Cowboys' early opponents could change plans for this rookie
The Dallas Cowboys are making a risky bet with their first-round draft pick. High-risk bets usually go hand-in-hand with potential high-reward outcomes, so that's not necessarily a bad thing. In this particular case, such an outcome would look like a long-term starter at left tackle in a league with so few of them. That's what […]
The Dallas Cowboys are making a risky bet with their first-round draft pick. High-risk bets usually go hand-in-hand with potential high-reward outcomes, so that's not necessarily a bad thing.
In this particular case, such an outcome would look like a long-term starter at left tackle in a league with so few of them.
That's what the Cowboys want out of Tyler Smith, who they selected with the 24th overall pick of the 2022 NFL Draft. All of the concerns about Tyler's fundamentals and technique are the risks Dallas was willing to take to get to a final version of the prospect that can win consistently at one of the most valuable positions in the sport.
But in the short-term, the Cowboys aim to play Tyler Smith at guard. That accomplishes two things:
- Mask some of Tyler Smith's technique problems while developing him.
- Find a starter at left guard after Connor Williams' departure.
Ideally, the Cowboys would want to see Tyler Smith starting in Week 1. The only other player on the roster that's seemingly ready to man the position is Connor McGovern, who failed to meet expectations when Dallas gave him a shot at the job last year.
A couple of weeks ago, though, the NFL revealed the schedule for the 2022 regular season and when looking a little bit closer, one can't help wondering if it could impact the team's plan for Tyler Smith.
Trial by fire for Tyler Smith
The Cowboys' first six weeks of the schedule are no walk in the park, as you probably know by now. In the first five weeks, they face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the two teams that played in the Super Bowl in February in the Bengals and Rams.
We all know facing Tom Brady and Joe Burrow to open up the season is far from ideal. But another way the Cowboys got "unlucky" with the schedule is by going up against very good defensive tackles each and every one of the first six weeks of the season.
Here are some of the most notable in each of those six weeks:
- Bucs: Vita Vea, Logan Hall (2nd round rookie)
- Bengals: B.J. Hill, D.J. Reader
- Giants: Dexter Lawrence, Leonard Williams
- Commanders: Da'Ron Payne, Jonathan Allen
- Rams: Aaron Donald
- Eagles: Fletcher Cox, Jordan Davis (1st round rookie)
Undeniably, the biggest factor for the Cowboys' decision on whether or not the first-rounder will start in week 1 is what Tyler himself looks like after training camp. There have been some early signs of improvement for the rookie and if he keeps it up, this all might end up being a moot point.
But what if Tyler Smith, whose fundamentals were described by Dane Brugler as "(needing) to be rebuilt from the ground up," is not ready to go by Week 1?
Do you throw an unfinished product onto the field after some of the very best in the business? Or do you give him some extra time to avoid trumping his development?
Many front offices in the NFL would likely feel differently about this decision, and it will be interesting to see where the Cowboys stand on that argument.
For more on the Cowboys' early slate of opposing defensive tackles, check out last week's Primetime show that streams live every Sunday through Thursday night onA to Z Sports Dallas!
Featured image via Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
