FRISCO, Texas 鈥 When thinking about the 抖阴视频' offensive line in 2025 and beyond, the first thing that comes to mind is, well, Tyler cubed. Three first-round picks over the last four years produced Tyler Smith, Tyler Guyton and, now, Tyler Booker but, following the retirement of Zack Martin, the onus of leadership doesn't simply fall on Smith's capable shoulders.
The true elder statesman on the offensive line isn't Smith, it's Terence Steele, the latter entering what will be his sixth year in the NFL and with the Cowboys. That means that it's as much on Steele to lead the young bulls through the rodeo as it is on Smith, who's walking into Year 4.
In an exclusive chat with Brian Schottenheimer, the head coach and offensive play caller was clear in both his praise of Steele and in what he expects to see from his starting right tackle in the post-Martin era.
"I think it's a great example of these guys that come in all different personalities," he said. "Terence is one of the hardest workers that we have. His work ethic, the way he trains, the way he approaches being a pro and his craft are amazing. He's not the most vocal guy, and that's not a bad thing.
"He's more of a leader by example. But he's also a voice of confidence, and a voice of experience for the young guys."
It's been an up-and-down affair for Steele since returning from a torn ACL and MCL suffered in December 2022, the majority of the 2023 season being mostly viewed as the transition back to the field, but the mental hurdle remained and it showed, along with some soreness in the offending knee creating an added challenge in Steele's mission to return to top form.
Having clawed his way from the ranks of the undrafted in 2020 to the role of starting right tackle to a multi-year contract extension, Steele's top form is one that could very well reappear in 2025. After all, film review provides evidence of his consistency of play improving dramatically once there was a healthy right guard standing to the left of him in 2024.
Martin was simply a shell of himself as he fought through a degenerative ankle injury that would ultimately end his season and NFL career 鈥 creating a liability for the first time in his otherwise outstanding career that made things more difficult Steele 鈥 but the emergence of Brock Hoffman not so coincidentally created stability on the right side of the line that wildly benefitted the former Red Raider.
That should come as no surprise to anyone who understands the dynamic between a guard and a tackle, e.g., timing, combo blocks, etc., and Schottenheimer went so far as to make it clear that the decision to grab who they hope will be Martin's successor in this year's draft will serve Steele greatly at right tackle.
"I think playing next to Tyler Booker, that confidence, and [Steele is] a great communicator, which allows him to make sure they're on the same page because he does a great job, and that's just invaluable," Schottenheimer said. "I think he's set up to have a great year."
The decision to revamp the coaching staff to add Conor Riley as offensive line coach and Klayton Adams, a former NFL offensive line coach turned Cowboys' offensive coordinator, are added reasons for why there's a lot of optimism for what Steele could accomplish in the season to come.
So, if you're keeping count at home, it seems to go a little something like this: time removed from injury plus improved play at right guard (over an injured Martin) plus the addition of not one, but two, heralded offensive line minds could and should equal the resurgence at right tackle.
Steele hasn't been stainless as of late, but he's being reinforced this time around.
