Dallas Cowboys must be better at the basics to win

The Dallas Cowboys’ offensive line used to be their “feature group”, now though and at times, they just look like any other group.

The Offensive Line

Injuries and poor performance have put the Cowboys in a bind here. Sunday saw rookie right tackle  Terence Steele leave the game for what most thought was him being benched.

It turns out that wasn’t the case. According to Jane Slater of the NFL Network, here’s what it was.

Here’s the thing though, he nor Connor Williams have looked great during their time. They have been alright at times, but I would have to debate if I even said that they have been “good” at times.

Offensive lines in football are literally “a wall” and not just from the dynamic of function. When one portion, piece, or block of a wall is damaged or weakened, it damages the entire and total fortitude of the wall.

I am giving an excuse, in that perhaps they look poor due to the rest of the injuries along the line. Or… perhaps they just aren’t that good.

Either way, we would sure like Tyron Smith and La’el Collins to get back sooner than later so that it can be somewhat addressed, either way. Either there return helps the others be better, or we simply get them out of there by replacing them with better players.

Collins is still “a little further away” but could play this week, according to Stephen Jones on a Monday appearance on 105.3 The Fan. Tyron Smith was close to playing on Sunday according to Jones in that same appearance, so there is that.

Hopefully, both return sooner than later, because as that safety, Zeke’s lackluster day, and the pressure Dak Prescott faced on that last attempted drive to win the game illustrates, they are missed.

The Dallas Cowboys have a few more areas that they could stand to tighten up, but if they address these three, it should change things dramatically. They aren’t a bad team now, let’s be clear.

The offense can make plays when they need to and so can the defense. Aldon Smith is still a wrecking ball and the rest of that defensive line gave you a glimpse of what they can be on Sunday as well.

You also have to take into account that the Dallas Cowboys play in an NFC East division with the Washington Football team at 1-2, the New York Giants at 0-3, and the Philadelphia Eagles who sit at 0-2-1. What that means is that no one has jumped out ahead in the division race, there are no clear cut favorites, and even with all of the warts that have bothered the Cowboys over the first three weeks, they still look like the best team in the division.

Those are things to at least be encouraged by. If the Cowboys can address the three things mentioned specifically above though, we would have the chance to be more than encouraged. They could then even possibly reach their fullest potential.