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Zach Thomas is a great middle linebacker. He is probably the best the game has seen in the past ten years. He is not flashy, or even noticeable, but he makes plays, and even more important he makes big ones. Ever wonder how he gets so many concussions? I think the answer is in his tackle totals. When you're hitting other men running full speed and breaking their stride upwards of 160 times a season you are bound to hurt your brain from time to time. He still has gas in the tank and the change of scenery will be a huge boost to his motivation as well. He has never been one to not leave it all on the field, but playing in Miami for his whole career has to make a place like Dallas look like heaven. He has to be excited to win even eight games let alone be talking about a Super Bowl run.

The Cowboys, though I am not a fan of them have developed into a very balanced team. Their offense is great. Romo might be the closest thing to Brett Farve we ever see again. T.O. is a freak of nature, athletic beyond belief, he is the kind of guy that will be at a high level of competition even into his forties. Marion Barber (if they don't trade him) is my favorite of the bunch, he is a wrecking ball, it hurts to see guys try to tackle him, and Jason Witten is not too bad either. This is just a general overview because the rest of their offense is pretty stacked as well, but their defense is what will keep them in the fight for the championship.

One of my favorite NFL players is Demarcus Ware. I almost wish the Chargers had drafted him instead of Shawne Merriman. Bradie James, Greg Ellis, Chris Canty, Marcus Spears, and Roy Williams are all players that only have upside, and someone like Zach Thomas can help them all get to the next level. If the other players realize what they have in Zach the sky will be the limit for the Cowboys defense. Having a smart, quick, and sure tackler in the middle of a 3-4 scheme frees up the outside backers to play with reckless abandon, and I pity the quarterback that has to face a healthy, fast, Zach Thomas lead defense. Ware and Ellis had 26.5 sacks between them this last year, and I can only see those numbers rising with the addition of Thomas. The defensive line is big and if Canty, Spears, and Tank can get just a little better this defensive core will be amazing. When you have pressure in the backfield on every play it also makes the job easier for the secondary so I would imagine more turnovers from them as well.

Zach Thomas is a huge upgrade for this team. He is professional and he has the veteran desire to win big. He returns home to Texas which also adds fuel to his fire. In my view this only makes the Cowboys better and it gives me no choice but to root for and enjoy watching their defense even if I am not a fan of the organization. I want to see Zach succeed in his quest for glory. Dallas is the perfect fit for him, hence the reason he signed. The NFC has an even bigger challenge in the East now, good luck to the competition if everything gels together in Big D.

Learn more about this author, Randall Upczak.
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