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Todd Archer
FRISCO, Texas — Sweat dripped from Tyler Guyton‘s face as he spoke. Just a few moments earlier, the Dallas Cowboys‘ left sort out was on the sphere at The Star for greater than an hour within the group’s fifth organized group exercise.
“He is having a terrific offseason,” coach Brian Schottenheimer stated. “He is working his ass off. He seems nice.”
It is just the voluntary offseason program, and gamers aren’t in pads, so even Schottenheimer needed to mood expectations considerably. But when the Cowboys’ offense is to change into the top-11 unit that it was from 2019 to 2024, then Guyton, the 2024 first-round decide, might want to make a leap in his play.
For the entire discuss of quarterback Dak Prescott‘s return from hamstring surgical procedure, the addition of receiver George Pickens, the playmaking of WR1 CeeDee Lamb and the tweaks to the offense introduced by Schottenheimer, the play of Dallas’ offensive line will must be higher in 2025.
Left guard Tyler Smith is a Professional Bowler. Heart Cooper Beebe confirmed promise as a rookie in 2024. Terence Steele is dependable at proper sort out. The Cowboys chosen Tyler Booker within the first spherical this yr and instantly made him the starter at proper guard.
After which there’s Guyton.
He’s on the forefront of the wanted enchancment, and he is aware of it.
“I did not do too good final yr,” Guyton stated final week. “I need to do higher. I need to be a man that may be trusted.”
Guyton began 11 of the 15 video games he performed final yr. He missed two video games with knee and shoulder points. He completed with the third-most accepted penalties within the league with 14 (18 complete). Eight have been holding penalties, 5 have been false begins. He allowed seven sacks.
Making the transfer from proper sort out at Oklahoma, the place he was defending the blindside of lefthanded Dillon Gabriel, to left sort out with the Cowboys and changing future Corridor of Famer Tyron Smith was a tough job. That is why the Cowboys’ unique plan was to have veteran Chuma Edoga begin to give Guyton time to study, however Edoga suffered a toe harm in camp, fast-tracking Guyton.
Guyton additionally missed time in coaching camp with an sickness. He wasn’t in a position to follow at completely different instances in the course of the season due to accidents. Former coach Mike McCarthy lamented the time Guyton missed, believing that impacted his improvement.
“I am not going to make any excuses,” Guyton stated. “I simply did not play nearly as good as I wanted to final yr. I am coming with a distinct angle this yr to change into a greater participant.”
When the season ended, Guyton got here up with an enchancment plan. As quickly as he might, he was at The Star understanding to get greater and stronger. Off the sphere, he modified his weight-reduction plan. Away from the ability, he added a exercise room in his storage. He has new eyes on him within the offensive line room with coordinator Klayton Adams and line coach Conor Riley.
“I simply really feel like I’ve loads to show, and I wanted to work on issues, and getting in right here earlier was the way in which I used to be going to do it,” Guyton stated.
He met with the group’s vitamin employees and studied movies on his personal. He eradicated fried meals from his weight-reduction plan, which meant the self-described “Caniac” might now not go to Elevating Cane’s. He now eats extra salmon and steak.
He’s nonetheless listed at 322 kilos, however he feels higher.
“I really feel like I’ve much more power. I really feel like my joints really feel loads higher,” he stated. “Consuming the precise issues, placing good gas into my weight-reduction plan has undoubtedly helped me change into a greater participant.”
After watching his tape, he stated he stretches for an hour virtually each night time in his exercise room. There aren’t any followers within the storage.
“It is sizzling as hell,” he stated.
Taking good care of his physique was one thing Zack Martin careworn, however Guyton didn’t really know what he meant till going by means of his rookie season.
“He performed tremendous bodily, and that requires a degree of dedication to your physique that’s untapped by common gamers,” Guyton stated.
Earlier within the offseason, he sat at the back of the room in the course of the retirement press conferences for Martin and Smith. They mixed for 17 Professional Bowl appearances with the Cowboys.
“I really feel like I virtually bought emotional watching Tyron Smith as a result of that is a man that I seemed as much as,” Guyton stated. “I need to comply with in his footsteps in being a fantastic Dallas Cowboys left sort out. So listening to his legacy stretch throughout a decade, it is extraordinarily a blessing and I need to match that mould.”
It is solely the offseason. There’s a necessary minicamp subsequent week, however the pads don’t come on till late July in coaching camp. Then comes preseason video games earlier than the Sept. 4 opener in opposition to the defending Tremendous Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles.
“He understands how essential this yr is for him,” Schottenheimer stated. “Not only for him, however for our soccer group.”
