Former Cincinnati Bengals and Baltimore Ravens Offensive Tackle Willie Anderson is bringing his experience in teaching offensive linemen to the best in the league. Announcing yesterday on Instagram that he’ll be in Dallas this week to train with the Dallas Cowboys OL, Anderson’s career puts him among the likes of the players he’ll train in Tyron Smith, Zack Martin, and Travis Frederick.
Representing the Bengals in the Pro Bowl four times and being named a first-team All Pro three times, Anderson built his career under longtime Bengals OL Coach Paul Alexander – who replaces Frank Pollack for the Cowboys now in 2018.
Out of the league since 2008, Willie Anderson founded his Lineman Academy to train with high school, college, and professional athletes around the country. Anderson was the third offensive lineman drafted under Alexander by the Bengals. Beginning his 23 year run as the Bengals OL Coach in 1995, Alexander was not able to find stability in that year’s draft picks, but did in 1996 with Anderson at 10th overall.
The tackle out of Auburn can only help the Cowboys cohesive offensive line speed up the process of learning under Paul Alexander – as if their talent level wasn’t already a good enough start. The Cowboys commitment to maintaining their identity through a dominant starting five up front was realized once again at the draft, keeping Texas’ Connor Williams local with the 50th overall pick.
Williams is expected to be the Cowboys new starter at left guard, sliding nicely between Smith and Frederick.
The final piece to this Cowboys resurgence in the trenches is of course Ezekiel Elliott. Hungry to get back on the field for 16 games and reclaim his rushing title, the Cowboys revamped OL (complete from top to bottom) understands the impact they can lead Elliott to have on this team’s win total for 2018.
Beginning the long process of preparing for a bounce back season, the Cowboys All-Pro cornerstones are already working with the best in the business. On Anderson’s website, he is quoted in the introduction saying:
“I believe Offensive Lineman are the new Skills position, not just big guys who push guys around. The great ones are skilled athletes and should be handled as such.”
This is a sentiment felt through The Star at Frisco, where waves of talent make their way onto the field. The best is yet to come with Willie Anderson training the Cowboys offensive line. The bottom line? The Cowboys are going to be really good at blocking in 2018.
Paul Alexander is doing everything he can to make sure of this.
