Looking for a way to shake up a lethargic offense, the Dallas Cowboys have dramatically scrambled what was supposed to be the most stable component of the unit, making three line switches for Sunday's game at St. Louis.

Left guard Larry Allen, one of the game's most dominating blockers but a player some insist is demonstrating evidence of decline, will move to right tackle. Right guard Kelvin Garmon, who has been bothered by knee woes in the first three weeks, goes to left guard. And right tackle Solomon Page will slide inside to right guard.

"It's a lot to digest," Page said. "You're used to seeing one move. Two is unusual. Three is a ton, you know? But we'll make it work."

The musical chairs machinations leave only left tackle Flozell Adams and rookie center Andre Gurode in the positions where they started the season. Gurode sprained his left knee in Wednesday's practice but is expected to be able to start on Sunday. If he can't, the second-round draft selection will be replaced in the lineup by Matt Lehr.

The wholesale reconfiguration of the unit was something that new offensive line coach Frank Verducci considered in the offseason, and again in camp, but decided against it at the time. But when Garmon aggravated a knee sprain in last week's loss at Philadelphia, and Page moved to guard and performed well there, Verducci revisited the concept.

He is confident the new look, while arguably a gamble, will enhance the abilities of the players involved. And he feels it will serve as a catalyst for an offense that has been spasmodic through a 1-2 start. He noted, for instance, that the switch of Allen to tackle will permit the perennial Pro Bowl player to do more one-on-one blocking, his longtime forte.

Allen has played tackle in the past, although usually on the left side, but has been receptive to the change.

"Whatever gets us going," Allen said.

While the changes were aimed at improvement in 2002, the shuffle also was completed with an eye on the long term, since the Cowboys could lose two starters next spring. Adams and Page are both eligible for unrestricted free agency and Dallas probably can't afford to keep both of them.

In addition, Allen is being paid tackle-level money, with the club having signed him to a six-year, $37 million extension this spring. The deal included a signing bonus of $12.35 million.

Len Pasquarelli is a senior writer for ESPN.com.