It would be incredible if Damone Clark took another step forward this season.
The Dallas Cowboys added veterans Jack Sanborn and Kenneth Murray to their linebacker room in free agency, and both are expected to play a lot in 2025. Plus, they’re looking for a leap in year two from Marist Liufau who showed a ton of promise as a rookie last season. However, going into a contract year, Damone Clark is still a question mark.
Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer talked to the media on Tuesday. When speaking on Clark, he gave the former fifth-round pick some high praise in regards to what he’s seen this offseason.
I think the way he’s diagnosing things looks quicker to me than maybe in the past. Maybe a little more command of it. The physical traits have always been there and I think the connection he has with Flus and Borgonzi … that’s important.
When the Cowboys hired Mike Zimmer to be the defensive coordinator a year ago, he admitted that he had to blend things together a bit and that hurt the entire unit. Clark struggled big time in Zimmer’s scheme to the point where he was an afterthought early on in the season. Clark would only play 168 snaps all year and produced 28 tackles.
Matt Eberflus is the new head man on the defensive side of the ball for the Cowboys. For years, he’s built a reputation for being a guru of the linebacker position. With DeMarvion Overshown likely being out until at minimum mid-season, Clark becomes an even more important part of the linebacker rotation. Getting him back to performing at a high level will not only bode well for this season, but it could give the Cowboys quite the room for the future with Overshown and Liufau if he’s brought back in 2026.
All of this has to be taken with a grain of salt with it just being OTAs. Once training camp comes and the pads come on, then it will be clear where Clark is in Eberflus’ scheme and if he can be a significant contributor this season.
Clark has talent. That has never been the issue. In 2023, he registered over 100 tackles under Dan Quinn. Thankfully, he won’t be asked to be the main guy under Eberflus but just a solid and reliable rotational piece.
