Dallas Cowboys defensive backs will excite in 2018

Can an extremely young, but talented group of defensive backs give Dallas Cowboys fans something to look forward to in 2018?

Heading into 2018, optimism should be in abundance for the Dallas Cowboys. Last season the Cowboys won nine games. They have 22 wins in the last two years. That includes back-to-back winning seasons for the first time in a decade.

Instead, reality and concern seem to be in the majority.

This is in large part due to the postseason failures or failures to make the postseason this team consistently faces.

It does not help that the best tight end to ever wear the Star and the franchise’s all-time leader in receiving touchdowns are both gone.

Factor in a decline in play from the promising young quarterback last year and that old adage about reality seems pretty accurate.

If you’re looking for something to truly be excited with training camp underway, boy do I have something for you.

There is a group of young studs on this team that are about to change the way you are used to seeing defense played in Dallas.

For me, the biggest thing to be hyped about in 2018 is the Dallas Cowboys defensive back group.

It all starts with a forgotten man of sorts.

Four seasons ago, the Cowboys made Byron Jones a first-round draft selection. Since that time, Jones has been one of the team leaders in one category. Fan ire.

No matter what Jones does, it does not seem to be enough. He came in trying to learn the position of NFL cornerback, only to move to safety. After playing a successful, albeit non-flashy safety spot for two years, he’s back at corner.

His stats have yet to wow anyone and, in truth, he has a few plays on film that are cringe-worthy. With that being said, I truly believe he will flourish back at corner in 2018. The first few days of camp already seem to support that statement.

After Jones, the Cowboys have three sophomore studs in Chidobe Awuzie, Jourdan Lewis, and Xavier Woods. All three have already made splashes as rookies and will look to continue to improve in 2018.

Beyond those four, safeties Jeff Heath and Kavon Frazier add different talents to the mix. Frazier is your hard-hitting enforcer while Heath is sort of a jack-of-all-trades type. Woods can also join this group due to his position flexibility.

The biggest addition, however, may be new defensive backs coach and passing game coordinator Kris Richard. The mastermind of Seattle’s “Legion of Boom” defense, Richard will bring a far more aggressive attitude to the team.

I expect to see a lot more press coverage and tenacity from this group. When you couple the talent level with a more aggressive attitude, it’s hard not to get excited about how the defense will look.

It’s been quite a long time since the Cowboys have had an upper echelon pass defense. I, for one, feel very confident in saying that drought is soon to be over.