After the end of 2017, one of the areas Dallas Cowboys know they needed to improve was the linebackers corps. Jaylon Smith has massive expectations behind him, but he still needs to elevate his game to be on the required level to lead Cowboys linebackers crew. The current captain, Sean Lee is a monster player but only when healthy. Big D franchise knows that they can’t count on him to play all 16 matches through the season. Also, when he misses games, Cowboys almost always lose, which is an enormous reason for concern.
To address this matter America’s Team drafted Leighton Vander Esch out of Boise State in the first round of 2018 NFL Draft. They also picked Chris Covington in the sixth round, while Joe Thomas joined the team in free agency. Obviously what Cowboys did was to strengthen this position with the intake of fresh blood, but they didn’t only do this with the addition of new linebackers. The linebackers coach is also a new face. Ben Bloom was promoted to this position after Matt Eberflus left for Indianapolis Colt to be their defensive coordinator. Before becoming linebackers coach, Bloom has been with Cowboys for eight years. He moved up the chain with his hard work and ability. Before becoming LB coach, he was a defensive quality coach, assistant defensive ends coach, and assistant linebackers coach.
Chris Covington said when asked about his new coach: “It seems like he’s been doing it for a very long time to me. He knows what he’s talking about. He gives great details. He’s on the little things, the small things, and that’s what I like about him.”
Talking about what’s he like a coach and what he learned from his mentors through the years Bloom said: “I’ve taken something from all those guys, but at the same time, I know I’ve got to be true to my personality. I’ve got to communicate with the players and just teach them their alignment, their assignment, their key, their technique, how to play the game, how to be successful in this league.”
Bloom was the one who worked out Vander Esch before the draft, and he kept contact with him through the process. Now, he’s working with both rookies and veterans in an attempt to make Dallas Cowboys linebackers corps a dominant unit.
