Tyron, Terence, Tyler: Will Cowboys Start 3 Tackles in 'Best 5' O-Line?
The Dallas Cowboys have three capable starting offensive tackles. Is this a "problem'' or a dream come true? Will they find a way to deploy all of them?
The last time a collection of comments were made about the Cowboys' situation at offensive tackle, our own Mike Fisher got different answers depending on who he was talking to at the NFL Owners' Meetings. To summarize, Terence Steele was the name getting bounced around as being a starting tackle to being a swing tackle to maybe even being a guard.
More recently, coach Mike McCarthy noted during Thursday's OTAs that we'll see multiple combinations during workouts. And in part because Steele is still rehabbing from injury, we did see a group that featured Tyron Smith at right tackle and Tyler Smith at left tackle.
What does it mean in the long run? There are those inside The Star who continue to insist that Tyler isn't moving to guard. ... when in the end can mean Steele is left as the guy fighting to start at a new position or not starting altogether.
To some, it's hard to wrap the head around the idea of benching Steele in favor of a healthy Tyron Smith, as the latter's injury issues and increasing age make it seem more logical to have him come off the bench. Steele started 13 games at right tackle last season before an ACL injury sidelined him.
On the other hand: If Tyron is the better player, who should his injury history get in the way? If a guy gets hurt, he gets replaced. That goes for everybody, not just Tyron.
Still, at 25 years old, Steele (though presently just on a one-year contract) seems part of the future of the Cowboys' offensive line as a bookend to Tyler Smith. Smith, the former first-round pick, turned some heads last season as he was elevated to starting left tackle after an injury to Tyron in training camp. Tyler started all 17 games for the Cowboys last season and even played snaps at guard, where he would've played more if not for Tyron's injury.
If Tyler and Steele worked at left and right tackle for the better part of last season, why change it?
So the choices are clear, even though the answers are not. If Dallas wants to play the best five up front, Tyron figures in. If the Cowboys want a starting five that can build chemistry and sustainability, Tyler and Steele make the most sense at both tackle spots.
COWBOYS FISH REPORT … now a podcast! Join us inside The Star, ANY TIME!
Want the latest in breaking news and insider information on the Dallas Cowboys?
Follow FishSports on Twitter
Follow Cowboys / Fish on Facebook
Subscribe to the Cowboys Fish Report on YouTube for constant daily Cowboys live reports!
