Cowboys corner market with not 1, not 2, but 3 of NFL's top slot defenders

[CCBoy]

https://cowboyswire.usatoday.com/li...s-best-slot-defenders/?itm_source=parsely-api

There’s no question the Dallas Cowboys boast one of the NFL’s best and most complete defenses. There are playmakers galore both at the line of scrimmage and in coverage. Back in the day, the phrase turn would have been “at all three levels”, but the transition of defensive personnel into hybrid modalities blurs the lines. Dan Quinn is one of the scheme leaders in that respect, favoring linebackers who primarily have edge responsibilities and three-safety groupings that take on roles formerly manned by a third linebacker.

But scheme isn’t enough on its own; having stand outs play their roles well is imperative in getting a defense that ranked No. 3 in DVOA pass defense in 2022 after ranking second in 2021.

The uniqueness of how Quinn places his chess pieces has resulted in them having not one, but two different players identified among the league’s best in defending the slot entering 2023, per Touchdown Wire’s Doug Farrar. But it’s deeper than that, because one of the two on the 2023 list was an injury replacement for someone who made Farrar’s list in 2022.

2023 No. 7. DaRon Bland, Dallas Cowboys​

2022 No. 3. Jourdan Lewis, Dallas Cowboys​

2023 No. 2. Jayron Kearse, Dallas Cowboys​

Combined with Trevon Diggs and recently-acquired Stephon Gilmore, along with Malik Hooker as the deep safety and potential breakout star Donovan Wilson as the third safety, Dallas has done an incredible job of assembling talent under Quinn and secondary coach Al Harris.

 

[CCBoy]

This is the other half of that picture...

With the potential of having a better run defense on first and second down, I see opponents having a lot of third downs with four to seven yards to go. And given the Cowboys' strong pass rush, along with a sticky cornerback group, I see teams throwing quick to tight ends and running backs quite often on third down. Do we have a linebacker group that can handle that or will Dan Quinn have to get into his bag and get creative?

Nick Eatman: The answer can be both, but mainly the second part - Dan Quinn. I do believe he has visions for certain players and how they can fit into what he's trying to do. We saw it two years ago with Jayron Kearse and then last season with Donovan Wilson. We saw it in the playoff game with Israel Mukuamu and how he basically lined up in the middle of the field and it seemed to rattle Tom Brady - as odd as that sounds. So DQ knows how to find players who can fit into these roles and I really think DeMarvion Overshown will eventually be that player. If these hybrid safety-types such as Overshown, Kearse and Mukuamu can handle the run-duties in the nickel, then that's your answer. If not, Clark and Cox and LVE will also get plenty of reps, too. One way or another, I believe Quinn has enough resources to get it done.

Patrik: I believe the coverage skills of Leighton Vander Esch are a bit underrated by most. While he may not be the best in the league at it, he's definitely above average and has shown he can play sideline to sideline, as can Damone Clark but, for me, the ability for this LB corps to show its coverage chops will come down to Jabril Cox and DeMarvion Overshown. Cox was a monster in coverage in his prime days at LSU, pre-torn ACL, and that's what he's hoping to get back to in 2023; and he's shown early flashes of his former self in OTAs and minicamp. Overshown is a former safety who is instantly one of the best coverage LBs in the room in Dallas, and he can definitely help (along with Jayron Kearse) keep TEs honest. If Cox and/or Overshown take a big step this year, don't count on TEs and receiving RBs enjoying their afternoons against this LB unit.

https://www.dallascowboys.com/news/mailbag-can-linebackers-handle-third-downs

 

[Kingofholland]

Bland is an exciting young player that can play inside or outside. Think he had a bright future.

Lewis, I think is under appreciated here. But you can never have enough good corners. Hopefully he makes a full recovery from his injury.

Kearse is still one of the most under the radar signings the Cowboys had. None of us thought of it more than a depth and special teams signing at the time, but the scouting team did a fantastic job finding a player to fit a role.