Packers-Cowboys Q&A: Tyron Smith’s absence impacting Dallas

On Sunday, the Green Bay Packers travel to Jerry World to take on the Dallas Cowboys. David Halprin of Blogging the Boys kindly volunteered to answer our questions about the Cowboys and provide some insight into their strengths and weaknesses.

APC: According to media reports, Cowboys All-Pro left tackle Tyron Smith will miss Sunday’s game against the Packers. How does his absence affect Dallas’ offense and how will the team attempt to replace him?

It’s got to affect them to some extent because Smith was playing as well as he has in a few years when injuries to his back among other things were slowing him down. He was looking like a dominant left tackle again and that was great to see, but you can’t replace him and not expect at least some drop off. Fortunately the Cowboys have a player who did well in Smith’s absence in 2018. Cam Fleming spent some years with the New England Patriots and even started for a time on a Super Bowl winning team. He has experience and he played for the Cowboys last year and was productive.

Still, if I was Green Bay I would test him early and often with stunts, blitzes and overloads just to see where he’s at because at the other tackle spot La’el Collins has been phenomenal. Smith is a very athletic left tackle who had the ability to get out in space and make blocks, you could use him in multiple ways, but with Fleming they will probably keep him close to home and not try to do too much.

We’d like to thank David. As always, keep your internet machines tuned to Acme Packing Company this Sunday for our comprehensive game-day coverage of Packers versus Cowboys.