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: 335 Total Snaps, 221 Pass Blocks, 17 Pressures, 3 QB Hits, 1 Sack, 4 Penalties)
The Panthers game gave everyone a clean look at Guyton, and generally through the game, the pocket structure held up with him. He kept the stat sheet tidy and let Dak Prescott carve out a rhythm, helping his quarterback put up big numbers. That matters rolling into Washington, because the Commanders’ defense doesn’t wait around for takeaways, they try to win the down with rush first, speed-to-power on the edge with interior pressure trying to pry open B- and C-gaps. In other words, it’s less about sending the house, and more stressing the tackles until one breaks.
For Guyton, the assignment is quite technical this week. His job is all about maintaining inside-out leverage and treat every obvious passing down like a stunt is coming.
(2025 Stats: 348 Total snaps, 231 Pass Blocks, 6 Pressures, 0 QB Hits, 0 Sacks, 6 Penalties)
Coming off Carolina, the interior line struggled. This week, Smith needs to bring a new energy versus Washington, because the Commanders don’t have to send everyone in to cause problems. They win with four down linemen by cranking up stunts and inside counters until someone loses their assignment. It’s less about one headline rusher and more about a wave of long-arm power outside with tackles looping through the B-gap the second the guards eyes drift.
For Smith, that means being the cool-headed leader of the line with smarts and patience, and not being flashy. Running behind Guyton and Smith on first down shrinks the stunt opportunities, while quick play-action and the occasional quarterback scramble will change the rush timing for Washington and steal their ability to apply pressure. A lot of this week’s key leverage points of this game hinge on how capable Guyton and Smith work and execute when it matters. Fail, and we have ourselves another long day like in Carolina.
(2025 Stats: 274 Total Snaps, 172 Pass Blocks, 10 Pressures, 3 QB Hits, 0 Sacks, 0 Penalties)
Last week was, by Hoffman’s standard, a clunker. The symptoms were all the things a center can’t put on film at once. We saw late protection identifications that put the slide in the wrong place, a couple of leaky A-gaps when power hit straight at him, and some poor communication on twists that turned routine four-man looks into easy reps for Carolina. It wasn’t one disaster play so much as a handful of small losses that stacked up and put the offense behind the sticks.
The problem is all of Hoffman’s mistakes last week matters...
