While the Cowboys' restructured offensive line has been a topic of conversation throughout this first quarter of the season, one guy you haven't heard much about is tackle Tyron Smith.
That's a good thing. The team's first-round pick, No. 9 overall, is looking like a keeper. Through four games, he's been the least of the Cowboys' concerns in the front five. He's been flagged just twice, for two false starts, and has held up his end of the bargain in pass protection, for the most part.
The thing the Cowboys loved about Smith in the draft is his willingness to work to get better, so it's not surprising he views these last four games as just a jumping off point, and his plans for the bye week include . . . more work.
"Pretty much just study film for next week and be prepared for anything that's going to happen," Smith said. "I feel like I still have to learn. I've still got a long way to go."
In all four games, Smith has had only one glaring mistake, although it came at an awful time, as he was caught off balance and found himself run over by Detroit's Willie Young, who then sacked Tony Romo to kill the Cowboys' momentum on their last-ditch drive Sunday.
As hard as Smith works to get better, he's just as tough on himself when things don't go well, another positive sign so early in his career.
"I just didn't want to talk," Smith said. "I'm upset every time we lose, but you've just got to deal with it and move on from it . . . a loss is a loss. I hate to have that feeling."
