The arrival of Bill Callahan in Dallas has the team mulling some changes to the offensive line.
Callahan has praised rookie tackle Tyron Smith since being hired as the team’s new offensive coordinator and offensive line coach. Head coach Jason Garrett admitted that the team is thinking about moving Smith from right tackle to left tackle next season. That would mean Doug Free would switch back to right tackle, one year after signing a four-year, $32 million contract extension.
Although that’s the kind of contract one usually gives to a left tackle, the Cowboys can’t let the money get in the way of what’s best for the team. Free had an awful season as a pass blocker in 2011 and moving him back to the right side could allow the team to make better use of his run blocking skills while limiting the damage he can do in the passing game.
“We’re trying to make the best fit for our football team and for each of those guys so they can play their best,” Garrett said, via the Dallas Morning News. “If we were to do that, we’d try to do it earlier rather than later just to give them enough opportunity to do it and get better at it.”
Smith had the best season of any member of a bad Cowboys line in 2011 and he’s certainly athletic enough to play on the left side. Wherever the Cowboys choose to put their tackles, they need to upgrade the play on the interior of the line to get better results in 2012.