How rookie Marshawn Kneeland can tie the Cowboys' defensive line together

[CCBoy]

(The Cowboys spent a premium pick on an edge rusher for the third time in four years. Here’s an inside look from Doug Farrar of just how impactful Kneeland could be as a rookie.)

The Dallas Cowboys have perhaps the NFL’s most incendiary pass-rusher in Micah Parsons. That much, we know. What we don’t know at this point is what the rest of that Dallas pass rush will look like in 2024 and beyond, and that uncertainty has multiple sources.

First, there’s the switch in defensive coordinators from Dan Quinn to Mike Zimmer. Zimmer is a familiar face to longtime Cowboys fans of course; he was the team’s DC from 2000 through 2006, and his return to the team is an interesting wrinkle.

Then, there’s the talent around Parsons. Last season, Parsons led the team with 16 sacks and 106 total pressures. Behind that, there are veterans who still have some juice, like Demarcus Lawrence and his four sacks and 48 total pressures in 2023, and newer ascending players like Osa Odighizuwa and his three sacks and 44 total pressures in 2023...

“The number one thing about him is the high effort and motor that he plays with,” Cowboys Vice President of Player Personnel Will McClay said of Kneeland. “Then to be talented, physically talented enough to play at this level. We noticed him early on. [Brett] Maxie is the area scout who brought him to our attention early, and the more you watch him, the more you see NFL traits and the traits that we are looking for on the defensive side; playing hard all the time and having the ability to rush the passer outside and inside. We’ve talked about it before, as hard as DLaw [DeMarcus Lawrence] played at Boise State, there are some similarities there. That is what we thought about him...


https://cowboyswire.usatoday.com/20...nd-micah-parsons-mike-zimmer-cowboys-defense/

 

[big dog cowboy]

Great article! I especially liked this part:

Zimmer also has a knack for using gap-versatile players to their best advantages. Back with the Vikings, he had pass-rusher D.J. Wonnum, selected in the fourth round of the 2020 draft out of South Carolina. Like Kneeland, Wonnum is a hybrid-built player (6-foot-5, 258 pounds) who could win from more than one alignment, and had all kinds of ways of getting it done. In 2021, Zimmer’s last season, Wonnum had a career-high 42 total pressures, and when you look at the two players and their primary attributes, it’s easy to make the connection, giving us some idea of how Kneeland might be deployed.

 

[Hawkeye0202]

Great article! I especially liked this part:

Remember what Lion's HC Campbell said about "pressures"


“Sacks aren't that big of a deal as long as you're getting the pressures," Campbell told reporters at his press conference Thursday. "As long as you're getting pressures, and those pressures show up and affect the quarterback negatively, you know?

 

[CowboysLakerBamaFan]

Remember what Lion's HC Campbell said about "pressures"


“Sacks aren't that big of a deal as long as you're getting the pressures," Campbell told reporters at his press conference Thursday. "As long as you're getting pressures, and those pressures show up and affect the quarterback negatively, you know?

Aka....doesn't matter if you WIN. As long as you do YOUR best.

 

[Typhus]

(The Cowboys spent a premium pick on an edge rusher for the third time in four years. Here’s an inside look from Doug Farrar of just how impactful Kneeland could be as a rookie.)

The Dallas Cowboys have perhaps the NFL’s most incendiary pass-rusher in Micah Parsons. That much, we know. What we don’t know at this point is what the rest of that Dallas pass rush will look like in 2024 and beyond, and that uncertainty has multiple sources.

First, there’s the switch in defensive coordinators from Dan Quinn to Mike Zimmer. Zimmer is a familiar face to longtime Cowboys fans of course; he was the team’s DC from 2000 through 2006, and his return to the team is an interesting wrinkle.

Then, there’s the talent around Parsons. Last season, Parsons led the team with 16 sacks and 106 total pressures. Behind that, there are veterans who still have some juice, like Demarcus Lawrence and his four sacks and 48 total pressures in 2023, and newer ascending players like Osa Odighizuwa and his three sacks and 44 total pressures in 2023...

“The number one thing about him is the high effort and motor that he plays with,” Cowboys Vice President of Player Personnel Will McClay said of Kneeland. “Then to be talented, physically talented enough to play at this level. We noticed him early on. [Brett] Maxie is the area scout who brought him to our attention early, and the more you watch him, the more you see NFL traits and the traits that we are looking for on the defensive side; playing hard all the time and having the ability to rush the passer outside and inside. We’ve talked about it before, as hard as DLaw [DeMarcus Lawrence] played at Boise State, there are some similarities there. That is what we thought about him...


https://cowboyswire.usatoday.com/20...nd-micah-parsons-mike-zimmer-cowboys-defense/

If Kneeland provides an ounce of improved run support than he was worth every cent.

