When it comes to offensive line knowledge, Duke Manyweather is someone whose words you want to take heed of. That goes for fans wanting to learn more about the game, linemen trying to get drafted, NFL players aiming to get better, and yes, even league coaching staffs like the Dallas Cowboys'.
That's the kind of prestige he has as a private coach working with some of the best talent in the NFL as he's helped develop players in all kinds of situations. The Cowboys are among the teams who have benefitted the most from his mastery of the trenches, as many players who have started for the team have gone through some work with Big Duke.
One of those players is Tyler Smith, who currently finds himself in the middle of one of the largest debates around Cowboys circles: Should he stay at guard after earning second-team All-Pro honors at the position or should he be kicked outside to replace Tyron Smith at left tackle following his departure?
Over the weekend, Manyweather sent the Cowboys a warning on the third-year player they drafted 24th overall in 2022, claiming the team "shouldn't even consider moving Tyler Smith" and that "it would be a huge mistake for the OL and for Tyler's continued development."
Manyweather's words shouldn't be taken lightly. Stephen Jones recently compared Tyler Smith to franchise legend Larry Allen when discussing the young player's versatility. But if they dare compare him to such a dominant guard, is it possible they're thinking he's too good inside to be moved at this point?
The heart of the matter comes down to whether or not Tyler is that special at guard. Based on how his 2023 season went, he really is. He handled the likes of Aaron Donald and Jalen Carter, among many other dominant defensive tackles with ease, ending the season with the fourth-highest efficiency rating in pass pro (pressures allowed on per-snap basis) while grading as the seventh best run blocker in the league among guards, per PFF.
Manyweather also understands how much switching a player from one position to another can hurt his development, and his opinion on potentially moving Terence Steele to guard last year was along the same lines, calling the discussion "stupid."
Is it really better to move Tyler Smith to tackle and risk getting worse at two spots rather than just one? Even if the Cowboys' original plan when they drafted him was to eventually make him the left tackle of the future, at some point they've got to realize they've got one of the best guards in the league and he might be more helpful to the Cowboys inside than elsewhere.
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