Can Kemon Hall 'Come From Nowhere' To 'Intercept' Roster Spot?

The Dallas Cowboys will undergo a key leadership change on the defense this season, moving on at defensive coordinator from Dan Quinn to Mike Zimmer. But underscored in that shift is a constant in the defensive backs room as Al Harris remains a lead voice within that group.

The Cowboys defensive backs coach heads into his fifth season in Dallas, already having made a significant impact through his tenure. Under his tutelage, Trevon Diggs and DaRon Bland have risen to stardom.

But his impact goes beyond the big names. The Dallas secondary has showcased reliable depth when at full strength or when a player misses time.  Saturday that aspect of this group came to the forefront.

Reserve cornerback Kemon Hall buried the Las Vegas Raiders with a 69-yard pick six, putting the Cowboys out of reach at the start of the fourth quarter in Saturday's preseason win. Hall called back to Harris' teachings to his players.

"Al always preaches about the ball," Hall said. "He said if you're not touching the ball, you're not doing something right. That's what he harps on everyday. Once you get that mindset about the ball, you're gonna try to find it.

Hall is currently fighting for his spot on Dallas' cornerback depth chart - we would say he's "come from nowhere'' in a conversation that up until recently did not include his name -  but that spark the University of North Texas propuct provided remains a credit to Harris. Amid the change to the defensive staff, there was a reason the Cowboys held on to Harris.

Said head coach Mike McCarthy: "There's not too many days of practice where (Kemon Hall) doesn't make a highlight play.''

Elsewhere on the roster, it's hard to argue a position coach has proven more effective than Harris. When Diggs went down with an ACL injury last season, Harris made the transition for the group a near seamless one.

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That is a result of Harris' insistence on being around the ball and making plays. It's risky to only play the ball, but being around the ball is undeniably a way to change a game, whether it be an interception, pass breakup or forcing/recovering fumbles.

Few teams have demonstrated that better than the Cowboys the past few seasons.

For players like Hall, his NFL future remains uncertain heading into the final week of the preseason and a slew of cuts. But his big play Saturday showed that when given the chance to work under Harris, the status of a defensive back does not matter.