The Dallas Cowboys added much-needed help to their secondary during free agency by signing Keanu Neal and Damontae Kazee, safeties for Dan Quinn during his days as head coach of the Atlanta Falcons. Or did they? While all signs point to Kazee making a speedier-than-expected recovery to be penciled in as the starting free safety, the former, will see his role change with the Cowboys. Keanu Neal will switch to playing linebacker under Quinn’s scheme
Neal making the switch won’t be that hard of transition though, seeing as playing the linebacker position is something he has experience in.
“I don’t categorize myself. I feel I can play safety, linebacker,” Neal said, via ESPN. “Wherever they put me, I’m going to prepare to go out there and play at my best. Growing up I played linebacker in middle school and high school, then we changed the defense and I switched to safety, so I went to college as a safety. But in my heart, I have been a linebacker for a while. As time went on, I moved to safety. I still have an understanding of what everything entails with playing linebacker.”
When Quinn was the defensive coordinator at the University of Florida (2011-2012), he tried to recruit Neal, which means he’s known what his new linebacker can bring to the table for nearly a decade.
“He recruited me out of high school right before he went to the league,” Neal said, via the team’s website. “He was with Florida (as defensive coordinator) and then he recruited me. Once I got to Florida, he ended up going to the NFL, but I’ve known him since 2012 basically.”
That familiarity is undoubtedly a big reason why Quinn wanted Neal to reunite with him in Dallas, and he feels he brings a few valuable traits to the Cowboy’s defense.
“Adding somebody with his speed and his physicality onto our defense, we just thought that’s something that we need,” Quinn said of Neal. “Same thing with Micah Parsons… I’m really looking forward to having the different packages and how we’ll feature the guys, and it will take us a while to figure it out.”
Although Neal has played the linebacker position in the past there’ll be an adjustment period for him after half a decade of playing safety in the NFL. One change will be moving closer to the line of scrimmage.
“The first few years and throughout my career I’ve played in the box,” Neal said. “I’ve played down at times, so I kind of have an understanding of the fits and all that stuff. But yeah, I typically play around like 6 yards or so, and Coach is trying to get me to bump down to like 5 or 4½. So that adjustment, I’m kind of getting used to that. But it’s definitely a transition.”
Neal will also change his playing weight of 217 with his switch to linebacker.
“Really, it’s just my training and my diet, honestly,” Neal said. “That’s what it boils down to. So far, I feel like I’m moving around well. I’m over 222 right now. Going down is going to be even better, a little bit lighter weight. It’s kind of like putting a weighted vest on and then taking it off after you train. You just feel lighter. You feel more fluid and everything.”
Neal has had a few serious injuries he’s been able to overcome. In 2018, he suffered a torn ACL in Week 1 and was done for the season. A year later, he played in just three games before tearing his Achilles tendon, ending his season for the second year in a row with minimal snaps played.
When the former Gator has been on the field he’s been highly productive. He’s registered at least 100 tackles in every season he’s been healthy and also added two interceptions, 16 passes defended, eight forced fumbles, and four fumble recoveries. He was named to the Pro Bowl in 2017.
Now, he’ll be looking to transfer that level of play to the Cowboy’s defense as he figures out his new role.
“I’m just a sponge, taking in what the guys give me,” Neal said.
If Neal can continue staying healthy the Cowboys will have a very deep rotation at linebacker with Jaylon Smith, Leighton Vander Esch, Micah Parsons, and Jabril Cox also on the roster.
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