The Cowboys defense won over some new believers after last year’s transformation. Superstars like Micah Parsons got much of the credit, but Dan Quinn actually got far more out of several players on his unit than it seemed like they should have been capable of. Among them, two journeymen safeties who may found a football home. Jayron Kearse gets the film room treatment to show why he’s such a multi-talented weapon in the secondary, and one of his position mates gets tabbed as the most underrated player on the entire team.
Elsewhere, news out of Canton. One of the team’s best-loved assistants will be honored by the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and two more legends of the ’90s dynasty return to be the first to hoist the 57th Lombardi Trophy. Dak Prescott is looking sharp in workouts during his pre-camp break, there’s an opening for his new 3rd-down passing target, and a new “Big Kat” hopes to pounce on a roster spot in Dallas. We’re looking at who the Cowboys cannot afford to lose, and marveling at just how far the NFL has come in their views toward sports gambling; now it’s somebody’s actual job in the league office. That’s all up in News and Notes.
Every NFC team’s most underrated player in 2022 :: SI.com
Safety Malik Hooker was one of Dallas’s best run defenders last year, accounting for almost 50 yards saved versus an average position player. The Cowboys gave up almost half an extra yard on carries in which Hooker wasn’t on the field. As a pass defender, Hooker saw the most direct targets of his career last year but dropped his opposing QB completion percentage by almost 25% from his career best. That two-year, $7 million contract is looking like a steal.
Film room: Why Jayron Kearse’s Swiss Army knife skillset is critical to Cowboys’ defense :: Dallas Morning News
Kearse was used in a wider variety of roles than most NFL safeties last year. He aligned in the box on 41.6% of snaps, in the slot on 20% of snaps, on the line of scrimmage on 16.4% of snaps, and at corner on 5% of snaps. Each of those were above league average for the safety position. But a breakdown of the film shows he excelled absolutely everywhere. He might do even more in his second year under Dan Quinn.
PFF loves what Dan Quinn gets out of his players :: Cris Collinsworth (Twitter)
Indispensable: The 5 Cowboys who…
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