Tag: Tyron Smith

Tyron Smith, La’el Collins return to Cowboys OL with mediocre PFF grades

Two Dallas stalwarts are back after missing most of 2020. The Cowboys’ season may ride on them outplaying their preseason rankings.

Dak Prescott’s triumphant return to practice on the first day of OTAs was headline news, and rightfully so, but just as critical to the Cowboys’ chances for success in 2021 will be the big bodies up front that protect him.

Left tackle Tyron Smith and right tackle La’el Collins were also back on the field on Monday for the first time in a long time, fueling further optimism for the Dallas offense heading into the season. But somehow, one noted outlet seems to be left largely unimpressed.

Pro Football Focus places Smith and Collins 22nd and 25th in the league respectively among offensive tackles in their latest positional rankings.

Smith played in just two games last season before shutting it down due to a recurring neck issue. The 30-year-old hopes to return to the form that’s earned him seven Pro Bowl nods and a reputation as one of the NFL’s dominant offensive line forces.

But even though he’s healthy again, PFF puts him outside the Top 20 entering the 2021 season.

“While he hadn’t been performing as he did from 2013 through 2016, when he ranked seventh or higher in PFF grade each year,” Anthony Treash writes, “Smith was still producing at a high level before he went down. In the three years prior to 2020, he was the 12th-highest-graded tackle in the entire NFL.”

Collins missed the entire 2020 campaign with hip problems. He’ll turn 28 before the season begins and look to build off the progress he’s made since moving to right tackle and what PFF calls “a breakout year” in 2019:

“The 2015 undrafted free agent moved from guard to tackle in 2017 and struggled out of the gate, but he showed modest growth — as reflected in his three-year PFF grades of 63.3, 71.9 and 86.4. The latest mark ranks fourth-best in the NFL.”

Perhaps it’s uncertainty regarding the health of both players that they don’t rank higher in a late-May list. Their absence in 2020 certainly compounded the problems for the Dallas offense, contributing at least in part to a rough year for running back Ezekiel Elliott and making things more difficult for whoever played quarterback after Prescott went down in Week 5.

But as Jon Machota notes in The Athletic, “with Tyron Smith, La’el Collins and [right guard] Zack Martin all healthy, this should return to being one of the NFL’s best offensive lines.”

PFF is a big believer in Martin, the six-time Pro Bowler who missed six games last season. In his ranking of the NFL’s tackles, Sam Monson calls Martin the second-best in the league, behind only the Colts’ Quenton Nelson:

“If there’s a player who runs Nelson close, it’s Zack Martin, who has continued to excel despite the Dallas offensive line collapsing around him. Martin has allowed one sack over the last two years and had earned a PFF run-blocking grade of 92.2 when he got injured in Week 12 of the 2020 campaign.”

Connor Williams is expected to compete with Connor McGovern for the left guard spot, but PFF gives the nod to Williams, ranking the 2018 second-round pick 22nd overall, with promise:

“For some time, seemingly every draft pick Dallas spent on the offensive line turned into an All-Pro starter. While Connor Williams hasn’t done that, he has developed into a good player, particularly as the line has deteriorated around him. Williams is coming off a career year in which he produced an overall PFF grade of 70.8.”

With Brandon Knight and Terence Steele also returning in reserve roles, center Tyler Biadasz still showing steady improvement, veteran Ty Nsekhe in his first year as a Cowboy, and rookies Josh Ball and Matt Farniok expected to compete, the Dallas offensive line could once again be formidable in 2021.

But just as in 2020, the health of Smith, Collins, and Martin will help decide that.

“Is the group loaded enough to overcome significant time missed by its top three starters? No. But what NFL offensive line is?” Machota asks.

“But if those three are out there for most of the season, the offensive line production should return to the high standard it has set for itself over the last decade.”

And if that happens, the mostly mediocre preseason PFF rankings won’t matter in the least.

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Cowboys 53-man roster prediction is heavy on defense following draft

The Dallas Cowboys will go heavy on defense in this way too early 53-man roster prediction for the 2021 season.

The 2021 NFL draft dust is just settling, rookie free agents are in the process of getting signed and the teams are narrowing down their rosters to 90 players. The Dallas Cowboys did a little house cleaning to their roster when they released veteran players recently, most notably DT Antwaun Woods, to reach the threshold.

Now set within the roster rules with their 90-man arsenal, the Cowboys have less than four months to trim the player down to its initial 53-man team. Here’s a way too early guess at what the 2021 edition of the Cowboys might look like when they break training camp and head into the season.

