FRISCO, Texas – As the Cowboys get ready for their Week 4 matchup against the Green Bay Packers, they’ll be without two starting offensive linemen in center Cooper Beebe and right guard Tyler Booker.
Dallas’ offensive line room has a mantra for themselves: Five as one. When one of the five go down, it’s on the rest of the group and whoever steps up to continue moving as a singular unit.
“The standard doesn’t change,” Smith said. “That’s part of our mantra as an o-line room. When somebody steps up, there can’t be any drop off. I have all the confidence in the world of whoever’s going to be in there whether it’s T.J [Bass]. or Hakeem [Adeniji] or whoever, that they’ll come in and they’ll do a great job.”
It’ll more than likely be Brock Hoffman starting at center for the second straight week, and Bass coming into to fill Booker’s spot. They’ll look to continue helping pave the way for Javonte Williams and Dallas’ rushing attack, which will be key early on come Sunday night.
“Ultimately, I think a lot of our success in this game is going to be based off our success on first and second down,” Smith said. “I think that’s about being on your keys early on, and just execute it from the jump.”
The Cowboys are facing a Packers defense that is first in the league in scoring defense, and fifth in total sacks this year with 10. Evidently, they’ve had success getting pressure on the quarterback. Does Smith think running right at Green Bay’s pass rushers can help them in the run game?
“I think football is as situational as anything else is, so I think if you dominate first and second down and you limit his opportunity to rush or freely rush the way he wants to, you’ll ultimately have more success for sure.” Smith said.
Who could the “he” Smith mentioned be?
Evidently, it’s Micah Parsons, who makes his return to Dallas after being traded from the Cowboys late in August. Similarly to his teammates, Smith never thought that Parsons would be sent up north.
“Definitely not,” Smith said when asked if he ever imagined Parsons’ situation would end up like it did. “I didn’t think things would pan out [this way,] but I guess the league really teaches you that anything can happen.”
Now the reality is that Smith and his teammates will go up against Parsons for the first time in a game setting, not just practice. But it’s been their battles in practice that have served as the biggest lessons and expectations for what to expect in a few days time.
“I think we have an intimate understanding of who he is, where he wants to be, and I think that’s something that we have for their entire defensive unit but him especially,” Smith said. “It definitely helps in terms of game planning and understanding the way he wants to attack.”
Smith and Parsons are good friends. After Parsons was traded and signed his new contract, Smith was one of Parsons’ now former teammates that went to his house to congratulate him. Parsons reached out to Smith after he signed his extension to congratulate him.
When 7:20 p.m. comes around on Sunday night though, that relationship is temporarily shelved, and it’s all about business for the next few hours.
“It’s gonna be different, but I think we both understand it as professionals,” Smith said. “I have a lot of love for him as a person off the field and things of that nature, even on it, but if we step between the white lines, there can only be one winner. I got a star on my helmet, that’s all that matters to me.”
