Cowboys showing cracks in the ‘Great Wall of Dallas 2.0’

The Dallas Cowboys head into 2020 with questions on the offensive line.

Any Dallas Cowboys fan who was lucky enough to watch America’s Team play during the 1990s was spoiled with three Lombardi trophies. For those who didn’t, the term “Great Wall of Dallas” doesn’t bring to mind the formidable offensive line that helped Dallas secure most of those Super Bowls wins.

Instead, the term likely brings to mind the significantly less accomplished, but still formidable Cowboys’ offensive line of the mid-to-late 2010s. This O-Line allowed Dallas to have the second-most rushing yards in both 2014 and 2016. Those seasons were a mixed bag during this period, but the offensive line, which was built through the draft, provided consistently excellent play for much of the decade.

The process began in 2011 when Dallas used their first-round pick to nab left tackle Tyron Smith. In subsequent years they would continue to use draft capital to create what I have come to refer to as the “Great Wall of Dallas 2.0.” This group was headlined by perennial Pro Bowl lineman including the aforementioned Tyron Smith, center Travis Frederick, and right guard Zack Martin.

This was by-and-large the same group that helped the Cowboys finish the 2019 season with the second-fewest number of sacks given up with 23. Funny enough the only team that allowed fewer sacks last season just so happened to be the teams 2020 season-opener opponents, the Los Angeles Rams.

The Cowboys’ offensive line heading into 2020 looked as uncertain as it had in a long time. This was partially the result of Frederick retiring in the offseason and the untimely injury of right tackle La’el Collins who was placed on the injured reserve shortly before the season started.

This forced the Cowboys to pick up an undrafted rookie free agent, Terence Steele, to start at right tackle in the season opener. The offensive line gave up three sacks to the Rams in Week One.

Some of that can, and certainly should be attributed to the fact that the Rams have arguably the best player in football, defensive tackle Aaron Donald, on their defensive line. Donald provided constant pressure for the Rams and finished the game with a team-leading four quarterback hits and a sack. Regardless, the offensive line for Dallas looked shaky in the season opener.

The Cowboys allowed one sack in their improbable come from behind win against the Atlanta Falcons this past Sunday. The offensive line also allowed quarterback Dak Prescott to be hit six times throughout the course of the game.

However, considering the team was starting undrafted players at both right and left tackle (Brandon Knight and Steele respectively) the offensive line seemed to hold up relatively well. Nevertheless, the organization should be concerned about the health and effectiveness of their offensive line moving forward.

Despite the struggles, the normal caveats should apply that these were only the first two games of the season and, fingers crossed, hopefully, Collins will return once his stint on the injured reserve is over. It should be noted that the duration of the injured reserve list was shortened to three weeks this season to deal with complications arising from the novel-coronavirus.

The Cowboys also have hopes that their starting left guard, Connor Williams, will take a step forward this year. Fans of America’s Team should also pay attention to the development of backup center Tyler Biadasz whom they drafted in the fourth round in the 2020 draft.

The Cowboys also have to deal with the devastating news that backup tackle Cameron Erving will miss four-to-six weeks with an MCL sprain. This news strikes a blow to the depth of the team’s offensive line which has struggled with injuries over the past couple of seasons.

The team’s starting left tackle in Smith, who marked the beginning of the construction of the “Great Wall of Dallas 2.0”, is also reportedly battling a neck injury. But he took part in Wednesday’s practice according to the team’s official injury report.

The Dallas Cowboys’ offensive line has been the backbone of the team for much of the past decade. But an unsteady start to the 2020 season and looming injury concerns may indicate concerning cracks in the “Great Wall of Dallas 2.0” that should worry every Cowboys’ fan.