Watch: Cowboys’ Tyron Smith talks mentality, technique with OL guru Duke Manyweather

One of the most impressive things anyone has ever noticed about Dallas Cowboys franchise tackle Tyron Smith is that once he gets his hands on an opponent, that rep is finished. The defender has already lost. Smith, who is working to return after …

One of the most impressive things anyone has ever noticed about Dallas Cowboys franchise tackle Tyron Smith is that once he gets his hands on an opponent, that rep is finished. The defender has already lost. Smith, who is working to return after missing 14 games last season due to a neck injury, shared some insight with noted offensive line guru Duane “Duke” Manyweather about the mentality in approaching a rep and where to put eyes on an opponent so that they are able to focus and not fall for any fakes.

Manyweather is well renown as one of the best gurus in the game and is currently working with the majority of the Cowboys’ offensive line, including Zack Martin, La’el Collins, Connor Williams, Tyler Biadasz, Isaac Alarcon and probably many more.

https://www.instagram.com/tv/COJnhWGB65p/?igshid=12vi4n7nfip03

Cowboys Free Agency: OT Cam Erving working on deal with Panthers

Cowboys swing tackle Cam Erving looking to sign elsewhere.

The Dallas Cowboys have seemingly lost their first free agent from last season’s roster. Cam Erving, signed last offseason to be the Cowboy’s swing tackle is working on a deal with the Carolina Panthers.

Playing in only six games last season, Erving was hampered by injuries. The former first-round pick, who has also played for Cleveland and Kansas City was signed in hopes of adding depth to Dallas’ offensive line heading into last season. After being beaten out by UDFA rookie Terrance Steele to be the opening day starter at right tackle, Erving was injured in Week 1 and placed on IR.

He returned in Week 7 and started in five games, but was lost again in Week 11 and placed on IR again, ending his season. After signing for one year, $2.5 million in 2020, the reported deal would be a sizable increase.

From the Cowboys perspective, Erving would qualify for the comp pick formula for the 2022 draft. That determines extra picks given to teams who lose more qualifying free agents than they bring in.

Even with losing Erving, the Cowboys already have depth behind starters Tyron Smith and La’el Collins, both of whom are expected to make full recoveries after missing much or all of 2020.  Steele and Brandon Knight earned the majority of starts in their place last season and are in line to be the main backups entering 2021.

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Report: Cowboys restructure contracts of Zack Martin, Tyron Smith, La’el Collins

Dallas found out their salary cap ceiling earlier Wednesday then in the afternoon went about creating room so they can play in free agency.

Although the Dallas Cowboys didn’t necessarily need to make any moves to become compliant with the 2021 salary cap after it was announced to be $182.5 million earlier on Wednesday, they made moves anyway. To help create room under the cap for the opening of free agency next week (March 17), the club pulled three restructure triggers to create a reported $17 million worth of space, according to ESPN’s Todd Archer.

The Cowboys could have netted around $21 million in space if they restructured each players deal down to veteran minimum base salaries, so each player’s deal has not been maximized. That’s normally the case for Dallas as even last year they didn’t knock any of the deals down to the minimums for each player’s service time.

Prior to the move, Martin was set to make $11,000,000 in base salary, Smith  $10,500,000 and Collins $8,550,000.   Their cap hits were $17 million, $14.025 million and $12.05 million, respectively.

The base salary amounts changed to bonuses will still be paid to those players during this season, but the cap hits will be spread out evenly over the remaining years on each player’s contracts. Potentially, like the team did with DeMarcus Lawrence’s restructure last year and what was included in Prescott’s new deal, the team could add void years to help spread the hits out over a maximum of five seasons.

Void years don’t add to the contract’s length, they are simply an accounting method (read: cap magic) that allows teams to manipulate a cap that is going to expand and possibly explode as soon as the new television deals hit the NFL’s revenue along with gambling proceeds.

Currently Smith’s contract runs through 2023 while Collins and Martin’s contracts run through 2024. Smith, like Lawrence, got a void year in last year’s restructure and that hit puts dead money on the 2024 cap after his contract ends.

If any of the players sign extensions with Dallas, the cap hit still resides on those years after the void years are replaced by actual contracts.

The Cowboys still have several restructure or cuts they can make to create more cap space as needed, but $17 million is a strong starting point to enter free agency with.

For a look at these moves as well as others that were proposed, here’s Cowboys Wire’s guide to maximizing cap space in 2021.

After Dak deal, here’s how Cowboys can maximum cap space in 2021

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Cowboys News: Lee mulls retirement as Prescott’s tag window opens

News and notes from February 23, 2021 for the Dallas Cowboys.

