FRISCO, TX — With Training Camp on the horizon, NFL players are gearing up for team practices after an entirely virtual offseason program due to the coronavirus pandemic. After missing half the 2019 season due to a neck injury, Cowboys’ linebacker Leighton Vander Esch is ready to go to work.
He told Dallas media on Thursday, “Having everybody healthy again and ready to go, it’s exciting, it’s electrifying. We all love playing football obviously and I think it shows. I think we have a great group this year. I think we can do something extremely special. I just don’t like talking about it; I like freaking going out and actually doing it. “
Following his neck surgery in January, Vander Esch has been training vigorously over the last 3-4 months getting himself mentally and physically ready for the 2020 season.
“ I got all my strength back. I’m back and better than where I was as far as strength before I got hurt. Everything is going great there, I feel amazing. I’m just excited to be on the field. I changed my pads up a little bit, but as far as protection and everything, you’re a player so you just have to do things that work for you. “
After watching teammates play the second half of the season while watching from the sideline, there is no question that Leighton is ready to let his production on the field do the talking. He confirmed to media that he will be making a position change to middle linebacker. His teammate Jaylon Smith will move from MIKE to his former role, the weak side linebacker.
“ I guess if you want to call me the MIKE, you can call me the MIKE and Jaylon obviously is playing WILL. He might get pulled out of the box a little more and the MIKE stays in the box more, but as far as techniques and how you play, they’re the same thing. “
With his new place in the Mike Nolan defense, LVE will likely be in charge of calling the defense and be responsible for the b-gap/ stopping runs between tackles. This will free up Jaylon on the weak side to attack the line of scrimmage and move from sideline to sideline to make plays on the ball. Based off comments from players and coaches, the defense looks entirely different with more disguises and an emphasis on taking the ball away from the opponent. There have been no OTA’s and minicamp to get a glimpse of the Dallas defense, but regardless of the new scheme in place, Vander Esch is itching to hit the practice field in a larger leadership role.
