Cowboys rookie Tyler Guyton appears to repair penalty woes vs. Steelers, not utilizing inexperience at LT as excuse

FRISCO, Texas — There have been some comprehensible issues about numerous parts of the Cowboys‘ offense in 2024. These are honest: Dallas has led the NFL in scoring offense (29.9 factors per recreation) in 2023, however it has dropped out of the highest 10 by means of the primary 4 weeks of 2024 (24.3 factors per recreation). 

Nonetheless, the Cowboys cross safety is not one of many points they’re working by means of: Their 25.8% quarterback strain fee allowed is the third greatest within the NFL. That is spectacular contemplating Dallas is beginning two rookies in first-round choose left deal with Tyler Guyton and third-round choose middle Cooper Beebe. 

Group proprietor and normal supervisor Jerry Jones referred to as his opening round selection of Guyton “a sexy pick for an offensive lineman as a result of he has loads of upside.” That has largely to do with the developmental nature of Guyton. His NFL job of left deal with is the other of his job in faculty with the Oklahoma Sooners, the place 13 of his 14 begins got here at proper deal with. His solely collegiate begin at left deal with was a 45-13 win in opposition to College of Texas El Paso in Oklahoma’s 2022 season opener. 

His inexperience at left deal with could also be enjoying a task in his 5 accepted offensive penalties this season, that are tied for the third most within the NFL coming into Week 5. Guyton additionally has two different holding penalties this season, one in Week 3 vs. the Ravens and one in Week 4 on the Giants.

“I feel it is all on me. I simply should get higher,” Guyton mentioned on Wednesday when requested if the place swap is a giant motive for the infractions.   

Guyton’s holding name that was offset in Week 3 in opposition to Baltimore is his most ill-timed penalty of the season. With 12 seconds left within the first half, down 21-3, quarterback Dak Prescott uncorked a 33-yard deep ball to large receiver CeeDee Lamb in the long run zone, and his defender — Ravens 2024 first-round choose nook Nate Wiggins — was referred to as for cross interference in the long run zone. Dallas would have superior downfield to have first-and-goal on the 1 with six seconds left following the conclusion of that play. Guyton’s penalty negated that chance, and the Cowboys settled for a 51-yard area purpose by All-Professional kicker Brandon Aubrey, which lower the lead all the way down to 21-6. 

This play led to Lamb getting upset on the sideline, yelling at each Prescott and nine-time Professional Bowl proper guard Zack Martin within the aftermath. It additionally loomed giant in a recreation Dallas stormed again to lose by simply three factors, 28-25.

“Simply going again to the drafting board and doing what I have to do to make myself a greater participant,” Guyton mentioned. “I intention for perfection.”  

Guyton accepted penalties this season

• Unlawful block above of the waist in Week 1 on the Browns
• False begin in Week 2 vs. the Saints
• Holding in Week 2 vs. the Saints
• Holding in Week 4 vs. the Giants
• Holding in Week 4 vs. the Giants

* Tied for the third-most accepted offensive penalties within the NFL this season

Guyton felt he performed poorly within the workforce’s 33-17 Week 1 win in opposition to the Cleveland Browns and 2023 NFL Defensive Participant of the 12 months edge rusher Myles Garrett regardless of permitting only one sack and two quarterback pressures. That inspired Prescott on the time. 

“Once you received a man like that who has the usual and the expectations for himself, he did not play poorly,” Prescott mentioned of Guyton coming into Week 2. “[He] Might not play to his expectations, and that is superior to listen to. But it surely’s about simply persevering with to encourage him. There’s instances that possibly he received edged, possibly Myles [Garrett] received his palms on me, or hit me just a little bit after the play. Tyler virtually apologized within the sense and [I said], ‘Hey bro, don’t fret about it the ball received out simply transfer on the subsequent play.’ So for me, it is about simply telling [him] proceed to maneuver on. He is rising in every rep. He understands that, and he will be a hell of a participant, particularly if he retains these expectations and is hard on himself like that.”

