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New Cowboys OL coach Bill Callahan on LT Tyron Smith: 'I've never had anybody like that'
By Brandon George / Reporter
bgeorge@dallasnews.com | Bio
3:07 PM on Tue., May. 29, 2012 | Permalink
IRVING -- New Cowboys offensive line coach Bill Callahan said Tyron Smith hasn't had any hiccups in making the move from right tackle to left tackle this off-season, adding that the position is "very natural" for him.
The Cowboys are in their second of three consecutive weeks of practices during their organized team activities at Valley Ranch. They'll conclude their off-season practices with a veteran mini-camp in mid-June.
For more than a decade, Callahan has coached several talented NFL offensive linemen, but he said he's "never had anybody like" Smith.
"He is just very strong, very lean, very explosive," Callahan said, "and he can carry those traits over to the left side because of his athleticism."
Doug Free, meanwhile, isn't hanging his head about being moved back to right tackle.
Instead, Free has maintained the same work ethic that put him in position for his big payday last summer (four-year, $32 million contract).
"There's always a little bit of transition anytime you go to a different side, but it's mainly just thinking everything differently, you know, opposite, just kind of getting settled over there, getting used to how things are called," Free said. "Instead of being on one side you're on the other and it's just a little bit of flipping things in your head. Having this time to get ready for it is going to definitely be positive."
Free said he was glad the Cowboys made the switch now, giving him and Smith time to make the adjustment before training camp begins in late July.
"It's nice to do it in the off-season when everyone has a chance to figure it out going through training camp compared to doing it during the season, which last year we had a lot of rotation," Free said. "So getting our line set early and getting a training camp under our belt with everybody together should definitely help quite a bit."
By Brandon George / Reporter
bgeorge@dallasnews.com | Bio
3:07 PM on Tue., May. 29, 2012 | Permalink
IRVING -- New Cowboys offensive line coach Bill Callahan said Tyron Smith hasn't had any hiccups in making the move from right tackle to left tackle this off-season, adding that the position is "very natural" for him.
The Cowboys are in their second of three consecutive weeks of practices during their organized team activities at Valley Ranch. They'll conclude their off-season practices with a veteran mini-camp in mid-June.
For more than a decade, Callahan has coached several talented NFL offensive linemen, but he said he's "never had anybody like" Smith.
"He is just very strong, very lean, very explosive," Callahan said, "and he can carry those traits over to the left side because of his athleticism."
Doug Free, meanwhile, isn't hanging his head about being moved back to right tackle.
Instead, Free has maintained the same work ethic that put him in position for his big payday last summer (four-year, $32 million contract).
"There's always a little bit of transition anytime you go to a different side, but it's mainly just thinking everything differently, you know, opposite, just kind of getting settled over there, getting used to how things are called," Free said. "Instead of being on one side you're on the other and it's just a little bit of flipping things in your head. Having this time to get ready for it is going to definitely be positive."
Free said he was glad the Cowboys made the switch now, giving him and Smith time to make the adjustment before training camp begins in late July.
"It's nice to do it in the off-season when everyone has a chance to figure it out going through training camp compared to doing it during the season, which last year we had a lot of rotation," Free said. "So getting our line set early and getting a training camp under our belt with everybody together should definitely help quite a bit."
