below average strength. Martin is still good but he just turned 31. Smith is in and out of the lineup. Collins is out of shape and post-hip surgery.

Man, hard to believe Martin is already 31. Seems like yesterday he was a rookie (which was 2014). I'm guessing he might have been 23 years old when he was drafted.

 

[Zordon]

Man, hard to believe Martin is already 31. Seems like yesterday he was a rookie (which was 2014). I'm guessing he might have been 23 years old when he was drafted.

Yeah, we wasted the 20's of Martin, Smith, and Frederick. This is the source of 90% of the disdain I have for Jason Garrett and the front office that allowed that to happen.

 

[Brooksey]

We're built for Zone blocking and we do it very well when we commit to it and get excited about it.

 

[ondaedg]

Steele, the two left guards, and the center have below average strength. Martin is still good but he just turned 31. Smith is in and out of the lineup. Collins is out of shape and post-hip surgery.

Agreed about the strength aspect and it reinforces my opinion that we lack the strength and size that we need to consistently run the ball. And it also may explain why Moore prefers passing the ball because he knows this unit isn’t going to be consistently able to push the LOS.

 

[JohnsKey19]

Steele, the two left guards, and the center have below average strength. Martin is still good but he just turned 31. Smith is in and out of the lineup. Collins is out of shape and post-hip surgery.

The problem is and has been inside for some time. The C and LG aren't moving anyone off the ball. We lost Leary at LG and things really changed when Frederick was out and then ultimately retired.

 

[Risen Star]

Yeah we need reinforcements in the next few drafts. This offensive line is overrated.

 

[ondaedg]

We're built for Zone blocking and we do it very well when we commit to it and get excited about it.

I agree with that. The one thing that kills our drives when running those zone schemes is we let the back side DEs or LBs to run free assuming they won’t have time to make the play yet they always do. We saw it yesterday with the back side LB got into the backfield and stopped Zeke at the LOS. Seems like this happens at least twice every game. I love Zeke but Pollard is the better choice on those runs because his initial burst doesn’t give that LB time to make the play.

 

[AKATheRake]

I wouldn’t be opposed to going oline 1st and 2nd round in the draft next year.

Especially if it’s BPA.

Philbin knows how to coach up that group and MM has had 2 great drafts since being here.

 

[JayFord]

they need to figure out LG

shouldnt have to pick between poor blocking or 3rd and 65

 

[JJHLH1]

Steele needs to be the right tackle.

La’el isn’t the same player he was in 2019.

Obviously Tyron needs to play LT.

 

[CWR]

Start by switching the OTs. It's beyond me why the coaches have taken this approach which is obviously NOT working.

 

[ondaedg]

Start by switching the OTs. It's beyond me why the coaches have taken this approach which is obviously NOT working.

Steele doesn’t look comfortable at all. Any idea why he never even got out of his stance allowing the DE to hit Dak untouched on the fumble?

 

[CWR]

Steele doesn’t look comfortable at all. Any idea why he never even got out of his stance allowing the DE to hit Dak untouched on the fumble?

I haven't a clue. We knew this guy was raw and had no real pedigree to speak of. He was thrown into the fire last year and came out better for it. We appear to be doing the same this season, only its not necessary.

 

[slick325]

Yeah we need reinforcements in the next few drafts. This offensive line is overrated.

Find a new team Risen!

 

[CCBoy]

Steele, the two left guards, and the center have below average strength. Martin is still good but he just turned 31. Smith is in and out of the lineup. Collins is out of shape and post-hip surgery.

Three starters who were on the outside of roster spots just last season. This view of the line is very low in comparisons with the league.The entire left side of the line from the center, is not prime time in beginnings. Not a surprise when time on the field is very low or forced by dire emergencies. A forced starter does not elevate to prime-time comparisons.

 

[Nexx]

Do you guys watch other NFL games? No one has a perfect line. In fact, most teams have average to below average lines many due to you guess it, injuries. That’s when you need to your 40 million dollar Qb to step up and get the ball out quicker. Has Brady and Rogers always had elite lines? Nope. Guess what though? They can read defenses and exploit them quickly. Do ever see Rogers and Brady constantly get all out blitzed? Nope because they can get the ball out without double or triple pumping like Dak was last night. He was deer in the headlights.

 

[DeaconMoss]

If Dallas is keeping Dak, then you better have the best OLine in football

 

[TheCoolFan]

The OL was not good but they held up enough to be able to win that game, considering the defense's performance. It's the NFL - against good teams on the road, the game isn't always going to be pretty where Dak has all day to throw or the RBs are running for 150+

Dak was bad. Kellen was bad. The receivers were bad. I can't pin everything on just the OL. This was the type of ugly game that you wanted to see the Cowboys win. We know they can win a finesse game where they can throw the ball and/or dominate on the ground. But in the playoffs, it's not going to be easy like that.

The Packers have had plenty of injuries on their OL this season. They still went to Arizona and won. If Rodgers had played in the KC game, they probably win that one too.