Dallas Cowboys Offensive-Line Continuity to be Put to the Test. (AP Photo/Jim Prisching)
The Dallas Cowboys came into last week's game against the Green Bay Packers as the only team in the NFL that had started the same offensive-line combination in every game this season.
Statistics wise, the Cowboys offense averaged 260.4 passing yards per game (6th in the NFL) and 130 yards on the ground (8th in the NFL). The O-Line did allow 22 sacks (12th most in the NFL), but overall was a consistent group that was at the forefront of a top-10 offense.
That all changed in the second quarter of Sunday's (Nov. 15) game in Green Bay as right-tackle Marc Colombo went down with a leg injury. Colombo broke his left fibula on the play and is now done for the rest of the season.
Dallas now has some choices to make as how to replace Colombo. It seems that the Cowboys will use 3rd-year pro Doug Free (who replaced Colombo for the rest of the game against the Packers) who, at 6-6 313 pounds, would seem to mesh with the rest of the giant offensive line. But Free has struggled at times this season with consistency (he has filled in for left-tackle Flozell Adams at different points this season and, from what I saw, did not impress). The good news is that scouts say Free is a good pass-blocker, a decent run-blocker, and is better suited for the right-tackle position than the left.
If Free struggles, Dallas could put right guard Leonard Davis at right-tackle, a position Davis played at times in Arizona, and insert Montrae Holland or Cory Proctor into the right-guard position.
The Washington Redskins come into Sunday's (Nov.22) game, in Dallas, allowing the fewest passing yards per-game in the NFL with 162.7. The Redskins come into the game tied with Dallas for 8th in the NFL in total sacks at 24, so if the offensive line struggles it could be a long day for Tony Romo.
Washington is susceptible against the run at 24th in the NFL in rushing yards per game allowed and will also be missing arguably their best defensive player (and most expensive), Albert Haynesworth.
Washington will also be without Clinton Portis who has 494 rushing yards this year but only one touchdown.
Cowboys safety Ken Hamlin will miss Sunday's game along with Marc Colombo. Alan Ball (a converted corner) will likely start in place of Hamlin.
This is my favorite rivalry in the division, even if the Redskins are having some issues this season. Even with a banged up O-Line, I expect Dallas to take care of business at home against a struggling and injured plagued 3-6 Washington team.
Cowboys - 28
Redskins - 14
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