The Dallas Cowboys were thin at the second level of their defense, and that was before starting linebacker Leighton Vander-Esch went down with an injury. In Week 6, they were faced with the daunting task of slowing a potent Los Angeles Chargers offense.
Dallas allowed just 17 points and intercepted star quarterback Justin Herbert to end the game.
The credit for such a stout performance deserves to be spread around. The secondary made plays when it had to, including the final one, and edge rusher Micah Parsons helped get the pass rush in the box score when it mattered most. The linebacker spot? The Cowboys got high-level play there, too.
Linebacker Damone Clark filled in admirably for Vander Esch, posting Pro Football Focus’ fifth-best defense grade (75.3). He was a big part of the run defense that held running back Austin Ekeler to just 27 yards.
Dallas got help from safeties Jayron Kearse and Donovan Wilson in the box as well. Perhaps the most effective bandaid for Vander Esch was a man without a position.
Safety/linebacker Markquese Bell played 39 defensive snaps in Week 6, 33 of which came in the box. He was lights out, garnering an elite 91.3 grade. He made five critical tackles and routinely took away options over the middle of the field, despite being tagged for four of Herbert's 22 completions.
Whether he’s truly a box safety, just a small (205-pound!) linebacker, or a special teams ace playing the best football of his career, the Cowboys will take what they can get. He’s been great, and he isn’t quick to put a limiting label on himself.
“I consider myself a hybrid,” Bell said. “That’s what I tell the guys all the time. They try to tell me I’m a linebacker, they tell me ‘Oh, you’re still a [safety].”
Now that the bye week’s over, attention has shifted to the Cowboys’ Week 8 opponent, the Los Angeles Rams. Not only does the Los Angeles offense feature a borderline Hall of Fame quarterback and two star receivers. Head coach Sean McVay means that it doesn’t matter who carries the football. The Rams have been productive on the ground with a handful of mediocre talents at the running back position.
Against a team that is more than willing to pound the rock – they ran the ball nine consecutive times to start the second half in Week 6 – Bell may be put in adversarial situations. He’ll be asked to step up and help the middle of this defense once again.
Bell will look to repeat his Week 6 performance, regardless of his assignment.
“I’m a hybrid,” Bell emphasized. “The more versatile I can be, the more I can help.”
A big game from Bell could have large dividends for a Cowboys team desperate to catch the Philadelphia Eagles, who they visit a week from Sunday.
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