For the first time since 2004 the Dallas Cowboys did not draft a linebacker this offseason. They also failed to address the position in free agency. The Cowboys instead focused on reinforcing the depleted secondary and bolstering the defensive line. The decision to neglect the linebacker position could be a regrettable one by seasons end.
This unit is simultaneously the most exciting and yet the most worrisome on the team. There is talent there but the threat of poor health and poor discipline is ever present. Starting at weak side, there is Sean Lee, the best defensive player on the roster by far. After staying healthy last season, the rest of the league is beginning to learn what Cowboy fans have known for years. Sean Lee is an absolute stud! The concern with him is of course staying healthy, something that he had failed to do in his early career. Hopefully he can stay on the field and show that last season was no fluke.
At the SAM position, Damien Wilson is a real up and comer who is poised for a breakout campaign. Unfortunately, there is a dark cloud hanging over his head. It is entirely possible he will become the latest player on this roster to miss time due to suspension for an off the field incident.
Starting middle linebacker Anthony Hitchens has been called the most underrated player on the team by DallasCowboys.com writer David Helman. Sean Lee went a step further and called him “one of the most underrated linebackers in the NFL” according to Drew Davison of the Star Telegram. Hitchens was creating quite a buzz with his play in training camp. After injuring his knee in Saturday’s preseason game against the Raiders, the Cowboys will likely be without him for half of the season. This is a big loss for the Cowboys and a tough break for the young linebacker in his contract year.
The Cowboys have a couple of experienced players that they can plug in to replace Hitchens and potentially Wilson in Kyle Wilbur and the recently resigned Justin Durant. Both have experience with this defense and have played well in the past. Mark Nzoecha is another option but injuries have prevented him from showcasing his ability to Cowboy fans thus far. I have no idea what to expect from him.
Finally, there is Jaylon Smith. The man that everyone has been excited about since the Cowboys drafted him at the top of the second round last year. He was an All World linebacker in college before he suffered a devastating injury that threatened to end his career. He has worked extremely hard to get back on the football field after a nearly two year hiatus and he is not yet 100% healthy. The Cowboys would like to ease him back into action and will limit his playing time but that does not prevent Cowboy fans from placing lofty and unrealistic expectations on him. Count me among that group. He has not been perfect but he has been fun to watch in his first two preseason games. I firmly believe that he will prove to be a difference maker this season even in limited action; But, I think it will take some time for him to get there.
It is a difficult job to be a linebacker on the Dallas Cowboys. Because the team does not generate much of a pass rush, linebackers are often required to drop into coverage in a bend but don’t break defensive mindset. The injury to Anthony Hitchens does not make their job any easier. It is likely that another linebacker is added to the roster prior to the start of the season as a result. Overall, I am confident in the group they have now as long as Sean Lee remains healthy. Their success, in my opinion, rest squarely on his shoulders.