Cowboys’ Tyler Smith attends OL camp during down time to get better

Rookie Tyler Smith understands that he has big shoes to fill in September. The Dallas Cowboys‘ 2022 first-round pick also knows that many analysts in the NFL questioned the front office’s decision to draft him. Although the Joneses went to great (and odd) lengths to prove they stood behind their choice to select Smith, the Tulsa product still has a lot to prove in year one.

He knows it, too.

That’s why he spent time during the break between mandatory minicamp and the start of training camp in Oxnard, California, to keep improving. Instead of laying low or taking a vacation, the Cowboys rookie attended the OL Masterminds Summit. Cowboys centers Tyler Biadasz and Matt Farniok were also in attendance at the event at Sports Academy at The Star in Frisco.

The summit was founded by NFL All-Pro Lane Johnson and Dallas-based scouting and development consultant Duke Manyweather. What started as a small program with under 30 participants in 2018 has grown to over 200 participants. The weekend is a chance for college and pro offensive linemen to learn about the position, study film, and work on drills. It brings together some of the best tackles and guards in the game for a chance to get hands-on work with their peers.

This year, Smith got to learn from NFL legends like Hall of Famer Willie Roaf, Pro Bowler Ben Grubbs, and Pro Bowler Terron Armstead.

“I’m trying to get as much info as I can,” the Cowboys rookie said to Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News.

Cowboys rookie Tyler Smith spends his off time at OL Masterminds Summit to learn more and get better

During OTAs and rookie camps, Smith told reporters that he’d make sure he fits in wherever the Cowboys put him. He did just that by taking reps at both left tackle and left guard. While left tackle is a newer position for him, Smith is incredibly lucky to join a team that has two of the best offensive line veterans in the league in Tyron Smith and Zack Martin.

He’s taking advantage of learning from two NFL greats. Here’s what he told Gehlken at the event on Saturday:

"“That just helps focus and train my eyes. Like Duke was saying [at OL Masterminds], your eyes are a huge part of blocking. Keeping everything in sync and coordinated is huge for me. Zack really helped me with that a lot. I’ll be focused with my eyes. And with Tyron, I was like, ‘How do you not underset or overset?’ He said, ‘Just get to your spot as fast as possible… and use your hands in conjunction with that.’That’s part of your art, trying to find what works for you. …Watching them, watching their tape, how they execute it has been really good for me. I’m in with them every day, so I’m always asking questions.”"

The guidance is priceless for Smith. Many Cowboys fans and reporters were concerned about how the rookie would do on the offensive line given he was highly penalized at Tulsa. The rookie knows he has a lot of work to do on his understanding of the game, footwork, hand placement, and more.

Instead of waiting to refine those things in training camp, Smith is showing he’s ready to put the hard work in when others are resting. The Tulsa product told Gehlken that he reached out to Manyweather before the summit even began to get some extra pointers. Manyweather complimented the 21-year-old for his desire to grow:

"“I think that takes a lot of maturity. Sometimes, guys wait until after their rookie year or wait until they hit rock bottom in certain situations. With that type of mentality and mindset from him, to come out and get better immediately, that tells you a lot about how he is going to go about his business of being a professional.”"

Smith certainly has a lot to prove. But at least we know he is putting in the work to give him the best chance at starting for an NFL offensive line in Week 1 as a young, fresh player.

**All quotes are from the Dallas Morning News**