Dallas Cowboys are exploring a high-risk, high-reward gamble on offense a couple of weeks into OTAs
With a new head coach and play caller in Brian Schottenheimer, the Dallas Cowboys offense remains a question mark. The former offensive coordinator recently admitted most of the language will stay the same but there will be key changes. Dak Prescott's "Here we go!" cadence is expected to changed. Personnel wise, the unit will be […]
With a new head coach and play caller in Brian Schottenheimer, the Dallas Cowboys offense remains a question mark.
The former offensive coordinator recently admitted most of the language will stay the same but there will be key changes. Dak Prescott's "Here we go!" cadence is expected to changed. Personnel wise, the unit will be different, mostly through George Pickens becoming a part of the wide receiver room.
But one of the areas surrounded with the most mystery is the offensive line. If the Cowboys wish to keep things straightforward, there shouldn't be a big change. The team could play with the same group of five it did last year except for plugging rookie Tyler Booker at right guard where Zack Martin and Brock Hoffman starred before him.
However, it seems like the Cowboys coaching staff is open to shaking things up and they're even exploring a high-risk, high-reward change on the offensive line: Moving Cooper Beebe to guard.
“We’re creating competition," head coach Brian Schottenheimer told reporters on Thursday. "(Booker) is not taking all of the (reps with the) ones. We’re rolling different guys in there. Rob Jones, we’re moving Brock (Hoffman) around a lot. Moving Beebe around some.”
This time of the year, NFL teams experiment with all position groups. On defense, for example, the Cowboys are using DaRon Bland in the slot even though he's been hesitant to do so ahead of a contract year. That is to say, reactions should be tempered and cautious.
However, Beebe playing at guard could mean something. New offensive line coach Conor Riley coached Beebe at Kansas State, where the latter played guard and tackle but never center.
If the Cowboys want to play their best five, there's a scenario where that involves Beebe at guard and Tyler Smith at left tackle. The move would be high-risk, high-reward as switching Smith's and Beebe's positions at the same time could mess with their development. But Beebe's best football could be at guard and Smith's rookie tape as tackle beats Guyton's, so there's certainly upside in the scenario.
Now granted, major decisions won't take place in OTAs, where live contact isn't even allowed.
But the table is being set for a very intriguing training camp for the unit which could determine how the offense performs when the season kicks off.
