For a half-decade, the Dallas Cowboys have boasted not only quality quarterback play, but a consistent place among the top of the NFL’s offensive line rankings. Once a weakness, several high-capital draft picks and big contract extensions have landed and retained the likes of Tyron Smith, Travis Frederick and Zack Martin, with La’el Collins making a name for his self as well. This has allowed for the running game to thrive, no matter the ball carrier, and for both Tony Romo and Dak Prescott to manage the pocket with rather luxurious time to throw numbers. The unit’s dominance can not be understated in its effect on the Cowboys’ offense.
Unfortunately, consistency has been elusive, particularly in terms of staying on the field. Smith’s absence led to Prescott being sacked six times by the esteemed… Adrian Clayborn. Frederick missed 2018 with Guillain-Barre Syndrome, and while his comeback campaign was courageous, he was certainly missed. Connor Williams tore his ACL towards the end of this season and both Collins and Martin have missed time before. Now, this is not an indictment of detriment for the unit, football players get hurt, it is the simple nature of the game. However, these injuries open the door to discussions of depth, the importance of it, and how Dallas can improve here this offseason.
Offensive line will not be prioritized by the Cowboys this spring, but that doesn’t mean improvements cannot be had. The depth of the roster as a whole can be seen as an area for improvement, but the trenches have arguably seen the worst consequences after starters went down. In an effort to address potential depth issues at left tackle, left guard and center, something to be emphasized if the club decides to turn down their option on Cameron Fleming, they may look to day three of the NFL Draft, or more specifically, Tyler Higby.
Higby may not be the most polished linemen, but his versatility stands out.
He’s started both at tackle and interior offensive line over the course of his career at Michigan State, with enough success to be deemed draftable. Likely available towards the latter half of Day 3, Higby presents a fairly small investment with critical upside for the roster’s depth. As always, a review of his tape reveals more about a potential fit with Dallas.
Games Watched: Ohio State (2019), Michigan (2018), Oregon (2018)
Strengths
When asked to pull, Higby is arguably at his best. At 6-foot-3, 306 pounds, Higby moves relatively well for his size, and when asked to pull for gap run plays, he typically carries out his assignment well. He accelerates well when tasked with vertical assignments, emblematic of potential success on power concepts. However, there is enough athletic ability to succeed in zone-running schemes as well.
Similarly, Higby is proficient as a second-level blocker. While shaky with his initial engagements, Higby exhibits much more effectiveness while lead blocking and/or finding smaller defenders to hit. On screens, he is able to get downfield with adequate speed and help clear the way for ball carriers. For a team like the Cowboys, who are more than willing to give touches in the passing game to their backs, Higby is an easy fit. His ability to play past the first level adds to his schematic versatility and may be the saving grace of his play as a run blocker.
Another area of the former Spartan’s game that is rather encouraging is his footwork. Despite his size, Higby does not offer a ton in the play strength department, which typically is a bad omen for a lineman in a league of dominant bull rushers. His footwork, on the other hand, compensates for this weakness and allows him to take on powerful pass rushers with some capacity of success. When asked to play tackle, he features a decent kick step and has quick enough feet to handle bendy edge rushers looking to flatten their angle to the quarterback. His play as it currently stands does not warrant a day two selection, but the lower-half fundamentals he exhibits inspires confidence in his ability to develop.
Lastly, Higby’s mental processing skills only add to the aforementioned developmental inclination he possesses. He is aggressive in looking for blocks as a run blocker, adding to a mean streak many deem necessary when evaluating offensive linemen. He is hungry for additional assignments, and even if he can get lost on particular passing downs, his mental processing should spell good things for his future.
Weaknesses
As important as mental and physical traits are for linemen, there is a case to be made for technique being the most important part of one’s game. In this regard, Higby falls below the par, rarely winning with his hands and frequently getting outclassed by rather average hand fighters. These issues flare up more often at guard and center than at tackle, where he is more apt to winning with his lower half. For this reason, Higby projects better as a tackle than a guard. Additionally, his hands are quick to separate and get sloppy, leaving him vulnerable. This stain on his game also rears his head as a run blocker, as he struggles to consistently win reps there, too. Allowing quick block sheds will stifle running games no matter the scheme or back, emphasizing the importance of growth in this regard. While he is able to handle bend and some power rushes in pass protection, he should see more snaps on the exterior, but he is liable to lose both to the outside and the inside, rendering him poor at either spot.
A part of Higby’s game that draws concerns from a physical standpoint is his anchor and subsequent ability to finish. He can get bullied by above-average competition and doesn’t exactly make himself useful in short-yardage and goalline situations. A portion of the blame can be directed towards poor lower-body angles, as his knees cannot complement proper footwork when applicable. In the run game, he is quick to be moved off of his assignment and put into positions where he cannot execute at the second level (something impossible to do while on the ground). He lacks imposing physical traits for a guard or tackle, and thus struggles against bigger interior defensive linemen. Furthermore, while his mental processing can be encouraging at times, his aggression can be mitigated by poor finishing ability against any defender approaching his size. These concerns are severe roadblocks in Higby’s path to making an impact, but technical improvements could do wonders for his median level of play.
Summary
When examining potential depth options for the offensive line, Higby makes a lot of sense for Dallas. Barring injury, he won’t be asked to start any time soon, leaving ample opportunities for development, particularly where he needs it most, his technique. His ability to play left tackle, left guard and center is an added value that many day three options fail to bring to the table. Higby wouldn’t demand a large scale investment, as his stock will most likely remain as that of a late day-three prospect. The departure of Marc Colombo is not ideal, but the moves new head coach Mike McCarthy has made inspires confidence at the level of positional coaches, a potential bright spot for Higby and other young linemen brought in this year. Moving forward, depth will be prioritized for this roster (at least after Prescott and company are signed), and subsequently, Higby is certainly a player to watch come spring.
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