The loss of Tyron Smith comes weeks before the first regular season game. The offensive line that was already thin lost its All-Decade player to a torn left hamstring that will keep him out until at least December.
Smith has not played an entire season since 2015, and Dallas did next to nothing this off-season to help ease a situation like this. The Cowboy's offense needs to run the football, and when they are most successful, the running game is dominant.
Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard need to be the offense's focal point. “It's still a fact; we go as Zeke goes,” Jerry Jones said yesterday on First Take on ESPN. The Cowboys go as the running game goes. Pollard might be the better back right now because he doesn't have nearly the carries Elliott does, but Elliott will continue to see the most touches. Let Elliott wear you down, then unleash Pollard and let him hit the defense with a gashing run.
Jerry Jones on @FirstTake on Ezekiel Elliott: “It's still a fact, we go as Zeke goes.” pic.twitter.com/PsuQV91cAF
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) August 25, 2022
The loss of Smith will hinder the running game, no doubt about it, but we will have to wait for the regular season to start to see how bad it might be. Who fills the role of LT? First-round pick Tyler Smith is the player that jumps off the screen immediately. Jones has also noted that they will look to fix the problem by looking at players on the roster and not reaching out to a guy like Eric Fisher or someone similar.
Whether the Cowboys move some players around or they wind up signing someone, they also figure out a way to ensure the running game can still be a factor. I find it hard to buy into the possibility of moving players around on the OL this close to the regular season, trying to find a lineup that may work.
