On Monday, with secondary injuries piling up, Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn declared an open competition for the outside linebacker spot opposite Trevon Diggs. For the past several weeks, opposing teams had made a trend of attacking whoever held the position opposite the Cowboys' All-Pro CB. After Anthony Brown's season ending injury, Kelvin Joseph stepped into the role. Quinn stated that while he liked some things he'd seen from Joseph, he was still working to find the best fit for that position.
On Saturday, fifth round draft pick Daron Bland threw his hat into the competition and made a strong, if not definitive, case for himself as the answer to the question of who should be on the boundary in Anthony Brown's stead. Recently, Bland had been filling in at the nickel spot for Jourdan Lewis. He was already making a name for himself having picked up a team-leading fourth interception during the Week 15 loss to the Jaguars. Some even argued that he was performing so well, it would be a shame to move him to another spot.
As it turned out, on Saturday, he was in the perfect spot to make a crucial play to stop the Eagles from taking the lead in what was a tied game. With less than five minutes left in the 4th quarter and the Eagles already on the Dallas 46 yard line, Daron Bland wrestled away a pass intended for Quez Watkins and gave the Cowboys the chance to take the lead for themselves.
DaRon Bland took it away from him for the INT!
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This was Bland's fifth interception of the year, tying him for 3rd place in franchise history for most interceptions by a rookie defensive back. Safety Roy Williams and cornerback Derek Ross each had five interceptions as rookies in 2002. With 4 interceptions over the past four weeks, its foreseeable that he could pull away and take 3rd place for himself this season. Everson Walls has a strong lead in that category. As a rookie, he snagged a whopping 11 interceptions in 1981.
After the game, Bland said to reporters, “Any time the ball is in the air, I think it's mine.” Considering the reputation he's building for pass interceptions and deflections, it's easy to see how that mindset is paying off.
Fans should expect Bland to reprise this role in just a few days when the Cowboys travel to Nashville to face the Titans for Thursday Night Football.
