Will this be the Cowboys new dynamic duo on defense?

Will this new duo in the Dallas Cowboys defensive backfield make a positive impact in 2016?

There’s going to be plenty of room for debate and discussion about our secondary during our off season. There’s one thing that the Dallas Cowboys decided on last season. Our starting free safety in 2016 will not be the Georgia Southern product J.J. Wilcox. The free safety position has been assigned to rookie Byron Jones.

My warning to Cowboy Nation is to be careful what you wish for. Jones made multiple mistakes at that position last season including poor tackling and poor angles especially against the Buffalo Bills. Jones needs to do a lot of film work this off-season because he didn’t play the position full time last year. It’s possible that Jones will have an extended rookie type learning curve just based on inexperience.

More from The Landry Hat

• 3 ways Cowboys’ Dak Prescott can have a bounce-back season in 2023
• Cowboys News: Dallas sets pre-draft visit with potential Dalton Schultz upgrade
• NFL executives heaping praise on offseason is uncharted territory for Cowboys
• 3 free agent signings from NFC East rivals that left Cowboys fans laughing
• Cowboys News: Brandin Cooks sends flattering message to CeeDee Lamb, Stephon Gilmore

I won’t claim to expect Jones to become a ball hawk like Ed Reed, but it’s likely. He hasn’t proven to be the most punishing tackler even when I watch clips of him playing in college. Jones makes a lot of arm tackles and doesn’t get off blocks well. The physical aspect of the NFL might be getting phased out, but J.J. Wilcox has shown a willingness to sacrifice his body to hit a receiver crossing the middle.

When a receiver chooses to not extend his arms to make a catch or drops an easy pass because he’s looking for that big hit, the free safety or his reputation has made an impact on the play. The hit Wilcox put on New York Giants receiver Odell Beckham Jr. kept receivers thinking all season long.

For those of you screaming for the replacement of Barry Church, I can’t complete agree. Church plays closer to the line of scrimmage and leads the team in solo tackles. Granted the great Sean Lee did miss a few games and still managed to lead the team in total tackles. Being second in total tackles isn’t a bad thing for Church. His role in this defense is usually fourth linebacker.

If there’s a knock against Church, it’s his statistics in other areas. Church didn’t defend a pass, record an interception or sack this season. Church has never been a turnover or sack generating machine. So I could see how more output could be appreciated by Cowboy Nation especially after watching Mike Adams of the Indianapolis Colts and Reshad Jones of the Miami Dolphins.

Reshad Jones (27) finished with 135 combined tackles but also defended 15 passes and added 2 sacks and 5 interceptions. Mike Adams (34) had 75 combined tackles with 11 passes defensed and 5 interceptions plus 1 sack.

At 27, Church has one year left on his 4 year, $8.8 million dollar contract and will count $3.25 million against the Cowboys cap in 2016. That currently ranks as the NFL’s 12^th highest salary for strong safeties. Reshad Jones has a 2016 cap hit of $8.2 million by comparison.

I’m from the Dennis Green school when it comes to players – “They were who we thought they were!” Barry Church has shown you who or what he is. Since 2010, he hasn’t had any sacks so I don’t expect any sacks. He hasn’t contributed much in the passing game but will make tackles and play hard around the line of scrimmage. Compared to other strong safeties like Donte Whitner (Cleveland Browns), Reshad Jones, Kam Chancellor (Seattle Seahawks) and Antoine Bethea (San Francisco), Barry Church is a value salary wise but production in the secondary could be better.

Church joined the Cowboys as an undrafted free agent from the University of Toledo in 2010. He’s become one of the team’s captains. Don’t think the Cowboys are completely satisfied with Barry Church. With the exception of 2011, the Cowboys have drafted a safety every year since 2009.

Byron Jones gets a mention because he was listed as a defensive back but was moved to free safety.  I really thought Ahmad Dixon would stick, but who knew he wasn’t mentally prepared for life in the NFL.

It would be interesting to see Byron Jones and Barry Church play together and develop that mental chemistry to become a dynamic duo. I’m not sure we’ll get that chance. In the 2016 NFL draft, the Dallas Cowboys should have plenty of draft picks (if you include the expected compensatory selections).

If you’re a strong safety, don’t be surprised if the Cowboys call your name during this year’s draft – just don’t be late for meetings or practices.

Next: The Dallas Cowboys Ten Highest Graded Players of 2015

Thank you for reading the above article. It’s our sincere hope you’ll visit our site often as we work really hard to provide Cowboys fans with fresh, daily content about their favorite team. Please feel free to take part in further discussions about this topic below in our comment section. All we ask is that each participant is respectful in both their responses and towards others. Thanks again and…Go Cowboys!