The Dallas Cowboys are coming off a 43-3 demolition of the Atlanta Falcons and occupy the top spot in the NFC East Division at 7-2. Despite the Cowboys' success in the first half of the season, there are still some kinks to iron out.

Penalties have been an issue for the Cowboys, particularly in the trenches. Offensive lineman Connor Williams has been one of the main culprits in terms of committing violations. He has already been flagged 13 times this season, 10 of which have been accepted. To put that in perspective, Jedrick Wills led the NFL with 11 penalties last season. Across nine games, Williams is just one shy of that tally.

Per Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News, Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy addressed the struggles of the 24-year-old left guard.

“Connor clearly understands the way he performed. We have a very competitive offensive line room, so we’ll see what the future brings,” McCarthy said.

Williams was flagged three times during the Cowboys' game against the Falcons. While he didn't hinder the team from earning a victory, it's still extremely concerning to see the reckless pace at which he's racking up penalties. Eight of his 10 penalties this season have been for holding. In total, Williams has cost Dallas 110 yards in penalties. That's 30 yards more than the next highest player in the league.

The former second-round pick isn't the only Cowboy getting flagged too frequently. Star cornerback Trevon Diggs ranks fourth in the NFL with eight penalties, and offensive tackle Terence Steele has six. No one else on the team has more than five penalties.

If the Cowboys are serious about contending for the Super Bowl this year, they need to clean up the play of their offensive line. Whether McCarthy elects to continue utilizing Williams remains to be seen, but the volume of penalties he's surrendered is inexcusable.