The Dallas Cowboys season is over, and the linebacker room remains a matter of high concern. This thin room lacked depth and veteran presence and ultimately struggled this season.
Although it’s highly anticipated that the Cowboys will pick up a linebacker in the early rounds of the draft, the youth in the current room is expected to be there next season, as none will hit free agency.
But what are some of the biggest takeaways from the Cowboys’ linebackers this past season?
How Did the 2023 Dallas Cowboys Linebackers Fare?
Dallas’ LB room faced adversity before the season even started. DeMarvion Overshown suffered a torn ACL in the Cowboys’ second preseason game. Then, in Week 5, Leighton Vander Esch was put on injured reserve after suffering a neck injury, ending his season.
Although it’s expected that Overshown will return in 2024, retirement is likely looming for Vander Esch.
Dan Quinn was given the dilemma of finding a solution to the lack of depth in the room. Rashaan Evans, Malik Jefferson, and Buddy Johnson provided depth on the practice squad throughout the season, but it’s clear that more is needed going forward.
Micah Parsons’ 2023 Evaluation
Although Micah Parsons acts as an edge rusher, he would drop back into the linebacker position. This season, he had 64 combined total tackles, which is a career low. However, he did lead the team in sacks with 14.
As a rookie, Parsons became the second player besides Reggie White to finish with over 12 sacks in their first season. This past offseason, Parsons emphasized his handwork and worked with veteran offensive linemen to know their next move. This worked well for him early in the season but faded as the season went on.
It’s not fair to fully evaluate Parsons’ performance this season based on his work as a linebacker since he describes himself as an “edge-rushing linebacker.” He had to adjust and overcompensate for the lack of Vander Esch and the young room around him.
But with those factors likely not changing next season, he needs to put his offseason training into figuring out how to make impact plays despite being targeted and held during games. Parsons did not have a holding call penalty drawn on him since Week 6 of the season until the Wild Card loss to the Green Bay Packers.
Yet, with future contract negotiations looming for Parsons, it will be interesting to see how much money the Cowboys are willing to spend to keep him satisfied.
Damone Clark’s 2023 Evaluation
As for Damone Clark, he’s taken a mentorship from Vander Esch throughout the last two seasons. However, that mentorship changed from playing next to him on the field to taking advice on the sidelines after Vander Esch’s season ended.
Clark led the team in tackles with a total of 107. Tackling was an emphasis for the Cowboys’ defense this season, but it followed his lead.
He was already impactful with his tackling in 2022 but got even better in 2023. Through Week 10, Clark didn’t have one missed tackle.
MORE: How Did the Dallas Cowboys’ Quarterbacks Perform This Season?
Clark has the potential to be an impactful LB, but he needs more time to continue growing. That’s expected, being as young as he is. He tackled well all season but only sometimes diagnosed plays promptly to avoid explosive plays.
Dallas’ coaching staff trusts Clark as he wore the green dot during the preseason and was in the conversation to do it again after Vander Esch was ruled out for the year.
Although safety Jayron Kearse took over those duties, Clark could be a candidate to now do so, depending on whether the team can retain Kearse in the offseason.
Markquese Bell’s 2023 Evaluation
Throughout the season, Clark and Markquese Bell became a dynamic duo on the field and in the locker room. Like Clark, Bell was another player taking a second-year jump, but his jump looked different having covered from a safety to the linebacker position.
The converted LB had the second-highest number of tackles on the team this year (94). He also had two forced fumbles and four pass deflections.
This often acted as a curse to Bell, especially regarding the size differential between him and opposing offenses up front. But his ability to diagnose plays with having seen the game as a safety can be an advantage for him to play up on if he stays working as a linebacker.
However, if the Cowboys are going to keep Bell working in at linebacker, he must put on more muscle mass in the offseason.
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