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Cowboys offensive line has a chance to do something they havenât in a while
TL;DR
The Dallas Cowboys may start the same five offensive linemen for consecutive season openers for the first time since 2014-2015. This marks a significant change from their recent history of frequent lineup changes due to injuries and roster shifts.
Key points
- Dallas Cowboys may start the same five offensive linemen for consecutive seasons.
- Last occurrence of this was in 2014 and 2015.
- Current starters include Tyler Guyton, Tyler Smith, Cooper Beebe, Tyler Booker, and Terence Steele.
- The team has faced instability due to injuries and roster changes.
- The Great Wall of Dallas also dealt with constant personnel changes.
The Dallas Cowboys are on the verge of pulling off a surprisingly rare feat. For the first time in what feels like an eternity, the team has a legitimate shot at returning the exact same five starting offensive linemen for two consecutive season openers. This is a massive shift from the recent trend of rookie additions and constant shuffling that has made the starting lineup look a revolving door of fresh faces and shifting roles. With no foreseeable shakeups to the starting offensive line, the Cowboys stand a chance of rolling out the same usual suspects again this season, featuring LT Tyler Guyton, LG Tyler Smith, C Cooper Beebe, RG Tyler Booker, and RT Terence Steele.
It is genuinely hard to wrap your head around how rare this level of continuity is for this franchise. You have to go all the way back to the 2014 and 2015 seasons to find the last time the same five guys trotted out for the start of back-to-back years. That group featured LT Tyron Smith, LG Ronald Leary, C Travis Frederick, RG Zack Martin, and RT Doug Free. And even that moment of stability was fleeting. Ronald Leary didnât even make it through the 2015 season opener before an injury forced him out, paving the way for a young rookie named Laâel Collins to step in. Even when they think they have it all figured out, the injury bug can show up and bite them.
Trying to find another instance of back-to-back Week 1 stability leads you down a rabbit hole that honestly doesnât seem to end anywhere. After digging through archives and scrolling back as far as 1980, it became clear that this just does not happen in Dallas. Even the legendary Great Wall of Dallas, which everyone remembers as a brick wall of consistency during the Super Bowl years of the â90s, dealt with constant personnel changes. Whether it was a departure in free agency or a training camp battle, someone was always stepping up to fill a new hole in the line.
The reasons for this 45+ year potpourri of linemen are as varied as they are heartbreaking. In 1994, the team lost one of its most dominant forces when Erik Williams was involved in a near-fatal car accident. The physical toll of that crash forced him into retirement, ending what could have been a much longer run of dominance for that specific unit. It was a sobering reminder of how quickly a sure thing can disappear.
The team came close in 2008, but the health issues struck again. Kyle Kosier was set to return to his spot at left guard until a preseason game changed everything. He suffered a hairline fracture in his foot, which sidelined him for the season opener and ruined any chance of the group staying identical to the previous year.
Q&A
When was the last time the Cowboys had the same offensive line for back-to-back seasons?
The last time the Cowboys had the same five offensive linemen for consecutive season openers was in 2014 and 2015.
Who are the current starting offensive linemen for the Cowboys?
The current starting offensive linemen for the Cowboys are LT Tyler Guyton, LG Tyler Smith, C Cooper Beebe, RG Tyler Booker, and RT Terence Steele.
What factors have contributed to the Cowboys' offensive line instability over the years?
Factors contributing to the Cowboys' offensive line instability include injuries, free agency departures, and constant roster changes since 1980.
What historical significance does the Cowboys' offensive line have?
The Cowboys' offensive line, known as the Great Wall of Dallas, was historically significant during the Super Bowl years of the '90s but faced constant personnel changes.
