Cowboys Reveal Offensive Line Plan - Or 3 Confusing Answers?
PHOENIX - Do the Dallas Cowboys already have their starting offensive line plans figured out even before the players return for offseason workouts?
That depends on who we've asked while here at the NFL owners meetings in Phoenix, where three different bosses have offered three varied suggestions.
Comments from Cowboys owner Jerry Jones to us saw him revealing that he views Terence Steele as the swing tackle.
"He's such a top tackle … as we have it right now, he should be the backup tackle on both sides as we would look at it right today," Jones said. "That's a lot of position flex right there. You say, 'why don't you move Tyler in (to guard)?' but we also know that Tyron and Tyler both would make quite a tandem out there. The smart play would be to have outstanding depth there and Steele gives you that."
Is that really "smart''? Maybe. But who'd play left guard in that scenario? Jerry talked of somebody "from within,'' hinted that Dallas could draft a starter (TCU's Steve Avila at No. 26 in the first round?) and then mentioned young Matt Waletzko.
But Matt Waletzko is is a tackle, not a guard.
Next up in our visits here was COO Stephen Jones, and he had a different take.
"We signed one,'' he said, referring to Jets and Falcons ex Chuma Edoga joining up via free agency. And he agreed with Jerry in suggesting that Steele isn't really an option at guard.
OK. So Edoga is the starter. Maybe.
But then we visited with coach Mike McCarthy, and he mentioned Edoga as a candidate at left guard ... and he mentioned Steele at left guard.
But wait? That contradicts what Jerry said!
Having spoken to all three of them here in Phoenix, we don't think Jerry or Stephen or McCarthy are being "evasive'' or "dumb'' or "conspiratorial'' on the Tyron/Tyler/Steele O-line ideas. ... even though we recognize that Steele is playing on a $4 million tender and looking for a long-term deal ... and the Cowboys would obviously like to manage that cost.
But even then: Tyron likely plays one more year. Then Steele is the right tackle - and he's eventually getting paid.
Steele started 13 games at right tackle last season before an ACL injury sidelined him for the rest of the year. In spite of ACL tears sometimes needing a length recovery, a workout video released to social media recently has suggested Steele may be ahead of schedule. Once he's healthy, if Dallas believes in the "best five'' concept? He's probably playing.
But for now, if it's not being "evasive'' or "dumb'' or "conspiratorial,'' what is it?
"The offseason program starts in April,'' McCarthy told us. "But yeah, definitely … looking at all those things.''
In other words ... it's not even April yet.
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