Dallas Cowboys: Randy Gregory predicted to play LEO role

The Dallas Cowboys have a new defensive coordinator in Dan Quinn. The former head coach of the Atlanta Falcons and defensive coordinator of the Seattle Seahawks’ Legion of Boom is expected to bring a more simplified scheme back to Big D.

Capable of scheming for either the 3-4 or the 4-3, Quinn is expected to line the Cowboys’ defense up in the latter as it seems to better fit the players currently on the team’s roster. But that doesn’t mean each will be playing familiar roles.

In fact, one recently-returning defender to the team is predicted to shift to a brand new role. One that will allow the Cowboys to take full advantage of his unique athletic abilities and pass rushing talents.

Here’s what NFL media analyst Bucky Brooks wrote recently on DallasCowboys.com about Quinn potentially shifting defensive end Randy Gregory to the LEO role in his defensive scheme.

"“Gregory is the explosive athlete ideally suited to play the ‘LEO’ role on the open side. The 6-foot-5, 255-pounder is a freak athlete with the speed, quickness, and burst to harass quarterbacks as a weak-side pass rusher.”"

According to the Boston Globe, the LEO position is a tweener, hybrid position landing somewhere between a defensive end and a linebacker. Hence the “L” for “linebacker” and “E” for “end” in the name.

Playing the LEO role in Quinn’s scheme would have Gregory lining up as the weakside edge in what some call an Elephant front in the 4-3. Either standing up or with his hand on the ground, his responsibility is to come screaming off that edge, literally wreaking havoc in the backfield, and, of course, primarily rushing the passer.

Quinn comes to Dallas to revamp a defense that started showing signs of life at the end of last year. The Cowboys were historically bad through their first 12 games of the 2020 regular season as they forced just 11 total turnovers in that span and allowed an average of 32.7 points per game to opposing offenses.

But over their final four games of the regular season, the Cowboys’ defense would finally show improvement. They’d win three of those four contests and force a total of 12 turnovers while limiting their opponents to an average of only 20.0 points per game.

Yet, that fact didn’t save the job of first-year defensive coordinator Mike Nolan, who was fired earlier this month. Defensive line coach Jim Tomsula was also let go. Three days later and Dan Quinn was hired as the Dallas Cowboys’ new DC. Quinn’s also been joined by Joe Whitt Jr., who has become the team’s new secondary coach and passing game coordinator.