Cowboys coordinator Matt Eberflus does this one thing extremely well
Matt Eberflus has earned the moniker of 'Linebacker whisperer' in his time as a position guru, defensive coordinator, and head coach in the NFL. Regardless of whether the player was drafted and developed by Eberflus, a veteran with success elsewhere, or a player he had to take to the next level, linebackers elevate while under his stewardship.
As a linebacker coach and defensive coordinator, he helped develop Sean Lee, Bruce Carter, Anthony Hitchens, Damien Wilson, Jaylon Smith, Bobby Okereke, and Shaquille Leonard. Lee was drafted the season before Eberflus became the linebacker coach at Dallas and developed into an all-time great when healthy. In their first season together, Lee had 104 tackles, 10 for a loss, four interceptions, and seven pass breakups. He was fifth in the 2016 voting for Defensive Player of the Year and had his only first-team All-Pro season.
Carter was a starter under Eberflus for three seasons. He had a season with 96 tackles, two sacks, three pass breakups, and five tackles for a loss. He had five interceptions and eight pass breakups in another season with Eberflus. Without Eberflus, he never started more than three games or recorded 50 tackles. Anthony Hitchens and Damien Wilson were fourth-round picks who Eberflus developed into starters all four years of their rookie contracts, and they each went on to start and win a Super Bowl with the Kansas City Chiefs. Jaylon Smith had two seasons with Eberflus, coming off a career-threatening injury. He was fifth in Comeback Player of the Year voting in 2017 and later developed into a Pro Bowler.
As a defensive coordinator for the Colts, Eberflus oversaw the drafting and development of both Leonard and Okereke.
Okereke became a linebacker who averaged over 120 tackles a season and has been in the top 10 in solo tackles three times in six seasons. Leonard developed into a star. He started 58 games and averaged 134.5 tackles, 7.5 tackles for a loss, nearly three interceptions, 7.5 pass breakups, over four forced fumbles, and almost four sacks. He was a three-time All-Pro and won the Defensive Rookie of the Year award.
Dallas is very young at linebacker, with Marist Liufau, DeMarvion Overshown, and Shemar James having a season or less of experience on the field. Veterans Kenneth Murray, Jack Sanborn, and Damone Clark will also improve under his tutelage.
There have also been journeyman linebackers who saw significant upticks while playing for Eberflus.
David Bowens had one season as a full-time starter in 10 years. He was a defensive end who transitioned to linebacker when Eberflus took over as the position coach in Cleveland. Bowens went from a high of 43 tackles to 71 and had a career-high 12 QB hits in 15 starts.
In the same 2009 season, Matt Roth played four games without a start for the Miami Dolphins before being released. He was claimed off waivers by the Browns, where he started the final six games with Eberflus as linebackers coach. The following year, he started all 16 games, and in that 22-game span, he accumulated 114 tackles, 7.5 sacks, and 12 tackles for a loss.
Anthony Spencer became a significant impact player and a Pro-Bowler in his second year working with Eberflus. He nearly doubled his highest sack total with 11 and had his highest tackles for a loss, too. His personal-best in tackles went from 67 to 95, and he did it in only 14 starts.
Rolando McClain won Comeback Player of the Year in 2014 with Eberflus after missing seven games in 2012 and the entire 2013 season.
All in all, Eberflus' influence should rear it's head pretty quickly with his new troops in Dallas.
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