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When you think of the Dallas Cowboys‘ base defense, you automatically go to the 4-3. That’s true, but when you look at the numbers from 2014, the Cowboys were actually in a nickel formation more often than they were in the base 4-3. What this means is that Dallas had three cornerbacks on the field more than it had three linebackers lined up.
With that said, I expect the same to be true in 2015. The Cowboys have great depth at cornerback, so long as everyone (mainly Morris Claiborne) stays healthy. Orlando Scandrick, Brandon Carr and Byron Jones are expected to be the starters, which gives Dallas a strong secondary against the pass. The starting linebackers will be Rolando McClain and Sean Lee, both of whom are great in coverage.
Rather than keep one of the three corners on the sideline and having a run-stopping linebacker like Anthony Hitchens on the field, the Cowboys will use their secondary depth as often as possible. That’s not to say Dallas’ backup linebackers aren’t talented, because they are. The Cowboys have signed seemingly every linebacker on the market this offseason and have starter-potential players at all three spots.
The NFL is a passing league, and it’s hard to win without a strong secondary. When healthy, the Cowboys’ defensive backs have the potential to be great. Jones can flex back to safety with J.J. Wilcox coming down as a strong safety and Barry Church playing as a big nickel linebacker, putting the best defensive backs on the field as often as possible.
Matching up against high-powered passing offenses such as the New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles and the Green Bay Packers will be easier with three corners on the field rather than three linebackers. It’s also a plus that all three starting corners are able and willing to come downhill and hit ball carriers.
The nickel defense will be key to Dallas’ success, and it all starts with depth at the cornerback position.
