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Dallas Cowboys: Breaking down the 2019 offensive line depth chart

By Randy Gurzi

SEATTLE, WA - SEPTEMBER 23: Tyron Smith #77 of the Dallas Cowboys and teammates take the field prior to taking on the Seattle Seahawks during their game at CenturyLink Field on September 23, 2018 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WA - SEPTEMBER 23: Tyron Smith #77 of the Dallas Cowboys and teammates take the field prior to taking on the Seattle Seahawks during their game at CenturyLink Field on September 23, 2018 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images) /
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ARLINGTON, TEXAS – NOVEMBER 29: Head coach Jason Garrett of the Dallas Cowboys waits to greet players as they come out of the tunnel before the game against the New Orleans Saints at AT&T Stadium on November 29, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TEXAS – NOVEMBER 29: Head coach Jason Garrett of the Dallas Cowboys waits to greet players as they come out of the tunnel before the game against the New Orleans Saints at AT&T Stadium on November 29, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images) /

The Dallas Cowboys have built their offense around the five guys up front. Here is a look at the depth chart for that offensive line as they prepare for the 2019 season.

When Jason Garrett was named the permanent head coach of the Dallas Cowboys in the 2011 offseason, he shared a vision for the team he wanted to build. Garrett recalled the dominant team from the 1990s that he was a part of.

The former backup quarterback out of Princeton remembered a Dallas dynasty that was a force up front. Their massive offensive line controlled the pace of the game and opened many holes for running back Emmitt Smith ‚— who ended up being the NFL’s all-time leading rusher when all was said and done.

Garrett wanted to re-create this style of offense and got to work right away. In 2011, they drafted USC tackle Tyron Smith who has turned into one of the better left tackles in the game. He was the first of three linemen drafted in the first round over the next four seasons, as Garrett put his stamp on this team.

More. Breaking down the Cowboys TEs. light

With this line intact, the Cowboys have now seen two players finish first in the NFL in rushing yards, with one doing so two times. DeMarco Murray was the first to accomplish this feat as he had a career-high 1,845 yards in 2014. He left in free agency the following offseason, and the line showed their dominance by helping Darren McFadden have a career-year as he put up 1,089 yards while starting just 10 games.

McFadden was a one-year replacement though, as Dallas used the No. 4 overall pick in 2016 on Ezekiel Elliott. The former Ohio State star excelled behind this massive line, rushing for an NFL-best 1,631 yards as a rookie. He again led the league in 2018 with 1,434 yards and it very well could have been three seasons in a row had it not been for a six-game suspension in 2017.

On top of their ability to help the running back, this line often gives their quarterback all day to throw, which was huge for Dak Prescott in 2016 as the rookie fourth-round pick was forced into action early due to a Tony Romo injury. With all that being said, we look at how the Cowboys offensive line shapes up ahead of the 2019 season, starting with the two tackles.

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