Twitter: Michael Gehlken on Markquese Bell's performance

[XXLMike]

Cowboys converted Markquese Bell from safety last month. There were moments Sunday when he looked like he's played linebacker for a decade.

Via Michael Gehlken

 

[Dallasfann]

He was in so many plays I had to google him last night. Played like a crazy man. I can't even fathom the fact that arguably our 2nd best defensive player and best safety last year wasn't even suited up yesterday.

 

[gimmesix]

I believe he primarily played that nickel linebacker role while we played LVE, Clark and Parsons as the LBs on run downs. Notice that LVE is off the field here and Bland is the nickel corner. Essentially, we were going to play Clark and Overshown (along with Kearse) as our three LBs in the nickel and now we're using Bell in the Overshown role. We'll see how it plays out, but it does put us at a size disadvantage. However, that's negated some by teams generally needing to pass when he's in the game. Here the Giants tried to take advantage of it by running and Bell said nope.

 

[805BoysInBlue]

For a second I saw #14 on the field making plays and thought it was Cox.

 

[Creeper]

Bell and Thomas were both big last night.

 

[Sydla]

Was really impressed with him last night.

 

[Beaker42]

I believe he primarily played that nickel linebacker role while we played LVE, Clark and Parsons as the LBs on run downs. Notice that LVE is off the field here and Bland is the nickel corner. Essentially, we were going to play Clark and Overshown (along with Kearse) as our three LBs in the nickel and now we're using Bell in the Overshown role. We'll see how it plays out, but it does put us at a size disadvantage. However, that's negated some by teams generally needing to pass when he's in the game. Here the Giants tried to take advantage of it by running and Bell said nope.

Why isn’t Kearse playing the Overshown role?

 

[gimmesix]

Why isn’t Kearse playing the Overshown role?

Kearse already was the third "linebacker" in the nickel. We were going to have him, Overshown and Clark out there in obvious passing situations. Now we have Bell, Clark and Kearse, along with Gilmore, Diggs, Bland and Hooker and our four pass rushers. When Wilson gets back, he might be out there in the Bell role.

What some of these guys who cover the NFL don't know is we often deployed three safeties (Wilson, Kearse and Hooker) and three corners (Diggs, Brown and Bland) last year with one true LB. It's one of our base defensive sets under Quinn. He likes using safety/linebacker hybrids.

I'm not 100 percent sure if Overshown were healthy if he wouldn't be playing the Clark role some in those sets while we use Wilson and Kearse in the other two spots.

 

[Mr Cowboy]

For a second I saw #14 on the field making plays and thought it was Cox.

I saw that too, but I knew it couldn't be Cox because this #14 was making plays!

 

[AsthmaField]

When Bell drops the hammer on a ball carrier, there is just a concussion. The dude brings it on every tackle.

 

[plasticman]

Does this personnel department know how to evaluate talent or what?

How many undrafted free agents made significant contributions yesterday?

Kavontae Turpin
Terrence Steele
Juanyeh Thomas
Rico Dowdle
Marquise Bell

It's as if the Cowboys get 2-3 extra draft picks each year. Kudos to McClay and team.

 

[EPL0c0]

Was really impressed with him last night.

I really can't get over the quality of depth Dallas has at DL, LB, S, CB.

Quality depth is a luxury and last night, it didn't seem to matter who was in there, guys were stepping up and playing well.

There was a play: Tank-Parsons-Armstrong- (LVE) - Fowler

Result: Parsons sack. video showed a lot of moving parts but a big part was Armstrong moving the C to give Parsons room to move.