Cowboys-49ers duel could come down to left tackle

Both the Cowboys and 49ers rely on their LTs to win one-on-one matchups so the team who does it better in Week 5 may have a big advantage, says @ReidDHanson.

“You can’t double-team everyone,” is a mantra the Cowboys’ defensive pass rush lives by and it’s a reality all NFL offensive lines have to accept. As everyone knows, an NFL offensive line fields five blockers. Five blockers to open lanes and protect the passer. Regardless of how many on-ball defenders line up, it’s the job of those five linemen to get things done.

Both Dallas and the San Francisco 49ers are well versed in causing this conundrum, and in Week 5 both will have to solve the puzzle of the other side’s prowess.

When running the ball, it’s a total team effort. Look no further than the Cowboys Week 5 opponent, San Francisco.

The entire 49ers offense seems to embrace their roles as run blockers. From the offensive line all the way through the skill players, it’s all hands on deck.

In pass protection, things inevitably change.

Offensive coordinators can add RBs, TEs and even WRs to the run-blocking equation, but passing offenses need passing targets so it’s imperative as many potential targets get down field into their routes as possible. They can help with blitz pick up or various other blocking tasks in small doses, but more often than not, the onus falls on the offensive line to take on the majority of pass protection responsibilities.

This means some offensive linemen have to play on an island. Those linemen have to handle business alone because other linemen require help. Defenses search for mismatches.

The Cowboys will move Micah Parsons from side to side and San Fransisco will move Nick Bosa from side to side. Both teams also tend to leave their LTs on an island.

The Cowboys with Tyron Smith and San Francisco with Trent Williams sport some of the most frequently left-alone tackles in the game. They are also two of the most successful LTs in the game, winning over 95 percent of those battles.

It’s hard to hear this and not think of the Cowboys injury report. After missing the past two weeks, Smith’s status for Sunday is up in the air. If he can play, he can be trusted to hold up his end at LT, much like Williams is for the 49ers.

If Smith can’t play, the job falls back on Chuma Edoga who doesn’t play with anything close to the same proficiency or responsibility as Smith. Pro Football Focus places Edoga far below Smith as a blocker.

Based on pure pass blocking grades of tackles who have seen 60 or more snaps, Smith ranks No. 1 in the NFL while Edoga lands 49 spots below him at No. 50. It’s safe to say the Cowboys’ offensive blocking scheme changes considerably based on who is starting at LT on Sunday.

Does this mean Terence Steele, Dallas’ right tackle, will have to take on the lone blocker responsibilities instead?

That’s also an issue given Steele’s troubles in pass protection this season. His struggles are understandable given the major knee injury he’s rebounding from, but Steele is currently grading out nine spots below Edoga in 2023.

He’s no more suited for island play than the man replacing Smith.

With Parsons and Bosa as certified game-wreckers, the outcome of Sunday’s Week 5 matchup between the Cowboys and 49ers may very well come down to what happens at LT.

The 49ers are weak on the right side of their offensive line. They need to roll extra protection in order to hold up against the Cowboys’ pass rush. That’s why they need Williams to hold up on an island.

If San Fransico can occupy Parsons while Dallas struggles to control Bosa, that may be all that’s needed to tip the balance of this game. That’s why Smith’s status is so important.

It’s not doom and gloom if Smith can’t play, it just makes things much harder on the entire offensive line if he’s stuck on the sideline.

Both team’s success is tied to their LT play. Particularly their LT’s ability to win one-on-one matchups.

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