Yardbarker
x
How good can the Cowboys LB group be in 2023?
Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

The Dallas Cowboys depth chart has some good balance to it, and by now, we have a nice understanding of who will fit in where.

One part of the depth chart, though, is interesting.

One spot that could see multiple faces is the linebacker position. Both Damone Clark and rookie DeMarvion Overshown have impressed over the last month.

They also have Jabril Cox, who I like a lot.

Leighton Vander Esch leads the room, and as long as his neck problems are a thing of the past, they have fantastic depth with many young players.

This group will have an excellent season and is even being highly overlooked.

Everyone thinks they will be the weak spot of the Cowboys' outstanding defense because they don't have any big names outside of LVE.

Yet, when you ask the folks on TV about the Eagles' defense that lost half their starters, they say they will still be great because of all the young players!

They have four players with a high ceiling, and the way Dan Quinn runs the defense, he will find time for all of them.

Mainly for Clark and Overshown.

They had 11 total tackles against the Jaguars in the first preseason game. Look for them to repeat that effort tonight against the Seahawks.

Here is a nice nugget for you. 26 linebackers were selected in the 2022 NFL draft, and the only linebacker to have at least 40 tackles that year WITHOUT a single missed tackle was Damone Clark.

The linebacker spot won't be the best group on the defense, but it sure won't be a weak spot like I have heard some people try and say it will be.

Overshown is a hybrid type of player for Quinn.

He is fast, explosive, and makes the right play.

His energy and his willingness to want to get better is awesome. There is a lot to like about him, but like every rookie, he will probably have some growing pains.

You will live with those during a rookie season.

Cox, the player I really like recovering from that ACL injury, only played on special teams and really nothing more than that.

Still, he seems ready to do whatever the coaching staff asks of him. “I'll let you know about my goals for the season when it's all over. I don't want to jinx it right now,” he said.

Again, this group won't be the best in football, but folks overlook them just a bit.

It is one of the areas on the team with the most depth, and could be a massive factor if LVE goes down, etc.

I hope that isn't the case, but you have three players that can jump right in and help take control of the defense if needed.

Let's see how the crew does again tonight in the second preseason game.

These next two weeks could help them each earn more snaps in week one against the Giants on Sunday Night Football.

This article first appeared on Inside The Star and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads:

Customize Your Newsletter

+

Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.