User:Rmiddles/sandbox

Rmiddles/sandbox

Ben Bloom (American Football)

Ben Bloom (born October 17, 1982) is an American football coach for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL). Bloom is currently the linebackers coach for the Cowboys, a role he has held since 2018. He has coached in the NFL for 9 seasons, 8 being with the Cowboys.

Before coaching with the Dallas Cowboys, Bloom worked for the Cleveland Browns in 2010 as their defensive assistant coach.

College career

Bloom attended Tufts University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in history while playing for the football team as an offensive lineman. He was a three-year winner from 2001-2004.

Bloom gained coaching experience while serving as a graduate assistant at Tufts University. He coached the defensive line from 2005-2007. He received his master’s degree in education from Tufts.

During the 2008 season, Bloom coached the defensive line as an assistant for Harvard University’s football team.

NFL coaching career

Cleveland Browns

Bloom joined the Cleveland Browns in 2009 as an assistant in team operations.

In 2010, Bloom became a part of the Browns coaching staff, working under then-defensive coordinator Rob Ryan. Bloom worked as an assistant for the defense as a quality control coach.

The Browns were a combined 10-22 during Bloom’s two years with the Browns.

Dallas Cowboys

2011 season

The Dallas Cowboys hired Bloom in 2011 to be a part of their coaching staff. Bloom served the role of defensive quality control coach. He had familiarity with new Cowboys defensive coordinator Rob Ryan’s scheme, who was previously coaching in Cleveland with Bloom.

Part of Bloom’s role as defensive quality control coach was to help coach the outside linebackers and put together weekly game plans. Bloom oversaw outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware, who had 19.5 sacks and earned both Pro Bowl and first-team All-Pro honours. The Cowboys ended the season 7^th in the NFL in sacks, recording 42.

Bloom and the Cowboys ended the 2011 season with a record of 8-8, and failed to make the playoffs.

2012 season

Bloom continued coaching the outside linebackers in 2012, where the two starting outside linebackers for the Cowboys earned Pro Bowl berths, and one earning an All-Pro honour. Both DeMarcus Ware and Anthony Spencer had double-digit sacks; Ware with 11.5, and Spencer with 11.0.

Bloom and the Cowboys finished 8-8 for the second consecutive season, and failed to make the playoffs for the third straight season.

2013 season

The firing of defensive coordinator Rob Ryan and the hiring of new defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin in 2013 brought scheme changes to the Cowboys and its defense. The Cowboys changed from a 3-4 defensive scheme to a 4-3 scheme, bringing new assignments and roles for both players and coaches.

Although Bloom coached the outside linebackers in the previous scheme to rush the passer, he continued to coach as the assistant linebackers coach. However, Bloom’s coaching was more reflective on the scheme change; teaching linebackers how to effectively play pass coverage and run coverage, rather than primarily rushing the passer.

The Cowboys defense ranked last in the NFL, and the Cowboys again finished 8-8, failing to make the playoffs for the fourth straight season.

2014 season

In 2014, Bloom’s role on the coaching staff changed. He transitioned to become the assistant defensive line coach/defensive ends coach, with the focus on coaching how to rush the passer again.

With the assistance of Bloom, defensive lineman Jeremy Mincey led the team with 6 sacks; his highest total since 2011 with the Jacksonville Jaguars. The team had a total of 28 sacks.

In the Cowboys’ wild-card playoff game against the Detroit Lions, rookie DeMarcus Lawrence had the game-winning play; a sack and forced fumble to advance the Cowboys to the next round of the playoffs.  

Bloom helped guide the Cowboys to the divisional round of the playoffs for the first time since 2009, with a record of 12-4.

2015 season

Bloom continued his role working with the defensive ends in 2015. Under Bloom, second-year defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence notched a career-high 8 sacks, which led the team. Along with Lawrence, free-agent acquisition Greg Hardy had 6 sacks. The team had 31 total sacks on the season, which is an improvement from 2014.

Despite an improved pass rush, Dallas finished with a losing record of 4-12 in a season that saw the Cowboys start four different quarterbacks.

2016 season

In 2016, Bloom’s role with the Dallas Cowboys changed for the first time since 2014. Bloom’s role was changed to assistant coach/special projects. He was tasked with helping create game plans based on matchups and schemes, and personnel strategies. Bloom would help head coach Jason Garrett, while also assisting with special teams during games and practices.

During games, Bloom worked in the coaching booth, communicating with coaches on the sideline through headsets.

Bloom’s new role assisted in the Cowboys returning to the playoffs for the first time since 2014, and earning the top seed in the NFC for the first time since 2007.

2017 season

Bloom continued the same role as 2016, assisting special teams while also working on special projects for the head coach.

The Cowboys did have a winning record of 9-7, but failed to reach the postseason for the second time in three seasons.

2018 season

Entering the 2018 season, the Cowboys made many coaching moves, including the departure of long-time linebacker’s coach Matt Eberflus. With the departure of Eberflus, Bloom was promoted to linebackers coach. Bloom previously worked as an assistant linebackers coach from 2011-2013 with the Cowboys.

With Bloom moving to position coach, during games he is moving from the coaching booth to the sideline, in order to communicate with the linebackers in-person.

Bloom was tasked with finding key roles for 2018-first round draft pick Leighton Vander Esch, 2016 second-round draft pick Jaylon Smith and former All-Pro Sean Lee.

Through Week 12, Jaylon Smith is tied for 22nd in the league with 78 tackles, while Leighton Vander Esch is 6th with 92 tackles. Meanwhile, Sean Lee has struggled to stay healthy, resulting in 34 tackles in the 5 games he’s played in. Entering Week 13, the Cowboys defense is ranked 7^th in the league.

Personal life

Ben Bloom was born in Wellesley, Massachusetts. He is married to Eliot Bloom, who used to work for the Cowboys in the sponsorships department. Bloom and his wife have one daughter named Georgia. They reside in Dallas, Texas.