Is it Me? Or Was the Offensive Line Kinda Backwards Last Season?

[jrumann59]

I don't know. Maybe the Cowboys know something I don't know....

But last year, they had their best LT, who also happens to be the best LG, playing LG. Meanwhile, the player that struggles the most ends up at LT, where his best position happens to be RT.

So what gives? Even when Dak went down, there were no changes in the offensive line where one could argue a player swap may have benefited an offense with a limited Cooper Rush. Or is it that he also likes the best protection from the LG position? Even if so, do these guys know what is best for them and the team?

I get it. They were experimenting out there. But the line could have been better if we had played our players to their strengths relative to doing so having a higher impact on the overall team.

Just my two cents

Guyton was RT in college but he blocked the blindside of a Left handed QB, whether rightly or wrongly the FO felt since he was the Blindside tackle on the right side he could transition to blindside tackle on the left. A lot of his issues last year was he was slow off the snap or had bad footwork, so it is a mental thing and a full off season plus his in season experience I expect him to be better. Zack was shell of his former self and all the lower leg injuries seemed to have piled up last year. Also starting a guy center that had limited experience at center up to that point was another issue. So last year was an OL reset year.

 

[Rayman70]

Hey AC, how you been last couple days? Hope your feeling better.

 

[John813]

Guyton was RT in college but he blocked the blindside of a Left handed QB, whether rightly or wrongly the FO felt since he was the Blindside tackle on the right side he could transition to blindside tackle on the left. A lot of his issues last year was he was slow off the snap or had bad footwork, so it is a mental thing and a full off season plus his in season experience I expect him to be better. Zack was shell of his former self and all the lower leg injuries seemed to have piled up last year. Also starting a guy center that had limited experience at center up to that point was another issue. So last year was an OL reset year.

It's always a huge ask to have a right side or left side OL switch sides. One of the reasons positional flex is coveted is that it's never a guarantee a left tackle or guard can simply switch sides on the fly. Swing backups who can be in game competent filling in for a starter have value even if they are average at best.
IMO someone like Ball got cut last year as even though he played well at RG, IIRC he was only a right guard.
Not the best limitation when trying to make the 53.

I'm no coach, nor pretend to be. But I do know from playing football, and the line for a few years(in high school) the footwork and technique from switching sides does take time.


Even guys like Tristian Wirfs who is a great tackle admitted it took him time to adjust going from ROT to LOT
https://bucsreport.com/2025/02/22/b...ares-struggles-of-switching-tackle-positions/

While Wirfs’ transition to left tackle may have appeared seamless, he has been open about the significant mental challenges he faced. After the Buccaneers informed him of the position change following the 2022 season, Wirfs struggled to adapt. In a recent appearance on Ryan Clark’s podcast, The Pivot, Wirfs revealed that the switch weighed heavily on his mind, even invading his dreams – literally giving him nightmares.


“You’re your biggest critic. I’m harder on myself than anybody,” Wirfs said. “I remember having nightmares of giving up sacks, clean strips sacks, end of game — there were nightmares where I couldn’t take a pass set, just stupid stuff. I was like, ‘What am I doing?'”

As Wirfs navigated the challenging transition, he openly acknowledged struggling with anxiety and self-doubt, fearing he wouldn’t be able to adapt. To overcome these mental hurdles, Wirfs sought the expertise of a sports psychologist, who helped him shift his focus from negative thoughts to a growth mindset. Additionally, Wirfs credited swing tackle Justin Skule with providing invaluable support during a critical moment, helping him build confidence and momentum in his new role.


https://www.wjhl.com/sports/us-worl...her-is-among-the-nfls-underrated-tough-tasks/
“You have so many reps on one side and it’s muscle memory but then all of sudden you have do everything the other way and it feels weird,” said Wirfs, who was a first-team All-Pro at right tackle in 2021 and made two Pro Bowls at that spot before jumping over to the left side. “The more you do it, the more comfortable you get. But it does suck off the rip. You feel very awkward and it just takes some getting used to. It’s easy to get very frustrated with yourself because you had success on this side. But I’ve got great guys around me.”

Dallas even gave Tyron Smith one year at ROT, his position at USC, before asking him to make the jump to LOT his 2nd year in the NFL. Even with Doug Free struggling at LOT his rookie year.
And Guyton clearly has potential, but Smith was a level or two above Guyton as a prospect.
Hopefully, the trial by fire last year will pay off this year. But IMO there's no guarantee. There's obviously a big jump from the NCAA to the NFL, but asking Guyton to swap sides, was really a hail marry ask by the coaching staff last year.

 

[Rayman70]

Pretty average??? And Guyton wasn't awful and Hoffman was better than a mixed bag.

Yes Bebee wasn't great at center. He'll get better in time. I just think he's an all pro guard and the new staff will quickly do what's needed.

 

[Rayman70]

Hoffman looked better at center than Bebee. But CB is the superior player at guard.

 

[Chuck 54]

They never moved Martin to T even though he played LT at ND. No reason to think they will move Tyler, especially now that they also have Richards as an option. When your T struggles, you can chip with a RB or TE or the QB knows to get rid of the ball or step up. When pressure comes from inside, the QB is forced out and the play is often ruined.

 

[Rayman70]

The key to the entire Oline is Guyton and what they do with him. Bebee will be fine no matter , in time. He's just too good. If the Guyton thing fails then we better hope Richards has developed. This is why I'm a fan of drafting Donovan Jackson from Ohio State. He has played both guard and center at an elite level. He's in my top 3 of Olineman in this draft. Might be the best. Very clean prospect.

 

[McKDaddy]

Tyler Smith is our left guard. He’s a pro bowler at that position.

