RENTON, Wash. – You don’t have to convince Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll about the talent of Dallas Cowboys left tackle Tyron Smith. Carroll has known Smith since Smith was a teenager, when Carroll recruited the offensive lineman to play for him at Southern Cal.
“When he was 16, he came to a camp and he looked like he was 30,” Carroll said. “He was just a grown man, physically fit and just unbelievably developed as a young guy.
“At times, we weren’t sure what position he would wind up playing because he was such a marvelous athlete. He’s got tremendous proportion to him. He’s lean like a defensive back, but just in an oversized body. He’s having a great start to his career. He’s really rolling and it’s great to see him doing it.”
Smith (6-foot-5, 320 pounds) now anchors a young offensive line in Dallas that is quickly becoming one of the best in the league. The Cowboys have three first-round picks up front in Smith (2011), center Travis Frederick (2013) and rookie right guard Zack Martin.
“They’re going to get so much better as they grow together, but they’ve made an obvious commitment,” Carroll said. “Their running game is very consistent and they’re very strong upfront. We’re fortunate we’re getting them this early, because a year from now or by the end of this season, these guys are really going to be something.”
They’ve been good enough so far to help Dallas (4-1) win four consecutive games and help DeMarco Murray lead the league is rushing with 670 yards.