Could the Dallas Cowboys offensive line be a silent killer?

With all the hype surrounding the Dallas Cowboys offense, could the offensive line be a silent killer?

It does not take long to look around the Dallas Cowboys offense and have big dreams of the possibilities. One wonders if the light bulbs on the scoreboard will need constant replacing with the firepower this team has amassed.

With a young star quarterback like Dak Prescott spreading the ball around to receivers Amari Cooper, Michael Gallup, and CeeDee Lamb, the aerial attack looks lethal. Whenever the Dallas Cowboys want to ground and pound opponents, all Prescott needs to do is hand the ball off to one of the best running backs in the league in Ezekiel Elliott.

The options seem limitless when it comes to putting points on the board. It is completely fair to believe the Dallas Cowboys can threaten the all-time franchise record of 479 points set in 1983. To do so, Dallas will need to score 30+ points per game. They will also need to avoid the biggest issue that seemingly no one is talking about.

You see, all of these offensive weapons are great, but if the offensive line is not a cohesive, well-functioning unit, you can forget all about the offensive fireworks. All the skill players in the World can be easily neutralized if the quarterback never has time to make a decision.

Unfortunately, the majority of the 2020 Dallas Cowboys training camp has given us a glimpse into this dark world. Tackles La’el Collins and Tyron Smith have missed almost the entire camp so far, nursing minor injuries or trying to get back into football shape.

Second-year tackle Mitch Hyatt left practice this week with an undisclosed lower leg injury that could be long-term. Even free agent veteran signing Cameron Erving has already missed time.

Of course, the Dallas Cowboys are also dealing with the retirement of center Travis Frederick, throwing their interior offensive line into a scramble. While veteran Joe Looney is leading the competition to replace Frederick, the Cowboys are slowing working in guard Connor Williams, back from his ACL tear last year.

We already know how missing starters along the line has worked in the past. In nine years, Smith, the seven-time Pro Bowler, has missed thirteen games. The Dallas Cowboys are just 7-6 in those games, including a 1-2 record last year. If both Smith and Collins cannot go for any reason, the Cowboys will need something from backup Brandon Knight.

On the interior, Dallas is hoping that rookie center Tyler Biadasz and last year’s rookie Conner McGovern, who missed all of 2019, can at least provide good depth if Williams or Looney struggle. Both McGovern and Williams also have some position flexibility to play tackle in a desperate situation.

In medicine, medical conditions with no obvious symptoms that can progress to an advanced stage before they are discovered are called “silent killers.” For the 2020 Dallas Cowboys, their silent killer is the health and play of the offensive line.