Cowboys prioritize trench strength over skill flash
Cowboys prioritize trench strength over skill flash originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
The Dallas Cowboys' draft wasn't sexy. It didn't spark fantasy buzz or light up national headlines. But it was proper, intentional, and calculated.
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And it was a case of keeping up with the Joneses — not Jerry and Stephen, but the rest of the NFL. ... The teams that have already adapted to the modern landscape. Because football, like fashion, evolves. And if you're still dressing for last season, you'll get exposed.
They didn't lie to us about the left tackle. At one point, it was the most valuable non-quarterback position in football. Franchise left tackles built dynasties, protected legends, and cashed generational checks. For a time, we were all right to believe it.
But the league has changed and will continue changing.
The spread took over. Then defenses adjusted — speed over size, chaos over control. precision over power. And slowly, the pressure point began shifting. No longer off the edge, but right into the quarterback's lap.
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Interior disruption is now the dominant force. Left tackles still matter. But they're no longer "the thing.'' Right tackles are getting paid. Guards are getting weaponized. And teams are recalibrating how they build their front five.
This is the NFL pendulum — and right now, it's swinging fast.
So before panicking about Tyler Guyton's need to develop overnight … or wondering why Tyler Booker was taken when flashier names were on the board … It's worth asking: Are you watching football as it is — or as it used to be?
From 2010 to 2019, the league saw a 21.2% increase in the usage of 11 personnel (1 RB, 1 TE, 3 WR) and a 17.7% rise in shotgun snaps. That strategic shift pulled defenses into lighter, faster personnel — nickel has now become base. And that right there is well documented and spoken amongst the masses of CFB and NFL enthusiasts. But its what is now happening as a result of that widely understood "nickel" that is why we're here discussing this topic today.
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Offenses creatively adapted and became what we know today as the "modern spread". Defenses then countered all of that speed and deception with speed and deception of their own. More double-a gap looks, rolled coverages, and simulated pressures were all designed to confuse the offense and most importantly it's quarterback and protection slides.
The defensive counter is in full force and has seemingly peaked. Now suddenly, your front five had to do more than hold the line — they have to process chaos in real time too.
That's why Tyler Booker made so much sense to us prior to the draft even taking place. Some of the league is still chasing and prioritizing perimeter skill, but Dallas looked inward. They doubled down on interior muscle. On tone-setters. Tyler Booker is exactly that, but even beyond that, he's cerebral. The football IQ is off the charts and his film is a reflection of that. Watch his highlights but pay specific attention to his prowess as the "help man" ... It's remarkable.
Tyler Booker alongside Beebe and Smith isn't solely about just "being more physical". It's about solidifying the interior of the offensive line which has become subject to significant stress in recent history.
Check our our conversation with Voch Lombardi above as we work through the concepts ...
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For the Cowboys, it's not about hoping Guyton becomes Tyron Smith overnight. It's about building a unit that can function as one — and function under fire. That's why Brian Schottenheimer didn't just bring in one offensive line coach. He brought in two. That's one of the reasons why McCarthy is gone, and the run game is being rebuilt from the ground up.
Because this is how you start running the football better. This is how you stop settling for 3.2 yards per carry in playoff losses. And this is how you punch back — when the pendulum swings.
Related: From Scalpel to Sledgehammer: Cowboys Changing Identity
Related: Cowboys Moves Predicted To Mean Most Physical Offense In NFL
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 5, 2025, where it first appeared.
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