Blogging The Boys
Schotty is making sure everyone competes everyday
After a surprising drop to the second team on Saturday, Cowboys guard Tyler Booker was running with the starters again on Sunday. The first-round rookie is fighting his inexperience like any new player has to, and we’re also seeing a budding partnership between Booker and one of his main roster competitors.
Booker has been given starter treatment since Dallas made him the 12th-overall pick of last April’s NFL Draft. But on Saturday, he was surprisingly working with the second-team offense. According to head coach Brian Schottenheimer, the demotion was because Booker had “hit a small rookie wall” and needed to work through it.
Rob Jones, who Dallas signed about a month before drafting Booker, was once seen as a frontrunner for the vacant RG spot. But Booker’s arrival essentially left him working for a backup job , though still with some shot at competing for more. Saturday’s switcharoo between the veteran and the rookie at least showed Jones was still one of the top contenders.
But Booker returned to his previous first-team spot on Sunday. After Booker returned to the ones on Sunday, Jones was injured and is likely out for a few months.
Some footage from Oxnard showed the rookie wasn’t hurting from his temporary discipline.
The situation presents an interesting philosophical debate. Some want the best five offensive linemen on the field at all times, all other factors be damned. But with a guy like Booker, especially given his draft status, all of those first-team reps and playing time are investments in what you hope is a long, successful future. Even if they thought Jones was the best option pre-injury, playing him would have robbed Booker of a key thing he needs to reach full potential.
Thankfully, their obvious competition for the starting job hasn’t soured their working relationship. In fact, it’s been noted that Jones has been every bit of a veteran leader in working with Booker on getting better. In a strange twist, Jones was helping Booker after the last practice as he was injured but didn't know it.
Finding that balance between camaraderie and healthy competition isn’t easy, but Rob Jones and Tyler Booker were showing how it can be done. Credit also goes to Brian Schottenheimer, OC Klayton Adams, OL Coach Conor Riley, and anyone else helping promote this spirit on the roster. These guys have to battle hard through the summer and then band together come September, and Jones and Booker are setting a fine example for their teammates.
