Tuesday Film Room: Cowboys Offensive Line Dominates

Today's Tuesday Film Room edition will outline how the Dallas Cowboys offensive line contributed to their dominant rushing attack in the week three MNF game. The Cowboys RBs rushed for 155 yards on 28 carries (5.5 YPC) in their 41-21 win. The plays highlighted below show a mix of how the Cowboys offensive line got it done. 

The first play is an 11-yard run off-tackle by Tony Pollard. Everyone does a good job upfront on this play, but Terrence Steele makes a key block to seal the edge and really make this run possible. Steele has now played well in the run-game two weeks in a row filling in for the suspended La'el Collins. The freeze-frame below also outlines how the C, RG, and RT all help make key play-side blocks to spring this run.  

Steele is highlighted again in play two. It is a three-yard TD run, and Steele makes a key block on Fletcher Cox. He does not dominate Cox, but Steele executes a good reach block to wall Cox off and help create the alley for Zeke to run through. Because of the hole, Zeke is able to get a full head of steam, and by the team any Eagle defender makes contact, they are unable to stop his momentum and keep him out of the endzone. 

Play number three is a basic power run to the left with Zach Martin as the kick-out man. He makes the key block on this play to block the edge guy and pin him inside, which allows Ezekiel Elliott to run clean to the outside and bust this play for a 13 yard gain, his longest run of the night. 

Play four is a microcosm of the Cowboys night run blocking. Dallas only picked up two yards on this play, but it was one of the Cowboys better plays as far as all five guys blocking goes. The only reason this run did not go for a larger gain is that the TE, Dalton Schultz, is unable to maintain his block. However, the freeze frame will show that all five offensive linemen are doing their job in this play. 

The fifth play is a six-yard run to the left, and Tyron Smith makes a key block. Just watching the play, one might think Smith does not do very much, but his block is critical in establishing the alley that Elliott runs through. The other key factor is the Connor Williams and Tyler Biadsz double team. The Cowboys were successful using double teams to move the Eagles interior guys back and re-establish the line of scrimmage all night. 

Even without one of their best run blockers in Collins, the Cowboys offensive line has looked great run-blocking since Zach Martin returned in week two. Elliott and Pollard have combined for 335 yards rushing on 57 carries (5.8 YPC) in the past two weeks, and the Dallas o-line has been a key reason for their success. The Cowboys offensive line appears to be playing at the elite level they played at prior to all the injuries last season. With the rest of the division struggling, this offensive line is one of the reasons the Cowboys look like early favorites to run away with the NFC East.