This is taking things to the extreme. The Dallas Cowboys’ defense definitely falls apart when Sean Lee isn’t on the field to command the troops. Fans have seen it play out far too often to argue with the point that Lee is in charge of the defense, it’s quarterback so to speak.

Dallas has made several moves over the last few years to create a situation where the defense doesn’t completely fall apart without him. That included using this year’s first-round pick on a linebacker, but the Cowboys took it a step further. The club signed Joel Lanning, former quarterback, as an undrafted free agent.

For two years, Lanning played quarterback with the mindset of a linebacker and in 2017, he flipped the script. After starting 14 games for the Iowa State Cyclones, Lanning knew he was no longer going to be the starter in 2017. So he approached his coach about a position change and moved to the defense.

The 6-foot-2, 220 pounder learned the position through spring practices, and then was unleashed as a starting linebacker in the fall. All he did was check in with 114 tackles, including 11 for a loss and six sacks.

He also chipped in an interception and two pass defenses. Of course he still occasionally moonlighted on offense, playing quarterback and fullback on very limited snaps. The versatility is there, though and so is the moxie to become successful at the next level.

There’s a lot of talent ahead of Lanning, as he’ll try to compete with sixth-round pick Chris Covington and veteran Damien Wilson, among others, to carve out a role behind Lee, Jaylon Smith, Leighton Vander Esch and Joe Thomas.

The role will focus on special teams, and it’s in that way Lanning sits on an even playing field with the others. If a down-roster linebacker can shine on special teams and not embarass himself if he’s ever put in a game, he has a chance.

That’s the role former fourth-round linebacker Kyle Wilber manned in Dallas for years, rarely getting any defensive snaps but being a teams demon.

With how little experience Lanning has at playing linebacker, it may not be wise to bet against him making some noise. Also a possibility? Having him play double-duty as the occasional fullback, depth linebacker and special teams contributor.

In this series, Cowboys Wire will be counting down the days until the regular season opener against the Carolina Panthers with a profile of the player whose jersey number matches the days remaining. On July 29, 43 days remain. Next up, No. 42 Eric Pinkins.

No. 99 – Charles Tapper | No. 98 – Tyrone Crawford

No. 97 – Taco Charlton | No. 96 – Maliek Collins

No. 95 – David Irving | No. 94 – Randy Gregory

No. 93 – Richard Ash | No. 92 – Brian Price

No. 91 – L.P. LaDouceur | No. 90 – DeMarcus Lawrence

No. 89 – Blake Jarwin | No. 87 – Geoff Swaim

No. 86 – Dalton Schultz | No. 85 – Noah Brown

No. 84 – David Wells | No. 83 – Terrance Williams

No. 81 K.D. Cannon | No. 80 Rico Gathers

No. 79 Chaz Green | No. 78 Kadeem Edwards

No. 77 Tyron Smith | No. 76 Kony Ealy

No. 75 Cameron Fleming | No. 74 Dorance Armstrong

No. 73 Joe Looney | No. 72 Travis Frederick

No. 71 Lael Collins | No. 70 Zack Martin

No. 69 Damien Mama | No. 68 Daniel Ross

No. 67 Dustin Stanton | No. 66 Lewis Neal

No. 65 Austin Larkin | No. 64 Antwaun Woods

No. 63 Jake Campos | No. 62 James Hearns

No. 61 Bryce Johnson | No. 60 Marcus Martin

No. 59 Chris Covington | No. 58 Tre’Von Johnson

No. 57 Damien Wilson | No. 56 Datone Jones

No. 55 Leighton Vander Esch | No. 54 Jaylon Smith

No. 53 Justin March-Lillard | No. 52 Connor Williams

No. 51 Jihad Ward | No. 50 Sean Lee

No. 49 Jamize Olawale | No. 48 Joe Thomas

No. 47 Scott Daly | No. 46 Jordan Chunn

No. 45 Rod Smith | No. 44 Darius Jackson

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