Preseason marks the return of football after a six-month hiatus, so it's hard not to overreact to happenings in the first game back. For example, we wouldn't put too much stock in the Dallas Cowboys' special teams struggles given who was on the field -- and who wasn't.
Sometimes, though, preseason developments feel real no matter how much you try to shield yourself from August hype. That is precisely the case with undrafted rookie receiver Camden Brown and second-year safety Julius Wood.
In Wood's case, he is actively forcing the coaching staff to reconsider the assumption that the safety room was locked in the moment Caleb Downs fell to Dallas in April.
Saturday was just a continuation of another strong summer for Woods. The Cowboys would be foolish not to find room for him on the 53-man roster.
The Cowboys should keep an extra safety so Julius Wood makes the roster
Here's how the top of the safety room looked when Dallas drafted Downs:
- Jalen ThompsonÂ
- Malik Hooker
- P.J. LockeÂ
- Caleb Downs
Three veterans you can trust and a coveted rookie many believe has an All-Pro ceiling, even if he doesn't reach it in Year 1. 'Why carry another?' was the prevailing thought. Then training camp started, and Woods has given the Cowboys reason on top of reason to rethink that assumption.
Christian Parker's defense didn't allow a point after the game's opening drive, and Wood is a big reason why. The former ECU star came up big on two occasions after Traeshon Holden's muffed punt gave the Seahawks 1st-and-goal.
Wood made a touchdown-saving tackle on Seahawks running back TJ Harden, who looked like he had a walk-in TD until Wood shot out of a cannon from the flat and dragged him down short of the pylon to sustain Dallas' 17-7 advantage.
Only James Houston finished with a higher PFF defensive grade, which tracks given Houston finished with two sacks. Wood wasn't far behind with an 82.3 grade, tying for the team lead with three defensive stops. He even added a tackle on special teams to punctuate a statement performance.
Parker wasn't afraid to move Wood around, either. According to PFF charting, the second-year safety played 11 snaps at free safety, seven in the box, and two in the slot.
Julius Wood has shined all summer for the Cowboys
This performance comes right in the middle of a standout camp for Wood. He strikes ball-carriers with real authority, but despite his reputation as a downhill thumper, he's proven quietly reliable in coverage.
Why not carry a fifth safety? Caleb Downs is going to start in the nickel, while Malik Hooker is approaching his age-30 season and has a gnarly lower-leg injury history.
On top of Hooker, injuries have been one of the knocks on P.J. Locke in his career, and Jalen Thompson missed several practices in camp with a hip injury.
If keeping Wood means one fewer cornerback makes the team, would that be such a bad thing? Saturday's win was another reminder that while the Cowboys feel good about DaRon Bland, Shavon Revel, and Cobie Durant, their corner depth leaves a lot to be desired.
The Cowboys were lucky to get Wood back after cutting him last August. They might not be as fortunate this time around.
Wood provides more than traditional safety depth, and he's comfortable on special teams. Most importantly, he's done nothing but make plays in a Dallas uniform.
Why not stack talent on top of talent and make a position of strength potentially elite?
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