The value of Malik Hooker's experience with new Cowboys DC Matt Eberflus

[CCBoy]

When a new defensive coordinator comes to town, we’ve seen how they like to bring some of “their guys” with them to the roster. These veterans give the coach some comfort in terms of already knowing how to perform in his scheme, as well as the role they can play in helping their new teammates make the transition. With Matt Eberflus’ arrival in the Cowboys, he may already have a guy in safety Malik Hooker.

When Dan Quinn was hired in 2021, he brought LB/S Keanu Neal and S Damontae Kazee with him from the Falcons. In 2022, Dante Fowler was also signed after getting released by Atlanta. Last season with Mike Zimmer replacing Quinn, LB Eric Kendricks and DT Linval Joseph soon followed based on previously working with him in Minnesota.

We’ll have to wait until next week, at the earliest, to see what free agents might be lured to the Cowboys by Eberflus. He’s certainly got his own pool of guys from the last three years as the Bears’ head coach, and four years as the Colts’ defensive coordinator before that. But there may already be one in-house “Eberflus guy” with Hooker, who played under him from 2018-2020 in Indianapolis.

https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/202...ience-new-defensive-coordinator-matt-eberflus

 

[gimmesix]

I'd like to see Hooker and Wilson supplanted by Thomas and Bell, or at least for the younger players to be given a chance. I just think the younger guys can give us more on the back end at this point.

 

[big dog cowboy]

Willing to give Hooker a chance but he is on a short leash. He needs to make more plays on a consistent basis. Last year was a below average below production year for him and contributed to some big blowouts.

 

[speedkilz88]

Hooker at his best is as a single high safety which is what Quinn used heavily. He wasn't a very good fit with Eberflus or Zimmer.

 

[Carson]

Look at Jack Sanborn. Started for the bears for two years at MLB when they traded Roquan.

Solid player, only 24 and looks promising.

Sanborn has appeared in 48 games and made 19 starts for the Bears over the last three seasons. He had 164 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, an interception, five passes defensed, and a fumble recovery in those games.

 

[ArtClink]

Hooker can def ball.

 

[Coogiguy03]

Some people want him gone, but he could be very helpful in getting guys acclimated to the new scheme


https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/202...ience-new-defensive-coordinator-matt-eberflus

 

[jazzcat22]

I think he has 1 year left on his contract. He is not going anywhere. Unless a few players really step up and outshine him in TC.

Unless they bring in a S in FA, with a lower cap number. Which I doubt.

 

[Coogiguy03]

I think he has 1 year left on his contract. He is not going anywhere. Unless a few players really step up and outshine him in TC.

Unless they bring in a S in FA, with a lower cap number. Which I doubt.

any chance we see more of Thomas????

 

[jazzcat22]

any chance we see more of Thomas????

Hope so, he deserves more playing time.

Bell is also a RFA, so depends if they offer him a contract or let him walk. May depend upon his recovery from his arm injury.
Though Bell is more of a SS over a FS.

 

[Coogiguy03]

Hope so, he deserves more playing time.

Bell is also a RFA, so depends if they offer him a contract or let him walk. May depend upon his recovery from his arm injury.
Though Bell is more of a SS over a FS.

he seems a little light to be a SS

 

[Fla Cowpoke]

I'd like to see Hooker and Wilson supplanted by Thomas and Bell, or at least for the younger players to be given a chance. I just think the younger guys can give us more on the back end at this point.

I have thought the same thing. Saves a bunch of cap space letting them walk.

 

[gimmesix]

I have thought the same thing. Saves a bunch of cap space letting them walk.

I'm not for letting them walk. That just gives us more players to replace. I'm for giving the younger players a legitimate shot at the starting spots. If they beat them out and we find decent depth, then we can let them walk or try to trade them for peanuts.

I'm not inclined to create holes when we already have a bunch to fill. Hooker and Wilson are starting-caliber players, and there's value in that even if they don't start because Thomas and Bell prove to be better.

 

[blueblood70]

I'd like to see Hooker and Wilson supplanted by Thomas and Bell, or at least for the younger players to be given a chance. I just think the younger guys can give us more on the back end at this point.

Here's the problem with that, as much as I agree,

Thomas and bill both got hurt last year they weren't healthy kind of hard to depend on that, but yet Hooker and Wilson where around most of the year I know Wilson used to have an injury problem, but you can't just move on if the players behind them can't stay on the field..

I'm sure once all the camps start and we start to see how some of these players are utilized by the new coaching staff,

we'll see who they covet over the other I think it'll slow develop as far as they're watching practices and scrimmages and going into preseason if the new staff doesn't like the current starters, then maybe we'll see some changes, and not necessarily the names we know.. maybe Muk does ends up getting some advantage of this new defense or someone from the draft or an outside free agent...

we don't know what this new coaching staff is seeing when they're looking at film from the last couple of seasons on these players which I guarantee they're doing they're getting a deep look at what can and can't be done in their new schemes...

 

[blueblood70]

I have thought the same thing. Saves a bunch of cap space letting them walk.

You can't move on from players that save you very little yes there's some savings on the cap and then the hole is there bell and Thomas were both injured last year coming into this season with a question mark you can't just get rid of your starters to save a little money and then have two giant holes left on defense..

When you add to that and just look at the back end, we don't know how long it's going to be for diggs to get back healthy and you had Butler to that list, and we don't know if JLews coming back..

Kinda hard to get rid of two starters with that many question marks all on the back end of your defense and if you want to move forward a little we don't know when oversell will be back, I mean you just have to be a little bit more cautious on making moves like getting rid of two starters...

 

[gimmesix]

Here's the problem with that, as much as I agree,

Thomas and bill both got hurt last year they weren't healthy kind of hard to depend on that, but yet Hooker and Wilson where around most of the year I know Wilson used to have an injury problem, but you can't just move on if the players behind them can't stay on the field..

I'm sure once all the camps start and we start to see how some of these players are utilized by the new coaching staff,

we'll see who they covet over the other I think it'll slow develop as far as they're watching practices and scrimmages and going into preseason if the new staff doesn't like the current starters, then maybe we'll see some changes, and not necessarily the names we know.. maybe Muk does ends up getting some advantage of this new defense or someone from the draft or an outside free agent...

we don't know what this new coaching staff is seeing when they're looking at film from the last couple of seasons on these players which I guarantee they're doing they're getting a deep look at what can and can't be done in their new schemes...

Yeah, I'm not talking about moving on from Hooker and Wilson because we need depth and don't need to create more holes that we have to fill. I'm just talking about letting Bell and Thomas actually compete evenly for playing time. I believe if that is allowed, they will prevail because they both have more speed and range at this point in their careers.

I'd only be interested in replacing Hooker and/or Wilson on the roster if they were beaten out as starters and we had late-round picks or UDFAs we wanted to keep because they look like they could develop into the next Bell or Thomas. We have to have depth because of injuries.

 

[Fla Cowpoke]

You can't move on from players that save you very little yes there's some savings on the cap and then the hole is there bell and Thomas were both injured last year coming into this season with a question mark you can't just get rid of your starters to save a little money and then have two giant holes left on defense..

When you add to that and just look at the back end, we don't know how long it's going to be for diggs to get back healthy and you had Butler to that list, and we don't know if JLews coming back..

Kinda hard to get rid of two starters with that many question marks all on the back end of your defense and if you want to move forward a little we don't know when oversell will be back, I mean you just have to be a little bit more cautious on making moves like getting rid of two starters...

Or you could take the 10m in savings and sign a guy like Holland and pair him with one of the younger guys or an early draft pick. There isn’t only one solution to a given problem.