Zack Martin will start at RT, Terence Steele benched vs Vikings

The excuses have finally run out. After clamoring for weeks that the Dallas Cowboys need to glean more information about the possibilities along the offensive line, Mike McCarthy has heeded the calls. All-Pro right guard Zack Martin will make his first professional start at right tackle on Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings.

The move will send UDFA signing and rookie Terence Steele back to a reserve role. Steele had started the first nine games of the season, missing half the snaps due to injury in Week 3 against Seattle. Martin was moved over to finish the game in his first snaps at tackle in the pros. Cam Erving will start for the second straight week at left tackle.

Filling in for Martin at right guard will be second-year pro Connor McGovern, a third-round pick in the 2019 draft. McGovern played the majority of snaps at right guard in Week 6 when Martin was injured, and started the following week. He’ll now get his second career start.

McGovern will be lining up next to Joe Looney, who is starting again after rookie center Tyler Biadasz hurt his hamstring prior to the Week 9 loss before the bye week. BIadasz was just placed on IR this Friday, meaning Looney will start for at least the next three games.

The lone recurring player this season has been left guard Connor Williams, who will start his 10th consecutive game this season.

The shuffle has been begged for by certain factions of the media and fanbase, including on our Catch This Fade! podcast. With the season lost, it simply makes the most sense for the Cowboys to try and gather as much information as possible for potential OL configurations in 2021.

(Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)

Until he announces otherwise, left tackle Tyron Smith is a retirement concern after a serious neck injury resulted in surgery this season. Smith has missed three games in each of the last four seasons, and now suited up for just 2 of 16 in 2020. If he retires, Dallas needs to know whether or not a combination of Martin on the edge and McGovern inside is something that would allow them to avoid drafting an offensive lineman high in the 2021 draft.

There was no point in having Steele, who has shown an inability to run or pass block at a professional level, to get snaps that hinder gathering that intel.

Martin, who was a left tackle through his collegiate career at Notre Dame, looked good as expected in his short stint at right tackle earlier in the year. The six-time All-Pro is a future Hall of Famer.

Even if the club doesn’t need to replace Smith, Martin flexibility in-game and a readiness by McGovern could also enter into how the club plans their offensive line depth. The previous coaching regime did not want to move OL pieces around when injury occurred and it appeared new head coach Mike McCarthy was following those footsteps.

Now, with a bye week’s worth of practice time, it appears he’s more comfortable with the move. Also, the last two opponents, the Philadelphia Eagles and Pittsburgh Steelers, had two of the more formidable defensive interiors in the league. Martin was probably a better help on the inside.

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