With the franchise tag window officially opening for NFL teams on Tuesday, Dak Prescott will continue to be the center of nearly any conversation when discussing the offseason for the Dallas Cowboys. Who holds more leverage in contract talks, Prescott or the Cowboys? There is some good news for Prescott’s starting tackles. but could Prescott be without one of his favorite targets sooner rather than later?

A couple vets are also in the news as one decides to return and another, Sean Lee, mulls over his options. A former defensive lineman discusses his time in Dallas The Cowboys could use depth at the linebacker position, Ohio State has two exciting prospects that could fit the bill for Dan Quinn’s defense.

Cowboys News: Prescott’s price, Wilson trade whispers, Cousins’s advice

Dak Prescott’s franchise tag drama continues in Dallas; the free agency period could also bring cornerback and defensive line help.

The volume surrounding Dak Prescott’s contract situation is getting exponentially louder by the day. A league insider has floated a dollar figure that he thinks the club will have to hit in order to get Prescott to put pen to paper. Another of the league’s premier passers has expressed frustration with his current club, so Las Vegas is already running odds on whether Dallas swings a deal for him to replace Prescott. Three-time champion Troy Aikman weighs in with his thoughts, and Kirk Cousins has resumed telling Prescott to let the tag just happen. Oh, and one major outlet is imagining Dak in teal.

In non-Prescott news, we’re exploring the it’s-time-for-Tyron-Smith-to-go mindset, we’re looking at free agent possibilities at cornerback (two big-time names) and defensive tackle (five potential fits), we’re scouting draft prospects, we’re deciphering what the Cowboys can learn from this year’s Super Bowl teams, and we’re forecasting the future for Blake Jarwin after his lost 2020 season. All that, plus Jerry Jones opens up the team’s home stadium for COVID vaccines, a profile of a Cowboys legend from the past, and one of last season’s bright spots… at the punter position. Here are the News and Notes.

Dane Brugler gives Cowboys Tyron Smith protection in 2-round mock draft

The Athletic’s Dane Brugler’s Mock Draft 2.0 brings the Dallas Cowboys their left tackle of the future in Rashawn Slater.

There’s room for optimism moving forward for the Dallas Cowboys. The disaster that was the 2020 campaign can largely be pinned on a rash of injuries not seen around the Metroplex in some time. To believe that the same kind of bad injury luck won’t rear its ugly head going forward would is fair, but not preparing for the worst would be foolish. This means there will be tough decisions for the front office come April’s NFL Draft.

The prevailing thought is that the Cowboys need to draft defense early and often. There’s no doubt that’s where the team has suffered the most over the years, but The Athletic’s Dane Brugler has another position in mind in his Mock Draft 2.0. With pick No. 10, Dallas selects:

Rashawn Slater, OT, Northwestern
Many fans will disapprove of any pick that isn’t a defensive player, but the Cowboys’ offensive line woes were a constant theme all season. Not only does Slater have NFL-ready talent, he offers the versatility to play tackle or guard, giving the Cowboys much-needed flexibility.

The elephant in the room here is the status of Tyron Smith, perhaps the oldest 30-year-old on the planet. From 2016-2019 he missed three games a season. Last year he played in only two and underwent neck surgery. There’s been a growing undercurrent of concern throughout the season that Smith could hang it up for good. He wouldn’t be the first Cowboys player to retire unexpectedly, but even if he’s able to play the majority of the year, it’s not the worst idea to have a backup plan as talented as Slater ready to go.

Players still on the board at the time are tight end Kyle Pitts out of Florida and cornerback Patrick Surtain II out of Alabama. The age old question of best player available vs. need will be on full display for Dallas in the first round come April. In the second round, Brugler has the Cowboys addressing a hole in the defense that’s existed for nearly two decade.

44. Dallas Cowboys — Trevon Moehrig, FS, TCU
The last time the Cowboys drafted a safety in the first two rounds was when they took Roy Williams in 2002, so Moehrig would go counter to the organization’s drafting history. But he would give Dallas a much-needed upgrade over free safety Xavier Woods.

Adding a safety with a top-50 pick seems like a pipe dream. One would be hard pressed to find another team that’s ignored a position as badly as the Cowboys have ignored free safety. For years it’s been a potpourri of mediocre free agents and mid-to-late-round draft picks manning the spot. This pick is almost too good to be true.

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ICYMI: Cowboys fire some staff in season aftermath, search for path to glory

The latest Dallas Cowboys news and notes: Nolan and Tomsula were fired, potential replacements are already being interviewed, and more.

