In the first round of the NFL Draft, the Dallas Cowboys selected Tyler Guyton, a huge prospect (6-8, 322), who they hope can switch from right to left tackle in order to replace the departing Tyron Smith.
It’s great that they selected Marshawn Kneeland, a run-conscious defensive end, in the second round. The Cowboys defense has to learn to be more run-conscious, though, since they have been run-dominated by teams for the last few years due to this weakness.
And liked linebacker Marist Liufau, the second of two third-round selections. As everyone is aware, this team’s lack of depth at linebacker hurt them in some of the most important games of the previous campaign, most notably the playoff loss to Green Bay in the first round, where the Packers prevailed.
Furthermore, strengthening the defensive tackle position and adding a fireplug contender to the wide receiver and cornerback positions bodes well for these guys’ much-needed successful draft.
My personal favorite pick in the third round is Cooper Beebe, who was technically the third guard selected overall and was moved to center by the Cowboys, who used the draft choice they acquired from Detroit to move down five spots to the 29th pick in the first round.
knew very little about Beebe before the draft. The 6-3, 322-pound lineman was playing for Kansas State, but it was unclear to observers during the Wildcats’ 30-27 loss to Missouri that he was a member of the team until kicker Harrison Mevis of the Tigers made a game-winning, walk-off 61-yard field goal to eventually stop K-State from rushing for 152 yards.
However, it was this that first introduced me to Beebe, who was awarded a National Football Foundation Scholar Athlete, was a unanimous All-America, the Big 12 Offensive Lineman of the Year in 2022 and 2023, and one of nine FBS finalists for the 2023 William V. Campbell Trophy, the Academic Heisman:
Just one or two interviews reveal a great deal about his character, play style, and dedication to the game of football. Let’s get started.
mere interview or two speaking volumes of his play style, personality and commitment to football. Here we go.
“My mindset is kind of dirt dudes,” Beebe began. “I just try to go out there and put people in the dirt, and that’s what I like to play with. I try to make dudes quit.”
Then there was this:
“I would say I’m a pretty nasty guy. I’m a dude that tries to ‘dirt’ people anytime I can, but I’m also a dude that focuses on technique. I have that kind of mindset that I want to dirt dudes anytime I can. So it’s kind of that nasty playstyle.”
That’s the subject I’m discussing. Sounds good to me, Big Newt?
Now, to clear up any confusion—which you definitely won’t have right now—”dirting dudes” refers to taking defenders off their feet. Plant them in the ground, or more often than not, let those rubber-filled turf pellets fly these days.
All right, excellent, but talk is cheap. therefore I set out on a quest to locate instances of “dirt dudes” in action. There were so many, oh my. Take my word for it. Do a Google search on Beebe. Plenty is available.
One of my all-time favorite moments from the internet is when Beebe, in his left guard role, moves to his right to challenge a defender wearing the number 97. confronts the “dude” head-on and knocks him off his feet.
Just imagine a nasty 322 now engaging with a spry 185 or so. I mean KABOOM, down in the dirt you go, too.
Think this one example might have been included in an answer when Beebe was asked after the Cowboys selected this “Dancing Bear” who allowed just five sacks in 1,488 pass-blocking snaps going back to his red-shirt freshman year of 2020 when he allowed four of those five, thus just one sack in his final 42 games at K-State:
In two weeks, the tough guy will turn 23. “I think my best one is when I ‘dirted’ the kid from Houston,” he says. “His feet crossed his head when I pulled over on the brink. It is, in my opinion, the greatest “dirt” narrative.
Let’s go beyond that.
He cites an instance in which he “put the linebacker in the ground and got up to the safety” against Kansas. I can think of those as sort of two “dirty” moments.”
Perhaps come to mind, but there are multiple on video. Unwitting defenders are far too frequently seen tumbling onto their backsides, getting what’s commonly referred to as “de-cleated”—both feet off the ground.
Then there is this one pass blocking in a game against Oklahoma, mirroring the defender’s every move, and as if growing disgusted with this little dance, enough being enough, Beebe simply buries the guy to the ground. Even in that snow covered game against Iowa State, there he is, planting a defender getting in his way on a run to the left.
Once more, get it. It’s college here. The grown men Beebe will meet in the NFL are not these.
However, he did the same against some mature guys at Texas in 2022. Beebe routinely destroyed players like T’Vondre Sweat, the 38th overall choice in this year’s draft, and Longhorn defensive lineman Byron Murphy, the 16th pick overall. You can bet that after getting pushed around blitzed in that game against the Wildcats, the Cowboys’ third-round choice from the previous season, former Texas linebacker DeMarvion Overshown, is thinking, “Oh no, not that guy again,” and he’ll have to work on his game this year against Beebe.
Sure, Beebe will have to make the transition from guard to center. But truth be known, while at K-State am told in the Cats’ effort to produce more versatile offensive linemen, Beebe actually got some after-practice snaps playing center. Then there is not only the blocking part when transitioning to center, but he’ll also have his hands full mentally trying to recognize defenses, call out blocking assignments and, oh yeah, snapping the ball when bracing to block some 300-pound defensive tackle head-up on him. Remember, though, First Team Academic All-Big 12.
Of course, the Cowboys are high on their first of two third-round picks, one that must hit to qualify potentially passing on three other players they had their eyes on when trading down in the first round to then grab Guyton and pick up that most valuable extra third-round draft choice.
“I think we got the most out of that 24th pick in the first round by getting two offensive linemen,” Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said. “We weren’t even trying to be coy of our interest in offensive linemen.”
As for head coach Mike McCarthy, he’d only allow “(Beebe) will definitely be part of the center competition,” meaning second-year previous backup center Brock Hoffman isn’t the type to concede even an inch come training camp, McCarthy describing him as a guy who brings his lunch pail to work every day.
All good stuff, but how about this on Beebe’s potential from someone outside this inner circle. Got a text after the draft from Dave Campo, the Cowboys’ former head coach and defensive coordinator now retired and working for a Jacksonville radio station as an analyst, and goes like this:
“Cooper Beebe is the best pick the Cowboys made! He is a beast.”
Followed by: “I wanted him here at Jax big time … he’s a big nasty which is what the Jax don’t have.”
I can’t wait to see him at training camp—well, maybe preseason games instead, since “dirting dudes” in camp might not be acceptable. It seems that Beebe is eager to arrive as well, based on the contents of the Secret Audio call that he received while surrounded by family members:
“Hello, Dallas Cowboy, this is Jerry Jones.”
“How’s it going, Jerry?” asked Beebe.
Jerry’s response: “Well, I’m talking to a Dallas Cowboy.”
Beebe: “Let’s go,” she said, laughing joyfully as screams drifted in the background. “Oh, god.”
“Hey, all we want you to do is come be you, brother,” said offensive coordinator Brian Shottenheimer over the phone, following the passing of the phone to McCarthy and offensive line coach Mike Solari. Man, come on over and show off your play style. Simply carry out your task. We’re really crazy. Very happy, sir.”
Beebe: “Coach, I’m excited too. I’m eager.
Neither can the Cowboys, me, or perhaps even you at this point, to see some damned “dirting” taking place.
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