The Cowboys’ linebacker position was scrutinized last season for being one of the weakest position groups on the team.
When I was growing up, I was always fascinated by the linebacker position in the NFL. My favorite video game was Madden 2005. It was the first year the hit stick was implemented in gameplay.
That feature was made for Ray Lewis, Hall of Fame linebacker who played for the Baltimore Ravens his entire career.
It was a stark contrast to the previous year’s version of the game which featured Atlanta’s Michael Vick on the cover. Vick was a cheat code in the 2004 version of the game and the developers had to do something to combat it.
Enter the hit stick and the evolution of the video game linebacker and the rest is history.
Nearly 20 years later, I’m still fascinated by the linebackers in the NFL. Some of my favorites in the game today are Kansas City’s Nick Bolton, Fred Warner and Dre Greenlaw of San Francisco, Baltimore’s Roquan Smith, and of course, Dallas’ Micah Parsons.
But wait a minute, Mario. Isn’t Micah Parsons a defensive end? Not so fast. Technically he’s a hybrid, but he will be playing in a new defense in 2024.
The Cowboys brought back an old face to call the defense after Dan Quinn departed for the Washington Commanders, taking a handful of former Cowboys with him.
Mike Zimmer, who was the Cowboys’ defensive coordinator in the late 1990s and early 2000s, might have some ideas as to how to deploy Micah and the rest of the linebackers.
A position that was considered a weakness last season is all of a sudden looking strong for the upcoming season.
Today, I want to do a short analysis for each linebacker on the Cowboys’ roster.
Starters
Last season, the Cowboys were down bad when it came to depth at the linebacker position. They lost rookie DeMarvion Overshown in preseason to a torn ACL. Then Leighton Vander Esch was lost to a neck injury in Week 5.
The Cowboys, already thin at linebacker, were forced to play S Markquese Bell at the position. Although he played well, he struggled versus run-heavy teams due to his smaller stature.
After one of the weakest linebacker corps in recent memory, the Cowboys all of a sudden look formidable heading into the 2024 season.
Eric Kendricks
Let’s start with the leader of the linebacker corps and the likeliest player to wear the green dot on his helmet, relaying the calls from the sideline.
Eric Kendricks played for Zimmer in Minnesota and it was fortunate that he was still on the market for the Cowboys to sign and help teach the new defense to the team.
Kendricks knows exactly what Zimmer expects and will relay that knowledge and attitude to the rest of the defense from the middle.
Damone Clark
Damone Clark is a third-year player who has shown flashes but hasn’t been consistent enough to consider a lock to start on Zimmer’s defense. He is sort of here by default and that’s ok for now.
Clark will likely line up as the Sam linebacker, or the linebacker on the strong side of the defense depending on the offense’s formation. He will be counted on in run support and the occasional quarterback blitz.
Hopefully, Clark can unlock the talent that projected him as an early 2nd round pick before the need for spinal fusion surgery was made public and dropped him to the 5th round.
Should he not live up to his potential, there are a couple of younger players itching for the opportunity.
Micah Parsons
We have gotten used to seeing Micah Parsons with his hand in the dirt over the opposing right tackle quite often, but we need to prepare to see him in a two-point stance more often.
Zimmer knows how to use pass-rushing linebackers like Parsons because he coached one early on in Minnesota when he drafted Anthony Barr.
If you want to know how Micah will be deployed, just watch how Barr was used and it will give you an indication.
Micah will most likely be the starting Will (weakside) linebacker and will be free to roam the formation to create mismatches for the offense. Over the past year and a half, Parsons lined up with his hand in the dirt on virtually every down.
He is an excellent pass-rusher, but limiting him to one spot on the line is a detriment to his game and the success of the defense.
Expect Micah to stand and move around more often to confuse offensive lines, leading to more sacks.
Top Rotational Players
The term “starter” in today’s game is fluid. There are so many different defensive packages where certain rotational players are better suited than the “starter” ahead of them in the same position.
Dallas has three linebackers who can come in and make an impact in certain packages, and when it comes to the first name on this list, he could push for a top spot on the depth chart.
DeMarvion Overshown
The 2nd year linebacker is technically a redshirt freshman after suffering a torn ACL during a game against Seattle last preseason. He is back, bigger and stronger, and hopefully soon faster, too.
I predict that Overshown will be the primary backup at Will linebacker, earning plenty of playing time each time Parsons lines up with his hand in the dirt.
Overshown has elite speed to rush the passer, drop back in coverage, or run down a running back sideline to sideline. All he needs is opportunity.
Marist Liufau
Marist Liufau is the Cowboys’ latest 3rd-round pick. The Cowboys drafted him out of Notre Dame University and they love his tenacity and intelligence.
Liufau has much to learn, but I suspect he will be the primary understudy to the veteran Eric Kendricks. He can get equal opportunity between Sam linebacker and Mike (middle) linebacker, but his intelligence leans him more towards calling the defense.
Look for him to make more of an impact towards the end of the season once he puts it all together mentally. Only then can he take snaps away from Kendricks or Clark.
In summary, the Cowboys’ linebacker corps has morphed into a strength after a season where it was considered the weakest spot on the roster.
It’s something to look forward to and something that should have Cowboys fans excited.