3 distinct advantages Commanders have over the Cowboys in 2022
By Jerry Trotta
2. Offensive Line
The Cowboys boasted one of the league’s fiercest offensive lines for several years, but the tide has indeed turned.
Tyron Smith is still a bookend left tackle, but he hasn’t played a full season since 2015 (!). Speaking of which, Dallas just drafted his replacement in Tulsa product Tyler Smith, whose projected to start at left guard in Week 1. In reality, the Cowboys’ only stalwart lineman is Zack Martin, who’s a likely future Hall of Famer.
Besides him, Dallas has major questions at center (Tyler Biadasz) and right tackle following the departure of La’el Collins, as well as LG. And if the elder Smith misses time, the Cowboys will be in quite the pickle due to their lack of depth.
The Commanders, on the other hand, should be expected to have one of the league’s dominant — and underrated — lines once again. Losing Brandon Scherff is a big blow, but veteran Trai Turner, a five-time Pro Bowler, brings year of experience to RG and former All-Pro Andrew Norwell replaces Ereck Flowers at LG.
With the ever-consistent Charles Leno manning left tackle, Chase Roullier, who doesn’t get enough recognition as one of the game’s best centers, expected to return from his gruesome leg injury, a budding stud at RT in Sam Cosmi and two elite backups in Wes Schweitzer and Cornelius Lucas, Washington’s offensive line, at least on paper, is markedly better than Dallas’ for the second year running.