New angle shows Terence Steele bust out of slump with ferocious double pancake vs Panthers
By Jerry Trotta
The Dallas Cowboys handled their business against the Carolina Panthers in Week 11 to improve to 7-3 on the season.
To make the win all the more sweet, Jerry Jones announced moments before kickoff that former Cowboys head coach Jimmy Johnson would enter the Ring of Honor during halftime of Dallas' Week 17 game against the Detroit Lions.
Getting back to the game, it was great to see Tony Pollard, Terence Steele and Micah Parsons break out of their respective slumps. Parsons logged 2.5 sacks after he was a no-show on the box score in Week 10 score, while Pollard scored a touchdown and averaged 5.1 yards per carry.
Steele, meanwhile, looked more like the player who ascended up the right tackle rankings last season. He's taken his lumps in pass protection this year coming off ACL surgery, so hopefully Sunday was a sign of things to come.
The fan base might be reluctant to buy into Steele's turnaround, but this highlight of the 26-year-old executing the rare double pancake indicates he might be all the way back.
Terence Steele is wanted by Charlotte PD for a double homicide. #Cowboys pic.twitter.com/RrqhfwvihO
— Patrik [No C] Walker (@VoiceOfTheStar) November 20, 2023
Cowboys RT Terence Steele took out two Panthers defenders with one block
If that's not a slump-busting highlight, then what is? It's very rare that offensive linemen take out two defenders with one block. The fact Steele put both Panthers players on the ground in one motion is a testament to his strength and encapsulates why Dallas rewarded him with a massive contract extension in the offseason.
That contract (five years, $86.8 million with $50 million guaranteed) admittedly hasn't aged well given Steele's struggles in pass protection this season, but it stands to reason that a performance like this will restore the RT's confidence.
How could it not?
The funniest part of Steele's block is that it completely deceived center Tyler Biadasz, who made a dead sprint for the second Panthers defender in question before he realized Steele had it taken care of. Afterwards, the confused Biadasz took off upfield with left guard Tyler Smith to continue paving the way for Tony Pollard.
The burst off the line. The plowing over two Panthers defenders as own helmet dislodges. This is RT Terence Steele at his best. C Tyler Biadasz and TE Jake Ferguson among others who deserve mention here, but a real signature moment for Steele, who is stacking games together. pic.twitter.com/sgMy6SsWPd
— Michael Gehlken (@GehlkenNFL) November 20, 2023
Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News makes a great point about Jake Ferguson, whose sealing of the edge allowed Steele to take the form of a freight train in the open field. Again, though, this is all about Steele.
Steele has quietly strung together two strong games in a row after his disasterclass against the Eagles in Week 9. If he can rediscover the form he showcased in 2022, Dallas' already humming offense could potentially reach new heights.
Maybe --just maybe -- this double pancake will spearhead Steele to a strong finish in the final seven games of the year.
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