OXNARD, Calif. (AP) 鈥� The Dallas Cowboys arrived at training camp looking for answers at left tackle. They might depart Southern California with questions at right tackle.
While Tyler Guyton has built on a strong offseason to take hold of one of the most important positions in football, Terence Steele鈥檚 recent struggles have offensive coordinator Klayton Adams trying to get more from his incumbent on the right side.
鈥淚 would say it鈥檚 been up and down,鈥� Adams said of Steele鈥檚 performance over the past three weeks. 鈥淗e鈥檚 a guy that鈥檚 going into year seven, and he鈥檚 never going to ask for a day off, and he鈥檚 never going to ask for a break. So we鈥檙e just searching for ways to help him, and help him play at his best and most consistent.鈥�
Steele has been a stalwart since signed him as an undrafted free agent out of Texas Tech in 2020, starting 91 games in six seasons. Over the past three years, he has played in every regular-season game.
However, coach Brian Schottenheimer was critical of Steele鈥檚 pad level and ability to set the edge over a stretch of practices that included joint workouts with the Los Angeles Rams and New Orleans Saints.
鈥淗e needs to be better,鈥� Schottenheimer said.
At the same time, backup Nate Thomas has moved from left tackle to right tackle with the second unit. Going into his third season out of Louisiana-Lafayette, Thomas had been the player the Cowboys hoped would compete with Guyton to start on the left side but never progressed to where he meaningfully challenged Guyton.
The switch was intended to allow Thomas and rookie fourth round pick Drew Shelton to continue preparing for possible swing tackle duties, but in a program where the mantra is 鈥渃ompete every day,鈥� it could also be a message to Steele.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 the only (position) you asked me about, so that鈥檚 the only one I鈥檓 going to speak to,鈥� Schottenheimer said.
While Steele needs to improve, Guyton has been praised by teammates and coaches for the steps he has taken going into his third season. The No. 29 overall selection out of Oklahoma in 2024, Guyton addressed his fitness in an effort to avoid the injuries that limited him previously.
Left guard Tyler Smith has seen Guyton improve his diet and devote more time to training and recovery.
鈥淚 really think he took a step back and, like, saw what he needed to get better at. He truly attacked that on all fronts,鈥� Smith said.
Guyton also worked on refining the 鈥済rown man strength鈥� that he needs to sustain the high level of play he has demonstrated at times.
鈥淚t鈥檚 not just being strong. You鈥檙e thinking like super-duper strong, and you know the guys that we鈥檙e blocking, (those) players are freaks of nature themselves. So, being able to sustain that for a whole play and a whole game, and that last 10% of a drive, that鈥檚 where that extra strength kicks in,鈥� he said.
Offensive line coach Conor Riley expects Guyton to make more progress toward maximizing his potential this season, especially if he can stay on the field.
鈥淚 believe that he鈥檚 beginning to recognize that,鈥� Riley said. 鈥淎long with that, it鈥檚 not putting too much stress on himself to be there right now. It鈥檚 putting pressure on himself to continue to move forward every single day. But I say there鈥檚 a difference between stress and pressure. Stress is things you can鈥檛 control, pressure is things you can control. So he鈥檚 doing a better job with that.鈥�
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