![]() ![]() Only Tom Brady is getting the ball out quicker. But this is more of a result of him having the second-fastest time from snap to release. So how is the line doing all of this? Over the past two weeks, Rush has faced the fifth-fewest number of quarterback pressures. They did this against a defensive line that a week earlier sacked the Panthers’ Baker Mayfield twice and pressured him 15 times. Free-agent pickup Jason Peters was active for the first time, splitting duties at left guard with Farniok, and the Cowboys allowed no sacks and only four quarterback pressures while paving the way for Elliott and Pollard to rip off 178 rushing yards and average 6.3 yards per carry. It was more of the same in the Monday night win over the Giants. Tyler Smith, Zack Martin, and Terence Steele finished in the top 30 of PFF grading. Yet aside from Farniok, the Dallas front allowed just three quarterback pressures and no sacks. Given what transpired in the opener and that Matt Farniok was making his first NFL start, things didn’t expect to improve much in Week 2 against the Bengals, who, according to PFF, have the fourth-best pass-rushing defense in the league. And then Smith went down with a potential season-ending leg injury during a late-August practice. ![]() Despite the injury history of left tackle Tyron Smith, they did little else to address their issues up front. ROUND THE CLOCK RESTAURANTS FREEThe Cowboys used their first-round draft pick on Tyler Smith, but they also released La’el Collins and let Connor Williams walk in free agency. The line was serviceable in 2021, but Dallas finished 10th in rushing yards per attempt and Prescott faced the sixth-most pressures in the league. And Prescott was injured when he banged the thumb on his throwing hand on a Bucs defender. The front five allowed the sixth-most quarterback pressures in the league that week and provided no room for Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard to run, as the Cowboys mustered only 3.9 yards per rush. Let’s turn back the clock a couple of weeks, when the line was dismantled by the Buccaneers. ![]() But possibly the biggest surprise of the early season has been the performance of the offensive line. Cooper Rush is 2-0 after stepping in for the injured Dak Prescott, and Brett Maher has been a reliable kicker. The Cowboys have already experienced their fair share of surprises. Who saw the Dolphins starting 3-0? Or the Broncos ranking 31st in points after trading for Russell Wilson? Or the Eagles’ Jalen Hurts becoming an early top-three betting favorite for league MVP? One of the more beautiful aspects of football is the uncertainty. ![]()
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