Inside The Star
The Dallas Cowboys have significantly overhauled their coaches, and one coaching addition will benefit two players on the defense the most.
Aaron Whitecotton, the new defensive line coach, came to the Dallas Cowboys after coaching the defensive line for the New York Jets last season.
Whitecotton was on the shortlist for several teams and was even considered for retention under the Jets’ new Head Coach, Aaron Glenn.
Their loss is the Cowboys’ gain, as this coach will bring intensity and skill to improve the young players currently under contract with the Cowboys.
Aaron Whitecotton’s career started in 2013 as an assistant defensive line coach for the Jacksonville Jaguars. He stayed in this position until 2016.
In 2017, he became the administrative assistant to the head coach of the Buffalo Bills before becoming the assistant defensive line coach in 2018 and continuing in this role in 2019.
Whitecotton became the assistant defensive line coach for the San Francisco 49ers in 2020.
From 2021 to 2024, he was the defensive line coach for the New York Jets.
According to Cem Yolbulan of SportDFW, Whitecotton played a pivotal role in developing the Jets’ young talent during his four-year tenure.
His contributions made him one of the standout coaches the organization actively considered retaining under the new head coach, Aaron Glenn.
The New York Jets defensive line progressed in the years Aaron Whitcotton was in charge of the line.
In his first year in charge of the Jets defensive line in 2021, he would coach Quinnen Williams, Sheldon Rankins, Bryce Huff, and Shaq Lawson, among others.
The 2021 defensive line would total 21 sacks, two fumbles, 293 tackles, 44 TFL (Tackles For Loss), and 69 QB hits.
In his second season, the defensive line, which includes many of the same players, would see a significant increase in most statistical categories.
The 2022 line recorded 43.5 sacks, 6 fumbles, 325 tackles, 46 TFL, and 121 QB hits.
In 2023, the defensive line succumbed to several injuries, leading to a down year for the players.
This year, the line had 25.5 sacks, four fumbles, 226 tackles, 38 TFL, and 62 QB hits.
2024 would see the defensive line come back to life.
This season, the line had 32 sacks, six fumbles, 253 tackles, 42 TFL, and 69 quarterback hits.
This is in comparison to the Dallas defensive line in 2024, which had 22.5 sacks, four fumbles, 236 tackles, 28 TFL, and 63 QB hits.
Aaron Whitecotton can help this line produce better numbers.
Sam Williams and Marshawn Kneeland could benefit the most from Aaron Whitcotton’s coaching.
These two players, one a rookie and the other injured, did not have great years. They have shown promising ability.
Marshawn Kneeland only played in 11 games last year and started 1, but his sophomore year could show fans why he was taken in round two of the draft.
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