Carlos Nava ESPN Digital Writer November 20, 2023, 6:27 p.m. ETLread: 4 min.
DALLAS — DaRon Bland seems to better recognize the trajectories of the receivers he has to cover than the historic moment he is going through in the NFL. And if he’s aware, he prefers to focus on other things, like preparing for his next game.
The Dallas Cowboys cornerback was one of the first players to appear in the locker room of their facility at The Star, less than 24 hours after they beat the Carolina Panthers in Charlotte and recorded his sixth interception of the season.
Dallas Cowboys cornerback DaRon Bland scores a touchdown after making an interception during the second half of a 33-10 victory over the Carolina Panthers, Sunday, Nov. 19, 2023, in Charlotte, North Carolina.AP Photo/ Erik Verduzco
Furthermore, Bland returned home with another touchdown, his fourth of the year, after he made the spectacular interception in the fourth quarter of the game that won 33-10 against the Panthers.
“I have watched the NFL all my life and if there is one thing I have realized since watching the game on television or after my first season, it is that you always have to think about what’s next…” Bland said this Monday. “Those interceptions or touchdowns are going to be of no use to me if I don’t do a good job this Thursday.”
“It’s a short week and you have to be prepared,” he added. “We have to rest our body and mind to focus on the game plan against Washington (Commanders), which this league does not expect for anyone.”
True, the Cowboys host their traditional Thanksgiving Day game this Thursday against one of their staunchest rivals, the Washington Commanders, but Bland should have more reasons to celebrate something that was much more than a victory or a good game for his team. part.
The second-year cornerback is just the fourth player in NFL history with four interceptions returned for touchdowns and the first to do so since 1993. He also tied the 2023 interceptions lead with Geno Stone of the Baltimore Ravens, and no one He has intercepted more balls than Bland since entering the league last season.
Not bad for a player drafted in the fourth round of the 2022 Draft, graduated from Fresno State University, where he only played his last college season in Division 1, after passing through Sacramento State.
On top of everything, he is a player who entered 2022 with little chance of being activated on the 53-man roster before entering preseason camp, where he immediately began to show his talent.
Bland spent the first six games of the rookie season on the bench, until his big opportunity came due to the injury of Jourdan Lewis, at nickel cornerback. He had never held that position in his amateur days and finished the year as one of the best; he led the Cowboys in interceptions (5).
This season he opened as a starting nickelback, while Lewis finished rehabbing, and three days before the third game of the season, he was notified that he would start at outside cornerback against the Arizona Cardinals, due to the knee injury that kept him out for the entire season. to Trevon Diggs.
“This guy offers the complete package,” said Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn. “He played like nickel because there was no one else. And he had great success. This year he had to adjust quickly to playing on the outside again and he has done it like no one else. He is a cornerback with great tackling ability. His size, speed and strength could help him at safety as well.”
Bland, 24, has 38 tackles, including 29 direct tackles, in 10 games this season. The other starting cornerback Stephon Gilmore, NFL Defensive Player of the Year in the 2019 season when he was with the New England Patriots, is 34.
“Surely, many teams thought that they had to prepare the game plan to pass on the rookie and now many are thinking twice,” Gilmore mentioned this Monday. “That boy has too much natural ability on the ball. In coverage he is very good and is always focused. He does not celebrate, he does not show off; he’s always thinking about the next play.”
“If the quarterbacks now want to start turning more towards my side, I will be prepared,” he added. “DaRon is going to become a superstar or maybe he already is a superstar.”
Some Cowboys players believe Bland should already be in the conversation for Defensive Player of the Year.
“To see him come from where he comes from is really special, extraordinary,” Parsons said. “He has answered the call every time we have needed him.”
“He’s having a Defensive Player of the Year season. He should already be locked in as an All-Pro. It shouldn’t be a matter of praise. Without a doubt, he is on a remarkable and incredible streak right now.”
In addition to interceptions, Bland has only allowed 26 completions of the 63 that quarterbacks have thrown into the area where he is the closest defensive player.
“It’s about being a team player, about having my teammates, the fans and the organization trust me,” he said. “This week the rival in turn is Washington and everything else is already unnecessary.”
2023-11-20 23:27:00
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