Dallas Cowboys Draft: Position by position breakdown (offense)
By John Herndon
John Michael Schmitz – C
During his four-year tenure in Minnesota, John Michael Schmitz been a steady force at the center of the offensive line, and was an integral part of offensive coordinator Kirk Ciarrocca’s balanced approach.
With power generated from his lower body, he can move defenders away from the play and angle his hips to seal off running lanes. His hands are always active in pass protection. Nasty and mean.
He excels in run blocking. Very competitive and violent while looking for work. His wrestling background shows up often.
One of the primary challenges he will to overcome as he transitions to the NFL is his tendency to be off-balance when dealing with interior linemen who possess greater speed. With proper NFL coaching this can be easily corrected.
During his time at Minnesota, he only played center. Never made a snap from either guard or tackle. While I’m not implying he isn’t able, this should be noted.
Steve Avila – C/OG/OT
Steve Avila is a big blocker who absorbs the rush of defenders the moment they make contact. He’s all about raw power. He has hands so heavy they might as well be anvils.
Last season he was the best at dealing with Mazi Smith and Jalen Carter that I witnessed. Extremely competitive and has a fiery temperament that coaches love.
When he takes hold of you, it’s clear how strong he is at run-blocking. That’s it. He is much more agile than people give him credit for. Constantly searching for defenders to destroy and plays the game with an attitude.
Extremely disciplined. Not a single holding penalty was assessed against him in 2022.
Other than left tackle, he started at least one game at four different offensive line positions over the last three seasons.
In 2022, his position changed from center to left guard. He offers incredible position flexibility. He managed to go without giving up a sack in 2022.
He can fit any scheme. Day one starter.
Ricky Stromberg – C/OG
Ricky Stromberg is a destructive force in the ground game. He never stops searching for work, always keeping an eye out for defenders. He is proficient at passing protection, planting himself with a solid stance to use as a reliable foundation.
Stromberg’s football intelligence is remarkable. His job at center is to make sure everybody on the offensive line is in the correct spot by talking to them.
Arkansas center’s strength and game knowledge allow him to play many positions. His ability to play guard positions, besides his experience playing center, made him a splendid choice in the 4th round.
Joe Tippmann – C
Joe Tippman is a versatile interior lineman with starting potential. Classic Wisconsin offensive lineman with his size and raw strength.
want to cover myself at center but I want to create competition at the position, too. Tippman can flex over to either guard spot, too.
He has to work on his balance while playing. He moves well while creating holes in the running game.
Atonio Mafi – OG
Atonio Mafi possesses a large body with a balanced build that gives them the strength to knock people off their feet with heavy hand strikes.
He’ is always looking for work. He gets after defenders with an intense competitive nature for combat.
Achieved a school record of 56 games played during his career, playing both left and right guard.
He has a lot of potential, and there’s lots to be proud of in his game, but there’s still lots of room for improvement. Having raw power, fleet feet, and a combative nature is a great foundation.
It is not my place to decide how far someone can go, but this is certainly a player with potential.
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