News: DC: 5 Options To Replace Tyron Smith At Left Tackle

[WoodysGirl]

5 Options To Replace Tyron Smith At Left Tackle

The Cowboys are weighing all options with Tyron Smith now injured. Here s a look at four in-house candidates and then another option to look outside the building.

Tyler Smith

The night the Cowboys drafted Smith with the 24th overall pick on April 28, head coach Mike McCarthy said Smith would be a "left-side player" working at guard and tackle. That was the case through OTAs and minicamp.

Josh Ball

Ball has gotten a huge amount of left tackle reps in practice and preseason games so far, including some with the first-team offense because the Cowboys have been mindful of Tyron Smith's workload even before this hamstring injury.

Matt Waletzko

This year's fifth-round pick suffered a shoulder subluxation on July 29, the Cowboys' third practice in Oxnard, and didn't return to practice until this past Tuesday, when he got some left tackle reps with the second-team offense.

Terence Steele

The Cowboys have committed to Steele as the right tackle of the future after releasing veteran La'el Collins in the offseason. Steele did make six starts at left tackle filling in an injured Tyron Smith last season if they're looking for a more experienced in-house option to protect quarterback Dak Prescott's blind side.

Outside The Roster

The Cowboys likely had a short list of free agent options before Tyron Smith's injury, and they've gone the veteran route at swing tackle in recent years with Ty Nsekhe, Cameron Erving and Cameron Fleming.

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[Acceptablename]

IMO it’s. Tyler Smith,might as Weill start now

 

[Sydla]

IMO it’s. Tyler Smith,might as Weill start now

Honestly, if they won't bring in a vet, I say let Smith go out there and sink or swim. It could be ugly early but maybe some payoffs down the road. Just hope Dak doesn't get killed while the kid learns.

 

[phildadon86]

Honestly, if they won't bring in a vet, I say let Smith go out there and sink or swim. It could be ugly early but maybe some payoffs down the road. Just hope Dak doesn't get killed while the kid learns.

Hope isnt a strategy.

This shouldnt be a problem. Most GM's and Front Office personnel don't let it get to this point.

 

[Sydla]

Hope isnt a strategy.

This shouldnt be a problem. Most GM's and Front Office personnel don't let it get to this point.

Oh don't get me wrong, this is a massive screw up by the front office. They knew Tyron was an injury risk but bizarrely thought that between Ball and Waletzko, they had a guy who could fill in a for a game or two.

At this point, all we are left with is hope because at the end of the day, who here trusts Jerry and Stephen to actually fix the problem? So at this point, just throw Tyler out there and hope he learns. I see that as a better option than Ball at this point.

 

[Aven8]

The problem with throwing Smith out to LT, even if he’s awesome, means your now weakening the LG position by having to play McGovern. Remember this is the same McGovern that was awful last year and was replaced by a penalty machine that wasn’t that great either.

It’s a mess. The only thing that makes sense is an outside the organization LT with experience. Tyler is going to struggle so he needs a vet to help him either way.

 

[xwalker]

Hope isnt a strategy.

This shouldnt be a problem. Most GM's and Front Office personnel don't let it get to this point.

They could have signed another Ty Nsekhe or Cam Fleming in March...

 

[phildadon86]

They could have signed another Ty Nsekhe or Cam Fleming in March...

Or Eric Fisher. Or traded for Wynn. Or a lot of things.

My biggest anger is wasting a pick on Joseph when Radunz and Little were right there.

Id feel much better knowing there was a solid replacement for Smith on the roster with some pedigree. Would it have been overkill? Absolutely. Would it be the safe bet to make sure if Tyron goes down your season isnt flushed? Absolutely.

 

[Sydla]

Or Eric Fisher. Or traded for Wynn. Or a lot of things.

My biggest anger is wasting a pick on Joseph when Radunz and Little were right there.

Id feel much better knowing there was a solid replacement for Smith on the roster with some pedigree. Would it have been overkill? Absolutely. Would it be the safe bet to make sure if Tyron goes down your season isnt flushed? Absolutely.

