Thursday night’s match-up between the Dallas Cowboys and Minnesota Vikings could prove to be the ultimate battle along the line of scrimmage. The Vikings have one of the most physically imposing defensive lines in the NFL. However, the Cowboys boast the best front five in football. The thought of these two groups of behemoths smashing into each other on every offensive play for the Cowboys, is enough to send chills up a die-hard fan’s spine.
Battle in the Trenches: Dallas Cowboys and Minnesota Vikings
Center Travis Frederick vs Nose Tackle Linval Joseph
Travis Frederick has become a crafty veteran over past four seasons. His get-off, which refers to a player’s ability to move forward and/or laterally at the snap of the ball, has given him an advantage against most of his opponents. Frederick is the man responsible for snapping the ball, therefore, he knows the snap count. This gives him the edge against almost anybody he faces.
His ability to release the ball to quarterback Dak Prescott and get quality, hand-placement against interior linemen has proven invaluable to the Cowboys success thus far. Once Frederick has his hands on you, his feet follow. This enables him to create lanes for running back Ezekiel Elliott and also allows him to get up to second level where he can pick off linebackers on running plays.
At 6’4” 329 pounds, former New York Giants nose tackle Linval Joseph stands eye to eye with Frederick but outweighs him by 11 pounds. Joseph is a squatty-body who usually plays as a one-technique, shaded between the center and either of the guards. His primary responsibility is to control the A gaps on either side of the center. Joseph has not overwhelmed anyone, but he has made steady contributions to the number three ranked defense in the league in yards allowed.
He has recorded three sacks and forced is two fumbles through 11 games. His strength and girth will be a factor at certain points in the game. Joseph doesn’t possess the quickness to beat Frederick to the punch. He will have a hard time overpowering Frederick. The Vikings will likely use several blitzes and line stunts to create congestion on the interior, but that’s what everyone has done this season.
Edge: Frederick
Guards Ronald Leary and Zack Martin vs Defensive Tackle Shamar Stephen
Ronald Leary began the season as the backup to second year player La’el Collins, but injury forced him back into the lineup. Leary was an integral part of the offensive line group that helped former Dallas running back Demarco Murray lead the league in rushing back in 2014. He had also asked to be traded during the off-season, which Jerry Jones refused to accommodate. At 6’3” 320 pounds the fourth year pro has proven his worth and then some. Not many people understand how much the Cowboys offensive line has improved since he became a starter. Leary’s experience has made him much more valuable. He is not the most athletic of the bunch, but he makes up for his lack of athleticism with sheer nastiness. Leary imposes his will on anyone he faces and he usually does it for four quarters. This is going to be tough match up for Vikings defensive tackle Stephen. If Leary does not beat him off the snap, he will surely work his entire body into position to gain the upper hand before the whistle blows.
Zack Martin has become a specimen as an offensive lineman. He goes about his business on game day, dominating his opponent most of the time. His strength is his quickness. However, his footwork and his arm length allow him to provide a stunning punch at the snap. Martin’s initial punch stuns even the burliest of defensive linemen. They often appear shocked by the player’s strength and agility.
Martin is not the biggest of the group, but his intangibles have proven invaluable as the youngster continues to shine in a league of giants. At 6’4” 310 pounds, Martin utilizes every inch he can gain on almost every snap. He rarely gets pushed back into the backfield. In fact, he often drives his opponent a few yards up the field, creating collisions with pursuing defenders.
Both guards’ ability to pick up the blitz in an almost flawless manner, gives Prescott the time he needs to find open receivers or scramble out of the pocket. The Vikings will surely stack the box, challenging the quarterback to beat them with his arm. This could bode well for the team with the best record in pro football.
Defensive tackle Shamar Stephen replaces starter Sharrif Floyd due to injury. Stephen has recorded 24 tackles on the season, but his true impact is felt when he lines up as the three-technique, shaded between the guard and tackle on either side of the center. His responsibility is to clog up the C gap, forcing double-teams and tying up blockers to free up scraping linebackers.
He has done a good job thus far, but he lacks play-making skills. His performance has not prevented his team from falling to 5-6 on the season. At 6’5” 310 pounds, he is lean and quick, but he lacks the strength to deal with either of the Cowboys guards. Leary will use his wisdom against the third-year player early then overwhelm him with brute strength as the game rolls along. Martin will continue his ho-hum approach and dominate this player for the majority of the Cowboys offensive plays.
Edge: Leary and Martin
Tackles Tyron Smith and Doug Free vs. Ends Brian Robison and Everson Griffen
Tyron Smith is the clear-cut monster of the Cowboys offensive line. The length of his arms is otherworldly and the power that swells inside of those arms is punishing. At 6’5” 320 pounds, Smith’s body looks as if it were sculptured to be an offensive lineman. His calm demeanor leaves defenders scratching their heads. Smith is a six-year veteran who has been at the top of his game since his career began.
He wins more battles than he loses. Expect this trend to continue against the Vikings. He may commit a holding penalty or two, even a false start, but he will show up. Smith has learned a few tricks of the trade. He has the quickness to recover in the event that a slick defender gets a jump on him at the snap. Maybe, the most impressive thing about Smith is his competitive nature. He looks as if he wants to win every single battle over 60 minutes then he can be seen standing at his locker sharing a laugh with his teammates afterwards.
Ten-year veteran, Doug Free is the elder statesman of the group. Despite being considered the weak link on the Cowboys offensive line, Free is a grinder. He presses up against his opponent the entire game, pulling no punches. His mission appears to be to physically destroy anyone who lines up across from him. Free doesn’t have the lateral footwork or quickness to stay in front of faster defensive ends. He makes up for it with his power, though. If Free gets his hands on the defensive lineman in front of him, he will wash him like a window.
Brian Robison is the undersized veteran on the Vikings defensive line. At 6’3” 259 pounds, the ten-year veteran has proven to be extremely durable throughout his career. He is also a consistent play-maker. Robison does not make a lot of tackles, but he has five sacks and two forced fumbles this season. He will use his speed to gain the advantage against the Cowboys tackles and should be successful in passing situations. Where he is going to have trouble is in the running game. He has only collected 19 tackles in 11 games and is easily moved by gargantuan offensive tackles.
Seven-year veteran Everson Griffen is little bit wider than his counterpart. He is 6’3” but weighs 273 pounds enabling him to handle more of the physical play in the trenches. He is a team captain and leads the defensive line with six sacks, this season. Do not expect him to slow down. He will make his fair share of plays in the game. Griffen is a smart player with an explosive first step. He has the strength to handle his own against many offensive lineman. Unfortunately, attrition will play a huge role in this game.
Edge: Smith and Free
Overall the offensive line is an area of strength for this year’s Cowboys team. Minnesota does have a tenacious group of defenders ranked in the top ten in several defensive categories. This should be a riveting battle between two physical units who are hungry for success.
