The Dallas Cowboys defense is going to look completely different in 2024.
Dan Quinn is now the head coach of the Washington Commanders, he took Joe Whitt Jr. with him to be his defensive coordinator.
Dallas is looking at former head coaches to fill their vacant defensive coordinator spot in Mike Zimmer and Ron Rivera, and as of Wednesday morning Rex Ryan also interviewed for the job.
Jerry Jones talking about going “all in,” and he is trying to do it with some questionable decisions already.
If one of them gets hired, the first order of business should be to unpack how they will fix both the linebacker position and defensive line on this football team.
Problem at linebacker
The moment Leighton Vander Esch got hurt, the linebacker spot struggled.
LVE played well until his neck injury, an issue he has had his entire career.
From the early reports, it may push him to early retirement. If that is the case, this group of linebackers will need major help in 2024.
It might be a bigger problem than we think. The Cowboys have Damone Clark and Markqese Bell.
Dallas cannot roll into the 2024 season with these as the only two guys at the linebacker spot. Although they are awful at stopping the run, at least the Cowboys defensive line has players who can make enough plays.
Bell is better than Clark in my opinion.
The problem is he is only 205 pounds and can get knocked out of a play by an offensive lineman.
Plan for 2024
The first order of business is to get a defensive coordinator hired.
Linebacker and defensive line are clearly the two biggest problems on defense, but honestly, if they bring Johnathan Hankins back, I think linebacker might be a bigger problem.
If Jerry Jones means what he says about going “all in,” go get Devin White. White is set to be a free agent for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
He has only been in the league since 2019 and could bring some solid years to Dallas.
He’s won a Super Bowl, been a Pro Bowler and an All-Pro.
They will likely add someone via the draft in April, but probably not until the third or fourth round.
The offensive line should be their first pick at 24, and adding a running back to wide receiver could even come before they take a linebacker.
Regardless of who they draft, I am not putting my money on them to be any good.
Mazi Smith has been a bust, and I am not expecting him to make a second year leap.
They need to make a move to sure this up if this defense wants to be able to stop anybody.
Bring Stephon Gilmore and Hankins back, that way you have a few less things to worry about.
My word means nothing, and I am sure Jerry Jones will say he likes his players again, and yet every year they fall short.
Go in like the Rams did a few years ago, get a Super Bowl and then be average for the next five years, I don’t care, I just want to win.