How Marist Liufau fits with the Cowboys new defensive coaching staff

"The Dallas Cowboys enter the new season facing a harsh reality at the linebacker position. Last season was a defensive catastrophe as the team surrendered 125 rushing yards per game, ranking them in the bottom 10 of the league. They also committed 112 missed tackles, the most in the NFC. The second level of the defense often looked dazed and confused while ball carriers bounced off defenders as if they were in a Disney movie."

"With the Cowboys currently holding two draft picks in the first round, the front office may take a shot at one of the top collegiate linebackers to help stabilize the defense. Ohio State's Sonny Styles could be a player given heavy consideration as he checks off a lot of boxes and brings a potential star in the mix. Or, the team may trade back and go after one of the handful of readymade starters available on Day 2 of the draft."

"After two seasons of wildly inconsistent play, it's not really clear if he's going to take a step forward or continue the course as a backup/special teamer. His rookie season looked promising. He played all 17 games, logging 47% of the defensive snaps. He recorded 50 tackles, had 1.5 sacks, three passes defended, and two forced fumbles. Last year, his defensive snap count dropped to just 17% as he struggled to maintain a consistent spot in the rotation."

The Cowboys surrendered 125 rushing yards per game last season, ranking in the bottom 10, and committed 112 missed tackles, the most in the NFC. The second level of the defense frequently failed to stop ball carriers. The team holds two first-round draft picks and could select a top college linebacker such as Ohio State's Sonny Styles or trade back to target ready-made starters on Day 2. The urgency to upgrade depends on the new coaching staff's assessment of current linebackers and their fit in the scheme. Marist Liufau showed early promise but was inconsistent, with a major snap decline last year; his special teams play and motor keep him as a depth option.

Read at Blogging The Boys