They say games are won in the trenches and in many ways, that’s pretty spot on. Dominant offensive lines have a way of making things easy on the skill players. And dominant defensive lines have a way of erasing even the best QBs and RBs.
As the Cowboys offensive line gears up for their next big opponent, the pressure is on to get back on track and reclaim some of their midseason dominance.
The group is coming off what many consider one of their worst performances of the year. Aside from Tyron Smith at LT, every player seemed to struggle in some way. Terence Steele, Tyler Smith, Tyler Biadasz and even Zack Martin (before his injury sidelined him) struggled. They only faced seven blitzes on passing attempts, but pressure still came.
The offensive line saw gains in the running game but some of that yardage was essentially gifted. The Bills rarely crowded the line and decided they’d rather give up some yards on the ground, as long as it led to success stopping Dallas through the air. The plan worked out.
The crew faded down the stretch last season as well, and never seemed to recover. If one thing can help them through the next few weeks and into the postseason, it’s a rekindled offensive line.
With Tyron Smith’s and Martin’s status in question for Sunday, they may be at less than full strength. T.J. Bass could be called upon to man the RG position on Christmas Eve in Miami, meaning Steele and Biadasz will have to pick up the slack. But it’s not all on the linemen.
The playcaller also has a part in the offensive line’s redemption. Well-designed plays and an effective quick-game strategy will keep the pressure of sustaining blocks down to a minimum. On plays in which Dak Prescott was pressured last week, the average time to throw sat at 4.47 seconds. That’s a long time for anyone to maintain a block.
A quicker trigger doesn’t just apply to Prescott’s arm but also his legs. By being a threat to run, pass rushers will be more apprehensive in their attacks. They’ll maintain their lanes and try to contain. It’s a win-win for Dallas since Prescott will either get scramble opportunities or more time in the pocket. But he has to establish that run threat early.
Looking at the big picture, a better performance by the offensive line isn’t just on the five men up front, but on the whole team. Play design needs to be made with them and the defense in mind. QB play has to be smart and decisive. Even the defense plays a role since it’s on them to keep the score close so the offense doesn’t have to be one-dimensional.
There are a lot of areas the Cowboys have to improve in Week 16 but better outcomes on the offensive line would indicate things are going well all over the field. It’s a good week for redemption.
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