Killer Bs' still together in middle of Cowboys D

mgb · Aug 6, 2010

Bradie James and Keith Brooking got used to the routine of having different players beside them on the field until the inside linebackers came together in the middle of the Dallas Cowboys' 3-4 defense.

The tandem coach Wade Phillips likes to refer to as the "Killer Bs" was an immediate success. Now they get a chance to do it again.

In their second camp together with the Cowboys, there is no need for the kind of feeling-out process James and Brooking went through a year ago when they were teammates for the first time. Neither of them is having to learn somebody new for a change.

"With him being around, I know what I'm going to get," James said. "We were just feeling each other out, but now I know, and that only makes us better. He's fast and I'm the bruiser. ... Our rapport is good."

Before Brooking got to Dallas last year, James had teamed with at least five other inside linebackers while starting all 64 games in the first four seasons after the Cowboys changed their defensive alignment.

During his eight consecutive seasons starting every game in Atlanta's mostly 4-3 defense before that, Brooking said "there was a lot of turnover for me .... different guys coming in each and every year playing different positions."

There is a lot of continuity in the Cowboys defense, which allowed the fewest points in the NFC a year ago and ended the regular season with the first consecutive shutouts in the team's 50-year history. The only change in the starting lineup is at safety with Alan Ball replacing Ken Hamlin, who was released during the offseason.

James and Brooking were the top two tacklers for the NFC East champions.

"It's pretty awesome to watch," said Phillips, also the team's defensive coordinator. "They really are on the same page. They really have a feel for each other, kind of know where the other guy is going to be."

James has led the team in tackles five consecutive seasons since replacing departed Dexter Coakley in the lineup in 2005, when former coach Bill Parcells converted Dallas to 3-4 sets.

While James started every game in that span, Brooking followed in the line of Dat Nguyen, Scott Shanle, Ryan Fowler, Akin Ayodele and Zach Thomas playing beside him. Only Ayodele started at inside linebacker with James more than one season — until now.

"It's great to have that continuity there, that dependability," Brooking said. "That feeling when we line up beside one another, you know without a doubt you can count on him and hopefully he has that same comfort he can count on me. That goes for the whole defense."
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I can't wait for the season to start! Wait it's this Sunday!

My only concern with Brooks is him having knee surgery during the off season. At 34 you don't heal as quick and you seem to get injured more often.

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Killer Bs' still together in middle of Cowboys D

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Killer Bs' still together in middle of Cowboys D

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