Dallas Cowboys: Jourdan Lewis facing stiff competition in the slot

Dallas Cowboys cornerback Jourdan Lewis had an impressive rookie season, but it may not be enough in Kris Richard’s new secondary for him to see the field.

Dallas Cowboys cornerback Jourdan Lewis was perhaps the biggest reason why the team’s secondary was so good so early in both he and Chidobe Awuzie‘s career. While Awuzie has built on his rookie success to all but lock up a starting CB position, Lewis is struggling to see the field thanks to Anthony Brown and Kris Richard.

Brown is the most immediate threat to Lewis. Despite struggling last year, the third-year player is finding his form again. For how long he can hold off Lewis will depend on not only the two players but new Passing Game Coordinator Kris Richard as well. As promised, Richard has brought an abundance of energy to the Cowboys defensive coaching staff.

Richard also comes with a blueprint that’s worked before in Seattle, winning a Super Bowl with a Seahawks team that dominated in the secondary thanks to length and height at both corner and safety.

It was easy to fall in love with Lewis as a prospect out of Michigan thanks to his “never back down” demeanor, something the Cowboys got in full force when stealing him in the third round. Now, it’s Lewis’ size that may be keeping him from progressing further.

Despite ten passes defended and one interception, Lewis was arguably playing out of position as a rookie. His fluid cover traits and mirroring ability make him an ideal slot player.

With the ideal physicality to play on the boundary for Richard, Awuzie and Byron Jones should be setting up Lewis for a breakout year in 2018. Instead, this opportunity is going to Anthony Brown.

Now, Richard is not yet the influential coach that many believe he’ll rightfully develop into. Under Jason Garrett, it’s not uncommon to see the Cowboys challenge younger players by playing veterans in their spots through the offseason.

Just four days away from playing a real game against the San Francisco 49ers though, Brown is in line to take away snaps from Lewis. Behind him, the Cowboys also have Donovan Olumba, Charvarius Ward, and Kam Kelly. All three defensive backs were acquired after Richard joined the Cowboys, further proving their new emphasis on raw size at the position.

Of course, the Cowboys are a better team with Brown, Lewis, and perhaps even one of these longshot UDFAs playing well out of the secondary. In today’s NFL, it’s hard to truly have enough corners.

If Brown and Lewis are indeed competing for one spot though, the “loser” here will be in an unfortunate position. A player that’s needed every bit of encouragement he can get from the Cowboys in Brown against an exuberant competitor in Lewis, the early advantage Brown has gained could turn out to be much, much more.

It already feels safe to say that Kris Richard will be a net positive on the entirety of the Dallas Cowboys defense, but his influence on the starting slot cornerback position is one to keep a constant eye on through the rest of training camp and the preseason.