This is the right move.
Brian Schottenheimer addressed the media for the first time since his introductory press conference at the NFL combine on Thursday. The newly-minted Dallas Cowboys head coach addressed a number of hard-hitting topics, including Osa Odighizuwa's looming free agency.
Schottenheimer confirmed the team is in talks with Odighizuwa. The former's upbeat tone suggests negotiations are going well and Nick Harris of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported that Dallas is "optimistic" a deal can be reached in the coming days.
While Odighizuwa is the main attraction in Cowboys Land right now, Schottenheimer offered some valuable insight on his desire to become a run-first offense. He described his ideal skillset for a running back and an offensive lineman.
Schotty mentioned second-year players Tyler Guyton and Cooper Beebe and lauded Guyton's work ethic since the season ended. Per Schottenheimer, Guyton has been in the weight room every day.
Moving Beebe from center to right guard is a hot topic in light of Zack Martin's retirement. While Schottenheimer didn't fully close the door on that, it sounds like the coaching staff wants to keep Beebe at center after his promising rookie year.
Don't count on Cowboys moving Cooper Beebe to RG after Zack Martin's retirement
"We'll see. We're always going to play the best five," Schottenheimer said, via Harris. "It'd be hard to move a guy that had that much experience playing center this year at a high level, but anything is on the table in playing the best five."
Beebe played all over the offensive line at Kansas State with the exception of center, which is ironically where he played exclusively in year one.
Over his final two seasons in Manhattan, he played 1,763 snaps at guard (1,738 at LG) compared to 143 snaps at tackle, per PFF. With that experience, Beebe may have an All-Pro ceiling at guard. At the same time, though, he showed extreme promise at center in his first year playing the position.
Continuity is an offensive line's best friend. The same way it makes sense to give Guyton another season at left tackle and hold onto Terence Steele, keeping Beebe at center is probably in the unit's best interest.
Beebe hasn't even begun to tap into his potential at center. The additions of Klayton Adams as offensive coordinator and Conor Riley, who was Beebe's OC at Kansas State, as offensive line coach will only expedite that process.
It is exciting to think about the jump Beebe can make in year two once Adams and Riley really sink their teeth into the offense. The same can be said for Guyton, Steele, Tyler Smith and all of Dallas' offensive line personnel.
At the end of the day, Beebe's versatility gives the Cowboys utmost flexibility. Allowing Beebe to continue to develop at center feels like the right move for continuity purposes, but his ability to shift inside means Dallas will have options if they run into injuries or players underperform.
Not many teams have that luxury.
