Dallas Cowboys Head Coach Brian Schottenheimer spoke about the growth of the offensive line and said Terrence Steele is prepared for a bounce-back season as the most experienced player of the group.
Steele is entering his sixth season in the NFL after being signed as an undrafted free agent in 2020, making him the most experienced player on the Cowboys’ offensive line.
Although Steele began his career on an impressive trajectory, he has struggled in the past few seasons after tearing his ACL in 2022.
Pro Football Focus graded Steele as the 47th-best offensive tackle in the NFL during the 2024 season, with a grade of 67.0.
This overall grade included a solid run-blocking grade of 78.9, which ranked as the 13th-best in the league, and just the 90th-best pass-blocking grade at 57.5.
Despite the struggles, the new Cowboys head coach said he is expecting a major recovery from Steele next season.
Schottenheimer discussed the growth of the team’s right tackle and said he is “one of the hardest workers” on the team, noting that his leadership style is also very different than others.
“His work ethic, the way he trains, the way he approaches being a pro and his craft are amazing. He’s not the most vocal guy, and that’s not a bad thing,” he said, per The Cowboys.
“He’s more of a leader by example. But he’s also a voice of confidence, and a voice of experience for the young guys.”
Schottenheimer added that working alongside rookie offensive guard Tyler Booker would be good for both players, explaining that the two players have already begun to develop chemistry on the right side of the offensive line.
“I think playing next to Tyler Booker, that confidence, and [Steele is] a great communicator, which allows him to make sure they’re on the same page because he does a great job, and that’s just invaluable,” Schottenheimer said, according to The Cowboys.
“I think he’s set up to have a great year.”
These comments come shortly after Schottenheimer said that the coaching staff has been testing different combinations on the offensive line.
The first-year head coach said he is “creating competition” and looking to determine the best group to form a solid rushing attack and protect quarterback Dak Prescott, as previously reported by The Dallas Express.
Luckily, Dallas will have ample time to make these decisions, as the team is not scheduled to begin the regular season until September 4 against the Philadelphia Eagles.