Each week, we’re digging into the trenches, offense and protection, as a result of that’s the place the true motion occurs. On this installment, we’re shining a highlight on the offensive line, who’s holding it down, who’s opening holes for the working backs, and who’s holding Dak Prescott clear. Let’s get to it.
(2025 Stats: 540 Complete Snaps, 356 Go Blocks, 29 Pressures, 6 QB Hits, 2 Sacks, 5 Penalties)
The Las Vegas Raiders’ defensive entrance is constructed round Maxx Crosby’s relentless, scheme-proof manufacturing. Crosby sits first amongst edge defenders in run-stop win price (38%) and within the top-15 in pass-rush win price (17%), which implies Guyton will see a defender who wins each on early downs and when it’s time to hunt the quarterback. Las Vegas sits proper at league common in pass-rush win price, rating seventeenth (37%), and far may be mentioned the identical in opposition to the run the place they rank fifteenth.
Tyler Guyton’s particular person card is encouraging. He’s sixteenth amongst offensive tackles in pass-block win price at 93% and tenth in run-block win price at 79%, and the Cowboys’ line as a complete ranks eight in move block win price (67%) and tenth in run block win price (72%). That profile says he’s already sustaining blocks for two.5+ seconds and creating motion on the bottom, precisely what you want in opposition to Crosby’s long-arm-to-inside-counter sport.
The issue for Guyton is the Raiders can simply photocopy the blueprint the Arizona Cardinals laid out throughout the group’s final sport. The need Raiders look to isolate Guyton on true move units and make him deal with a quick, two-way rusher with out fixed assist. Towards the Cardinals they did that to Guyton and he was charged with 4 pressures and a sack allowed. For Guyton, the fixes are technical for this sport. Keep sq. in vertical units to remove Crosby’s inside spin, preserve good hand utilization to disrupt the arm, and at all times preserve his toes set so he can re-anchor when Crosby converts pace to energy. Count on Dallas to combine chips and nudges from the tight finish, however as a result of chips can gradual routes, Guyton nonetheless has to win a excessive share of trustworthy one-on-ones.
(2025 Stats: 547 Complete snaps, 362 Go Blocks, 11 Pressures, 0 QB Hits, 2 Sacks, 7 Penalties)
Tyler Smith’s week is all about dealing with energy inside and chaos exterior. Las Vegas sits within the backside third in blitz price (22.1%) but nonetheless generates a stable 32.8% stress price and 31.3% stress price after they don’t blitz, which implies Patrick Graham is getting house primarily with 4 whereas mixing video games to emphasize guards like Smith in safety.
With Crosby main all edge defenders in run-stop win price and kicking inside on twists, Smith has to maintain his eyes disciplined via stunts and preserve the depth of the pocket flat so Prescott can step up. Las Vegas’ high rushers convey completely different issues. Crosby’s motor and inside counter (5 sacks, 13 TFL) calls for vertical units, Tyree Wilson provides secondary stress and has two sacks together with 17 pressures which is second-most on the group. Plus there’s inside rushers Jonah Laulu, who has 4 sacks, and Adam Butler who has put up 15 complete pressures this 12 months.
On the bottom, the chance is there. Las Vegas is permitting 106.6 speeding yards per sport, that ranks 14th, and ranks simply twenty fifth in defensive sack price, so Smith can tilt this matchup by profitable combo blocks on each Laulu and Fotu, creating clear angles for Dallas’ duo schemes and forcing the Raiders to name extra run suits, which in flip slows down stunts. Smith will attempt to neutralize the Raiders’ four-man stress, preserve Dallas on schedule, and make Las Vegas’ low-blitz strategy play into the Cowboys’ arms.
(2025 Stats: 201 Complete Snaps, 143 Go Blocks, 6 Pressures, 0 QB Hits, 0 Sacks, 0 Penalties)
Again from damage and again within the center, Cooper Beebe returned to the lineup in opposition to the Cardinals and quietly stabilized Dallas’ inside, even because the unit cracked below Arizona’s stress video games. Beebe logged 67 snaps and completed as Dallas’ second-best offensive performer in PFF’s recap, with an 85.5 move blocking grade, permitting zero sacks and nil pressures.
The Raiders don’t blitz a lot as beforehand talked about, preferring to win with 4 whereas twisting and looping the entrance. Even after they don’t ship further our bodies, their rush nonetheless will get house at a median price. For Beebe, which means the week is about speaking together with his two Tyler’s, staying stable within the A-gap when Laulu comes calling, and utilizing agency arms to resist any inside counters. What’s key from Beebe is his slide calls towards Crosby on passing downs, finding him and setting the road is absolute key right here, and the excellent news is Beebe has the imaginative and prescient and soccer IQ to do this.
(2025 Stats: 432 Complete snaps, 288 Go Blocks, 12 Pressures, 4 QB Hits, 1 Sacks, 3 Penalties)
For the in-depth evaluation on Booker, go to BTB’s Rookie Battleground article.
(2025 Stats: 593 Complete snaps, 379 Go Blocks, 25 Pressures, 3 QB Hits, 4 Sacks, 4 Penalties)
So let’s begin with the tough stuff. Steele has allowed 25 complete pressures this season, that’s the eighth-most amongst all offensive tackles within the NFL this season. However right here’s what’s attention-grabbing, he ranks proper under Guyton in move block win price at 93%, and his Complete Disruption Share (which measures the proportion of performs the place a deal with disrupts the defensive participant’s means to make a play) of 35% is without doubt one of the highest amongst offensive tackles this season. Count on Crosby, with assist from Tyree Wilson and Malcolm Koonce, to check Steele’s with fast counters and inside spins to try to stroll the suitable facet again into Dak’s lap.
So the query each fan needs know past the stats and information, is what’s going fallacious for Steele this 12 months? His worst reps are catastrophic, not incremental. The move block win price suggests he holds up for two.5 seconds or extra usually sufficient, however when he loses he’s getting beat clear (Arizona being the perfect instance), which tanks his PFF pass-block grade and drives the benching narrative. Add 4 drive-killing penalties and also you get an image of giant swings of inconsistency with Steele, and that’s an issue.
Ajani Cornelius is the one offensive lineman presently recognized to be carrying any damage points after the bye.
