FRISCO, Texas – Offensive lineman are often under-appreciated players on a football field. Eyes are drawn to a running back getting past a defender with a clear shot to the end zone or a wide receiver creating separation from a corner on a route making a crazy catch. But those plays would not be possible without the men up front paving the way. Tyron Smith and Zack Martin are two of the NFL’s such individuals that did so with an inconsistent lineup throughout the season due to injury.
Dallas ranked eighth in the league with 27 drives of five-plus minutes and eighth in time of possession at 31:00 per-game. Smith and Martin were staples in the Cowboys’ offensive line, providing the way for the Cowboys to rush for 122.7 yards-per-game ranked 10th in the league, with 61 rushes of 10-plus yards ranked 7th. These two veterans secured the line and Ezekiel Elliott earning the 2018 rushing title with 1,434 yards, recognized their premiere performance. That feat is a direct representation of Smith and Martin’s ability to win the battle at the line of scrimmage to open up holes and running lanes for the offense’s star rusher. Thankfully, the NFL has a Pro Bowl to praise players from every position for their outstanding achievements.
Smith was named to his sixth consecutive Pro Bowl following the 2018 season, tied with Rayfield Wright for the most Pro Bowl selections by a Cowboys’ tackle. Smith played the most passing snaps at tackle with 489 and did not allow a sack in 2018. He is one-of-two tackles to not allow a sack during the season. He also allowed the fewest number of QB pressures among all tackles in 2018, with only 15 given up in 2018, per Pro Football Focus.
Martin was named to his fifth consecutive Pro Bowl in 2018, which trails only Larry Allen with nine, Nate Newton with six, and John Niland with six for Pro Bowl selections among guards in Cowboys’ history. Martin has been on the NFC’s Pro Bowl roster every year he has been in the league since his start in 2014. He was not flagged for a single holding penalty this season, and he led a front that enabled Dak Prescott to have an average of 2.86 seconds to throw the football in the pocket, sixth-best in the league, per Pro Football Focus.
These two are the unsung heroes of the Cowboys’ offense. The next time Zeke breaks for a long run or Dak delivers a perfect deep pass from the pocket, just remember these guys up front that did the work to make the play possible. They deserve just as much of the credit.
