Dallas Cowboys defensive future on display at rookie camp
By Tyler Harris
When the rookies and select second year players take the field for their mini-camp this weekend, the future of the Dallas Cowboys defense will be on full display.
There is a lot of buzz surrounding the Dallas Cowboys 2017 draft class. Following the conclusion of last season, the front office decided it was time to revamp the defense.
Exit: Brandon Carr, Morris Claiborne, J.J. Wilcox and Barry Church. Enter: Taco Charlton, Chidobe Awuzie, Jourdan Lewis, Xavier Woods, and Marquez White. Oh, and don’t forget the two bonus additions of Jaylon Smith and Charles Tapper.
For a defense that is starved for playmakers this was a much needed infusion of youth. There will be a potential of six new starters on the defense. Not to mention the overall rotation will be much younger throughout the entire defense.
Who will have the most impact from this group? That is yet to be seen. Many of these young men have a chance to be special in this league.
Jaylon Smith is probably the player with the highest ceiling. Prior to tearing his knee to shreds in his final college game he was regarded as a top 5 pick. Smith has all the intangibles you look for in a linebacker. He’s big, fast, smart, and has the instincts.
Taco Charlton was not a fan favorite when he was selected in the draft. What fans don’t realize is that he is quite the athlete for his size. Once Charlton gets going under Rod Marinelli he could be a huge surprise for fans. He has the length and size to be a pass rushing demon.
Charles Tapper, in my opinion, will be a dominant pass rusher. The Oklahoma product is an elite athlete for his size. He gave our offensive line fits last year prior to being hurt. Watch out for big Chuck.
The secondary is going to look completely different, obviously. Dallas’ front office obviously thought it was a problem hence the four draft selections in the unit.
At cornerback, I don’t believe any veteran is safe. It will be free competition for the starting spots. The same can be said for the strong-safety position. The veterans will need to bring their A-game because these young players can ball.
Chidobe Awuzie is a tall corner with ball skills. Those nine words sound like a godsend to me. I can’t wait to see him get on the field and bring some football intelligence to the secondary.
Jourdan Lewis looks to be a complete steal at this point. Following an unfortunate dispute with his girlfriend, Lewis fell in the draft. This was a huge blessing for the Cowboys as they were able to grab this sticky slot defender in the third round.
Out of all the players selected, I like Lewis the most. He has impressive tape, a fierce edge he plays with, and is always in position. I believe Lewis will have a the most impact in the secondary this season.
Xavier Woods was another steal grabbed in the sixth round. I still can’t believe he fell this far but it’s great for America’s Team! Woods is a turnover machine. He notched 14 career interceptions and 6 forced fumble in college.
It is apparent that Dallas coveted players who can turn the ball over at each level of the defense. I believe that they have found players that can impact the game at each of those levels.
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So, when the camp gets underway this weekend be sure to watch the above mentioned players. They are not only intriguing draft picks, they are the future of the defense.