Changing Cowboys RT La'el Collins' position shouldn't be a conversation
La'el Collins is back with the Dallas Cowboys after serving a five-game suspension from the NFL. His comeback means Head Coach Mike McCarthy will be able to play the team's starting right tackle for just the second game during his time in Dallas. That's right, between the 2020 injury and this year's suspension, Collins has […]
La'el Collins is back with the Dallas Cowboys after serving a five-game suspension from the NFL. His comeback means Head Coach Mike McCarthy will be able to play the team's starting right tackle for just the second game during his time in Dallas. That's right, between the 2020 injury and this year's suspension, Collins has played only one game under Mike McCarthy.
But it appears some fans aren't that convinced about his return to the starting lineup. To that I say, reconsider. Moving Collins inside and leaving Terence Steele shouldn't even be a conversation for the Dallas Cowboys. And it surely isn't.
However, if not taken the correct way, Jerry Jones' comments on 105.3 The Fan raised some eyebrows regarding Collins and Steele's futures on the offensive line.
Especifically, the one line that made many raise an eyebrow was "In my view, of course, you have La'el come in here and that's the way we do it normally is the incumbent does have his position. Now that's not a golden rule," Jerry said before closing his comment with a bow…
"But I would see before we're through having both of them out there quite a bit every game."
Jerry mentioning that's not a golden rule likely means little toward's Collins' job with the team now that he's back. While many have speculated on whether or not he still holds the starting role, Jones probably meant to send a message to La'el after his first career suspension.
Now granted, Terence Steele made one heck of a job during the Dallas Cowboys five-win streak that's made them pull away from the NFC East. If it wasn't for the big #78 on his back, you wouldn't have thought he was the same player the Cowboys played last season in Collins' place.
Not only does the young tackle deserve credit, but the Cowboys coaching staff. They liked what they saw from their undrafted rookie and continued to bet on him one season after everyone was betting against him. Joe Philbin has done a great job with Steele, who's earned the right to be this team's swing tackle.
But Collins is the best right tackle of the two and it certainly isn't even close. Plugging Collins back to the Cowboys OL opens up possibilities for Kellen Moore's unit. Even moving away from "helping" Steele out with scheming and game-planning will help the offense reach its full potential.
As for "having both of them out there?" The Cowboys haven't shied away from using 12 personnel, being one of only five NFL teams to line up in 12 personnel more than 30% of the time. Although adding a sixth tackle to run the football wouldn't classify as 12 personnel, Kellen Moore could explore some heavy packages in special situations. Even if they do so, it would probably not happen "every game."
Catch more thoughts on La'el Collins from Tuesday's episode of A to Z Sports Dallas Primetime!
