Cowboys first-round rookie Tyler Guyton getting baptism by fireplace in Week 1 matchup with Myles Garrett

FRISCO, Texas — Beginning a rookie at left sort out in Week 1 is not the best way Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy would draw it up, however that is precisely what’s taking place within the case of Cowboys’ first-round decide Tyler Guyton towards the Cleveland Browns on Sunday. 

“I believe clearly when you look within the teaching 101 handbook, it does not say ‘yep, play these guys in week one. that is on web page 16.’ That is not within the gig,” McCarthy mentioned sarcastically on Thursday. “You undoubtedly want to see these guys get used to the repetition of a professional season. You have to keep in mind these guys are on the brink of play of their first away recreation, their first NFL recreation and actually, that is in the midst of their first actual week of preparation, so I do suppose regularity, coaching, the way you construct as much as a recreation is essential for all gamers, particularly your younger gamers. So undoubtedly, I would favor that they did not play till later within the season, however then you may flip that dialog round and say ‘nicely, why would you need the rookies taking part in in December and January when these are clearly very, essential video games?’ I simply suppose it is the character of our enterprise.”

Nevertheless, Guyton is not simply dipping his toe into the proverbial NFL pool by beginning in Week 1. He is cannon-balling in with a matchup towards Browns All-Professional edge rusher Myles Garrett, the 2023 NFL Defensive Participant of the 12 months.

“I do know Myles goes to go on the market and get on Guyton a little bit bit,” Cowboys three-time All-Professional edge rusher Micah Parsons mentioned on Wednesday. … “Man one factor I at all times love a couple of rusher is ‘how do you rush even when your rushes aren’t good otherwise you really feel such as you’re off your recreation?’ He is one of many extra relentless. Myles, simply relentless man. They do not care the place they’re at. Myles is like me, man, he has such an amazing acceleration and his energy, power, which makes him distinctive. It is like ridiculous.”  

That is why McCarthy has tasked Parsons with being a mentor for Guyton from the beginning of coaching camp out at coaching camp in Oxnard, California. No want for a scout group simulation of a top-flight pass rusher when Dallas has their own in Parsons. 

“I had a dialog with Micah early in coaching camp. Simply the work he was going to have towards Tyler,” McCarthy mentioned on Wednesday. “It advantages each methods. clearly, he will be taking part in towards some tackles that is Tyler’s physique sort [6’7, 322 pounds]. That is the entire element of iron sharpens iron. In order that half has been good. Myles is an incredible participant. He is been doing it for fairly a while. He simply has all of it. He has the bodily presents, the motor, the understand how, they do a very good job of shifting him round. He isn’t a stationary goal. Completely different seems to be, issues they do to him, issues they do away from him. It is going to be a giant problem on Sunday.”

Parsons and Guyton took turns beating each other in team drills out in Oxnard, matchups that in their very own phrases, sharpened one another’s video games, precisely what McCarthy hoped. 

“You get to gauge your self as a participant,” Guyton mentioned of dealing with Garrett on Sunday. “I’ve performed towards Micah [in practice]. Bought Maxx Crosby [in the preseason]. Now I get to dam Myles Garrett. I really feel like I am simply gauging myself and seeing what I can do and what I can not do. … “I undoubtedly bought my toes moist. I really feel like he is [Parsons] the most effective go rusher within the league, probably ever. So dropping to him can also be a win and determining what you want and what you do not like about reps is sweet.”

The three-time All-Professional is one among solely 5 gamers to rack up a minimum of 40 sacks (40.5) in his first three NFL seasons, and with simply 9.5 in 2024, Parsons would turn out to be the sixth participant since particular person sacks turned an formally tracked metric in 1982 to have a minimum of 50 sacks in his first 4 seasons. Could not ask for a a lot better educating software for a younger left sort out than Parsons. 

“After all Guyton is aware of how I really feel, and I form of inform him, ‘man when you really feel like you may keep in entrance of me, you may keep in entrance of anybody,'” Parsons mentioned. “‘You are sturdy sufficient. It is simply all about understanding approach, taking part in once you’re drained, the psychological aspect of it, staying tight together with your approach and issues like that.’ Even telling him, ‘Bro, you are so lengthy and quick that swap it up, bro.’ I used to be like, ‘bro, you bought to understand it is a chess match. Earlier than, you need to suppose who was in entrance of me.'”

Eight-time Professional bowl left sort out Tyron Smith was in entrance of Parsons in observe for his first three seasons within the league earlier than signing a one-year take care of the New York Jets this offseason. His departure straight led to Guyton being Dallas’ first-round decide within the 2024 NFL Draft. Smith mentored Parsons early on, and now Parsons is doing the identical for Guyton. 

‘”He [Guyton] was like, ‘Properly I noticed you beat Tyron.’ I mentioned,’ that is completely different'” Parsons mentioned. “‘Tyron taught me the best way to beat him. So, I am attempting to show you to sluggish me down a minimum of.’ So it is all in regards to the course of, and he will proceed to get higher. I believe this week is  going to be a very good take a look at for him.”

Nevertheless, Guyton is not nervous for his matchup due to that aforementioned preparation with Parsons. 

“I do not,” Guyton mentioned when requested if will get nervous. 

Ever?

“By no means been a nervous man.”

Why not?

“Preparation,” he mentioned. “It is extra soccer. At all times enthusiastic about soccer. Identical as each recreation. Put together the proper means.”

“I would say the largest factor is routine,” Guyton mentioned. Doing day in day trip the proper issues. Taking good care of your physique, learning your performs, treating on daily basis prefer it’s a recreation day, so irrespective of who your opponent is simply getting ready the proper means.”

It additionally helps that Guyton’s routine and preparation has developed this offseason as he has discovered from nine-time Professional Bowl proper guard Zack Martin and Professional Bowl left guard Tyler Smith. 

“He is very mature as a person. He is are available in with the proper perspective,” Smith mentioned of Guyton on Thursday. ” He works onerous on daily basis, he lifts up the group on daily basis. That is one factor I really like seeing a younger man is a younger man who’s vocal even at our first joint observe, his first joint observe towards the Rams. He bought up within the go rush and he needed to go. You hear him screaming and yelling. I like to see that as a participant as a result of that reveals he is assured who he’s. He understands who he’s. Large, athletic man, extraordinarily sensible, extraordinarily gifted. The sky is the restrict for him. It is only a matter of execution.”

“I believe the large plus there’s their routine,” Guyton mentioned when requested what’s most precious about studying from Martin and Smith. “I get to see what they do day in and day trip, why they have been such dominant gamers, and it is form of regular right here. It is a routine factor like all people falls in keeping with the routine. Everyone else is doing, so it simply retains the wheels going.” 

All that is left now for Guyton is to maintain his wheels shifting towards Garrett, one of many league’s most ferocious pass-rushers. Time for Guyton to dive into the pool that’s NFL soccer head first. 

“I believe he has superior strikes, and he is a genetic freak,” Guyton mentioned of Garrett. “He is an amazing participant.”