OXNARD, Calif. – Tyler Smith has a multitude of strengths, not all of them obvious ones… He’s great at solving problems and (offensive) line dancing.
Smith’s strong rookie season, in which he flexed his muscles and his versatility, has extended a long streak of the Dallas Cowboys front office striking gold with offensive lineman in the first round. And the front office people aren’t the only smart ones involved here.
“This guy has a little something upstairs,” Tyler Smith told us, pointing to his brain, as he conducted his exclusive visit with CowboysSI.com.
Last season, a week before the rookie from Tulsa was set to play his first NFL game, disaster struck the offensive line. Cowboys left tackle Tyron Smith suffered a serious hamstring injury that would sideline him for most of the year.
Tyler solved the Dallas problem, seamlessly moving to left tackle and earning NFL All-Rookie Team honors while playing left tackle and left guard. The No. 24 pick started all 17 games and flourished, establishing himself as one of the team’s best pass blockers and run blockers.
Tyler Smith is now a big piece of the puzzle that is the Cowboys potent offensive line. And off the football field? Smith excels at solving real world problems. As an engineering major at Tulsa who likes robotics and machines, his non-NFL goal was to become a mechanical engineer.
Looking to make the second-year leap, Smith is again helping the team’s offensive line dance. With the potential Hall-Of-Famer Tyron Smith ‘healthy as he’s ever been’, he will reclaim the left tackle spot and subsequently shift the younger Smith back inside to guard.
The shuffle back to guard means Tyler Smith needs to change his footwork. During training camp, Smith has been focused on improving his hand technique, assignments and steps. Smith says he and center Tyler Biadasz have strong communication as they work together.
“At tackle, you are more used to having free movement, in space a lot,” Smith said, “whereas at guard, you are in tighter space and you have to see more and anticipate more… Making the switch is making me a lot better, I will say that… I am way more confident in my preparation.”
Smith also has embraced the opportunity to learn from six-time All Pro guard Zack Martin.
“One thing Zack instilled in me from last year is keeping my elbows tight,” Smith said. “That is something I’ve really improved. In college, I feel like at times I didn’t necessarily know what to do with my hands.”
With coach Mike McCarthy taking over play-calling, Smith said he is expecting to be part of an “explosive” offense. The 2023 Dallas squad hopes to improve on a 12-5 campaign and usurp the Philadelphia Eagles as NFC East Division champions.
“We really are just getting started,” Tyler told us. “I know if everything goes the way it supposed to, we will be in that Super Bowl.”
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