FRISCO, Texas — Everyone is burningly curious to see what DaRon Bland can do in his third year. After all, he followed up his breakout rookie season with a record-breaking second season for the Dallas Cowboys in 2023, proving that he can dominate whether at nickel back or outside cornerback.
The latter saw him make a historic five interceptions for touchdowns in 2023 in addition to finishing the season as the league leader in interceptions, and he now has 14 interceptions in his first 23 NFL starts.
Needless to say, the former fifth-round pick is becoming a household name.
“It’s definitely harder to keep a low profile after last season, but I’m enjoying it,” said Bland, with a big smile after enjoying the 2024 Reliant Home Run Derby to benefit ‘The Salvation Army’.
“Everything has been the same,” the first-team All-Pro said of his offseason approach heading into year three. “I have to keep it the same. “I always have the same expectations. [Sí] It improved my confidence, spending more years in this league. “I’m going into my third year, so yeah, I’m more confident now.”
It certainly works in the Cowboys’ favor that Bland isn’t the only record-setting cornerback taking the field for them in 2023, as Trevon Diggs is currently on track to be available at the start of training camp after suffering a torn ACL. previous crossover last September.
The loss of Diggs was a blow to the Dallas defense and Bland’s excellence helped soften the blow. In the coming months, however, Diggs will return to a defense that features Bland playing opposite corner, compared to the version that was previously established (in 2023) to split reps with Jourdan Lewis at nickel before a injury shook the depth chart.
For his part, Bland couldn’t be more excited about Diggs’ return.
“A lot of people don’t expect what Tre is going to bring,” he said of his fellow first-team All-Pro and former NFL interceptions leader. “I know what Tre is coming back with and it’s going to be something dangerous. I can’t wait.”
A big reason for Diggs and Bland’s instant success at the NFL level is attributable to a coaching staff that includes Al Harris, who received a promotion this offseason to assistant head coach while retaining his original duties as defensive backs coach.
“It has been very key [para mi desarrollo]”Bland said of Harris. “Coming in, you’re not always going to have a coach that gives you that boost of confidence to tell you to go get the ball, to tell you to go and do it. “Having him in the room and as an assistant coach, where everyone on the team can get his support, has been fantastic.”
There’s also the arrival of defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer in 2024, who is a former Super Bowl-winning defensive backs coach in Dallas, and the recipe for Bland’s “dangerous” prediction is hard to argue with.
“At the moment, [Zimmer] “It’s giving us a better understanding of the game and the defense,” Bland said. “It keeps everyone on the same page.”
There is no shortage of talent in the defensive secondary with the return of Diggs, and with Bland also being one of the best cornerbacks in the entire league, so we are looking forward to seeing them play together in this new stage.
2024-05-07 16:18:15
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