The “Great Wall of Dallas” will look quite different than it did last season. Right tackle Doug Free retired and Left Guard Ron Leary left via free agency so there will be 2 new faces in the starting lineup. Ron Leary played exceptionally well the last few seasons in Dallas, meanwhile Doug Free had been rock solid in the run game. With the turnover at the position, some believe the Cowboys status as the best offensive line in football is in jeopardy. I do not share that opinion.
The Dallas Cowboys are fortunate enough to have three of the best offensive linemen in football in their starting lineup. Travis Frederick is the best center in the game right now. Zack Martin is the top guard in the league and Tyron Smith is the best offensive lineman in the NFL. Remarkably, these three All Pros are all only 26 years old and will continue to get better. So long as these three core players remain healthy the Cowboys O-line will be fine.
Replacing Doug Free at right tackle will be La’el Collins. He, like the aforementioned three pro-bowlers, is a first round talent who I believe will be an upgrade once he settles in at his new position. Replacing Ron Leary at left guard will be more difficult. Former 1st round pick Jonathan Cooper, free agent Byron Bell and current swing tackle Chaz Green are all in the mix. I do believe that by creating competition for that spot it will bring out the best in these guys. Thus far it appears that Cooper is the most likely to win the job. Cooper may not be the same guy he was when he was drafted after suffering a terrible injury his rookie year, but my gut feeling is that he will earn that spot and keep it. I will go one step further and say that he will go on to have a solid season playing alongside all the Cowboys talent.
Confident as I am that the Cowboys O-line will continue to dominate as usual, I have one pressing concern. Tyron Smith missed time last season and part of the pre-season with back ailments. As previously mentioned, he is only 26 years old and you do not expect to see these type of back issues in a younger player. If Smith has to miss a large chunk of time this season, the Cowboys would be in a lot of trouble.