Eric Kendricks is exactly what this Cowboys defense needed

Nicely, the Cowboys lastly did it: they signed an exterior free agent, changing into the ultimate workforce to take action this free company cycle. The Cowboys agreed to a one-year take care of veteran linebacker Eric Kendricks, a transfer that many anticipated two weeks in the past when the Chargers launched him.

However it was the best way that Kendricks discovered his approach to Dallas that made an in any other case unremarkable signing really feel so patently Cowboys. Earlier on Wednesday, reviews got here out that Kendricks was signing with the 49ers. That transfer would reunite him with former Chargers head coach Brandon Staley, who now holds a senior place on the 49ers employees. Nevertheless, just a few hours later Kendricks reversed course and opted to return to Dallas.

This additionally led to a reunion between coach and participant, as Kendricks spent the primary eight seasons of his profession enjoying in Minnesota and was drafted to the Vikings in Mike Zimmer’s second season there. Zimmer is now the Cowboys defensive coordinator, which is why this transfer had appeared so apparent at one level.

That’s additionally why this transfer is precisely what the Cowboys protection wanted. For starters, Kendricks comes with a deep inside information of the scheme, having performed the vast majority of his profession underneath Zimmer. And since Zimmer’s scheme is thought to be advanced, having a veteran participant like Kendricks to help within the set up of mentioned scheme is big. That is one thing Zimmer himself highlighted as a cause for the workforce going after Kendricks:

It’s additionally no secret that the Cowboys had a gaping gap at linebacker. Markquese Bell was pressured to transform from security to linebacker attributable to accidents final yr, and whereas he carried out admirably throughout the context of his sudden swap in positions, it was clear that Bell was a legal responsibility in run assist.

Past simply Bell, the Cowboys don’t have any apparent starters on the place as of proper now. DeMarvion Overshown doubtless would’ve factored closely into the protection as a rookie, however he tore his ACL within the preseason. Not solely did we not get to truly see Overshown within the common season, however his restoration from a severe harm additional clouds his projection in 2024. Damone Clark has been inconsistent in his year-and-a-half of precise play in Dallas, whereas Leighton Vander Esch appears to have performed his final down of soccer:

Vander Esch is anticipated to retire within the coming weeks, however with Kendricks, they’ve somebody who is aware of Zimmer’s scheme and has been credited with greater than 100 tackles in all however one season in his nine-year profession.

Kendricks has been a stout run defender all through his profession, as mirrored by tallying 100+ tackles in all however one yr within the NFL; the lone exception was his rookie season, when he fell simply brief at 92 tackles. An enormous a part of that’s Kendricks’ understanding of the scheme and the way Zimmer needs his linebackers to fill gaps in run protection, which permits Kendricks to get to the place he must be. It’s telling that Paul Guenther, the Cowboys’ recently-hired run recreation coordinator who has by no means labored with Kendricks, was cited by Zimmer as a driving drive behind pursuing Kendricks.

The elephant within the room, although, in relation to Kendricks is his age. He simply turned 32 and had been beginning to decline in efficiency with the Vikings in the direction of the top of his tenure there. Whereas he performed higher with the Chargers, he was nonetheless a part of a fairly dangerous protection, and there are professional questions as to how a lot gasoline Kendricks has left within the tank.

Fortunately, the nice Bob Sturm put collectively a sizzle reel of Kendricks’ play from this previous season:

All of those clips come from a scorching streak that Kendricks loved throughout the late portion of final yr, however it does mirror just about precisely what’s been mentioned concerning the veteran up to now. Kendricks isn’t teeming with athleticism or overwhelming energy nowadays, however he performs with distinctive eye self-discipline and stability. He is aware of precisely the place he must be wanting every play, which permits him to diagnose issues rapidly. That was a recurring situation for the Cowboys’ linebackers this previous yr.

Kendricks doubtless received’t be an every-down participant on protection this yr, however he ought to determine into the rotation at linebacker. His capability to diagnose performs rapidly ought to enhance the run protection, and if Kendricks – a workforce captain a yr in the past in Los Angeles – can impart a few of his eye self-discipline onto youthful gamers like Overshown and Clark, then this signing will develop into a large house run for the Cowboys.