The Landry Hat
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Dallas Cowboys: The 5 most important players for 2018

By Matt Holleran

ARLINGTON, TX - DECEMBER 24: Dak Prescott #4 of the Dallas Cowboys walks off the field after the Seattle Seahawks beat the Dallas Cowboys 21-12 at AT&T Stadium on December 24, 2017 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TX - DECEMBER 24: Dak Prescott #4 of the Dallas Cowboys walks off the field after the Seattle Seahawks beat the Dallas Cowboys 21-12 at AT&T Stadium on December 24, 2017 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /
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SEATTLE, WA – SEPTEMBER 16: Tyron Smith #77 of the Dallas Cowboys takes the field before a game against the Seattle Seahawks at CenturyLink Field on September 16, 2012 in Seattle, Washington. Seattle won the game 27-7. (Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WA – SEPTEMBER 16: Tyron Smith #77 of the Dallas Cowboys takes the field before a game against the Seattle Seahawks at CenturyLink Field on September 16, 2012 in Seattle, Washington. Seattle won the game 27-7. (Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images) /

3. Tyron Smith

At number three on my list, I have the Dallas Cowboys All-Pro starting left tackle, Tyron Smith. For a team that prides themselves on their offensive line and ability to run the football, it is no shock that their most talented offensive lineman would be this high on the list.

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Tyron Smith is a five time Pro Bowler, a two time All-Pro, and regarded around the NFL as one of, if not the best left tackle in the National Football League. When Smith was out with injury in 2017, the Cowboys really realized how important and vital he is to their offense’s success.

In the game against the Atlanta Falcons that Smith missed, the Dallas offense ran for just 107 yards and suffered eight sacks. The Cowboys lost the game 27-7. In the Philadelphia Eagles game, the second Smith missed, Dallas rushed for just 112 yards on the ground and was sacked four times.

Dallas also lost this game 37-9. Smith also left the game against the Seattle Seahawks early, the game that knocked the Cowboys out of the playoffs. In that game Dallas ran for just 119 yards, and were sacked four times. This was even with the return of Cowboys star running back Ezekiel Elliott.

As was clear through their extreme struggles when he was not on the field, Tyron Smith is the most vital piece of the Dallas Cowboys offensive line. If they want to continue to run the football and pound it down teams throats, they are going to need big 77 to stay healthy and be manning the left side of their offensive line. If Smith is healthy and able to play, the Cowboys offense should be able to do great things, but if he is not, Dak Prescott may be running for his life a whole lot in 2018.

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