The biggest weakness in the Dallas Cowboys defense in 2023 was right up the middle for all the world to see. And the entire NFL world saw it and took full advantage.
Dallas comes into this season hoping that new Defensive Coordinator Mike Zimmer can shore that up. His defensive lines have been hard to run against in the past. Having Mazi Smith rebound from a disappointing rookie year will help.
A solid season from Osa Odighizuwa, the Cowboys’ other starting defensive tackle, would also solidify the middle of the line.
There was another weakness in Dallas’ defense last year, especially down the stretch, and this one won’t be quite so easy to shore up.
That’s the job that will fall on newly-signed free-agent middle linebacker Eric Kendricks.
The Cowboys are banking on him getting the job done.
Kendricks Will Replace Vander Esch
Eric Kendricks will be replacing Leighton Vander Esch at middle linebacker, and those will be big shoes to fill.
Vander Esch burst onto the scene in his rookie season back in 2018. He started 11 of the games he played in and finished that year with 140 tackles and two interceptions.
Over the next four seasons, Vander Esch manned the middle and made life miserable for opposing running backs.
When he was on the field that is. LVE only played nine games in 2019 and another 10 in 2020.
Eric Kendricks played in all 17 games in 2021 and managed 14 games in 2022. He was on pace for another solid season last year when he went down with another neck injury in a loss at San Francisco last November.
As it was in years before, when Vander Esch was out of the lineup, the Cowboys’ run defense suffered. Fixing that was the top priority on the defensive side of the ball this year.
Enter Kendricks.
The Task At Hand
Ironically, Eric Kendricks was initially reported to be signing with the 49ers this offseason. So it was some small fit of poetic justice when the Cowboys swooped in and lured him away from San Francisco.
Given the dirty nature of the play that ended Vander Esch’s career, the 49ers had it coming. It also helped that Zimmer had just been hired by the Cowboys.
Zimmer was Kendrick’s head coach in Minnesota for his first seven NFL seasons. In his rookie season, he played in 14 games, starting in 11 of them. He finished with 92 tackles and four sacks.
His lowest tackle total for a season over the next eight seasons was 107 in 2020.
And he only played in 11 games that season.
After eight years in Minnesota, a year after Zimmer’s departure, Kendricks played for the Chargers in 2023. He had 117 tackles, forced a fumble, and defended six passes.
Then he hit the free agent market and landed in Dallas.
His task is to be the middle linebacker he’s been the last nine seasons. Even more, the Cowboys need him to take over the role Leighton Vander Esch filled so well.
Maybe even an upgrade at that.
Kendrick’s Goals For 2024
Kendrick signed a one-year deal for just under $3 million. He’s shooting for a bigger contract in 2025 with a few more years on it and, if he has another strong season, he’ll likely get it.
If he does, especially if Mike Zimmer remains in Dallas, the Cowboys should give him that contract.
All you need to do is go back to the last game Dallas played in the 2023 season.
Green Bay literally ran the Cowboys out of AT&T Stadium and out of the playoffs. Aaron Jones had 21 carries for 118 yards and three touchdowns.
Dallas’ defense simply had no answer that day.
They didn’t for most of the 2023 season after Vander Esch went down.
Kendrick needs to be the man in the middle, the difference-maker, and not just for his future contractual prospects. He needs to be all of that if the Cowboys are to have any hope of winning the NFC East, or even making the playoffs.
They need that from him if they have any hope of making it beyond the divisional round of the playoffs in 2024.