Blogging The Boys
If the Dallas Cowboys can lock up DaRon Bland before Week 1, that would make the future at corner a lot clearer.
On Tuesday, Bland said that he and the Cowboys have had “some talks” about an extension and hopes to get something done before Dallas opens the season on September 4.
“I do, but I’m not here to talk about it really too much,” Bland said when asked if he wants to get a deal done before the season. “But yea, hopefully.”
The Cowboys have another decision to make with Bland aside from his extension: where he’ll play on the field.
With so many injuries at the cornerback position, Bland has spent time on the outside and in the slot. The outside is where Bland was an All-Pro in 2023, but he’s growing comfortable in his ability to play in either role.
“I feel like I’m pretty adjusted into it now…” Bland said. “It’s really just gelling everything together both inside and outside and showing I can do both.”
While Bland moving to the slot corner position would only slide him a few yards from his outside spot, it’s still a very different area of the field and comes with it’s own set of challenges that he’s had to adapt to.
“I would say a little bit because there’s some different things you’ve got to watch on the inside versus the outside,” Bland said. “The o-line and you tune into the pass at the same time.”
Marist Liufau has been one of the biggest risers of training camp.
But if you looked deep, you would find arguably the most dominant player from the Cowboys’ preseason opener flying around in that opening frame making tackles — second-year linebacker Marist Liufau.
It started on the opening kickoff when Liufau, a third-round draft pick last year out of Notre Dame, flew down the field and made the preseason’s first tackle before following it up with two more stops in the next two drives.
“It felt great,” Liufau said about returning to the field. “I missed it. It’s been a little while.”
It has been a strong training camp for Liufau, who has emerged as a consistent player with the first-team unit, especially in dime packages that put three linebackers on the field. Whether he’s used in coverage or as a specialized blitzing weapon, Liufau has made his mark in Southern California. In the preseason opener, he furthered that repertoire with success in the run game.
“I feel prepared,” he said. “Training camp has been going great for me and the defense as a whole. I have the confidence in us as a team and a...