 

[JoeKing]

Assigning a rookie the task of tying the D line together is unreasonable. That's just setting him up for failure.

 

[gimmesix]

Assigning a rookie the task of tying the D line together is unreasonable. That's just setting him up for failure.

We set a lot of rookies up for failure because improvement falls on them or no one since we don't make good use of free agency.

 

[JoeKing]

We set a lot of rookies up for failure because improvement falls on them or no one since we don't make good use of free agency.

That's a very good point.

 

[gtb1943]

ain't going to help us inside

 

[gimmesix]

ain't going to help us inside

Maybe as a pass rusher. I think there's a good chance on pure passing downs that he and Lawrence will be the tackles and Parsons and Williams the ends.

 

[GimmeTheBall!]

(The Cowboys spent a premium pick on an edge rusher for the third time in four years. Here’s an inside look from Doug Farrar of just how impactful Kneeland could be as a rookie.)

The Dallas Cowboys have perhaps the NFL’s most incendiary pass-rusher in Micah Parsons. That much, we know. What we don’t know at this point is what the rest of that Dallas pass rush will look like in 2024 and beyond, and that uncertainty has multiple sources.

First, there’s the switch in defensive coordinators from Dan Quinn to Mike Zimmer. Zimmer is a familiar face to longtime Cowboys fans of course; he was the team’s DC from 2000 through 2006, and his return to the team is an interesting wrinkle.

Then, there’s the talent around Parsons. Last season, Parsons led the team with 16 sacks and 106 total pressures. Behind that, there are veterans who still have some juice, like Demarcus Lawrence and his four sacks and 48 total pressures in 2023, and newer ascending players like Osa Odighizuwa and his three sacks and 44 total pressures in 2023...

“The number one thing about him is the high effort and motor that he plays with,” Cowboys Vice President of Player Personnel Will McClay said of Kneeland. “Then to be talented, physically talented enough to play at this level. We noticed him early on. [Brett] Maxie is the area scout who brought him to our attention early, and the more you watch him, the more you see NFL traits and the traits that we are looking for on the defensive side; playing hard all the time and having the ability to rush the passer outside and inside. We’ve talked about it before, as hard as DLaw [DeMarcus Lawrence] played at Boise State, there are some similarities there. That is what we thought about him...


https://cowboyswire.usatoday.com/20...nd-micah-parsons-mike-zimmer-cowboys-defense/

A savior!

 

[MountaineerCowboy]

Kneeland is this years Overshown.

 

[jazzcat22]

And it starts.

Nice article and some positive info. Yet here they come.

 

[Whyjerry]

I am all for any talent injection into the DL. It is a major area of weakness. So much is riding on Mazi I truly hope Kneeland can be a big help.

 

[Bullflop]

The fact that he's so active and consistent in applying pressure, should make him a valuable asset, for a d-line with such a pressing need.

 

[DallasEast]

Kneeland is this years Overshown.

Do you foresee Marshawn Kneeland getting injured before the regular season? Nothing is determined yet about Kneeland's potential at the professional level. That will or will not happen until after the real games start. The same can be said of DeMarvion Overshown.

 

[blueblood70]

Great article! I especially liked this part:

correct and also think about what he can do with the players left on this team the pass rushers from last year Fehoko 6'4 267, we haven't really used and got guys like tweeners Gholston, OSA, and maybe he can fix Mazi..

 

[MountaineerCowboy]

Do you foresee Marshawn Kneeland getting injured before the regular season? Nothing is determined yet about Kneeland's potential at the professional level. That will or will not happen until after the real games start. The same can be said of DeMarvion Overshown.

Another year another defensive "savior" arrives in Dallas.

 

[DallasEast]

Another year another defensive "savior" arrives in Dallas.

The pessimism is applicable, for example, Mazi Smith. Smith did touch the field and not much else his rookie season.

Kneeland and Overshown are still unknowns in the defensive savior department. In my opinion, they can be penciled in as false saviors if they fail as one but not before they do.

 

[Typhus]

ain't going to help us inside

Zimm is going to be really upset quickly if he doesn't find a big man ready to step up his game.