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Dallas Cowboys offensive line drops in PFF rankings

By Sayre Bedinger

Sep 11, 2016; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys guard Zack Martin (70) and center Travis Frederick (72) and offensive guard La'el Collins (71) and tackle Tyron Smith (77) line up during the game against the New York Giants at AT&T Stadium. New York won 20-19. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 11, 2016; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys guard Zack Martin (70) and center Travis Frederick (72) and offensive guard La'el Collins (71) and tackle Tyron Smith (77) line up during the game against the New York Giants at AT&T Stadium. New York won 20-19. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Dallas Cowboys get more publicity for their offensive line than any other team recent memory. They dropped a bit this offseason, per PFF…

The Dallas Cowboys have used a number of premium draft picks to build one of the NFL’s most dominant offensive lines, but are they going to take a step back as a group in 2017?

That may very well be, according to Pro Football Focus’ latest rankings.

The Cowboys’ offensive line ranked 9th in PFF’s pre-season rankings after the loss of left guard Ronald Leary and the replacement of Doug Free at right tackle with La’El Collins. Of course, the Cowboys don’t feel like they are going to miss a beat with the players around new (projected) left guard Jonathan Cooper and Collins, but here’s what the folks at PFF had to say:

"“They’ve been the class of the league for so long, but a line can only survive so many hits. Ronald Leary and Doug Free weren’t at the caliber of Tyron Smith, Travis Frederick, or Zack Martin, but they were quality players in their own right. The big question mark is La’el Collins moving to right tackle. Tackle was his more natural college position, but his below-average performance at guard isn’t too encouraging.”Pro Football Focus"

Of course, a top 10 ranking for the Cowboys’ offensive line is still excellent. They still have three of arguably the best players at their respective positions in the entire NFL in Tyron Smith, Travis Frederick, and Zack Martin. However, PFF makes a valid point about the two new starters and the potential impact they could have.

The Cowboys’ offense is still loaded with young playmakers, but we’ll have to see how their new players on the offensive line adapt and if any major adjustments will need to be made based on the success (or lack thereof) from those two players.

Cooper noted that having those players around him makes him (and everyone else) that much better:

"“I’d say the biggest thing they have in common is working hard every play and their knowledge of the system. They know it backwards and forwards. It’s unreal. You’ll have Travis Frederick correcting a coach. [Coach] will say it’s this formation or this play and Travis will say, ‘You sure about that, Coach?’ Their knowledge of the playbook and just the way they jell so well together. You can honestly plug anybody in there and they’re going to be able to make them look good and vice versa.”Jonathan Cooper, Sports Day/Dallas News"

Ronald Leary was, of course, an exceptional player. Cooper was once drafted very high by the Arizona Cardinals so the talent is there, and perhaps next offseason we will be revisiting how much success he had in his first year with the Cowboys.

Those types of stories are always welcome.

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