https://insidethestar.com/dont-rule-out-dallas-adding-veteran-help-at-linebacker/
What I think is the only position group that could pose a weakness for the
defense:
Linebacker.
The Cowboys are incredibly deep at all positions on the defensive side of the ball except for linebacker.
Leighton Vander Esch is the only linebacker on the
depth chart who has more than 10 games worth of
experience playing on defense. If the ball bounces the wrong way for the Cowboys this season, they could find themselves scrambling for linebacker help.
His neck injury, LVE would then go on to miss 13 games over the next two seasons, dealing with neck stiffness. That neck stiffness would end up being diagnosed as a nerve problem. Eventually a final diagnosis of spinal stenosis was revealed, and LVE would require surgery to repair. That
injury and subsequent surgery would leave question marks about whether he would ever play football again, but also if it would affect his quality of life. After playing a full season in 2021, Dallas declined LVE's fifth year option on his rookie contract, throwing him into
free agency. As it turns out, it was just a savvy financial move, as Dallas had every intention of re-signing him. After nearly a full two seasons without any neck issues, the Jaguars game just proves that LVE is one play away from being out of the lineup. That would leave Dallas with only a stable of young, inexperienced players to fill out the second level of the defense.
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Dan Quinn's base defense is a little unconventional. His favorite formation to deploy is the Big Nickel, a 4-2-5 alignment that features a third
safety instead of a third
cornerback. That third safety is usually lined up near the line of scrimmage, either in run support or in coverage on the running back or tight end. As it's currently projected, second year player Damone Clark is that second linebacker next to LVE in the base defensive formation. Clark was a first or
second round prospect in the
2022 NFL Draft before doctors discovered a herniated disk in his neck. He never missed a game in college, but NFL teams were wary of investing in a player who could be one play away from a career ending
tackle. Clark was taken by the Cowboys in the 5th round, and spinal fusion surgery was performed before the season. He played 59% of the defense's snaps by season's end, recording 47 tackles along the way. Clark did not play a single defensive snap in the playoffs, instead lining up only on
special teams. If he is not able to morph into a good enough player to start in the NFL beside LVE, it will leave Dallas in a pickle with even less experience behind him.
