Dallas Cowboys: Could this defender emerge as a star in 2018?
The Dallas Cowboys finally have a cornerback group they can depend on. Is there someone in that group that can emerge as a star in 2018?
When the Dallas Cowboys elected to completely overhaul their cornerback group in the offseason leading into 2017, many people were skeptical about their ability to upgrade. Even though previous starters Morris Claiborne and Brandon Carr underperformed, their odds at replacing that production with rookies wasn’t high.
A year later it seems as though the team has found its top four cornerbacks. By switching former safety Byron Jones out to cornerback, drafting Chidobe Awuzie in 2017’s second round, drafting cornerback Jourdan Lewis in last year’s third round, and fitting 2016 sixth rounder Anthony Brown in as a reserve slot man; the team has its youngest and most talented secondary in years.
But is there a chance someone could emerge from this group and become a star for the Cowboys?
In 2017, second-round pick Chidobe Awuzie was limited to eight full games as a hamstring injury sidelined him throughout training camp and parts of the season. But other than that nagging injury to a player who has had a relatively clean medical history, Awuzie had a very positive rookie season.
At 6’0″, 202 pounds with a 4.43 40-yard dash, Awuzie has the build and speed to be a high-quality number one corner. He is a prototypical outside corner in new defensive back coach Kris Richard’s scheme.
Awuzie’s physical tools are complemented by an aggressive style that routinely gets him involved in plays on the ball. Not only does he have the physical capability, but he is mentally sharp as well; even getting some looks at safety against the Green Bay Packers in Week 5.
In his limited time last year, Awuzie broke the PFF records for fewest yards allowed per reception and fewest yards allowed per coverage snap. As a rookie, his PFF grade of 81.7 qualified him as an ‘above average’ performer at his position. In a rookie season where he spent a lot of time in the training room and was not able to get the on-field experience you typically hope for, Awuzie made the most out of his opportunities.
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Chidobe Awuzie’s speed, power, size, aggressiveness, and intelligence all are reasons why he factors to be a big part of the team’s future. Awuzie showed last year that his raw talent and natural instincts already make him an above average player at the position. With a healthy offseason and better coaching, Awuzie has a real shot at becoming a staple of the Dallas Cowboys back seven in 2018.