With Sean Lee coming off a breakout season, Bruce Carter as healthy as he’s ever been since being drafted in the second round of the 2011 NFL Draft, and veteran Dan Connor in the fold, the Dallas Cowboys believe they’re much better off at the inside linebacker position than they were a year ago.
This offseason saw the departure of a mainstay on the inside of Dallas’ linebacking corps in Bradie James, who was let go and, shortly thereafter, picked up by the Texans to rejoin Wade Phillips. Also gone is Keith Brooking, who came in as a free agent prior to the 2009 season and was among the most consistent players on the defense until his playing time was significantly reduced last season, with the emergence of Lee.
What’s left, head coach Jason Garrett believes, is a younger, faster, and healthier group of inside linebackers.
“We feel that position is healthier,” Garrett said, per ESPN Dallas. “We feel like we have guys who can play, special teams guys, guys that can play on third down as well as be first- and second-down players. Those guys have battled every day to learn our system. It’s a nice situation to have all three players at the inside linebacker spot.”
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