OXNARD, Calif. – Perhaps Monte Kiffin’s search for a backup middle linebacker for Sean Lee is now centered on Justin Durant?
Over the last two days, Durant, the starting strongside linebacker has lined up in the middle for some walkthrough snaps with the second-team defense with rookie Brandon Magee moving over to the weakside on the No. 2 unit.
Coach Jason Garrett has made note of Kiffin’s desire to figure out what the Cowboys would do if something happened to Lee during the season. Magee, undrafted out of Arizona State, and Caleb McSurdy have seen the most live action at the spot.
The move of Magee to the weakside, however, is not viewed as a demotion by Garrett.
“He’s a little bit of an undersized guy,” Garrett said. “He doesn’t have great timed speed. But when you watch him play in college, he makes a lot of plays. He’s instinctive; he sees the ball; he has a good nose for the ball and is around it a lot.
"His natural position is Mike but our Will linebacker is also one of those guys who plays in the core of the defense, and if you’re not going to be a starting player you need to be able to play a couple of different spots. You need to be a special teams guy and also a guy who can fill in at a couple of different spots in your regular linebacker positions. It’s important for him to understand that and we’re just trying to give him the exposure to do that.”
