In a disheartening game for the Dallas Cowboys, right guard Zack Martin experienced a rare off day against the Detroit Lions. The future Hall of Famer posted a disappointing overall grade of 28.3, marking the lowest performance of his illustrious career according to Pro Football Focus.
Martin’s struggles were especially evident in pass protection, where he earned a shocking grade of 0.0. He allowed seven pressures during the 47-9 defeat, tying for the fourth-most pressures given up by an interior offensive lineman this season.
Lions DT Alim McNeill had four pressures in 8 one-on-one pass rushes against Cowboys RG Zack Martin, per NFL Pro.
That was the first time Martin has allowed 3+ pressures to an individual pass rusher in a game since 2021. He was clearly frustrated after allowing this sack. pic.twitter.com/MORK8RF4bh
— Joseph Hoyt (@JoeJHoyt) October 14, 2024
Despite being widely regarded as one of the NFL’s top offensive linemen, Martin’s performance was just one of many issues plaguing the Cowboys on Sunday. Head Coach Mike McCarthy implemented changes to the offensive line before the game, shifting Tyler Smith to left tackle and starting T.J. Bass, which meant rookie Tyler Guyton was sidelined from the starting lineup for the first time this season.
Unfortunately, the reshuffled offensive line did little to protect quarterback Dak Prescott, who was hit 11 times and sacked four times during the game. With the team struggling to find its footing, the Cowboys now face critical questions about their offensive line as they head into their bye week.
