What Will Happen to Tyron Smith?

By:  Bobby Shores

Lost in the shuffle of all the Cowboys free agency madness is the effect that this will have on last years rookie standout Tyron Smith. At the season's end the whole world was ready to stick him at left tackle for the next 10 years and not worry about, unfortunately I think there is more to this than meets the eye......

After an outstanding rookie year last year, coupled with Doug Free's struggles, the decision was made (correctly I think) to move Smith to the left side and Free back to the right, where he excelled in seasons past. The Cowboys not only changed Smith's position, they also replaced the only offensive line coach he had ever known (yes, I know it was only 1 year, but I have to make this more dramatic to make my point) in Hudson Houck with Bill Callahan, on-field mentor Kyle Kosier is being cut who was also responsible for making all the line calls, every other position on the line will probably be different, he is still very young and will not be 22 until the regular season is almost over, he is a Top 10 Pick, he plays in Dallas at the most important position on the offensive line and everybody from the media to the fans keep assuming that left tackle has been secured for the next 10 years.

Yea, that is a lot of change for such a young guy.......Let's look at each one in some more detail.....

Before the start of the 2011 season, the Cowboys made the decision to move veteran offensive guard Kyle Kosier to the right side to help Smith develop, and help him he did. Not only has Kosier been responsible for making the offensive line calls (usually the job of the center), he was able to make sure that Smith knew what to do and how to do it, and was there to help him when he got in trouble. Kosier basically acted as his on-field mentor, and I am not sure that there is anybody currently on the roster than can replace him.

The move to the premier position on the offensive line, the left side, is another big change for Smith. While he was in the spotlight as a Top 10 pick and instant starter last year, moving to left tackle will really put him under the microscope. Not only are two of the Cowboys division foes in the Top 5 in sacks (Eagles & Giants), the Redskins only missed being in the Top 10 by 1 sack, and now Smith will face the top rusher on each team rather than the second or third best rusher.

Another big change for Smith is that the only offensive line coach he has known in the NFL, Hudson Houck, retired after the season. While I have no reason to believe that his replacement, Bill Callahan, is not as good (or even better) than him, I know that they had a special relationship and spent hours after practice and in the film room together. Houck was integral to Smith's success last season, and I only hope that Smith and Callahan are able to form a similar bond.

Continuity is a big part of helping young players develop in the early years of their career, and not only is rookie phenom Smith losing his mentors in Kosier and Houck, it appears that every other position on the line will be different as well, of course there was not a lot of continuity last year either. With the signing of Nate Livings and Mackenzy Bernadeau to most likely replace Kosier and Montrae Holland while the Center position is completely wide open. Stability will be needed at the left guard position for Smith as I am a firm believer that many of the Doug Free's struggles last season can be attributed to the revolving door at the guard spot next to him.

Finally, the reasons I think he could struggle this year is that he is still only 21 years old, playing in one of (if not THE) the most scrutinized football markets in the NFL, playing a highly scrutinized position as a Top 10 pick who excelled his rookie year. All this means there will be lots of pressure for him to build on his rookie success regardless of age, position change, coaching changes, personnel changes, etc.