The Dallas Cowboys’ offensive line was a major asset for many years, and last year, fans were left trying to figure out what went wrong.
So, to fix the issue, the front office revamped the coaching staff, hiring some of the greatest offensive lineman coaches at the NFL and collegiate levels.
First came the new Offensive Coordinator, Klayton Adams, then Offensive Line Coach, Conor Riley.
These two coaches excel at getting the most out of their offensive linemen and running games with their schemes.
These hires should benefit the entire offense, but the big boys up front will lead the charge in improving it.
The Offensive Line Schemes Mesh
One thing is apparent about hiring these two coaches: the offensive line needed work, and with new blood at the helm, these guys will get the job done.
Klayton Adams and Conor Riley’s offensive linemen’s blocking schemes for the run game mirror one another very well.
Klayton Adams in Arizona liked the gap scheme for his linemen. 64% of the run plays were gap scheme plays, which would benefit our more athletic than strong linemen. Meanwhile, 30% were zone scheme plays in Arizona.
Here is a short description of a gap scheme:
A gap scheme leverages offensive linemen’s positioning to gain an advantage over stronger defensive linemen.
In this approach, linemen on the playside block down or away from the gap where the runner is headed, leaving one defender unblocked outside the gap.
To counter this, a lineman is pulled from the backside to block the unaccounted defender, creating a hole between the pulling lineman and the down blocks for the runner to exploit.
This should play right into the strengths of the Cowboys’ current offensive line.
Offensive Line Coach Conor Riley’s philosophy will mesh well with this scheme.
At Kansas State University, Coach Riley run concepts were as follows:
While the inside zone scheme was number one on his list of run concept frequencies in 2024, the pull lead, counter, power, and man make up a large portion of his concepts.
Getting these two men in a room together will see a mesh of concepts that will create great opportunities for the Cowboys offensive lineman to progress next season.
The Linemen Who Will Benefit
Tyler Guyton, Cooper Beebe, and Terence Steele are three linemen who will benefit from the change in philosophy.
Tyler Guyton will be able to use his athleticism to get out into space and take on defenders with a full head of steam.
Too many times, fans witnessed Guyton getting overpowered and pushed back by defenders. A year in the weight room and the two offensive line geniuses he is getting in coaches will allow his potential to soar.
Cooper Beebe excelled under Conor Riley’s tutelage at Kansas State.
Cooper Beebe played guard at Kansas State. With Zack Martin’s retirement this year, this could be a possibility.
The familiarity of the coaching style will aid Beebe in taking the next step in his progression in the NFL. Coach Riley had great things to say about Beebe in college; the same can be expected in the NFL.
Conor Riley had this to say about Cooper Beebe,
“I think one of the best things about Cooper Beebe is his versatility,” Riley explained. “Yes, he was a two-time All-American guard for Kansas State, but he started games at tackle and at right guard or rather, excuse me, at right guard, right tackle, left guard and left tackle. So that versatility that he has really gives us a great opportunity to find the best fit for everybody up front.”
High praise from the newly hired coach.
The final player to see strides in the right direction is Terence Steele.
As all fans know, Steele struggled last year. Most of the struggles were in pass protection, but an emphasis on the run game could see him flourish.
According to Pro Football Focus, Terence Steele was the 13th-best lineman in the NFL at run blocking last year.
Stephen Jones believes Terence Steele is in for a big year:
He just needs to clean up the penalties and pass protection, which should be a priority for these two coaches.
Overall, these two coaches will improve the offensive line play, and with the focus returning to the run game, fans can look forward to big things happening in Dallas.