FRISCO, Texas — Tyler Booker has already made it known he’s a “natural born leader”, but the rookie first-round pick also understands that before he can lead, he must learn to follow. That is why he's leaned so heavily into learning everything he can from those on the Dallas Cowboys' offensive line who arrived in the NFL before him, such as Tyler Smith and Terence Steele.
Smith and Steele are tasked by head coach Brian Schottenheimer to lead the charge in helping to coach up the younger talent, e.g., Booker, Tyler Guyton and Cooper Beebe, particularly in a situation wherein there have also been changes at offensive coordinator and offensive line coach.
Having now worked through rookie minicamp, OTAs and mandatory minicamp, Booker has been a sponge for information, insight and coaching.
"I couldn't ask for a better room of vets," said the two-time All-SEC guard out of Alabama. "Like, we're a younger room, but there's still a lot of experience within there, so they can relate to what it's like to be a rookie. Even guys like [Guyton], he's helped me out a lot — T. Steele, Brock [Hoffman], everybody, literally everybody [including Cooper Beebe].
"I just really appreciate all their guidance along the way, and they've definitely made this process easier for me.
Such a mindset bodes well for the rebuilt offensive line in Dallas, one that is only two years removed from the departure of now-retired future Hall of Fame left tackle Tyron Smith, and zero years removed from the retirement of fellow future Hall of Fame right guard Zack Martin.
"We're building great chemistry," Booker said of the offensive line. "And like I said earlier, I like having guys with experience right next to me. If I ever have a question right before the snap, they're able to help me out and lead me in the right direction."
But as is often the case with those who seek to be great, Booker doesn't want to always rely so much on those around him, which isn't to say he never wants to, but instead that there comes a time and place when he should have a clear understanding of how to dominate on the field with only minor tweaks being needed here and there; and less and less coaching of the basics at the NFL level.
"I'm trying to make sure that doesn't become a habit, you know what I mean?" he said. "I'm very prideful about knowing the offense, and I want to make sure that I'm not holding this run back, by any means. So I'm definitely [working] a lot to make sure I'm not gonna hold the offense back."
The next major chapter of this ... Book ... is when the rubber meets the road in Oxnard, and the rookie can begin to finally let his hands do the talking, and for the first time in his Cowboys' career.
