Ron Leary Impresses Against JJ Watt

Leary is quietly putting together an impressive season at left guard

Cowboys left guard Ronald Leary is almost certainly the least heralded member of the offensive line, but he’s spent the first five games of 2014 impressing coaches and teammates.

Leary’s biggest test came last Sunday, when he spent much of the day lined up against all-everything Texans’ defensive end JJ Watt, and he passed with flying colors.

“Ronald really held his own against that whole front, but particularly when JJ Watt matched up against him,” head coach Jason Garrett told the team’s website. “It's not easy, that guy is really a good football player, and arguably as good a defensive player as there is in the league. He hung in there against him, and did a pretty good job anchoring against him. He didn't allow a push in the quarterbacks' face. He competed well. Those downs are not easy, they're hard. They do a good job creating those individual matchups. He hung in there the best he could.”

Leary began impressing coaches early on in training camp. The undrafted free agent out of Memphis won the battle for the starting left guard over Mackenzy Bernadeau, clearing the way for his second straight year as a full-time starter.

“I’ve always been a pretty confident person. J.J. has been one of the greatest defensive players in the game,” Leary said. “Any matchup against him you’re going to take it as a personal challenge. That’s what I did going into the game.”

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