When the Cowboys and Jets line up for the regular season opener on Sunday night, Dallas will have two rookies, in left guard Bill Nagy and right tackle Tyron Smith, starting along the offensive line. At center will be Phil Costa, a second-year guy who was just last week named the starter, after the release of five-time Pro Bowler Andre Gurode.
It’s a young group, and as Josh Alper pointed out earlier, Sunday night will represent a baptism by fire as they line up opposite Rex Ryan’s defense--you know, the one that’s carried the team to two consecutive AFC Championship games.
On Wednesday, Ryan was asked how he’d feel if he were in Jason Garrett’s place.
"Well against our defense, I'd be nervous," Ryan said, per the Dallas Morning News. "There's no question."
Considering the degree of experience on the line, or lack thereof, Ryan has an idea what his defense might see come Sunday.
"We look at it, we're expecting, it's no great surprise, we're expecting more screens and all that," Ryan said. "You have three new starters in the offensive line and a shorter passer game and all that. I don't mind saying what we expect. I think it's pretty obvious."
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