The Dallas Cowboys coaching staff is in state of flux. With the entire 2024 staff no longer under contract, all are free to pursue opportunities elsewhere. Who the Cowboys bring in as replacement coaches is anyone’s guess at this point. Jerry Jones is playing things close to the vest and everyday seems to feature a new headline grabbing frontrunner.

The head coaching position deservedly draws the most attention from fans and media. He’s the figurehead on top of the coaching pyramid and likely the first domino to fall. Offensive and defensive coordinator spots have been getting their fair share of attention as well. They’re often the play callers and provide the details on their respective side of the ball so those positions are pivotal. But there’s a position coaching position that carries just as much importance as those coordinator spots and that coach isn’t getting nearly enough attention in Cowboys Nation right now; offensive line coach.

No position coach is more important to Dallas this offseason than that of the offensive line coach. It’s a position coach that directly impacts both phases of the game on offense. A good offensive line keeps the quarterback upright and healthy, and the defense off the field and fresh. It’s historically been the identity of the Cowboys’ offense, and it should be no surprise the vast majority of playoff teams this winter rank highly in offensive line play.

The Cowboys have invested significantly in the offensive line the past few years, using high draft picks and signing young players to big deals. If Zack Martin retires or leaves this offseason like many suggest, the oldest starting lineman on the team will be just 27 years old. Getting a good teacher and a proper scheme in place is critical to their development.

For the last two seasons it was Mike Solari leading the unit. Solari came with a bit of a checkered past and never truly overcame that reputation in his two years in Dallas. Cooper Beebe, the Cowboys new rookie center, did well under Solari, but Tyler Guyton, Beebe’s rookie counterpart, struggled immensely at left tackle. The unit, as a whole, was dangerously poor in pass protection and it wasn’t until later in the season when they started to click as run blockers.

The man before Solari was Joe Philbin. Philbin had a special way of doing things and if a player fit his profile, Philbin was great. But even he let players slip through the cracks. Credited with developing Terence Steele, Philbin hit gold when he turned an undrafted rookie into a starting offensive tackle. Steele has struggled in the years since Philbin and the right tackle now faces a premature contract termination this offseason.

The Cowboys interior offensive line looks solid heading into 2025, even if Martin leaves, but the two bookends at OT are anything but solid. Finding a coach who can develop viable linemen at tackle is critical to the Cowboys’ future. Neither of Dallas’ expected starters played well in 2024 with Guyton grading 73rd out of 81 and Steele grading 43rd out of 81. If a new coach can get these players to discover their potential, he will be worth his weight in gold.

The fastest way for the Cowboys offense to return to dominance is with the offensive line. Finding a coach who can develop Dallas’ young players, run a scheme that fits with the unit’s talents, and grow the line into a position of strength, is every bit as important as finding the right offensive or defensive coordinator.

Related articles

[affiliatewidget_smgtolocal]