Photo Courtesy: Dallas Cowboys
FRISCO, Texas — Mandatory minicamp is in full swing for the Dallas Cowboys.
During Wednesday’s practice and predominately throughout offseason workouts, Tyler Biadasz has taken the majority of primary reps at center with the first team. A phrase that has been repeated many times throughout the last several weeks has been “a second-year jump.” Many rookies saw significant playing time last season for the Cowboys and are looking to build off their 2020 performance.
Biadasz’s season ended prematurely due to injury. He suffered a hamstring pull during pregame warmups in Week 9 and did not play a single snap against the Steelers. Prior to the injury, Biadasz stepped in for injured Joe Looney (MCL sprain) in Week 4 and started every game. He performed so effectively that Looney could not reclaim his job when he returned from injured reserve in Week 8. However, after suffering the hamstring injury, Biadasz was placed on injured reserve.
He faced a setback in his first year but showed immense promise. Enough to earn a selection onto Pro Football Focus’s midseason All-Rookie Team. The Wisconsin product is back and ready to make a jump in year two.
“How you practice is how you play,” Biadasz said to media. “That’s been my motto too since I’ve been growing up and still growing here. Coach McCarthy mentioned in the offseason: ‘The rookies from last year, you’ve got to make the second-year jump.’ I took pride in what he said and put my head to the ground, kept learning, doing things the right way and asking questions…I just want to be the best version of myself. That’s what I’m going for the whole 2021 season. I want to be the best version I can possibly be and let the chips fall where they fall.”
His dedication to the game and inquisitive nature have impressed the other offensive lineman. The former Rimington Award winner takes as much pride in the on-the-field work as he does in the preparation phases. Right tackle La’el Collins took notice on the comparison to another legendary Badger that commanded the O-line: Travis Frederick.
“He’s just figured out everything that he needs to know being the center of the offensive line, making the calls,” Collins remarked on Biadasz. “He’s speaking with more confidence. He’s asking the questions that you want a center to ask against certain different things, adjustments, and everything like that, what to do. And, so, it’s funny, man. He reminds me a lot of a little bit of Trav [Frederick]. He’s got a lot of Travis in him. He’s great to see because we all know how great Travis was.”
That is high praise for a player entering his second year. Biadasz greatly admired Frederick during his college career and molded his game after his predecessor. Now, he is building a promising career in the footsteps of the player who shaped him. With Dak Prescott back commanding the huddle, the sky is the limit. His presence only elevates the play of Biadasz.
“I’ve taken time this offseason to go throw with all the quarterbacks when they threw with the wide receivers and stuff, just to build chemistry with each one,” Biadasz stated. “Obviously when we’re with the 1s, Dak’s in there the most and I love talking to him about the game, about what he sees. I even put that in one of my exit interviews: I want to know what Dak sees so we’re like two minds combined at the line of scrimmage. I talk to him when I need to ask the questions I need to ask and see what he sees then we play ball. It’s great working with him and he’s a great guy.”
Expectations are high for the Cowboys in 2021. With the talented young centerpiece and the much-anticipated return of Prescott, they will set the tone on offense.
