There may now be new competition for the Dallas Cowboys other than who they face on the field for the rest of the season. Dallas is now a reported threat to be in pursuit of the Minnesota Vikings Linebacker, Anthony Barr. With Shaquille Leonard recently signing with the Philadelphia Eagles, the stakes are high for the Cowboys to find depth at Linebacker. They still have that glaring hole, losing Leighton Vander Esch for the season and possibly forever.
Hold your breath Cowboys fans, help may be on the way. Markquese Bell and Damone Clark are holding down the weight but it probably won’t last long with the experience they have. Bell was elevated from Safety to the new position when help was needed, so this means that Dallas needs to act quickly. The depth is scarce and they are one injury away from a collision happening.
Barr played 14 games, 10 of those starting with the team, and totaled 58 tackles, one sack, and a pair of fumble recoveries. His production wasn’t the best, but it did its due diligence to fill in the depth last season. This year, it’s now needed more than ever as the playoffs are quickly approaching.
He was a free agent until the Vikings brought him back and now he’s part of the roster in the last two weeks. However, he’s still currently part of the Vikings practice squad. The only way they can avoid Dallas from taking him is by activating him to the 53-man roster.
𝗥𝗨𝗠𝗢𝗥𝗦: The #Cowboys could have interest in linebacker Anthony Barr after missing out on Shaq Leonard, says @BryanBroaddus
Barr is on the #Vikings practice squad if the Cowboys wanted to poach him.
(H/T: @vikingzfanpage) pic.twitter.com/mDN4kMMhMB
— JPAFootball (@jasrifootball) December 5, 2023
Dallas Cowboys Should Reunite With Former Pro-bowl Linebacker
The Cowboys Are in Emergency Mode for LB Depth
The team is a hit away from their linebacker depth collapsing, leading in pursuit of emergency services to look for help. Dallas should act now, especially since the competition is rising in the NFC. However, the defense is still riding hot with their young talent of course in the names of DaRon Bland and Micah Parsons. The team still needs to do some searching before the opportunity becomes scarce.
Barr has experience not only with Dallas but also the veteran status sets him apart from the young talent. At 6-5, 260, he has some attributes that can complement Markquese Bell and Damone Clark. The Eagles already have their new linebacker, so the Cowboys should respond with this shocking move. It’d be smart for Jerry Jones to make a couple of phone calls and move the needle.
The Cowboys can lay in their haystack all they want, but it’s gonna come down to which talent can exceed those expectations. Barr has the same aggression and mentality as Parsons so imagine these two young guns on both ends. It would be like a pair of lightning bolts in a bottle ready to burst.
Anthony Barr Fits Into Dan Quinn’s Defensive Scheme
Barr is no longer the same player he was a long time ago, but that isn’t the killer joy of the moment. He still can mix the abilities he has with Dan Quinn’s defense and make some noise. There was a lack of production on his part. However, with the change of scenery and playoffs coming up, he can be a game-changer for this doomsday defense.
Coverage may be an area that Barr lacks but if Quinn can mix that defense to get him into the pass-rush scheme, then all will fall into place. His ability to blitz and be a downhill tackler has always been his calling card. This spot is already being taken care of by Parsons but Quinn is always looking to switch the spices up. The resemblance of his abilities with Parsons is the perfect answer for Dallas’ calling.
Quinn runs a complex defensive scheme, but he makes it simple by using a variety of pieces to maintain gaining takeaways. This is the exact way Barr should used if they bring him to Dallas. Creating turnovers and changing the momentum will be the hallmark of every game for this defense. Barr and the Cowboy’s defense are on the same mindset, but it all comes down if he’s willing to join.
Main Photo: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
