- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 408,554
- Reaction score
- 43
When it comes to the offensive line, the new coaching staff of the Dallas Cowboys seems to be keeping an open mind for 2025. It’s one of the most redeeming qualities of a new staff. New coaches are less entrenched with priors as carryover staffs tend to be. Their openness to change allow a more impartial analysis and with any luck, better results.
The Cowboys have already alluded to possible fluidity on their line when discussing the retirement of Zack Martin. Brock Hoffman, last season’s replacement for Martin, could be the answer. Then again, Cooper Beebe, last season’s starting center, might be the answer instead.
If the Cowboys’ coaching staff is keeping an open mind at center and guard, they might as well keep an open mind at offensive tackle as well because that’s every bit as questionable. Tyler Guyton, the Cowboys' top draft pick in 2024, struggled in nearly every conceivable way at LT last season. Not only was he the inexperienced project player he was billed to be, but he also had a number of focus, discipline and maturity issues that pushed him to the bench late in the season.
Asking a player like this to be the sole protector of Dak Prescott’s blindside in 2025 is reckless without a backup plan. To an openminded coaching staff that backup plan might be Asim Richards. Richards, a fifth-round pick from 2023, took 177 snaps at LT last season (per PFF). He didn’t light the world on fire in limited action but he did log fairly decent pass protection grades. Richards has been a model of professionalism since joining the Cowboys so he at least deserves a chance if Plan A struggles.
No one wants to talk about it, but the Cowboys have a third option at LT as well. Once upon a time Tyler Smith was drafted to be Dallas’ next great LT. The Cowboys wanted to ease him into the spot, starting him at guard and transitioning him outside when the time was right. But injuries forced Dallas to scrap those plans his rookie year and despite barely logging any practice reps at tackle in training camp, Smith took over on the blindside, playing 1,118 snaps there and playing them well.
In his second season he flipped back inside establishing himself as one of the best guards in the league and prompting the Cowboys to pivot their plans for Smith once again. Yet for as dominant as Smith could be as a career LG, if no solution can be found at LT this year, it would be foolish to rule out Smith as a possibility. Smith might not be as good at LT as he is at guard but given the importance of the LT position it’s a move that could be justified. The entire thing would be made possible because a guy named T.J. Bass happens to be waiting in the wings.
Fans will probably remember, Bass was once considered the heir apparent to Martin at RG. The 6-foot-4, 325-pound Oregon product is one of the stronger linemen on the team. He’s been impressive in limited action and may even factor into the mix with Beebe and Hoffman. An openminded coaching staff would know if they have to move Smith to LT, they have a pretty solid option in Bass to take over at LG.
Terence Steele, the starting RT, hasn’t lived up to the expectations of his contract. He has consistently graded as one of the worst pass protectors in the NFL and costs an average of $16,500,000 per season on a contract that runs through 2028. He’s a potential cut next offseason so the new coaching staff shouldn’t feel committed to him or stuck with him if he doesn’t perform up to standards. Richards doesn’t have the snaps on the right side to be seen as a reasonable replacement to Steele at this time, although that may change in training camp if the coaching staff gets curious.
Guyton might also be an option at RT since that was the position he played in college. To be clear, Guyton’s 2024 issues were not related to muscle memory or which side of the line he played, so switching sides isn’t going to fix them. Yet, if he can get the other issues corrected and the Cowboys prefer to play Richards, Smith or even a rookie at LT, Guyton could conceivably be an option at RT.
Ideally everyone falls in line the way the situation was originally scripted. Guyton grows up and grows into a trustworthy LT. Steele, at the very least, maintains for another season and holds down RT. Assuming both have higher ceilings where they are currently situated, Smith and Beebe stay in their same spots as last year. Then either Bass or Hoffman win the RG spot.
But since things are rarely that neat and tidy it’s good to have players with some position flex and coaches with open minds. Does the Cowboys new coaching staff have open enough minds to consider all the possibilities?
This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Dallas Cowboys Pro Bowler Tyler Smith may be asked to play LT in 2025
Continue reading...
The Cowboys have already alluded to possible fluidity on their line when discussing the retirement of Zack Martin. Brock Hoffman, last season’s replacement for Martin, could be the answer. Then again, Cooper Beebe, last season’s starting center, might be the answer instead.
If the Cowboys’ coaching staff is keeping an open mind at center and guard, they might as well keep an open mind at offensive tackle as well because that’s every bit as questionable. Tyler Guyton, the Cowboys' top draft pick in 2024, struggled in nearly every conceivable way at LT last season. Not only was he the inexperienced project player he was billed to be, but he also had a number of focus, discipline and maturity issues that pushed him to the bench late in the season.
Asking a player like this to be the sole protector of Dak Prescott’s blindside in 2025 is reckless without a backup plan. To an openminded coaching staff that backup plan might be Asim Richards. Richards, a fifth-round pick from 2023, took 177 snaps at LT last season (per PFF). He didn’t light the world on fire in limited action but he did log fairly decent pass protection grades. Richards has been a model of professionalism since joining the Cowboys so he at least deserves a chance if Plan A struggles.
No one wants to talk about it, but the Cowboys have a third option at LT as well. Once upon a time Tyler Smith was drafted to be Dallas’ next great LT. The Cowboys wanted to ease him into the spot, starting him at guard and transitioning him outside when the time was right. But injuries forced Dallas to scrap those plans his rookie year and despite barely logging any practice reps at tackle in training camp, Smith took over on the blindside, playing 1,118 snaps there and playing them well.
In his second season he flipped back inside establishing himself as one of the best guards in the league and prompting the Cowboys to pivot their plans for Smith once again. Yet for as dominant as Smith could be as a career LG, if no solution can be found at LT this year, it would be foolish to rule out Smith as a possibility. Smith might not be as good at LT as he is at guard but given the importance of the LT position it’s a move that could be justified. The entire thing would be made possible because a guy named T.J. Bass happens to be waiting in the wings.
Fans will probably remember, Bass was once considered the heir apparent to Martin at RG. The 6-foot-4, 325-pound Oregon product is one of the stronger linemen on the team. He’s been impressive in limited action and may even factor into the mix with Beebe and Hoffman. An openminded coaching staff would know if they have to move Smith to LT, they have a pretty solid option in Bass to take over at LG.
Terence Steele, the starting RT, hasn’t lived up to the expectations of his contract. He has consistently graded as one of the worst pass protectors in the NFL and costs an average of $16,500,000 per season on a contract that runs through 2028. He’s a potential cut next offseason so the new coaching staff shouldn’t feel committed to him or stuck with him if he doesn’t perform up to standards. Richards doesn’t have the snaps on the right side to be seen as a reasonable replacement to Steele at this time, although that may change in training camp if the coaching staff gets curious.
Guyton might also be an option at RT since that was the position he played in college. To be clear, Guyton’s 2024 issues were not related to muscle memory or which side of the line he played, so switching sides isn’t going to fix them. Yet, if he can get the other issues corrected and the Cowboys prefer to play Richards, Smith or even a rookie at LT, Guyton could conceivably be an option at RT.
Ideally everyone falls in line the way the situation was originally scripted. Guyton grows up and grows into a trustworthy LT. Steele, at the very least, maintains for another season and holds down RT. Assuming both have higher ceilings where they are currently situated, Smith and Beebe stay in their same spots as last year. Then either Bass or Hoffman win the RG spot.
But since things are rarely that neat and tidy it’s good to have players with some position flex and coaches with open minds. Does the Cowboys new coaching staff have open enough minds to consider all the possibilities?
This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Dallas Cowboys Pro Bowler Tyler Smith may be asked to play LT in 2025
Continue reading...
