The Dallas Cowboys have not allowed a single opponent to reach the 20-point mark this season. We can thank guys like Micah Parsons and Trevon Diggs for that, but it's time to show some love to Malik Hooker. He is proving his worth so far this season.
When you point to the stout Cowboys' defense, Hooker is a name people don't typically mention. Until his interception on an overthrown Matthew Stafford pass late in the 4th quarter to help seal the victory for Dallas, I had been overlooking his critical role on the backend of the defense.
Hooker, the 15th-overall pick in the 2017 NFL draft, has battled injuries throughout his career. This season has been another good one, though; he has played 90% of the snaps, his most since 2018.
In September 2020, as a member of the Colts, Hooker tore his Achilles. The Cowboys signed him last summer; he recovered well and played 15 games, recording 44 total tackles and one interception in 2021. Doing so led to the Cowboys re-signing him to a two-year extension in March of this year.
Hooker is the 3rd highest-graded defender for the Cowboys through five games, only behind Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence.
I will be the first to say I had absolutely no idea he had this type of start to the year.
Hooker has started three of the five games this season for the Cowboys; he has recorded 15 solo tackles, half of his career high for a single season. With one interception he registered on Sunday, he is on pace to have his best season since he entered the league.
The 2019 season was arguably Hooker's best as a pro. He produced 51 tackles (30 solo), three pass deflections, two interceptions, and one fumble recovery. His 2018 campaign was nearly as good; it's a coin flip.
Nonetheless, It was never a lack of talent for Hooker — it has just been his ability to stay healthy. Staying on the field a season ago and logging 446 snaps for the Cowboys gave them the confidence to re-sign him, and what a great decision it has turned out to be thus far.
The more I look back and watch his play, the more I see his ability to be both a ballhawk and help support the defense in stopping the run.
Successful Coverage Over Expectation (SCOE) is a metric created to show who the best coverage defenders are and help predict future coverage success. Hooker is ranked THIRD, and not far behind is Donovan Wilson, who is also having a very good year.
A player like Hooker gets lost in the shuffle with multiple outstanding players throughout the defense. His big play Sunday allowed me to dive deeper into some of his numbers and realize he is quietly having one of the best seasons since he entered the league, and it's time to give him his flowers.
The Cowboys might have the best trio in football at the safety position. Hooker and Wilson are playing outstanding right now, and once Jayron Kearse is 100%, the backend will only get better with Dan Quinn calling the plays.
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