The Dallas Cowboys offensive line is dominating again

The Dallas Cowboys made a subtle move to promote assistant offensive line coach Marc 0Colombo mid-season last year. The move is paying huge dividends in 2019.

The Cowboys invested three first round draft picks on the offensive line in 2011, 2013 and 2014 drafting tackle Tyron Smith, center Travis Frederick and guard Zack Martin. All three would become All-Pros and help bring the Cowboys back to relevance in winning the NFC East in 2014.

The Cowboys offensive line gained a well deserved reputation for dominating their opponents helping former running back DeMarco Murray lead the league in rushing in 2014. Pro Football Focus rated the offensive line as the best in the NFL that year.

Over the next three years, Pro Football Focus would rank the Cowboys offensive line first in 2015, second in 2016 and fourth in 2017. In an effort to improve, the Dallas Cowboys made a change at offensive line coach entering the 2018 season. Out went Frank Pollack who signed on with the Cincinnati Bengals and in came Paul Alexander who ironically came from the same Bengals.

The Cowboys offensive line suffered a significant setback at the end of the 2018 preseason when Frederick was diagnosed with an auto-immune disease. Joe Looney was the next man up but his play was more than a step down from the rock steady Frederick.

For the 2018 season, Looney received a grade under 60 from Pro Football Focus. In 2017, Frederick graded in the top ten of all offensive linemen with a score near 90 from Pro Football Focus.

Frederick’s injury was not the only reason but the new offensive line coach lasted a mere seven games with the Cowboys. In his place, assistant line coach Marc Colombo, a former Cowboys right tackle, was promoted after the Week Seven loss to Washington.

Around the same time, Dallas traded a first round draft pick to the Oakland Raiders for wide receiver Amari Cooper. Cooper was a catalyst propelling the Cowboys to a 7-2 record after his mid-season arrival.

The not as sexy move to replace the offensive line coach did not garner as much attention. Yet this move might have as much to do with the Cowboys ten wins in their last eleven regular season games.

While Frederick’s return has given the offensive line a boost, the bigger boost has come from right tackle La’el Collins. Pro Football Focus released their line rankings through Week Three and surprisingly, Collins has graded as the highest lineman in the NFL at blocking and allowed pressures.

Coincidentally, Collins’ position coach played the same position. Colombo has instilled toughness back into the offensive line – a quality that made him a nine-year starter in the NFL.

Through three games, the Cowboys offensive line is back to dominating their opponents ranking as the top offensive line in the NFL. The Cowboys have given up only two sacks and have three 100 yard rushing performances from two running backs.

A lot can change in a 16-game season. For now, the Cowboys offensive line is back playing at an elite level. Their position coach deserves credit for maximizing his pieces.