Let’s get this out of the way first. Stetson Bennett was awful on Sunday afternoon. The Los Angeles Rams backup was the undercard in the game, with all eyes focused on whether or not Cowboys backup QB Trey Lance showed signs of being “the guy”. Lance is the former No. 3 overall pick, acquired for a fourth rounder ahead of his third year, who hasn’t seen the field since 2022.
There’s hope in L.A. Bennett could be serviceable, but he was generally inaccurate and threw many passes directly to Cowboys. But the bigger point is the Cowboys’ down-roster backups caught what was thrown to them, as they have continuously done for the last three-plus seasons regardless of who was throwing for the opposition. There are two men who seem at the core of this continuous onslaught by the defensive backs; Will McClay and Al Harris.
And it’s about time that Harris, recently named assistant head coach, gets the flowers he deserves for what he’s done in his time on the Dallas coaching staff.
McClay is well renown for his ability to find talent. He’s cemented as the top personnel man in Dallas for over a decade now, and has been financially rewarded with General Manager pay despite the Jones family keeping that title in their inheritance package.
But someone has to coach that talent up to make sure it is capitalized on and doesn’t go to waste. Only one exhibition game into things, it’s becoming more apparant that Harris deserves the credit.
The 49-year old Coconut Creek, Florida original was hired by Mike McCarthy when the latter came to Dallas in 2020. He was part of Mike Nolan’s staff, but Nolan lasted just one season and was a horrible hire. Harris survived while fellow secondary coach Mo Linguist was removed from the equation.
In came Dan Quinn and Joe Whitt, Jr. in 2021, with the latter in charge of the defensive passing game but allowing Harris to take on more of the day-to-day coaching responsibilities.
All he’s done since is seen his direct reports in Trevon Diggs and DaRon Bland break longstanding NFL milestones and records in two of the last three years.
Diggs’ 11 interceptions in 2021 was the most since 1981. Bland leads the league in total picks across the last two seasons and in 2023 ran back five for touchdowns, an all-time NFL record. The Cowboys’ led the NFL in forced turnovers in back-to-back seasons in 2021 and 2022 before finishing 13th last season.
And if Preseason Game 1 is any indication, Harris has his troops ready to go under his third, vastly different defensive coordinator in Mike Zimmer.
That’s the tweet.
Probably a combination of the two, Harris has been able to adapt his teachings to different defensive schemes and or he’s been given the latitude to simply do his own thing and the coordinators adapt to what he teaches.
Either way, he’s on the verge of proving himself as a true technique maven, and the new AHC title speaks to his ability to relate with his troops.
Back in May, Harris sat down with Cowboys’ beat reporter and analyst Patrik Walker about his new responsibilities.
Harris has become one of the most respected coaches in the league, and that means it’s only a matter of time before he takes yet another step forward in his coaching career.
“That’s my goal, and I’m pretty sure that’s [the goal of] every assistant coach here,” he said. “To have those responsibilities is big to me. I take that very seriously. Whatever we need, or need me to do to show my leadership skills, I’ll do.
“It’s big to me.”
“If this is the route I have to take, of course,” said Harris. “But, and I’m not telling you guys anything you don’t already know, you can call your own defense as a head coach, if you’re a defensive head coach. The ability to lead — I mean let’s call an ace an ace.
“[I’ve] been in the seat. There’s nothing you can come and tell me as a player that I won’t relate to. I’ve been in your seat. I can relate to you on and off the field, and keep your tires on the track.”
And that familiarity with greatness as a player (2x Pro Bowler) on his resume and a growing list of accolades for those he coaches, Harris is deserving of being brought in to interview for the several openings that will happen in the next head coach hiring cycle.
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