Inside The Star
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.
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.
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...