You need to play players where they most benefit the team. If he's also your best T, you put him there because there are a lot more options who can play G than there are T.

Good teams use their strengths to cover up weaknesses.

 

[Creeper]

They drafted Guyton to be the LT. I think they expected Steele to play better, Zack Martin too. When that didn't happen the OL was a total disaster.

I think they expect Guyton to be much improved this year. We'll see. Is Guyton a hard worker? Will he put in the time and effort to gain strength and improve his game? Steele at least worked hard when he first got here to get himself in physical shape to play RT. Let's see if Guyton has the same work ethic.

Steele started to play better the second half of the season. If he continues to show that kind of play, and if Beebe improves a little, and if Guyton improves the OL may be fine in 2025, even if Hoffman has to play RG.

But I think the Cowboys are depending on a few players to show marked improvement over last year. That includes Guyton, Beebe, Kneeland, and Mazi.

 

[McKDaddy]

I can fault the organization for a lot of things including counting on a rookie to be the LT. Once you get into the season though, we only had so many options to shuffle the line. We just didn't have a plethora of experienced, healthy, skilled players to move around.

I think the line will be better this year. I think we have enough pieces to work with to be a functional unit. (barring significant injuries of course)

 

[shabazz]

hopefully the new guy can make a positive name for himself

The Chef is usually only as good as the ingredients

 

[McKDaddy]

The Chef is usually only as good as the ingredients

Some chef's can get a little more out of the cupboard than others though.

 

[John813]

They never moved Martin to T even though he played LT at ND. No reason to think they will move Tyler, especially now that they also have Richards as an option. When your T struggles, you can chip with a RB or TE or the QB knows to get rid of the ball or step up. When pressure comes from inside, the QB is forced out and the play is often ruined.

Martin was always expected to be a guard in the NFL.
Arm length/size was the concern making the jump to the NFL.
At the senior bowl, he played at guard and excelled. He was one of the few to beat Aaron Donald.

Tyler Smith on the other hand had the measurables to be a Tackle, but was raw at Tulsa.
I think too Smith will stay at guard, but IMO he could of been a tackle in the NFL. Same level of success? Maybe not, but a starter.

 

[speedkilz88]

Guyton was RT in college but he blocked the blindside of a Left handed QB, whether rightly or wrongly the FO felt since he was the Blindside tackle on the right side he could transition to blindside tackle on the left. A lot of his issues last year was he was slow off the snap or had bad footwork, so it is a mental thing and a full off season plus his in season experience I expect him to be better. Zack was shell of his former self and all the lower leg injuries seemed to have piled up last year. Also starting a guy center that had limited experience at center up to that point was another issue. So last year was an OL reset year.

Guyton was originally learning to be a LT at TCU. He was moved to RT by Oklahoma.

 

[kskboys]

I don't know. Maybe the Cowboys know something I don't know....

But last year, they had their best LT, who also happens to be the best LG, playing LG. Meanwhile, the player that struggles the most ends up at LT, where his best position happens to be RT.

So what gives? Even when Dak went down, there were no changes in the offensive line where one could argue a player swap may have benefited an offense with a limited Cooper Rush. Or is it that he also likes the best protection from the LG position? Even if so, do these guys know what is best for them and the team?

I get it. They were experimenting out there. But the line could have been better if we had played our players to their strengths relative to doing so having a higher impact on the overall team.

Just my two cents

They do.

Messing w/ success is the last thing we need to do w/ this team.

Guyton's best position is not RT. That's a fan thing.

Kinda funny you should say the bolded. What you're suggesting is the exact opposite of playing to our player's strengths.

 

[kskboys]

Simply put......the OL wasn't good enough to help this team go further. Very inconsistent all year.

Of course. It's being rebuilt, that's to be expected.

 

[kskboys]

Guyton was originally learning to be a LT at TCU. He was moved to RT by Oklahoma.

Because their QB was lefthanded.

Honestly, how do so many not get this? He was the blindside protector. His skillset screams OLT, but he is raw and needed a major upgrade in technique. No, he shouldn't have been a 1st round pick.

It is probable that he makes people eat their words who are incessantly whining about moving him to RT. Maybe he'll end up there, hard to say, but to scream over and over that he's a RT is beyond silly.

 

[kskboys]

Pretty average??? And Guyton wasn't awful and Hoffman was better than a mixed bag.

I don't get it. Bebee was a revelation at C, where his lack of arm length is irrelevant. He looks like the answer there for the next 10 years.

 

[Whyjerry]

I don't know. Maybe the Cowboys know something I don't know....

But last year, they had their best LT, who also happens to be the best LG, playing LG. Meanwhile, the player that struggles the most ends up at LT, where his best position happens to be RT.

So what gives? Even when Dak went down, there were no changes in the offensive line where one could argue a player swap may have benefited an offense with a limited Cooper Rush. Or is it that he also likes the best protection from the LG position? Even if so, do these guys know what is best for them and the team?

I get it. They were experimenting out there. But the line could have been better if we had played our players to their strengths relative to doing so having a higher impact on the overall team.

Just my two cents

I think you are right. The OL got better as the season went on. I think the young guys settled in a bit. I love the guy but Martin was not good early. I think they are REALLY weak at tackle and need to improve big time there. Smith is a stud. CB is going to be really good. I like Hoffman’s toughness. Richards has a lot to work with. They have some good pieces but boy they need to upgrade at tackle.

 

[ChronicCowboy]

They’re building from the outside in unfortunately. This off-season is about rebuilding the depth and drafting playmakers. Next offseason will likely be dedicated to solidifying the lines. I expect 2025 to be a struggle on both lines.