Offensive Line Is Key To Dallas Cowboys’ Week 10 Win
By Ryan Ratty
@RyanRattyNFL
Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Just two weeks ago, things were going great for the Dallas Cowboys. At 6-1, the Cowboys and their fans were flying high after six consecutive victories. However, the Cowboys got outplayed by a bad Washington Redskins team on Monday night and in Week 9, without starting quarterback Tony Romo, the Arizona Cardinals destroyed the Cowboys at home.
The interesting thing about the past two games is that the offensive line hasn’t played well in either one.
Throughout the first eight games of the season, Dallas’ offensive line looked dominant. Even though it was young and inexperienced, the trio of Tyron Smith, Travis Frederick and Zack Martin was destroying the trenches game. Despite all of that, the Redskins blitzed on almost every play in Week 8, and blitz pickup proved to be the flaw with this group.
While Ronald Leary and Doug Free are banged up, the Cowboys should’ve been fine with experienced backups like Mackenzy Bernadeau and Jermey Parnell playing. Instead, the Cowboys’ offensive line hasn’t gotten enough time for Romo or Brandon Weeden to be comfortable in the pocket. Going forward, this can’t continue if the Cowboys want to win the NFC East and make a run in the playoffs.
In Week 10, the Cowboys will be playing a Jacksonville Jaguars team that is one of the bottom-five teams in the league. Although the Jaguars are 1-8, this team has been playing better in recent weeks, and the best thing they do is get after the quarterback. Jacksonville ranks third in the league in sacks, and that has been Dallas’ Achilles’ heel over the past two games.
For the Cowboys to get back on track and get to 7-3, running the football and protecting Romo (who is riskily playing with two transverse back injuries) is the most important thing in this game. Although the Cowboys are the much better football team, Jacksonville could pull off an upset. But if this offensive line gets back to the way they were playing, this game won’t be close.
Ryan Ratty is a featured writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @RyanRattyNFL or add him to your network on Google.
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