There are things a team can do to address a weak point on an offensive line. Teams occasionally commit additional players to help that weak connection. Before they leave on their routes, they can chip block with TEs and RBs. Even the pocket can be rolled away from the vulnerable point. There is yet hope.
When two members of a team are weak? That’s when things get complicated.
That’s what happened against Miami in Week 16. The Cowboys looked to Chuma Edoga in relief after Tyron Smith was sidelined. They could no longer give RT all of their spare resources in an effort to support Terence Steele. In Edoga, they had an even greater vulnerability.
The two tackles allowed a total of nine pressures as a result. Playing with his head turned to the side, Dak Prescott frequently had to leave the pocket before his downfield routes were completely developed. The two tackles made an already difficult day much worse, and there weren’t enough additional resources to make it right.
Smith’s status for the Week 17 game was uncertain as he was listed as a limited participant in practice when the final injury report for Week 17 was made public. Although this is essentially a 50/50 proposition, Mike McCarthy expressed hope.
With the Lions visiting this week, this is really crucial. Aiden Hutchinson, one of the top young EDGE players in the NFL, plays mostly on the left side of the defense, thus he will spend the majority of the afternoon against Steele. In the event that the Cowboys divide their resources between Edoga and Steele, Hutchinson will gain a bunch of first downs. However, Steele will have all of the additional resources at his disposal if Smith returns to the starting lineup.
This season, Smith has been among the least assisted LTs in the game. His durability may have suffered as a result of becoming older, but his ability to play on an island has not. When the tackle in front of him ranks third in terms of pressures allowed this season, this unique quality becomes crucial. not the team’s third position. third in the NFL among all linemen.
With Smith in the starting lineup, the Cowboys are a different squad. He has a variety of effects on both game stages. It will be fantastic news for Steele and the Cowboys if he can return to the field this Saturday.