The Dallas Cowboys season came to an abrupt end last Sunday, and now it is time to look forward to the offseason. Dak Prescott is recovering well from his injury. Amari Cooper had a “clean-up” procedure on his injured ankle, but should definitely be good-to-go for 2021.

Dallas waited no time after the season to make the coaching changes that the front office deemed necessary. This week, the Cowboys fired defensive coordinator Mike Nolan, as well as defensive line coach Jim Tomsula. Both coaches spent just a year in Dallas, and potential replacements are already set to be interviewed.

The Cowboys have so many decisions to make regarding free agents, it is impossible to tell which direction the front office will head with the personnel. There may be some positions that are actually worse off than they seem today for Dallas, including left tackle should Tyron Smith’s health continue to be a problem. Plus, what really means the most to Jerry Jones, building his brand, or winning football games?

Why Troy Aikman was spot on with ‘So many things that have to be addressed’ for Cowboys

Hall of Famer Troy Aikman gave an honest critique of his former team on Tuesday night, saying the direction of the organization is unknown.

The 2020 Dallas Cowboys have hit rock bottom. Their 34-17 loss on Tuesday night to the Baltimore Ravens was their second straight and the sixth defeat in their last seven games. Defensively, they gave up nearly 300 yards rushing and the 34 points they yeilded was the seventh time an opponent has reached that mark this season.

Hall of Fame quarterback and Cowboys legend Troy Aikman knows all about struggling under the bright lights of Dallas, Texas. After being the top pick in the 1989 NFL Draft, Aikman lost all 11 of his rookie starts and the team went 1-15. The three-time Super Bowl champion gave a brutally honest assessment of where his former team is going forward while covering the game for FOX.

“I wouldn’t say this is necessarily over, but it’s hard to keep saying that when you’re not winning football games,” Aikman said. “I mean, I don’t know… I just don’t know where this organization… where they go. There are just so many things that have to be addressed this offseason.”

He couldn’t have been more spot on with his critique. The biggest elephant in the room this offseason will be the contract situation of Dak Prescott. He signed a franchise tag that paid him $31.4 million in 2020 back in June, and that number will balloon to around $38 million if another tag is applied in 2021. Both sides have been adamant that they want a long-term marriage. However, with the Cowboys 1-6 record since Prescott’s season-ending ankle injury the organization may be more ready than ever to make that a reality.

The offensive line has been a disaster, to say the least. Perennial All-Pro guard Zack Martin was placed on injured reserve recently with a calf injury. The biggest issue, however, has been at tackle. Tyron Smith and La’el Collins both suffered season-ending injuries. Smith missed three games in each of the previous four seasons and Collins had hip surgery, which can be a tricky ailment to recover from. Looking for a young tackle in the draft could be a focal point.

On defense the Cowboys have been even worse. They currently ranked No. 32 in rushing yards allowed (167.8) and points allowed per game (32.8). Defensive tackle was thought to have been addressed during the last offseason with the additions of Gerald Mcoy and Dontari Poe. Unfortunately, McCoy was waived after rupturing his right quad in August, and Poe was released in October due to underperforming and weight issues according to owner Jerry Jones. Rookie Neville Gallimore has shown a few flashes as well as Antwaun Woods, but the interior defensive line remains an issue to be addressed.

The linebacker situation is an interesting one as well. Veteran Sean Lee will be a free agent in 2021. Leighton Vander Esch missed seven games in 2019 with a neck issue and four this season with a broken collarbone. The Cowboys have a lot of money tied into Jaylon Smith but his play hasn’t lived up to expectations in 2020, and the team could get out of his deal before the 2021 season. This uncertainty makes a player like Penn State’s Micah Parsons one to keep an eye on if the Cowboys keep a top 5 pick in next year’s draft.

The secondary could likely see a major overhaul.

Cornerback’s Jourdan Lewis and Chidobe Awuzie as well as safety Xavier Woods are all currently in contract seasons, and none have shown much consistently to be a top priority once the offseason hits. Rookie cornerback Trevon Diggs showed flashes of how good he could be before a broken foot in Week 9 put him on the shelf for 4-6 weeks, and he was eventually placed on injured reserve a week later. Another bright spot has been safety Donovan Wilson who finally got his shot to contribute, but a groin injury forced him to miss Week 13. Cornerback and safety should be high on the 2021 priority list in Dallas.

It’s impossible to predict what the Cowboys will look like next season, but they have a plethora of changes to make if they want to be a contender anytime soon.

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