Jayron Kearse silenced critics on Day 1. Kearse not only played the best football of his career this season but he immediately established himself as a leader and key part of this Dallas Cowboys defensive turnaround.
Kearse played 1,013 snaps for the Cowboys last year, compiling 101 tackles and 6 QB hits. He played free safety, box safety, slot CB, boundary CB, special teams, and even up on the D-line itself. He was Dan Quinn’s master key that could be used darn near anywhere on the defense.
Jayron Kearse wasn’t just an emotional leader for the Cowboys defense, but he was also a technical leader. The veteran understood the defense as good as anyone and raised the overall IQ of the defense when he was on the field.
Safeties like Kazee,
Donovan Wilson, and Hooker all missed time last season but Kearse stood strong. When Dallas lost nearly all linebacker depth it was Kearse who Dan Quinn leaned on. Kearse helped rush the passer, stop the run, cover out of the backfield….he even lined up wide.
When players started to drop (and they always do) Kearse covered the holes. I honestly can’t remember a time Dallas had such a universal defensive player like Kearse. He raised the floor across the board.
Dallas Cowboys: How Jayron Kearse became Dan Quinn's 'master key' (sportdfw.com)