IRVING, Texas – For the second straight year, it's rather obvious the Cowboys entered the offseason needing to make major upgrades on the defensive side of the ball.
In the 2011 draft, the Cowboys used a second-round pick on Bruce Carter, although they knew he wouldn't be able to contribute much because of a college ACL injury. In free agency, which took place in a whirlwind at training camp, Dallas signed three veteran defensive ends in Marcus Spears, Jason Hatcher and Kenyon Coleman.
Whether or not the Cowboys try to beef up the defense through the draft or free agency, or both this year, one player who has definitely earned a chance for additional snaps is Sean Lissemore.
While he never started a game for the Cowboys last season, Lissemore was one of the team's more productive players, despite his limited role.
"Actually, he was our most productive player, per play last year on defense," defensive line coach Brian Baker said. "When I look back, he's probably a guy I should've played a little more."
Lissemore had 39 tackles, including 18 solos, with two sacks, two tackles for loss and five quarterback hurries. He did all of that while playing just 273 defensive snaps, mostly at the defensive tackle position.
In comparison to nose tackle Jay Ratliff, who made his fourth straight Pro Bowl, Ratliff had 42 tackles, including 28 solo stops. He also had two sacks with six tackles for loss but 18 quarterback hurries. Ratliff did all of his work in 710 defensive snaps.
While Jason Hatcher plays a different position at end, a spot where Lissemore also some action in spot duty, Hatcher had 36 tackles, 4.5 sacks and three tackles for loss in 422 defensive snaps.
Clearly, Lissemore is making the most in his limited opportunities. And what Baker loves even more about the second-year pro from William & Mary is the versatility he brings across the line.
"I ask him to know a lot of positions," Baker said. "That makes him pretty valuable for us because he can play anywhere and he's done a good job for us. I think he has the chance to be really good for us."
Lissemore was also a solid special teams player last year, even owning the team's longest kickoff return (38 yards) for most of the season until Felix Jones had a 69-yard runback in early December.
At 6-4, 305, Lissemore's athletic ability is probably his biggest asset, which makes him a versatile defender.
"He's a high-motor guy," Baker said. "That's one thing that stands out about him. He always has himself ready to go."
Lissemore played more in the second half of the season when Josh Brent went down with a knee injury and Ratliff was banged up with a rib problem. Until then, Lissemore was rotating in at tackle and occasionally at end.
And Baker said Lissemore's career is comparable to that of both Ratliff and Stephen Bowen. Ratliff was a seventh-round pick from Auburn (2005) and Bowen was undrafted out of Hofstra the following year. Both Ratliff and Bowen were rotation players early in their careers before Ratliff used an injury to Jason Ferguson in 2007 to jump into the starting lineup.
Bowen was a role player and backup for most of his time in Dallas before he started the last eight games of the 2010 season, which he then propelled into a free-agent deal with the Redskins this past offseason.
While Lissemore isn't quite at that level just yet, he's proving that the only thing missing might just be more snaps.
In the 2011 draft, the Cowboys used a second-round pick on Bruce Carter, although they knew he wouldn't be able to contribute much because of a college ACL injury. In free agency, which took place in a whirlwind at training camp, Dallas signed three veteran defensive ends in Marcus Spears, Jason Hatcher and Kenyon Coleman.
Whether or not the Cowboys try to beef up the defense through the draft or free agency, or both this year, one player who has definitely earned a chance for additional snaps is Sean Lissemore.
While he never started a game for the Cowboys last season, Lissemore was one of the team's more productive players, despite his limited role.
"Actually, he was our most productive player, per play last year on defense," defensive line coach Brian Baker said. "When I look back, he's probably a guy I should've played a little more."
Lissemore had 39 tackles, including 18 solos, with two sacks, two tackles for loss and five quarterback hurries. He did all of that while playing just 273 defensive snaps, mostly at the defensive tackle position.
In comparison to nose tackle Jay Ratliff, who made his fourth straight Pro Bowl, Ratliff had 42 tackles, including 28 solo stops. He also had two sacks with six tackles for loss but 18 quarterback hurries. Ratliff did all of his work in 710 defensive snaps.
While Jason Hatcher plays a different position at end, a spot where Lissemore also some action in spot duty, Hatcher had 36 tackles, 4.5 sacks and three tackles for loss in 422 defensive snaps.
Clearly, Lissemore is making the most in his limited opportunities. And what Baker loves even more about the second-year pro from William & Mary is the versatility he brings across the line.
"I ask him to know a lot of positions," Baker said. "That makes him pretty valuable for us because he can play anywhere and he's done a good job for us. I think he has the chance to be really good for us."
Lissemore was also a solid special teams player last year, even owning the team's longest kickoff return (38 yards) for most of the season until Felix Jones had a 69-yard runback in early December.
At 6-4, 305, Lissemore's athletic ability is probably his biggest asset, which makes him a versatile defender.
"He's a high-motor guy," Baker said. "That's one thing that stands out about him. He always has himself ready to go."
Lissemore played more in the second half of the season when Josh Brent went down with a knee injury and Ratliff was banged up with a rib problem. Until then, Lissemore was rotating in at tackle and occasionally at end.
And Baker said Lissemore's career is comparable to that of both Ratliff and Stephen Bowen. Ratliff was a seventh-round pick from Auburn (2005) and Bowen was undrafted out of Hofstra the following year. Both Ratliff and Bowen were rotation players early in their careers before Ratliff used an injury to Jason Ferguson in 2007 to jump into the starting lineup.
Bowen was a role player and backup for most of his time in Dallas before he started the last eight games of the 2010 season, which he then propelled into a free-agent deal with the Redskins this past offseason.
While Lissemore isn't quite at that level just yet, he's proving that the only thing missing might just be more snaps.
