Eye on the Opponent: Cowboys O-line Takes Another Hit
The Dallas Cowboys offensive line took another potentially worrisome hit Thursday when left tackle Tyron Smith was added to their post-practice injury report with an ankle ailment. Smith, listed as limited, is the second Cowboys starting offensive lineman to be placed on the injury report this week, joining left guard Tyler Smith (hamstring).
Smith has had some injury issues over the past three seasons. In 2021, the former first-round draft pick out of USC missed six games due to multiple ankle injuries that never seemed to disappear throughout the year. Last fall, he suffered a torn hamstring in training camp that made him an inhabitant of the injured reserve list until December, when he was shuffled to right tackle with Tyler Smith playing the left side role.
When he has been available for Dallas’ starting front, Tyron Smith has offered some of the best overall blocking on the offensive line. In 12 seasons with the team and over 9,500 total snaps, he has had only two seasons where he gave up more than five sacks and quarterback hits. Over the last three seasons, his total pressures allowed have dropped dramatically, and he’s become one of the cleanest pass and run blockers in the entire league.
When the two Smiths are present for the offensive line, the Cowboys backfield has had little to worry about regarding the efficiency of their operation on the left side. But with both banged up, it will be interesting to see if the Giants intensify their attack on that side.
Pollard Set to Lead the Way
After seven seasons as the lead running back who churned over 8,200 rushing yards and 68 touchdowns for the Star, Ezekiel Elliott is now a member of New England, meaning the torch has been passed to fifth-year running back Tony Pollard.
Since he was drafted by the team in 2019, the 26-year-old Memphis product has been deployed as the team’s backup rusher, but the emphasis came on being the speedy weapon out of the backfield of passing plays. At 6-feet and 209 pounds, he has carried the intangibles needed to be the shifty, dump-off type of ball carrier but has recently been geared up for the moment when he’ll command most of the handoffs.
As a “1B” rushing counterpart to Elliott in his first three seasons, Pollard took on over 100 carries twice and tally 1,609 yards (5.0 average) and eight touchdowns.
However, when Elliott dealt with injuries at various times last fall, Pollard found his way into starting caliber reps and turned his electric talents into an impressive 193-carry, 1,007-yard, and nine-touchdown rushing campaign that led to his first-ever Pro Bowl selection.
Pollard has made a strong recovery from a gruesome postseason injury in which he broke his left leg and suffered a high ankle sprain on a tackle. He was franchise-tagged by the Cowboys this past off-season and will look to parlay that one-year tag into a bigger payday this year.
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