Cowboys’ Tyler Smith on entering second NFL season, new coaches in Dallas

Entering his second season in Dallas, Cowboys offensive lineman Tyler Smith said he’s beginning to feel more comfortable.

In less than a year, Smith was drafted in the first round, went to his first NFL training camp, started all 17 games of his rookie season at two different positions, helped the Cowboys advance to the second round of the playoffs and saw a change in the team’s offensive coaching staff.

Through it all, it’s been the relationships he’s built with Dallas’ veteran offensive line that helped him get through the unexpected changes and prepared for 2023.

“After getting that first year under my belt, I understand what the expectation is,” Smith said on Saturday prior to hosting a youth football camp at Crowley ISD Stadium. “I’ve gone through camp, OTAs, I’ve been through the season before. Being comfortable and acclimated to what I need to do has helped me a lot — in terms of being confident and who I am. That first year was kind of nervous. Everything was new. Going to a new locker room and some of the guys are like 30, 34. I’m was used to being in a locker room with 18-23-year-olds. Getting acclimated with the guys helped me a lot.”

Many rookies experience a “Welcome to the NFL” moment — when a veteran beats them on a play that makes them realize professional is much different than college football.

Smith said he had a couple last season — especially after Cowboys starting left tackle Tyron Smith tore his left hamstring before the season started, which forced Tyler Smith to switch to left tackle from guard.

For Tyler, he said whenever he didn’t make a play in a game through the first couple weeks of the season he would doubt himself. But with veterans Jason Peters, Zack Martin and Tyron Smith in Dallas’ offensive line room, he said their assistance aided his success as a rookie.

“I remember Jason told me something, and it was so profound for me,” Smith said. “He said, ‘Man, all you need to know is when it comes to pass pro or run game, get out of your stance and get to your spot.’ And it took me a while to think about it. Tyron would tell me the same thing, ‘Get to your spot, get to your spot.’ And I had no idea what that meant. Did they want me to kick to a certain point? But when I finally understood it, it just meant get out your stance and to where you can really do battle. That’s when a lot of things got easier for me. My mantra on game days as soon as I woke up was: Get out my stance, get in my spot, stay low and get my hands up. That kept me grounded.”

A week after the Cowboys’ 19-12 loss to the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Divisional round playoff game, Dallas fired offensive coordinator Kellen Moore, who then took the same job for the Los Angeles Chargers less than 24 hours later. Smith said he didn’t think about it as a business decision, but wishes his former coach success in LA.

“The front office is kind of out of my jurisdiction, but I’m glad he was picked up by the Chargers,” Smith said. “He’s a great OC, we had one of the most explosive offenses in the league for two years. He’s a great coach, and I’m glad he’s somewhere where he can be him.”

Smith has dealt with coaching changes before, though. In college, he worked with three offensive line coaches in four years at Tulsa.

Moore and offensive line coach Joe Philbin were replaced with Brian Schottenheimer and Mike Solari in February, and Smith said meeting both gave him excitement for the potential of next season’s offense.

“I really like them,” Smith said. “What they bring to the team in their expertise is valuable, but they bring a lot of energy; like a lot more energy than I was used to in my first year. Having these guys being juiced and excited, I know it’s really going to give us that boost that we need.”

Smith said he wasn’t sure where he will start most of his games next season, whether at left tackle or left guard, but is prepared for both. Now that he has more of an idea of what to expect in the NFL, he only has one goal in mind for his second season with the Cowboys.

“Winning that Super Bowl,” Smith said. “Obviously I want to go out there and play to the best of my abilities, I want to improve upon last season and I want to be a benefit to the team regardless where they put me, but winning that Super Bowl is the biggest thing. We came close last year and we lost, and that pain sticks with you. I know we have the team to go out there and win it all.”