Blogging The Boys
Every week, we’re digging into the trenches, offense and defense, because that’s where the real action happens. In this installment, we’re shining a spotlight on the offensive line, who’s holding it down, who’s opening holes for the running backs, and who’s keeping Dak Prescott clean. Let’s get to it.
(2025 Stats: 1,056 Total snaps, 673 Pass Blocks, 26 Pressures, 0 QB Hits, 3 Sacks, 11 Penalties)
Smith’s 2025 has basically been elite in the run game, but still working on pass pro. PFF has him at a 71.6 overall grade with a monster 79.8 run-blocking mark (top-five among guards) and a more modest 63.4 pass-block grade, which fits the tape. When Dallas wants to lean on people, Smith is usually the first guy to bring the boom. On tracking-based win rates he’s posted a 95% pass block win rate on the season, which ranks 19th, meaning he’s typically surviving the first 2.5 seconds of the rep even when the pocket starts collapsing.
Against Washington in Week 17, the headline is that Smith worked the left tackle spot. He was credited with four pressures on 49 pass-block snaps, with one sack surrendered on Dak Prescott. The Cowboys whole line broke down for a total of six sacks allowed.
Now the Giants assignment is a different flavor, because New York can actually win edges early. As a team, they’re 7th in Pass Rush Win Rate at 41%, and their players include Abdul Carter (6th among edges in Pass Rush Win Rate) and Brian Burns (10th in PRWR). Burns has piled up 16.5 sacks on the season which is the second-most on the year, and Carter’s rookie year has been pressure-heavy (61 total pressures). The good news is New York’s run defense win rate sits near the bottom at 28th in Run Stop Win Rate, and Dallas has been a respectable run-block win rate team at 72% ranking 12th, so the Cowboys should be able to run the ball and work play-action off of that.
(2025 Stats: 352 Total snaps, 209 Pass Blocks, 4 Pressures, 0 QB Hits, 0 Sacks, 0 Penalties)
Dallas shuffled the front with Tyler Smith kicked out to left tackle, and T.J. Bass was asked to hold down the left guard position. On the plus side, he was functional in the run game. The Cowboys kept feeding the backfield after Javonte Williams went out, and Malik Davis turned 20 carries into 103 yards by consistently finding workable creases, particularly inside. That kind of day doesn’t happen if the interior is getting forklifted every snap, and Bass’ ability to get a push in the interior was rewarded with yards by the running backs.
But pass protection was an issue across the board. Washington rang up a season-high six sacks on Prescott. When you’re moving players up front, the first thing that can happen is communication issues arise. Washington leaned into that chaos. They even got a monster night...
