The Dallas Cowboys enter the season with a stable, reliable offensive line. The organization knows everything starts up front, which is why the team has spent three first-round picks on offensive linemen over the last five drafts. With so much invested, the team is sitting in good shape up front, and people are starting to notice.
Recently, ESPN senior writer Mike Clay offered up some scores for every starting offensive lineman for every team. These scores are calculated by a mix of advanced stats
and on-field performance metrics. He looked at block win rates alongside PFF grades to see how a player handles their matchups, while also factoring in utilization and pedigree. Dark green means you’ve got an elite player, while dark red signals a weak link in the starting lineup.
To get the final team rankings, he doesn’t just add the numbers up equally. He weighs tackles heavier than interior linemen, acknowledging that protecting the edges is usually the toughest and most valuable job on the line.
Let’s run through each player and see how each of them rates…
LT, Tyler Guyton 4.8
Guyton’s lower grade makes sense given his shaky first two years, but the raw talent to be a solid starter is absolutely there. He is a massive dude who moves incredibly well, using his huge wingspan and smooth movement to easily get to the second level. While his balance looks great when dropping back in pass protection, bad habits still hold him back. He has a tendency to play too high, which ruins his leverage and makes him lunge at defenders. Between his raw technique and hindered development due to his injury history, he is still very much a work in progress.
LG, Tyler Smith 7.6
Smith’s high rating is supported by his status as an elite, All-Pro guard. He is a physical powerhouse who pairs insane strength with great lateral quickness. As we’ve already seen, the Cowboys can play him inside or slide him out to tackle if needed, but wherever he plays, he’s going to be a problem for the guy lined up across from him. He’s an athletic guy who plays mean and finishes blocks through the whistle. His only real flaw is that sometimes he’s a bit overaggressive, which leads to sloppy hand placement against savvy veterans. Still, those are just minor blemishes on an otherwise elite player.
C, Cooper Beebe 6.6
Beebe gets a solid green rating here thanks to his high football IQ and textbook technique. He gives the inside of the line an anchor, using his low leverage to shut down power rushers. If he gets his feet set and hands locked in, defenders aren’t going anywhere. He’s not the most athletic guy in the world, but he moves well enough and rarely misses his target when climbing to the second level. He’s been so reliable at the position that people have long forgotten he never took a snap at center at Kansas State.
RG, Tyler Booker 7.5
Booker is another physically imposing heavyweight who earns a high score for his raw strength and leadership. He is a dense, rock-solid guard who is tough to push around. Thanks to his long arms and insane grip strength, once he gets into a defender’s chest, it’s goodnight Irene. He’s got the brains to match the brawn. He diagnoses blitzes in a flash and plays with a nasty attitude that sets the tone upfront. On the downside, his footwork can be a little heavy, and occasionally he plays too high which compromises his leverage.
RT Terence Steele 5.8
Steele’s middle-of-the-pack score reflects what he is, which is a player who has some deficiencies, but also possesses more strengths that he’s given credit for. He’s a quality run-blocker as he uses his natural power to completely clear out lanes. He’s also extremely reliable, having started every single game over the last three years, becoming a permanent fixture on the right side. The problem is his pass blocking. He still experiences lapses in pass protection and suffers from inconsistent footwork, which leaves him susceptible to bull rushes and speed off the edge.
As stated earlier, the overall team rankings give extra weight to the tackle positions, but if all things were created equal and the individual scores were tallied, the Cowboys’ starting unit would finish in the top five.
These young players are just now coming into their own, finding the perfect rhythm between their raw physical gifts and the technical refinement required to put together a consistent showing week in and week out. With a year of shared chemistry and the continued tutelage of Klayton Adams and Conor Riley, this group is primed to deliver bigger things. If this line can play to its potential, it’ll open the door for an even more explosiveness on offense.
Are your buying the argument for a top five offensive line in Dallas? Let us know your ranking in the comments.
