Dallas Cowboys hybrid safety/linebacker Markquese Bell continues to be an impact player for the defense.
Markquese Bell Taking on a Hybrid Role
Bell caught up with PFN after the Cowboys’ win against the Rams and said one of the biggest lessons he has learned about himself this season is that he can make big plays for his team when he trusts his abilities.
Bell continued to do just that on Sunday when he took 45 of the 62 defensive snaps as a linebacker.
He has impressed throughout the season with his ability to diagnose plays and fly around the field in coverage, and Sunday was no different.
With Leighton Vander Esch on injured reserve, Bell has taken on a more significant role on the defense.
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Although Bell was an undrafted safety out of Florida A&M in 2022, he has become what he calls a hybrid player who can play both safety and linebacker.
He now has the second-most combined total tackles on the team with 33, just behind Damone Clark (45).
Cowboys Find Success After the Bye Week
The hybrid player said it was an amazing feeling to see the Cowboys fire in all three phases of the game against the Rams coming off of their bye week.
But he knows the work continues, especially since the Cowboys will face the Eagles next week at Lincoln Financial Field.
“My motto is ‘keep moving forward,'” said Bell. “So right now, we’re going to take it day by day, come in tomorrow to make the corrections, and we’re gonna take it from there.”
Bell’s Secret to Success
The 24-year-old is taking a second-year jump that he credits his teammates for, saying, “When you got great support like that, you can go out there and be confident in every play.”
But Bell says because his teammates and coaches have his back, he knows there is room to make mistakes if they do occur.
Part of that comes from defensive coordinator Dan Quinn’s patience, which the young player says has helped him significantly.
“He’s been real patient with me. He’s real encouraging, and he’s real understanding knowing it’s a new position and it’s gonna take me time to learn it, but he’s with me every step of the way,” said Bell.
As for any specific teammate that has taken Bell under their wing in the transition, he said it’s the entire defense that surrounds him, stating, “I’m not 100 percent perfect, but they get me lined up, they get me in the right gap, telling me where I gotta go. It’s a good weight taken off my shoulders.”
Something Bell says has not only allowed him to grow as a player on the field but as a person as well, especially when it comes to learning from the mistakes he makes.
Overall, his mindset is to stay focused and locked in to be the best version of himself to help set his teammates up for success.
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