OXNARD, California — In Wednesday’s joint practice with the Los Angeles Rams, the starting offensive line for the Dallas Cowboys’ first-team offense consisted of just as many rookies as All-Pros.
For weeks, Tyler Guyton has been building for his position as the starting left tackle in Week 1. What was interesting, though, was Cooper Beebe’s move to center field as the starting lineup.
“Really like what Cooper did (in the preseason game),” head coach Mike McCarthy said this week. “Thought he had quality snaps, both at the center and guard. We’re going to give Cooper some opportunities here with the first group moving forward. He’ll start working in there. He has earned that opportunity.”
For both of their talented rookie offensive lineman, the Cowboys committed to providing a competitive environment. It was always expected that Guyton would eventually take over the starting lineup as he was a first-round selection at a position where the previous starter was allowed to go in free agency. Although many considered Beebe to be the best bargain selection, Guyton was the first-round selection. In the third round, the Cowboys selected him in an attempt to move him from guard to center.
Although neither player knew when their big chance to be in the starting lineup would present itself, they both entered the building with great expectations. In Guyton’s opinion, the team’s strategy helped McCarthy’s offense and him advance at the position in addition to creating a positive competitive environment.
“It made me learn a few things from Chuma (Edoga),” Guyton said. “He’s a really good player, I feel like. His hands are excellent. I took a lot from his game; I learned a lot from him. I think it was a great way of going about it.”
Tyler Guyton vs. Jared Verse did not disappoint today pic.twitter.com/BJiyBi7Vd9
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) August 14, 2024
In addition, Guyton is receiving instant instruction from the best players he might encounter on Sundays. Observing Guyton’s daily practice reps against Micah Parsons has been one of the most captivating experiences. Guyton walled off Parsons to the outside on Thursday, giving Dak Prescott enough time to make a throw. Soon after, Parsons beat Guyton inside and sacked Prescott with a dirty move.
“He’s firm, got a good grip,” Parsons said. “Natural length, has a natural strength (and) natural athleticism.”
Guyton reported that although it is still ongoing, the move from right tackle in college to left tackle with the Cowboys has gone well.
“I’m still adjusting to it every day but I feel like I’m pretty comfortable with it,” Guyton said. “It’s switching everything — hands, feet, ankles, shoulders. Everything is different.”
From practice reps against Cowboys defenders to Wednesday’s joint practice with Rams rookie defensive lineman Jared Verse, Guyton has looked the part. In the preseason game on Sunday at SoFi Stadium, he performed admirably.
Guyton was already destined to start at left tackle for the season opener against Myles Garrett and the Cleveland Browns, even if Chuma Edoga had stayed healthy. If Edoga is injured, the likelihood increases.
The struggle is significantly tighter, two spots inside Guyton. This week in practice, Beebe began to receive center reps with the first team. Brock Hoffman occupied that position earlier. McCarthy stated that Beebe deserved the chance to compete to succeed Tyler Biadasz. But from the end of the draft until training camp, Hoffman had the support of the Cowboys’ general office, coaching staff, and quarterback.
“I kind of came in later in the season my rookie year, then spent the full year here last year,” Hoffman said. “The more experience you have with the playbook, the better it’s going to be.”
The mental aspect of the role provides an additional degree of competition for the center. Unquestionably talented and physically gifted, Beebe played guard throughout of his college career. Compared to Hoffman, who is in the second year of McCarthy’s system and has played in the NFL for a few seasons, he is still learning how to identify defensive fronts and set protections.
Dallas rookie Cooper Beebe, right, is getting reps with the first-team offensive line at center. (Jason Parkhurst / USA Today)
“The command of the offense and the discipline of the communication process, which, when you’ve got five, or sometimes with the tight end six, people working together, if you’re not loud and demonstrative, and you’re not making the cleanest declarations, it really does mess us up,” Cowboys offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer said. “(Hoffman) has just mastered what we’re trying to do, from a declaration standpoint. His strength at the point of attack has been awesome. Him being in that role right now, he’s playing with a different confidence maybe than he had last year.”
If Beebe’s physical prowess lives up to the hype, Hoffman and Beebe’s fight may come down to the wire. He is performed admirably in both pass protection and run blocking. Beebe’s snaps have been largely clean, despite a few mishaps during practice under center. He immediately began practicing it religiously after being drafted.
“For me, it feels good that my hard work is paying off,” Beebe said about the first-team promotion. “Job is still not done. I’ve still got to continue to get better, and I will each day.”
In terms of practicing setting defensive fronts, Beebe will not see many looks more intricate than what he sees every day from Mike Zimmer’s defense, just like Guyton gets his finest work against the Cowboys defense with Parsons. Having a seasoned quarterback who is familiar with the scheme also helps. Furthermore, in 2016 as a rookie, Prescott was on the other side of the equation with veteran center Travis Frederick assisting him in his development.
From the center location, Schottenheimer has observed a largely seamless operation.
“The quarterbacks, in our system, always have the eraser,” Schottenheimer said. “Centers come up, they make their call, they make their point; the quarterbacks have the ability to adjust it or change it, if they need to. But really, with Brock, and all of the centers — Cooper Beebe, T.J. Bass — it doesn’t happen very often.”
The Cowboys have a promising starting roster in the past, but there are concerns about depth. It seems to be somewhat the reverse this year. Guyton should be OK for the Cowboys as their starting left tackle if he continues to perform like he has during camp practices and the preseason. Either Hoffman or Beebe should be able to start center without any problems. The regular season starting soon will provide a conclusive solution to such questions.
Both the temporary loss of Edoga and the practice-day loss of Earl Bostick Jr. hurt the tackle depth on Wednesday. Consequently, Asim Richards, who has been getting reps at guard and tackle, will be used mostly at tackle by the Cowboys. The tackles for the Cowboys need to be more consistent. If not, they might have to look into other options, like trading or using the waiver wire. The second layer’s interior is a little more concrete, with Bass serving as the primary backup guard and Beebe or Hoffman as the backup center.
There were many unanswered questions about the offensive line going into camp with the departure of Tyron Smith and Biadasz and the addition of Guyton and Beebe. The answers are beginning to emerge in Oxnard, with less than a week to go.
(Top photo of Tyler Guyton: Ric Tapia / Getty Images)
