Frisco, Texas — One thing is clear from the 2023 Dallas Cowboys defense. That's the fact that linebackers actually matter. Part of the struggles in run defense were due to the lack of size in the LB room despite Damone Clark, and Leighton Vander Esch's career-threatening injury only made the situation worse immediately.
With Dan Quinn now in Washington with his command and Mike Zimmer replacing him as defensive coordinator, the Cowboys will likely reconsider their approach to the linebacker position.
It feels like a foregone conclusion that they would do so, considering how prominent linebackers have historically contributed to Zimmer's defense in the past.
In my opinion, that's welcome news.
Let's take a look below at the current situation and what will soon be the case.
past: A look at the Cowboys' linebackers, without spotlighting both legendary Dallas linebackers DeMarcus Ware and Chuck Howley, who were immortalized at the Pro Football Hall of Fame ceremony in Canton. I would be remiss if I did not lead the discussion.
Yes, Ware was more or less an edge rusher, but that's because he was primarily an outside linebacker operating in a 3-4 defensive scheme, and one of the best linebackers of all time to do it.
Howley is often ignored for some reason, and he finally qualified as a HOFer this year, but he deserves praise for what he accomplished on the field for the Cowboys. And there are a lot of them. Players like Howery, Lee Roy Jordan, and Thomas Henderson set the standard that other players followed throughout their Cowboys careers.
And while not all reached their greatest heights for various reasons (Eugene Lockhart, for example, was tasked with pulling the Cowboys out of their leanest period in Tom Landry's final years in Dallas) ), they deserve to be honored as founding fathers.
Names like Ken Norton Jr. come to mind, along with the dynamic duo of Dexter Coakley and Dat Nguyen, and Sean Lee, whose career may have earned him a spot in the Ring of Honor or Hall of Fame. come to control. If the race does not slow down and ends prematurely due to injury.
Can the new-age linebacker match serve as well as it once did?
the current: Yes, I mentioned EDGE rushers Micah Parsons in a previous article in this column, and I know he is still listed as an off-ball linebacker and sometimes plays in that very position. It is also true that you can see it. So he remains the leader of his two units, but that depends on how special he is and is capable of it.
Parsons aside, Dallas' linebacker position leaves a lot to be desired. I enjoyed the moments of growth Damone Clark showed in his second year and should show more consistency in his third year, but he's still a young player with a proven veteran linebacker next to him. You could benefit from playing. The plan was for that person to be Leighton Vander Esch, but there's a real chance the former Pro Bowler plays his last football game, but with Vander Esch injured, that will be decided this offseason. It will be.[nother] A neck injury forced him to be placed on injured reserve in 2023.
Whether Vander Esch returns or not doesn't change what needs to happen going forward, but more on that later.
Without Vander Esch to act as an on-field green dot (play communicator) and guide real-time adaptations on the field, the move to sign Rashaan Evans was expected to heal wounds, but that didn't happen. Ta. Evans was ultimately released with little consequence, and Demarvion Overshawn was given a free start, considering the rookie fourth-round pick suffered a torn ACL in the preseason and redshirted his first year. He didn't run out of the tunnel to save the day.
Malik Jefferson and Buddy Johnson were called up from the practice squad multiple times to try to help, but most of their impact came through special teams, with Johnson on a futures contract and Jefferson currently a free agent. Be an agent.
Marquise Bell had a career season as an NFL sophomore, and despite being moved from safety to linebacker by Dan Quinn to fill the void left by the injured Overshawn, Bell had his struggles as well. –For example, size versus large size. When trying to impact the run defense away from the running backs and offensive linemen.
This brings me back to my origins. Other than Clark (and sometimes Parsons), there aren't any typical, explosive linebackers on the roster…at all.
future: And that's where teams have to focus going forward as they address the position. The return of Overshawn is on the horizon, and while it's exciting to say the least, let's temper it with reality.
The truth is, it's hard to get back into shape quickly after a torn ACL, and the added challenge here is that the former Longhorn has yet to play a regular season in the NFL. That means he will face both return and return.from the injury itself similarly The learning curve that comes with that position. So it's best to give him some grace here.
Oh, and LVE will be back in 2024?
Only he knows for now, but the obvious durability issues with his neck (and his entire NFL future) will remain at the forefront of every rep, even if he suits up again.
With that being a known variable, the best plan of attack for a supposedly “all-in” team would be to find his replacement in free agency rather than a third wave. This is a position that requires a big splash in the first wave when things start in mid-March, and there are multiple names that come to mind here (I'll list them in the next series, so stay tuned).
In my opinion, a reconsideration of the position in the 2024 NFL Draft should occur as well, but not necessarily with one of the first two picks. Assuming the first part of my plan is executed well, and because the offensive line needs a priority pick this offseason. .
Roll up your sleeves and fix/upgrade the Cowboys linebacker corps.
