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Tyler Smith Poised as Heartbeat Of Cowboys Vision

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Adam Schultz | Last updated Jun 1, 2025 12:13 PM ET

The Dallas Cowboys, under new head coach Brian Schottenheimer, will be a tough, physical football team, but to achieve that, the offensive line must be pulling its weight.

With some changes to the line, following the retirements of Tyron Smith and Zack Martin, the offensive line in front of Dak Prescott is a new-look unit, with two-time Pro Bowler Tyler Smith now seen as "the" guy in the room.

That title isn't one that is thrown around loosely, especially given some of the great offensive lines the Cowboys have had over the years, but Tyler knows that if the team is to have success in Schottenheimer's first year, it will be because of his unit.

“It's extremely important that we all rise to the occasion," Smith said. "This is [an] extremely competitive division with great offensive and defensive lines, and we understand the importance of that. We understand that when we come into work, when we come into train, lift, all that stuff, and so I think it's going to be paramount.

"I think it's going to start and end with us ultimately when it comes to the success of this football team."

Wanting a run-first offense, Schottenheimer will be putting a lot of trust in the offensive line, led by the heartbeat Smith, to establish and then dominate the line of scrimmage on a weekly basis.

With Tyler Guyton, Smith, Cooper Beebe, draftee Tyler Booker, and Terence Steele, the Cowboys have a line that boasts three first-round picks, as it is clear the franchise is building from the trenches.

The 2025 Cowboys want to be a tough, physical, and uncompromising football team, and that falls right into Smith's wheelhouse. With Klayton Adams as offensive coordinator and Conor Riley as offensive line coach, both of whom have skins on the wall developing top run games, this new-look offensive line is ready to shoulder the burden for the team.

And with Smith under no illusions that the team will go as far as his unit goes, there will be pressure aplenty for this young line.

But it's clear it's the kind of pressure that Tyler craves, and he's ready for all the smoke this upcoming season.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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