{"id":5078,"date":"2024-12-01T15:06:53","date_gmt":"2024-12-01T15:06:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/breakingnews.azontree.com\/?p=5078"},"modified":"2024-12-01T15:06:53","modified_gmt":"2024-12-01T15:06:53","slug":"breaking-how-injuries-have-fast-tracked-a-complete-offensive-line-overhaul-for-the-cowboys","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/breakingnews.azontree.com\/?p=5078","title":{"rendered":"BREAKING: How injuries have fast-tracked a complete offensive line overhaul for the Cowboys"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Dallas<\/p>\n

The Dallas Cowboys have done a tremendous job remodeling their offensive line. It hasn\u2019t always been smooth and not everything goes according to plan, but once things start to come into focus it becomes rather apparent the front office has a pretty good idea of what they are doing.<\/p>\n

This offseason brought about a lot of criticism. They allowed veteran All-Pro tackle Tyron Smith to leave in free agency after his healthiest season in four years. They also let Pro Bowl center Tyler Biadasz leave for a bigger paycheck creating two large holes on the offensive line. What raised eyebrows wasn\u2019t just letting two key starters walk, but rather doing next to nothing in free agency to fill those voids. All they did was re-sign veteran swing tackle Chuma Edoga who didn\u2019t play that well last year. That doesn\u2019t necessarily make fans feel good about the offensive line entering the new season.<\/p>\n

But in typical front office fashion, what seems like a problem in March isn\u2019t always a problem in December. The team felt comfortable letting two starters leave because they already had safety nets on the roster. In 2022, they lost Tyron Smith in training camp causing them to start rookie Tyler Smith at left tackle. As raw as he was, he performed surprisingly well. When he moved into his preferred position of left guard last year he flourished, earning All-Pro honors immediately. So while Tyler is the team\u2019s star left guard, they know he could play left tackle if needed, which he did earlier this year without skipping a beat.<\/p>\n

They also felt content with letting Biadasz leave because of what they saw in Brock Hoffman. The undrafted interior lineman started two games for them last year after Biadasz got hurt. While the team still had other plans to replace the vacated starters, they knew they had some worst-case-scenario options they were comfortable with.<\/p>\n

Another element to this is that the Cowboys\u2019 scouting department led by Will McClay had a strong grasp on the talent-rich draft class looming right around the corner. It was clear they were going to address the offensive line in the draft, which is exactly what they did. When the draft rolled around, they packaged their 24th overall pick for pick 29 and pick 73, which they used to select tackle Tyler Guyton and guard Cooper Beebe.<\/p>\n

Guyton and Beebe moved into the starting lineup right away. Guyton played right tackle in college but was moved to the opposite side to protect Dak Prescott\u2019s blindside. Beebe was a guard in college but was moved to center as the team again put faith that the transition would be seamless. It was trial by fire. It hasn\u2019t been without some bumps along the way, but overall we can see what these young players bring to the table.<\/p>\n

But it gets even better. This season we\u2019ve seen Father Time finally catch up with Zack Martin. One might say we saw some writing on the wall last season as his play declined. He\u2019s missed the last two games due to injury, and the team has called upon Hoffman to play right guard. To the shock of many, Hoffman has impressed. He is getting his hands on defenders, taking them on the ground, and doing so with some swagger. Hoffman has provided an added level of nastiness within the offensive line.<\/p>\n

Guyton is having a rough go his rookie season as he constantly gets hurt which is unfortunate because the best thing for him right now is repetition. He\u2019s still a work in progress, but he\u2019s showing improvement. Beebe\u2019s move to center has been no problem. He\u2019s getting off the snap quicker and once he gets his mitts on the defender he does a good job anchoring and not giving ground. Beebe has played two games (50 pass-rushing snaps) against one of this year\u2019s best defensive linemen Dexter Lawrence and didn\u2019t allow a single hurry. Add Hoffman\u2019s raw power and improved fundamentals to the strength of Smith and Beebe and suddenly the Cowboys interior offensive line just got a whole lot stronger.<\/p>\n

While it might have not been Plan A, the Cowboys have remodeled their offensive line. A once-aging group just got a whole lot younger.<\/p>\n