Dallas Cowboys: Kris Richard turning Jeff Heath into Earl Thomas 2.0
Kris Richard won’t say it, but I believe he came to the Dallas Cowboys just for the opportunity to transform the great Jeff Heath into Earl Thomas 2.0.
The starting positions for the 2018 Dallas Cowboys have mostly been established – except for the safeties. Battles for starting roles are fun to watch during OTA’s (organized team activities) and the preseason. Not making predictions any easier is the newest Cowboys defensive backs coach and passing game coordinator Kris Richard.
Richard recently kept his cards close to his chest about the Cowboys future starter at safety. Richards stated Xavier Woods, Jeff Heath and Kavon Frazier each “got the tools that’s required” to succeed at safety in the Cowboys defense.
Xavier Woods stands 5-foot-11 and 202 pounds. Woods was our sixth round selection from the 2017 NFL draft that coaches trusted enough to start in four games as a rookie. Woods played both nickel back and safety. It will be up to Richard to decide where Woods fits best in his defensive scheme.
Kavon Frazier at 6 feet and 217 pounds has an ideal safety physique. This season will be Frazier’s third year with the Cowboys after being selected in the sixth round of the 2016 NFL draft. Frazier’s impact on games comes from plays made on the special teams unit.
That leaves the spectacular playmaker named Jeff Heath. Heath is 6-foot-1 and weighs 212 pounds. The fact that this great player went undrafted, like Cowboys former quarterback Tony Romo, shows that scouts sometimes get things wrong. After a rough rookie season in which he started nine games, he has redeemed himself and become one of my favorite players.
In addition to playing safety, Heath is also the Cowboys emergency kicker. In 2017, the “Human Swiss Army Knife” – I’m probably the only person that calls him that – finished fourth on the team in tackles (71) in 15 games and led the team in interceptions (3) for the third time in his five-year career.
The Cowboys defense fell from 5th in points allowed in 2016 to 13th in 2017. There’s room for Richard to improve the Cowboys defense while working within defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli’s system.
While most of Cowboy Nation keeps an eye on how Richard develops our 2015 NFL draft first round pick – cornerback / safety Byron Jones. I’ll be watching Richard attempt to the impossible – elevate the play of Jeff Heath.
Kris Richard won’t say it, but I believe he came to Dallas just for the opportunity to transform the great Jeff Heath into Earl Thomas 2.0.
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If Richard improves Heath’s productivity, you’ll laugh at fans that ever wanted the Cowboys to trade for that guy. You know that guy that plays with the Seattle Seahawks? Oh, safety Earl Thomas.
See, I’ve forgotten about the Thomas trade that never happened already. Next season, hopefully Richard will help Heath will make you forget Earl Thomas’ name too.
#GoCowboys
#InHeathWeTrust