The Dallas Cowboys spark controversy as their sudden in-house showdown hits fans at the most awkward moment imaginable.QQ
The Dallas Cowboys holding an open competition at tackle at a bad time.
If the Dallas Cowboys want to turn their 3-5-1 season around, they’re going to need to protect quarterback Dak Prescott. So far, they haven’t been doing so well enough.
Whenever the Cowboys need to deviate from their heavy play-action game plan, things get dicey in the trenches. A large reason for it is the offensive tackle position. Both left tackle Tyler Guyton and right tackle Terence Steele have struggled in pass protection dating back to last season, often requiring the coaching staff to come up with schematic answers to opponents’ pass rush.
The Cowboys are making a trade for LB Logan WilsonThe Cowboys are making a trade for LB Logan Wilson
Leading into Week 11, things have gotten bad enough that in the middle of November, Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer told reporters there was going to be an open competition at right tackle. That’s right, Steele’s job—once seemingly untouchable due to an $82.5 million contract—is officially up for grabs. And while I understand the decision to call for competition up front, the timing is extremely weird.
Cowboys are set to face Maxx Crosby with rotating tackles
If the competition means rotating Steele and backup Nate Thomas at right tackle, that means the Cowboys will be taking their starter in and out of the ballgame against Maxx Crosby, one of the best edge rushers in the game. Though I’m all for putting Steele under the spotlight and give Thomas a chance, I’m not sure the lack of in-game continuity is a good decision here.
The Las Vegas Raiders defense might be ranked only 19th in EPA/play, but Crosby is a game-wrecker when given the chance.
Pass protection and run blocking is all about chemistry up front and with this decision, the Cowboys will be asking Tyler Booker—the rookie who recently returned from injury—to have a different partner to his right throughout the game. The timing is questionable at best, but I understand the Cowboys might simply be concerned about sticking with Steele.
What is clear is, whoever is playing at the position will need help from the scheme to deal with Crosby. Chips, sprint outs, and bootlegs will be on full display on Monday Night Football.
Could Thomas wind up as the starter?
The man trying to steal Steele’s job away is second-year player and former seventh-round pick, Nate Thomas. The young player is a violent and physical blocker who already threatened to take Steele’s job back in Week 4, when he briefly took over Steele’s spot on the offensive line before an injury to Guyton forced him to step up on the left side.
In three games played, Thomas has shown flashes of quality blocking. In that the to the Green Bay Packers, he handled Micah Parsons one-on-one at least twice. However, he has been far from perfect and his hand usage has gotten him in trouble more often than even Steele.
The reason why I could expect him to win the job is all about thinking forward. Steele’s cap hit in 2026 is set to be over $18 million and the Cowboys have publicly second-guessed their own decision to extend him in the past. In other words, finding out what they have in the younger player makes sense. We’ll see how he does if given the chance.