But they needed a CB. So they had to take Joseph. But you are right, one of those OTs would sure look good right about now.

Again, let's be clear. What you are seeing now is the fruits of a flawed FA strategy and overall roster building strategy that says they will basically draft all the players they need.

 

[phildadon86]

But they needed a CB. So they had to take Joseph. But you are right, one of those OTs would sure look good right about now.

Again, let's be clear. What you are seeing now is the fruits of a flawed FA strategy and overall roster building strategy that says they will basically draft all the players they need.

They didnt need a CB if they used FA to fix the position before the draft. Thats the point I was getting at. lol

Good teams don't sink or swim on 1 position especially one as important as OL because they use top picks to grab players that can play, not projects.

This team could have signed Duane Brown for peanuts as the swing tackle and we wouldnt be freaking out right now.

But hey. Jerry got his face on TV yesterday right? lol

 

[Sydla]

They could have signed another Ty Nsekhe or Cam Fleming in March...

There were better options than those two early in FA. Let's not play this silly game of thinking that the best the Cowboys could have done in FA was one of those two, therefore the Cowboys are right in their approach at OT.

 

[Whyjerry]

Hope isnt a strategy.

This shouldnt be a problem. Most GM's and Front Office personnel don't let it get to this point.

It’s worse than that. Smith was an injury waiting to happen. Hasn’t had a full season since 2015. This problem was easy to see coming.

 

[visionary]

Oh don't get me wrong, this is a massive screw up by the front office. They knew Tyron was an injury risk but bizarrely thought that between Ball and Waletzko, they had a guy who could fill in a for a game or two.

At this point, all we are left with is hope because at the end of the day, who here trusts Jerry and Stephen to actually fix the problem? So at this point, just throw Tyler out there and hope he learns. I see that as a better option than Ball at this point.

Im thinking sign Fisher or Whitworth for year
Smith starts next year
Draft LOG

 

[Big D]

I like the push that we're seeing with Tyler at OG. That's going to be huge for the running game. I'd keep that going and try Ball out at LT.
If Ball stumbles, at that point I'd move Tyler to LT and bring in Mcgovern at OG.

 

[AsthmaField]

I do not want Smith moving out to tackle. They should leave him where he’s practiced all camp. I want his power inside, and I’d like him to have a year inside before moving outside.

Just get one of the guys off the street or roll with Ball (no pun), I don’t care… but leave Smith where he is.

 

[Sydla]

Im thinking sign Fisher or Whitworth for year
Smith starts next year
Draft LOG

Oh I am definitely on board with bringing in a vet. But my gut tells me the boobs running the team are overvaluing what they have and will just try to make it work with what's on the roster.

So in that situation, I think I'd rather just roll with T Smith and take the lumps hoping this just speeds up his development as a LT.

 

[visionary]

Oh I am definitely on board with bringing in a vet. But my gut tells me the boobs running the team are overvaluing what they have and will just try to make it work with what's on the roster.

So in that situation, I think I'd rather just roll with T Smith and take the lumps hoping this just speeds up his development as a LT.

I think their actions will tell us what they really think of this team

no way can you start Smith on this OL and expect to be in the playoffs

 

[big dog cowboy]

Left tackle this year.

 

[BlindFaith]

I do not want Smith moving out to tackle. They should leave him where he’s practiced all camp. I want his power inside, and I’d like him to have a year inside before moving outside.

Just get one of the guys off the street or roll with Ball (no pun), I don’t care… but leave Smith where he is.

My guess here is that Ball is our starting LT and McGovern is the starting LG.

McGovern has the experience. He has at least seen a defense in a real game. He can potentially help out Ball with calls etc.

Having two rookies start on the left side is risky.

 

[J-man]

IMHO, they will have to sign someone, whether it be a starter or a swing, regardless of their plan. They just don't have the numbers now.
I hope they try to get a legit starter and have Smith at LG. But I have a feeling they will just get a back up and try to roll with their guys.
If that's the case I'm starting Smith over Ball at LT and McG at LG.