The 23-year-old Guyton definitely has had sturdy moments, however his 52.7 Professional Soccer Focus offensive grade ranks 66th out of 77 NFL offensive tackles this season.

“He is performing some actually good issues,” Cowboys offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer mentioned on Monday. “He actually is. Once more, he’s enjoying left deal with within the NFL, younger. What we’re actually specializing in with him this week, we have talked about it, with all of the younger gamers: There is a elementary emphasis that has to occur. He’s so proficient, and he’s so athletic, however he does get off steadiness at instances. He oversets at instances. So for him, a younger participant that missed loads of coaching camp [with an illness], it is actually that intentionality. … For Tyler, it is his ft and his hand utilization. … If the hand will get exterior and also you’re grabbing a man’s jersey, they will name that. … It is received nothing to do with expertise. It is received to do along with his fundamentals and the intentionality of follow. I feel he is received to know that you simply get an opportunity to go in opposition to good gamers in follow one-on-one and maximize these.”

Dallas Professional Bowl left guard Tyler Smith, who performed left deal with in faculty and as a fill-in for when Tyron Smith suffered accidents, agreed with Schottenheimer’s evaluation. 

“The most important factor is enhancing your fundamentals,” Smith mentioned. “Calls are going to get referred to as whether or not they’re good or dangerous. It is out of our palms. One factor we will management is our method and fundamentals.”

What would possibly that seem like for the 6-foot-7 Guyton, who weighs 322 kilos? Hand placement, based on Smith. 

“He is extraordinarily athletic,” Smith mentioned of Guyton. “Largest factor is ensuring your palms are in good locations. That is what the refs are on the lookout for. They’re on the lookout for your physique an the place your palms are and issues like that. So we simply received to verify we’re on prime of our method.”

His teammates are doing what they’ll to maintain Guyton’s head up simply 4 video games into his skilled soccer profession. 

“Simply maintain engaged on it, simply maintain engaged on it,” Cowboys working again and locker room chief Ezekiel Elliott mentioned Thursday when requested about his recommendation for Guyton. “You set in all of the work, simply maintain engaged on the basics. You are a rookie, it is the primary 4 video games, you already know what I imply? It typically takes just a little longer than that to form of get used to the velocity. So, you already know, simply maintain engaged on it.”  

“We’re 4 video games in. I feel we’re nonetheless constructing each single day, each play,” Guyton mentioned. “I feel we’re constructing in the direction of one thing. I do not assume we’re at our greatest but. We’re not. I really feel like I have to do higher. If I am not at my greatest, then we’re not at our greatest. So I feel all of us have enhancements to make.”

Life will not get any simpler for Guyton as he prepares to face a Pittsburgh Steelers cross rush in Week 5 that features edge rusher T.J. Watt — the one participant to guide the NFL in sacks three totally different instances — six-time Professional Bowl defensive deal with Cameron Hayward and edge rusher Alex Highsmith, whose 22.5 sacks since 2022 are the thirteenth most within the NFL. 

“Clearly T.J. Watt jumps off the tape at you, however Cam Heyward, it does not decelerate in any respect,” Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy mentioned on Thursday. … “It is going to be an enormous problem to run our safety system in opposition to Pittsburgh. Let’s not overlook concerning the different aspect [edge rusher Alex Highsmith]. Their edge strain with a premier participant inside [Hayward]. That is three of the 4 guys, not diminishing the opposite inside gamers, however this can be a problem for any safety scheme.”

Guyton’s purpose for October, his second month as an NFL participant, is to appropriate all aspects of his recreation. Dallas’ season might very effectively partially hinge on his growth as Prescott’s blindside protector. 

“Simply turning into a greater soccer participant and never hurting my workforce,” Guyton mentioned. “No matter which may be: penalties, sacks, pressures. I am simply attempting to scrub up the whole lot as an entire.”