The Dallas Cowboys made a slightly controversial decision before their Week 4 win over the New England Patriots and it is set to pay off in more than one way: They kept Tyler Smith at left guard instead of kicking him outside to left tackle with Tyron Smith out due to injury.  

The risky bet was questioned by many since Tyler's strong rookie season at tackle made it clear he was a better option to protect Dak Prescott's blindside than veteran Chuma Edoga. But the Cowboys sacrificed the best combination of five linemen for the sake of continuity.

That way, when Tyron ultimately returns (hopefully this week in San Francisco), he's just taking over Edoga, and no more changes are made to the O-line. Had Tyler moved outside, he would also be changing positions, making two changes instead of one to the unit.

Keeping Tyler Smith at guard is a sign the Cowboys believe No. 77 is nearing a return and that his absence is short-term. I recently wrote about how much money Tyron is missing out on per game missed but it's not expected to happen for much longer.

When he comes back, the Cowboys will cash in on their bet, getting the most continuity possible. The payoff will be even sweeter if the team is able to take the field with its intended starting five for the first time this year in one of the biggest games of the season when visiting the 49ers on Sunday Night Football. 

While the ultimate winnings will be felt once Tyron returns, one of the benefits to the Cowboys' savvy bet has already been felt: Tyler Smith is dominating at left guard.

"Fundamentals, for sure," Offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer said when asked about Tyler's improvement. "You talk about a guy who for lots of reasons was moved around last year. You see him settling into playing guard, everything happens really fast in there."

Schottenheimer went on to detail what's making Smith look so good in his second year in the NFL and where he's taken a jump compared to his rookie season.

"He's just so strong and powerful," Schottenheimer added. "There was a play in practice last week where literally he was drive blocking the three-technique (defensive tackle) and he got turned and it's crazy, he went down to a knee and just popped right back up and just kept going. It's one of the craziest things I've seen."

Smith's athleticism has never been in doubt. Not even when he was a prospect out of Tulsa. Rather, where people doubted him the most was in his technique. The Cowboys coaching staff appears to be excited about the improvement of his hand usage as he's playing with "tighter hands." 

In that area, Tyler still has a long way to go. In 2022, he was called for six offensive holdings, per Pro Football Reference. He has one four weeks into the 2023 season in two games played. But he can get away with it thanks to his raw athleticism on the field.

"The fundamentals and his base is not always perfect, his footwork is not always perfect" Schottenheimer admitted. "But he's just such a great athlete and such a great competitor. He's playing terrific and got a chance to be a dominant left guard in this league for a long time."

For now, Dallas is getting high-caliber play from the kid. Even if Smith's long-term future is at tackle, he sure looks like somebody who'll be trouble for years to come. 

Cowboys: Dak Prescott just schooled us regarding obscure NFL rule

He made a great point.