Under new head coach Brian Schottenheimer, the Dallas Cowboys will be known for playing tough, physical football, something the franchise hasn't always been.
But in order to do that, both lines have to be strong, and the Cowboys have set out this offseason to strengthen both, with Tyler Booker and Donovan Ezeiruaku being drafted, while Dante Fowler Jr., Soloman Thomas, and Payton Turner signed in free agency.
So there is a clear directive that the Cowboys wanted to get bigger and better at running the football and stopping the run, which has been a big issue over the years.
And for Pro Football Focus, their biggest takeaway from Dallas' offseason has been how much focus has gone into getting better in the trenches.
"While the order of selections may have raised some eyebrows, there’s little doubt that Dallas strengthened both sides of the line of scrimmage with its first two draft picks: Tyler Booker and Donovan Ezeiruaku," PFF wrote. "Booker, who earned the fourth-best true pass-blocking grade in the nation last season, should immediately compete for a starting guard spot and help solidify the interior protection.
"Ezeiruaku, ranked 16th on PFF’s big board, brings both pedigree and production to the edge opposite Micah Parsons. He was the only edge defender in the FBS to post a run-defense grade of 80.0 or higher in each of the past three seasons."
Booker will start at right guard, while Ezeiruaku is currently seen as a top-of-the-rotation player. Micah Parsons and Dante Fowler Jr. are ahead of him, possibly Sam Williams and Marshawn Kneeland, too.
So the way forward under Schottenheimer is clear, and with a group of running backs in Miles Sanders, Javonte Williams, and the drafted Jaydon Blue, the Cowboys want to return to playing smash-mouth football, and their moves this offseason point to that.
This isn't a faze, this is how Schottenheimer wants his team to play, and as we know, the key to winning games in the NFL is dominating at the line of scrimmage, and Dallas, in 2025, will be all gas, no brakes in making sure it is on the winning side more often than not.
