Dallas Cowboys: 3 Players primed to break out in 2018

LOS ANGELES, CA - AUGUST 12: Taco Charlton #97 of the Dallas Cowboys celebrates his sack of quaterback Sean Mannion #13 of the Los Angeles Rams during the preseason game against the Los Angeles Rams at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on August 12, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /

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ARLINGTON, TX – NOVEMBER 19: La’el Collins #71 of the Dallas Cowboys protects Dak Prescott #4 of the Dallas Cowboys who looks to pass int he first quarter of a football game against the Philadelphia Eagles at AT&T Stadium on November 19, 2017 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /

La’el Collins shuts down pass rushers

The Cowboys struggled along their offensive line due to injury and position changes. Last year, third year offensive lineman La’el Collins moved from left guard to right tackle. As a result, both positions suffered from some instability as Collins struggled to adjust to playing outside and left guard became a merry-go-round of players.

But the Cowboys took to resolving these issue this offseason. They brought in Cameron Fleming to stabilize the tackle position as a swing tackle. The also spent their second round pick on University of Texas tackle Connor Williams, presumably with plans to play him at left guard.

This leaves now fourth year offensive lineman La’el Collins to get comfortable at right tackle. Last season, Collins struggled at times with is drops. He was unable to keep up the pace to meet the defender at the point of attack in the proper stance with the proper position. This severely hurt him in pass rushing situations.

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But an off season of training exclusively to play right tackle will pay off. He can spend an entire off season working on drops, proper angles and blocking on the edge of the offensive line. Year two will show marked improvement establishing him as a valuable member of a very good offensive line group.

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