Dallas City News

It’s no secret that the Dallas Cowboys are relying heavily on their young players and rookies this season. In fact, four of their 2024 draft picks are set to start in Week 1. Two of them on the offensive line. Tyler Guyton (LT) and Cooper Beebe (C) have done an excellent job of doing everything that has been asked of them up to his point. Both adjusted to new positions and both earned their starting roles during training camp. However their first real test in the NFL is not a walk in the park, even for seasoned veterans.

The Browns’ defensive line is no joke and protecting Dak Prescott for 60 minutes against this bunch is going to be a huge challenge for the young rookies. The reigning DPOY Myles Garrett earned that title with 14 sacks last season and Za’Darius Smith contributed a pretty 5.5 sacks himself. The defense as a whole ranked number one in yards allowed per game with 270.2. The Browns’ defensive line is only looking to build on last season with very little changes made in personnel.

Not only will the rookies need to be prepared to take on some of the top talent in the NFL, they will also need to deal with everything that comes with playing an away game in the Dawg Pound. The Browns’ stadium is not necessarily a welcoming environment to opposing teams. With it being the very first game of the season, the stadium is going to be packed with hopeful Browns fans wanting to do their part to affect the game. The communication along the offensive line will need to be on point to overcome the noise.

With a very tall mountain to climb on Sunday, these two rookies are ready for the challenge. On Monday, Beebe talked to the media about his preparation for this moment. He mentioned that at there has been a lot of growth for him at training camp where initially, his focus was on not “screwing up”. Now, he is able to play more confidently and freely.

“They got some dudes. There are a lot of veteran guys so it’s definitely going to be a challenge and it’s something I’m looking forward to. I got to go out there and prove that I belong, and what better team to do it than the Browns.”

Beebe also mentioned that his relationship with Guyton since the draft has been a large contributing factor for growth and preparation. They have spent a good amount of time communicating with each other on and off the practice field to fully understand the ins and outs of the entire offensive line. Guyton also shares Beebe’s sentiments about the upcoming challenge in Cleveland.

While it may seem a bit overconfident to some, the rookies have good reason to believe that they are ready. Along with all of their hard work and preparation, they have a few other things working in their favor.

Mike McCarthy decided in training camp to name both Guyton and Beebe as the starters. The early decision is beneficial for multiple reasons. The offensive line has had the opportunity to build some chemistry and continuity. Both of which are important ingredients for a successful offense. They have also been able to get in plenty of reps against the first-team defense that includes Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence, some not too shabby pass-rushers themselves.

They also have some help from the other offensive lineman next to them. Zack Martin and Tyler Smith are two of the very best at their positions and they have been excellent mentors all throughout training camp. That leadership should only continue to prove valuable throughout the games, ensuring that the rookies know their job each and every snap.

The confidence isn’t baseless. The preparation, talent and support are all there. While there is no doubt that the game this Sunday will have its obstacles, there is also no doubt that these rookies will only continue to learn and grow from this experience. Bring on the Browns!