Dallas Cowboys legend predicts Pro Bowl bid for second-year defender
One Dallas Cowboys legend predicts that this second-year defender will make the leap to Pro Bowler in 2018 after an injury-plagued rookie season.
Last offseason at this time, the Dallas Cowboys secondary figured to be in dire straits. The Cowboys had already parted ways with several aging, overpaid veterans and opted to fill those voids with rookie draft picks. In total, four defensive backs were selected by Dallas in the 2017 NFL Draft.
Three of those rookies ended up making the final 53-man roster and they all played a significant role in revitalizing the Cowboys defensive secondary. In fact, Dallas ranked a surprising 11th against the pass in 2017. The year before, they were a lowly 26th.
Second round selection cornerback Chidobe Awuzie out of Colorado, third round pick Jourdan Lewis, a corner out of Michigan, and sixth round selection safety Xavier Woods out of LaTech made up this talented first-year trio. And their combined play is expected to make this unit one of the best in the entire league this year.
Over the offseason so far, Awuzie has been starting on the outside along with former first round pick Byron Jones, who made the switch from safety back to corner at the request of new defensive backs coach Kris Richard. As it’s been well publicized, Richard was the man at the helm of the Seattle Seahawks’ Legion of Boom as their secondary coach and eventual defensive coordinator.
Barring a blockbuster trade or free agent signing, Woods is expected to get the starting nod at free safety for Dallas this upcoming season. That’s after playing mostly in the slot his rookie year.
Finally, Lewis, who was arguably the Cowboys’ best secondary player in 2017, ran with the twos during offseason practice sessions. Standing only 5-foot-10 and 195 pounds, the second-year corner does not have the frame typically associated with a Richard-led secondary. Lewis will have to prove that his lack of height will not a determent to his new positional coach this summer.
Out of this talented, but young group, former longtime Cowboys vice president of player personnel Gil Brandt has earmarked Awuzie as the one likely to receive his first Pro Bowl nomination in Year Two.
"“[Chidobe] Awuzie has exceptional short-area quickness and explosion and can play slot corner, corner or safety,” wrote Brandt for NFL.com. “He’s very intelligent and has above-average coverage skills. Provided he stays healthy, he’ll seriously improve Dallas’ defense as a starter this year.”"
After being plagued with a hamstring injury early last season, the 6-0, 202 pound Awuzie established himself as a starter alongside Lewis at the outside corner position. Starting in the Cowboys final five-straight games, the now 23-year old posted 18 combined tackles, seven pass defends and an interception in that span.
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Projected to be a starter for the Dallas Cowboys at cornerback, Chidobe Awuzie has the potential to have a breakout season in 2018. If so, this is a team that has to be considered legitimate contenders to become divisional champions despite the fact the reigning Super Bowl winners reside in the NFC East.