The Dallas Cowboys defense has been hit with multiple injuries this year. Usually, when this happens, the Cowboys struggle to find the next man up. That’s all in the past, no worries Dallas fans, you have young talent on the roster that is elevating themselves. Markquese Bell is quickly getting looks after being elevated to the linebacker position to fill in as depth.
This new linebacker has been tasked with the position after rookie, DeMarvion Overshown, suffered a torn ACL in the preseason. Also, Vander Esch is out yet again with another injury and his career is in jeopardy. Since then, after the game against the Chargers, he totaled seven tackles while only allowing 36 receiving yards.
Since then, he has impressed the Cowboys with his athleticism, speed, and stature. This is what Dallas saw in him when they signed him after he went undrafted in 2022. Despite that, they have seen potential in this hybrid playmaker. The only problem was the talent in front of him that prevented him from getting snaps.
Malik Hooker, Donovan Wilson and Jayron Kearse have been receiving a heavy workload. So if the Cowboys want to see Bell become something special then it’ll be best to keep him at linebacker. Dallas is exploring their options to find a new linebacker so this may be bad news for Bell. If the Cowboys want success in their formidable defense then they should keep rotating their talent.
If the #Cowboys sign Shaquille Leonard, one thing they CANNOT do is take Markquese Bell off the field in passing situations.
He's been so impressive and such a boon to DAL's overall pass defense. The ability to close down short-to-intermediate zones & reliably limit YAC on…
— John Owning (@JohnOwning) November 28, 2023
Dallas Cowboys Have Budding Star in Markquese Bell
Markquese Bell Is a True Hybrid Playmaker
Technically, when a player switches positions in the league, it leaves the team in doubt if their performance will be upheld. This tends to leave all the “dirty work” to Bell after only having a chance now that they’re low at depth. Bell has only taken advantage of that opportunity and has been critical in the run game. Bell is rated the eighth-highest linebacker by Pro Football Focus, giving him strong marks in coverage, run defense and pass rush.
He’s also the youngest player in the top 10 and based on the diversity of his skills, he is bound for a breakout campaign the rest of the year. His versatility and ability to transition are valuable tools for Dallas to find success in rotation. The Cowboys knew they found a rare gem last year by signing him, so there’s no surprise in his performance. They just didn’t expect his success to be at linebacker.
Everyone remembers the former Pittsburgh Steeler and Hall of Famer Troy Polamalu right? This is exactly what the Cowboys need to do with Bell. It’s likely that Dallas will acquire Shaquille Leonard to avoid their rival, Philadelphia from signing him. So, the Cowboys may want to use Bell in aggressive situations.
Every tackle Markquese Bell made vs the Panthers.
Crazy to think he was a back up at the start of camp.
Markquese Bell 24
Micah Parsons 24
Daron Bland 24
Trevon Diggs 25This Cowboys defense is gonna be in good hands for a long time. pic.twitter.com/5xLkHAZ2go
— (Foots The King) (@FootsDaKing) November 23, 2023
Don’t Let Markquese Bell Be Overshadowed
Whoever the Cowboys end up signing regardless, they should keep Bell in the lineup. You don’t want to hide talent that is of course doing well. They might switch him back to safety depending if one of their stars goes down with an injury. If they do that, then they should treat him like the Steelers did with Polamalu.
However, Dallas should focus on bringing Bell in passing situations to give the opposing team’s quarterback little time in the pocket. So the Cowboys should keep Bell on the outside to go around to attempt to sack the QB no matter his position. This will be a critical weak point for future offenses they face if Dan Quinn is willing to go aggressive. The running game is already taken care of by Bell and of course, their star Micah Parsons.
It’s the passing game that they need to focus on to avoid those big drives, especially in the postseason. The playoffs are coming up and the Cowboys will likely be in the Wildcard, so there’s no doubt that they need to be solid in every defensive aspect. However, the passing game will be key because when a team gets hot then all hell may break loose.
Main Photo: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
