OXNARD, Calif. – One of the biggest question marks on the Dallas Cowboys defense is who will play behind Sean Lee at middle linebacker.
Lee missed the final 10 games last year after suffering a season-ending toe injury in Week 7.
So what would happen if Lee went down for an extended period of time this year?
Cowboys coach Jason Garrett said Friday that he and defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin talk about addressing the backup middle linebacker position every day.
“It’s just something that’s a big part of playing this 4-3 defense, you got to have a guy, if something were to happen, that you can plug in there and keep rolling along,” Garrett said. “Bruce looks so good at that Will linebacker spot, I don’t know that that would be the first option right now. I think we’re looking at some guys who are truly backup players but also some guys who are plying the Sam linebacker spot. It’s an important question. One we got to get addressed before the end of camp.”
While Caleb McSurdy, Alex Albright or Brandon Magee could fill the role if Lee went down, the Cowboys could also go with moving outside linebacker Ernie Sims into the starting lineup. Remember, the Cowboys trusted Sims to call plays late in the season after Carter and Lee were lost to injuries. Sims was also the first player drafted by Cowboys defensive line coach Rod Marinelli when Marinelli was hired as head coach of the Detroit Lions in 2006.
“I don’t think it would be tough at all,” Carter said of playing middle linebacker. “For the position at Mike, we’re still covered up as far as being in the box. Coach [Matt] Eberflus teaches everybody to learn all three positions, just in case somebody does go down, the next man is up and we just keep going.”
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Source:
http://cowboysblog.dallasnews.com/2013/07/dallas-cowboys-olb-bruce-carter-i-could-play-middle-linebacker-if-sean-lee-suffered-an-injury.html/