1st round pick, 9th overall - Tyron Smith T USC....

[sbk92]

Thought we should maybe start a thread for each new player.

I'll let Bob Sturm sell you on the guy....


See what Cowboys get if they take Tyron Smith

Bob Sturm / Contributor


Tons and tons of feedback on yesterday's post about Tyron Smith and my feelings that he is "my guy" at #9.

There are a number of issues with looking at a player on youtube that are obvious for all to see. What is particularly noteworthy from yesterday's post is that the games I watched that convinced me that Tyron was the guy were not available on youtube for you to see. Therefore, I posted what was available - and I fully understand why many have questions about his quality based on some of that.

However, thanks to our fine blog reader, Joseph, I was able to find a whole new stash of Tyron film yesterday - including the 2 games I had initially viewed that sold me on him. Here those are for you this morning. Try to lock on to USC's RT, #70.

And keep in mind he is 19 years old and 285 pounds here. Today, he is about 315 according to some reports.

USC - Washington - all snaps

[video=youtube;XMNTCP1jvUY]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMNTCP1jvUY&feature=player_embedded[/video]

USC - UCLA - all snaps

[video=youtube;tQVbGkFnexs]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQVbGkFnexs&feature=player_embedded[/video]

And a highlight film from the Arizona game where Joseph writes: One of my favorite plays that I've seen of Smith comes in this video against Arizona at the 1:20 mark, it's a little designed swing pass where Smith looks like a gazelle getting out to the perimeter as the lead blocker, he avoids a DB diving at his ankles, hops over him and gets downfield to block another guy, getting the RB about 5 extra yards and the 1st down:

[video=youtube;sSbarxnYYxQ]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sSbarxnYYxQ&feature=player_embedded[/video]

Thanks, Joseph for all the help. I think the Washington game is his finest performance, but the UCLA game is solid, too. USC is using a ton of zone blocking so things are not applicable across the board.

Some scouts look at him and see D'Brickashaw Ferguson - a stud who needed some time to develop. Some readers yesterday saw Alex Barron - a guy who was a major disappointment.

Let me just remind you one thing. If he was a finished product and was flawless, he would not drop to #9. He would go at the top like Jake Long or Joe Thomas. Because you have to figure out where he is going, he will likely be on the board when Dallas picks.

This is what the Cowboys need to decide upon. Where is his career headed?

 

[sbk92]

I'd give this pick an A- grade.

The minus for the fact that he didn't play LT in college. It's a projection. But all the signs point to an easy transition. And he's a pup. His arrow is pointing way up.

 

[dbair1967]

I think he was the right pick. I'm sure he'll be an upgrade over Colombo immediately, but the long term upside of this guy is tremendous. Imagine what he might be like once he totally fills out and spends a couple years or so working with Woicik.

He may play RT initially, but I bet he moves to LT within a yr or two.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

Why would he move to LT in a year or 2?

 

[sbk92]

It's A Ty

Cowboys Break Streak, Pick OL Smith

Josh Ellis
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer

Smith will likely take over a starting job on the Cowboys' offensive line.


IRVING, Texas - Never say never. The Cowboys have broken from their 30 year streak of avoiding offensive linemen in the first round of the NFL Draft by selecting Southern Cal tackle Tyron Smith at pick No. 9 overall.

Smith, 20, started two seasons for the Trojans, earning All-Pac 10 honors in 2010, when he was also named the conference's best lineman. The 6-5, 307-pounder was widely projected to be the first offensive lineman selected, and had become the consensus for the Cowboys' top pick in recent mock drafts.

For the Cowboys, the selection marks the highest offensive line selection since Jerry Jones bought the team and took over as general manager in 1989. The club had last used a first-round pick on the line in 1981, taking Howard Richards of Missouri at pick No. 26 overall.

The club will likely pencil in Smith as one of its starting tackles. Veteran right tackle Marc Colombo has had injury problems in the last two seasons, and is coming off a difficult year in 2010. In March, left tackle Doug Free was given a one-year tender offer, which will apply if the same uncapped rules which governed the league in 2010 are reinstated. If a salary cap system ultimately returns, however, Free would be an unrestricted free agent.

The Cowboys own the eighth pick in the second round, No. 40 overall.

 

[Midswat]

Love the pick.

Big fan of this kid, and I love that Jason Garret addresses a critical need without getting cute.

Rare instance where need matches BPA, imo.

I give the grade an A+.

I'm homering out.

 

[sbk92]

Houck: Smith's 'a very good football player'

By Todd Archer


IRVING, Texas -- Tyron Smith put the Pro Bowl and Hall of Fame stuff out there.

Offensive line coach Hudson Houck knows what one looks like. He coached Anthony Munoz and Bruce Matthews at Southern Cal. With the Los Angeles Rams, he coached Jackie Slater. He coached some good ones with the Cowboys, too, and one day soon Larry Allen will be a member of the Hall of Fame.

