Cowboys LG Tyler Smith's reason for being excited about 2024 season should scare the rest of the NFL
Dallas Cowboys left guard Tyler Smith is undergoing an interesting "first" since joining the NFL in 2022: He's focusing on one and one position only ahead of the regular season.As a rookie, Smith saw left tackle and left guard reps during the offseason and although he focused on training to be a guard during training […]
Dallas Cowboys left guard Tyler Smith is undergoing an interesting "first" since joining the NFL in 2022: He's focusing on one and one position only ahead of the regular season.
As a rookie, Smith saw left tackle and left guard reps during the offseason and although he focused on training to be a guard during training camp, a last-minute Tyron Smith injury forced him to play tackle the rest of the year.
In 2023, he spent time practicing both positions as well. Now though, thanks to the Cowboys picking Tyler Guyton in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, Smith is focusing on guard and guard only.
"I'm definitely excited just knowing where I'm going to be and what I need to improve on," Smith told reporters during the second week of Cowboys OTAs. "Obviously, we have to stay ready because that's part of our mantra—five is one. Anything happens, everybody has to step up, but I'm definitely excited to be able to work at that spot and continue to get better each day."
Tyler Smith's reason for being excited should be opposing NFL teams' reason for being scared. Smith was surprisingly good as a tackle with little prep as a rookie and rose through the ranks as a second-team All-Pro last year playing inside. In the process, he dominated the likes of Aaron Donald, Jalen Carter, and many other top defensive tackles around the league.
Now he's got a full season at the position under his belt and will enter his third year fully specialized.
In 2024, you could've made the argument that he had a better year than future Cowboys Hall of Famer Zack Martin did, and that's saying something. He's a mauler in the running game and he rarely gets beaten in pass pro.
The future Larry Allen?
It's difficult to make these comparisons without falling victim of hyperbole but Smith knows a player as physical and nasty as him will draw those comps when playing for the Cowboys.
"I mean it's huge for sure," Smith said of the comparisons Stephen Jones himself made earlier in the offseason. "Obviously, just knowing Larry and everything he did, how great he was, it’s my mission to be the best me I can be—to be the best Tyler Smith I can be every single day. Just improve, stay hungry, never lose that passion, and continue to get better.
Smith might be focusing on himself but don't get it twisted, he clearly has studied the Cowboys legend.
"Man, I know a little bit," said Smith when asked what did he know about Allen. "You know, Sonoma State, he almost died of meningitis when he was a kid. He's very tough, just a dog. I've seen the tape—obviously extremely athletic, famous for the chase-down block against the Saints. One of the best pulling guards to probably ever play in the NFL, because not many people are doing it like that anymore."
