Dallas left tackle Tyron Smith has been called for a league-leading five false start penalties this season. (US Presswire) |
When the Dallas Cowboys drafted Tyron Smith with the No. 9 overall pick in 2011, they hoped he’d turn into one of the best tackles in the NFL.
While that could definitely happen down the road, Smith is leading the league in a more notorious category -- and it’s something he wants to change rather quickly.
Smith leads the NFL with five false start penalties and has six infractions overall. Ironically enough, that other penalty drew a $15,750 fine for a horse collar against the Giants, a play in which Smith saved a touchdown in the win over New York.
But the false start penalties have been a problem for Smith, who isn't going to harp on it.
“It bothers me to have a penalty but the thing is to not think about it and move on from it," Smith said. "If you think about it, it's going to bother you and mess up your game."
Smith has moved from right tackle to left tackle this year, flipping with Doug Free, who is second in the NFL with four false-start penalties.
"Just me and Doug being the tackles, as outside guys we're always trying to be quicker than everybody else," Smith said. "So that is what's messing it up a little bit. We're a little bit quicker than everybody else is."
This week, it doesn’t get any easier for Smith and the offensive line as they face a talented Chicago attack that brings constant pressure.
“We know we’ll have our hands full with them” Smith said. “All of the guys up front are high-motor guys. They get after the quarterback. We’ll have to be at our best.”
Spencer deals with shoulder issue: Outside linebacker Anthony Spencer has been limited in practice this week with a shoulder injury, and he didn't practice Thursday. The Cowboys don’t seem to be too concerned about Spencer’s availability for Monday’s game against the Bears. Spencer was one of six players not practicing Thursday, along with DE Kenyon Coleman (knee), DT Jay Ratliff (ankle), S Matt Johnson (hamstring/back), punter Chris Jones (knee) and C Phil Costa (back).
Allen Among HOF nominees: Former Cowboys’ lineman Larry Allen was among 121 ominees on the early list of the 2013 class for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. It’s the first year of eligibility for Allen, who made 10 Pro Bowls with the Cowboys. Allen joins a group of John Lynch, Michael Strahan and Morten Anderson among first-year candidates. The list will be trimmed to 25 in late November.
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