Blogging The Boys
The Cowboys OL depth is already being tested, as Brock Hoffman will have to replace Cooper Beebe for at least six weeks.
The good news for Dallas is Hoffman has 39 NFL games under his belt by now including nine starts in the last two years. He’s a solid backup and one of the best across the team’s offensive line. However, it’s a tough blow for the offense and one that throws a wrench into one of the best things we’ve seen from head coach Brian Schottenheimer’s offense: The run game.
Cooper Beebe is a crucial part of successful rushing offense
The Cowboys won on Sunday in large part thanks to Dak Prescott’s heroics throwing to CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens, who combined for 180 receiving yards. But there’s no denying Dallas has a rushing offense it can count with. Javonte Williams has proven he can be a solid RB1, going for 97 rushing yards in 18 attempts.
But a lot of the team’s success has been the result of Schottenheimer’s and Klayton Adams’ scheme, which uses plenty of pre-snap motion and pulling blockers. Beebe is a crucial part of the latter, often making key blocks to spark explosive plays. We’ll see how Hoffman taking over affects the team’s approach. Not to mention, Beebe and the Cowboys guards—Tyler Smith and Tyler Booker—were perceived as the core that allowed the offense to be physical running the ball.
Beebe’s is the first major injury the Cowboys suffer this season and it will be one that tests a young coaching staff praised for what it’s done with the offensive line. For Hoffman, it’s time to step up.
The Cowboys know they need more pass rush from their defensive ends, and addressed the position by signing Jadeveon Clowney following Sunday’s win.
Currently spending his offseasons in Houston, and a free agent to this point in 2025, Clowney was careful in selecting his next team, especially coming off of two very productive seasons with the Carolina Panthers that proves he has plenty left in the tank — now seeking the ever-elusive Lombardi trophy at this point in his career.
Only one season removed from racking up 9.5 sacks in 2024 and, despite being asked to do more coverage in 2025 than he’s likely ever had to do, Clowney was still able to produce 5.5 sacks en route to leading the team in several critical categories, from sacks to pressures and more.
A huge part of the pitch to land Clowney came from not only Schottenheimer, but also, of course, defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus, when a tidbit was dropped that made Clowney’s eyes light up like an LED billboard on I-635 East...