“I’m terrible in comparisons,” Houck said. “Really I don’t like them, but this guy is going to be a very good football player. A very good football player.”

Houck, however, did make a comparison to Allen -- a second-round pick in 1994 by the Cowboys -- when asked if he is excited about Smith’s ability now or in the future.

“I’m excited in both respects,” Houck said. “I’m excited about what he is right now and how he’s played. He’s got such great foot speed that when he gets on you when he blocks you, it’s a little bit of Larry Allen. He’ll stay on you. He’ll finish blocks pretty well. And also now looking in the long run, he’s still a young puppy at 20 years old. There’s lot of maturing he’ll do. There’s some growth. He’ll get stronger I think because he has such a good work ethic. It was a big factor for us.”

 

[sbk92]

Cowboys not sure which side for Smith

By Todd Archer


IRVING, Texas -- Now that the Cowboys have selected offensive tackle Tyron Smith, they have to figure out what side will suit him best.

Smith started 24 games at right tackle for Southern Cal, but most teams project him as a left tackle. Doug Free replaced Flozell Adams at left tackle in 2010 and has seven games of starting experience at right tackle.

"They want me to play left," Smith said, "but whatever side they want me to play will be good."

Offensive line coach/running game coordinator Hudson Houck said a decision has not been made.

"I think we're going to work with him before we ever line up to play games," Houck said. "We’ll see where he best fits -- left side, right side -- and we’ll see how that goes.”

 

[Bob Sacamano]

Houk is fucking senile.

 

[sbk92]

Age and health a reason to draft Smith

By Calvin Watkins


IRVING -- If there was a major concern for the Cowboys regarding the offensive line, it was age and health.

Left tackle Doug Free, at 27, is the only starter under 30.

The selection of 20-year-old Tyron Smith with the ninth overall pick gives them an infusion of youth at either right or left tackle.

"The guy is going to be a great run blocker and a great pass protector," offensive line coach Hudson Houck said. "As everybody has stated before, we’re getting a little older in the offensive line and this guy gives us some opportunity and he’s a very young guy. It gives us an opportunity to be a better run team and a better pass protection team, and we’re excited about the guy."

Cowboys right tackle Marc Colombo and left guard Kyle Kosier missed the season opener due to leg injuries, and center Andre Gurode was hobbled at times because of his knees.

 

[Sheik]

Great news that they are at least considering him at LT.

 

[RoyTheHammer]

Houk is fucking senile.

Huh??

..and why wouldn't they move him to LT in a year or two.. if not right away?

 

[dbair1967]

I think its obvious now that they probably had a much higher grade on Smith than any of the other offensive lineman.

Glad we stayed put and took him. Maybe Costanzo would have made a smoother transition initially, but longterm Smith has a much higher ceiling. And he's still going to be a significant upgrade to our OL by pairing him with Free, regardless of who plays which spot.

 

[SixisBetter]

Did anybody listen the audio of Smith's conference call with the Dallas media?

I don't blame you if you didn't,it sounds like Smith somehow found a spot in NYC that had lousy cell reception,to mostly answer questions like "Do you remember Coaches Garrett and Houck's visit on your pro day?".What's he going to say,"Herp derp,no,who the fuck you talkin about?"

But I find a very interesting question and answer around the 2:00 mark about where the Cowboys want him to play on the line.

http://www.dallascowboys.com/multimedia/multimedia_center.cfm?id=9F4B0A57-A705-2EA0-5701FD1CD7B377A8

 

[Sheik]

I just don't understand why they would draft a LT so soon. I thought we found our future in Doug Free, this is what most of our fanbase wants us to believe.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

We currently don't have a credible RT, Doonesbury.

 

[Sheik]

We currently don't have a credible RT, Doonesbury.

Before last night, all we had a was a decent fill in at LT, nothing to write home about. Best of the worst on a terrible line.

If Tyron is what everyone thinks he is, Doug Free will be a distant memory as far as LT goes. If Free ends up being a great RT, I'll give him all the credit in the world, but he isn't what you want at LT long term, imo.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

Right, I guess Seattle thinks Russell Okung sucks too because they reached for James Carpenter last night.

 

[Sheik]

Right, I guess Seattle thinks Russell Okung sucks too because they reached for James Carpenter last night.

Yeah, if you think they plan on playing James Carpenter at LT.

I thought you were smarter than that.

 

[sbk92]

I just don't understand why they would draft a LT so soon. I thought we found our future in Doug Free, this is what most of our fanbase wants us to believe.

That got exposed the moment the pick was made.

You don't make that pick if you think you have your LT of the future. They'll never come out and say it, but actions speak louder than words.

Free is waaaaaaaaaaaaaaay overrated by this retarded fan base.