Jerry Jones wants the offensive line to block better

October, 9, 2012
10/09/12
4:37
PM CT
During his Tuesday morning radio show on KRLD-FM, Cowboys owner/general manager Jerry Jones was asked about his offensive line.

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It's a line that's struggled this season with pass protection and in the run game.

Jones was direct in saying he wants the line to improve and noted he's adding pressure to the interior of the line, Ryan Cook, Nate Livings and Mackenzy Bernadeau, to produce. Jones mentioned backup guard Derrick Dockery and his size, 6-6, 325 pounds, as someone who can also help.

Jones wasn't calling for Dockery to enter the starting lineup, and he won't when the Cowboys take on the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday, but it was clear the owner wants production.

"Our offensive, I'd like to see us more consistent in there," Jones said on KRLD. "We're going to need to be pretty physical, and we can be physical and one thing we got is more size in there and Dockery, we got a player you haven't seen play much. But he's got some big size in there, too."

The Cowboys have rushed for just 271 yards on the season, 31st in the NFL and their 31 attempts is also next to last in the league. What makes you cringe is the Cowboys are tied for 30th in the NFL with just 31 rushes of four or more yards. Despite the success of DeMarco Murray last season and what he produced in the Week 1 victory over the New York Giants, the Cowboys have 14 rushes for negative yards this season, not including kneel downs. In comparison, the Ravens have just six carries going for negative yards.

"So, I'd like to see us just being able to get in there and have movement when we want it in the offensive line rather than zero yard plays or minus yard plays," Jones said. "I'm putting a lot of emphasis on those inside guys and should be but of course you got to have your fullback (Lawrence Vickers) get in there and play well and you got to have our tight ends contribute here, too. I'd like to see us block better up there on some of our running plays both early and on short yardage during the game."
Calvin Watkins joined ESPNDallas.com in September 2009. He's covered the Cowboys since 2006 and also has covered colleges, boxing and high school sports.

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