Cowboys first-round rookie Tyler Guyton getting baptism by fire in Week 1 matchup with Myles Garrett |Max Sporty|

FRISCO, Texas – Starting a rookie at left tackle in Week 1 isn’t the way Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy would have designed it, but that’s exactly what’s happening in the case of Cowboys first-round pick Tyler Guyton against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Browns on Sunday.

“I think clearly, if you look in the coaching 101 manual, it doesn’t say ‘yeah, play those guys in the first week. that’s on page 16.”That’s not in the concert,” McCarthy said sarcastically Thursday. “You’d definitely like to see these guys get used to the repeat of a pro season. You have to remember these guys are getting ready to play in their first away game, their first. NFL game and really, this is in the middle of their first real week of preparation, so I think regularity, training, how you build to a game is very important for all players, especially your young players. So sure, I’d rather they didn’t play until later in the season, but then you can turn that conversation around and say “well, why would you want the rookies to play in December and January when those are obviously very, very.” important games?’ I just think it’s the nature of our business.”

However, Guyton isn’t just dipping his toe into the proverbial NFL pool starting in Week 1. He’s gunning for a matchup against Browns All-Pro edge rusher Myles Garrett, the 2023 NFL Defensive Player of the Year.

“I know Myles is going to go out there and touch Guyton a little bit,” Cowboys three-time All-Pro edge Micah Parsons said Wednesday. … “Man one thing I always love about rushing is ‘how do you rush even when your rushes aren’t good or you feel like you’re off your game?’ He’s one of the most relentless, just relentless man. They don’t care where they are, he has such great acceleration, which makes him exceptional.”

That’s why McCarthy tasked Parsons with being a mentor for Guyton from the start of training camp out at a training camp in Oxnard, California. There is no need for a scout team simulation of a top-flight pass when Dallas has its own in Parsons.

“I had a conversation with Micah early in training camp. Just the job he’s going to have against Tyler,” McCarthy said Wednesday. “It’s beneficial both ways. Obviously, he’s going to play against some tackles that are Tyler’s body type. [6’7, 322 pounds]. That is the whole component of iron sharpens iron. So that part was good. Myles is a tremendous player. He’s been doing it for quite some time. He just has it all. He has the physical talents, the motor, the know-how, they do a really good job of moving him. He is not a static target. Different looks, things they do to him, things they do away from him. It will be a big challenge on Sunday.”

Parsons and Guyton in turn beating each other in team drills out in Oxnardmatchups that in his own words, sharpened each other’s games, exactly what McCarthy hoped for.

“You can evaluate yourself as a player,” Guyton said of facing Garrett on Sunday. “I played against Micah [in practice]. I got Maxx Crosby [in the preseason]. Now I can block Myles Garrett. I feel like I’m just evaluating myself and seeing what I can do and what I can’t do. … “I definitely got my feet wet. I feel like he is [Parsons] the best pass rusher in the league, maybe ever. So losing to him is also a win and finding out what you like and what you don’t like about regrets is good.”

The three-time All-Pro is one of only five players to collect at least 40 sacks (40.5) in his first three NFL seasons, and with just 9.5 in 2024, Parsons would become the sixth player since individual sacks became officially tracked. metric in 1982 for having at least 50 sacks in his first four seasons. Couldn’t ask for a much better mentor for a young left tackle than Parsons.

“Of course Guyton knows how I feel, and I kind of tell him, ‘man, if you feel like you can stay ahead of me, you can stay ahead of anybody,'” Parsons said. “‘You’re pretty strong. It’s just about understanding technique, playing when you’re tired, the mental side of it, staying tight with your technique and things like that.’ Even telling him, ‘Bro, you’re so long and fast it changes it, bro.’ I was like, “bro, you got to understand this is a game of chess Before, you have to think who was before me.”

Eight-time Pro Bowl left tackle Tyron Smith was ahead of Parsons in practice for his first three seasons in the league before signing a one-year deal with the New York Jets this offseason. His departure directly led to Guyton being Dallas’ first-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. Smith mentored Parsons early on, and now Parsons is doing the same for Guyton.

“He [Guyton] was like, ‘Well I saw you beat Tyron.’ I said, ‘that’s different,'” Parsons said. “‘Tyron taught me how to hit him. So, I’m trying to teach you to at least slow me down.’ So it’s all about the process, and he’s going to keep getting better. I think this week will be a really good test for him.”

However, Guyton is not nervous for his matchup due to said preparation with Parsons.

“I don’t,” Guyton said when asked if he gets nervous.

Ever?

“Never been a nervous guy.”

Why not?

“Preparation,” he said. “It’s more football. Always excited about football. Just like every game. Prepare the right way.”

“I would say the biggest thing is routine,” Guyton said. Doing the right things day after day. Taking care of your body, studying your games, treating every day like it’s game day, so no matter who your opponent is just preparing the right way.”

It also helps that Guyton’s routine and preparation have evolved this offseason as he learned from nine-time Pro Bowl right guard Zack Martin and Pro Bowl left guard Tyler Smith.

“He’s very mature as an individual. He came in with the right attitude,” Smith said of Guyton on Thursday. “He works hard every day, he lifts the team every day. That’s one thing I love to see a young guy, is a young guy who is vocal even in our first practice together, his first practice together against the Rams. He got up in the passed and he had to go. You hear him shout and shout. I love to see that, because it shows who he is, the sky is the limit for him. It’s just a matter of execution.”

“I think the big plus is their routine,” Guyton said when asked what was most valuable about learning from Martin and Smith. “I can see what they do every day, why they’ve been such dominant players, and it’s kind of normal here. It’s a routine thing, how everyone fits into the routine. Everyone else does, so it just keeps the wheels going.”

All that’s left now for Guyton is to keep his wheels moving against Garrett, one of the league’s most ferocious passers. Time for Guyton to dive into the pool that is NFL football head first.

“I think he’s got amazing moves, and he’s a genetic jerk,” Guyton said of Garrett. “He’s a great player.”