Video: AM: Is Chidobe Awuzie Playing Out Of Position? (2019)

Witht the talk of Awuzie at S, I remembered a video from last year where AKOYE Media breaks down film on Awuzie, suggesting that he is great in run support and should be playing closer to the LOS. Awuzie at SS, Dix at FS?

i realy like this move better than the Jaylon switch,we need to see something in him to actually give him a new contract and its not coming at CB.

There are those of us who tried to tell y'all this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Plays better with his face to ball rather than his back to ball. Played some S in college.

reddyuta said:

i realy like this move better than the Jaylon switch,we need to see something in him to actually give him a new contract and its not coming at CB.

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They talked about moving Jaylon outside a couple of years ago, and I loved the idea. He should have been our edgeLB/blitzer. That's what he's good at.

On Awuzie, I think it's unlikely we give him a new contract. Or that he takes it. If we do, it's because he didn't get much interest elsewhere.

Moving him to S now kind of hoses him for next year. More money at CB, and he has more experience at it. I doubt that he's happy about this, though he could probably read the writing on the wall during the Draft. He'll probably prefer to move on if he has decent options.

Awuzie will be in a tough spot trying to beat out Woods for a S spot, when Woods has years of experience at it, and Awuzie is just trying to pick it up again. But we needed more talent at S, so this is probably good for the team.

buybuydandavis said:

Witht the talk of Awuzie at S, I remembered a video from last year where AKOYE Media breaks down film on Awuzie, suggesting that he is great in run support and should be playing closer to the LOS. Awuzie at SS, Dix at

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You convinced me! Sign Chido to an extension now so we can use him as CB/S hybrid. I like Lewis a lot but Chido has much better size and speed to play DB.

Well Marinelli and Co, played Byron Jones out of position for years.

Awuzie is a natural Safety. That’s easy to see. It’s simple.. he plays better when he can see the QB. He has the speed to cover CBs and the physicality to play closer to the LOS.

The fact is..he’s barely an average CB at best. Yeah, Byron Jones didn’t get thrown to much, and Awuzie was an easy target. Regardless, this is a contract year and Awuzie needs to show the Cowboys (or any team) why he needs to be paid.

This kinda feels like the Byron Jones situation, but reversed. Dallas tried to make him a safety, then Richard properly started him a CB. Jones thrived. Maybe Mike Nolan will have the same effect with Awuzie by moving to safety

kskboys said:

There are those of us who tried to tell y'all this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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I was saying it from day one. He plays too physical to be a CB. He gives us some interchangeability at safety also. We can really mix up coverages with him back there.

btcutter said:

You convinced me! Sign Chido to an extension now so we can use him as CB/S hybrid. I like Lewis a lot but Chido has much better size and speed to play DB.

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Sounds nice, but I expect Awuzie will be decidedly unthrilled by being moved to compete at a new and less expensive position in a contract year.

***** tackling CB's make great Safeties

We'll see how this works out, but I'm surprised at how much support there is for Awuzie at S.

If you look at the defense for years, it seems like everyone has been playing at the wrong position, at least to some of us.

Dline with Crawford seemed all goofed a few years ago. LBs all wrong the last couple of years.

I've always thought Heath should be single high FS. Now more people wanted Awuzie - I'll take him at SS.

The new coaches obviously are not impressed with Woods at FS.

It's funny stuff. Jones at FS. Heath at SS. Awuzie at CB. Woods at FS. Jaylon at MLB. Lee at SAM. LVE at WLB. Crawford at RDE.

Oh, so wrong.

Coaching matters. Who knew?

btcutter said:

You convinced me! Sign Chido to an extension now so we can use him as CB/S hybrid. I like Lewis a lot but Chido has much better size and speed to play DB.

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Not much better size, very slightly better, but Lewis has longer arms.

Also, I believe Lewis is faster. Yes, I know Chido ran a better 40 at the combine, but I've seen Lewis burst to the ball, and he appears to be field fast. Plus, I couldn't find any definitive proof, but Lewis has previously run in the 4.4 range.

buybuydandavis said:

Sounds nice, but I expect Awuzie will be decidedly unthrilled by being moved to compete at a new and less expensive position in a contract year.

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But if he signs an extension now then he probably wouldn't care as much which position he plays. Of course, players typically bet on themselves on contract year unless it's got a nice signing bonus. Brown signed an extension due to injury.
I rather have Lewis and Chido back then Brown + Chid/Lewis combo.

kskboys said:

Not much better size, very slightly better, but Lewis has longer arms.

Also, I believe Lewis is faster. Yes, I know Chido ran a better 40 at the combine, but I've seen Lewis burst to the ball, and he appears to be field fast. Plus, I couldn't find any definitive proof, but Lewis has previously run in the 4.4 range.

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I thought Chido was faster but Lewis quicker that's why he's good in the slot. Could be wrong.

Chido out weights Lewis by 14-20 lbs depending where you look. I think that's quite significant in DB. One of the "weaknesses" of Lewis coming out of college was "small frame"..whatever that means. But I think Lewis is the most competitive CB we had including Jones.

I think the whole "Awuzie at S" thing is for depth and strategery. It's always a banger if you have the CB depth, and you can save that roster spot for another young player, because he can play S if Woods goes down.

Assuming the rooks don't officially start, you have Woods go down, Awuzie can go in at S and Diggs can roll in.

You can also play some 3 safety formations against some teams if you think it might confuse them and/or do some things on defense that helps you stop 'em. Woods showed pretty good slot cover ability, a package with a 3rd safety on the field that can tackle and cover could let you disguise coverage and responsibilities. Disguising helps get 'dem there turnovers.

You also just might want to play some Dimes coverage with 3 safeties on top facing the line of scrimmage, decide to blitz with the LB with press coverage, etc. Doesn't have to be purely passing downs, 2nd and 7-8, if their OL isn't that great and you've been doing a good job against the run, you could have situations with Dime coverage, 3 safeties, and your LB playing the run while one of Woods or Awuzie drops down, either/or is kinda the point.

I don't think the intention,at all, is to challenge Woods for an immediate starter spot. In my opinion,it's depth and situations where you think you can get your best players on the field with the benefit of being able to do multiple things while having some element of surprise + cover ability.

btcutter said:

I thought Chido was faster but Lewis quicker that's why he's good in the slot. Could be wrong.

Chido out weights Lewis by 14-20 lbs depending where you look. I think that's quite significant in DB. One of the "weaknesses" of Lewis coming out of college was "small frame"..whatever that means. But I think Lewis is the most competitive CB we had including Jones.

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Size when comparing CB's is more about height than weight.

Oz-of-Cowboy-Country said:

I was saying it from day one. He plays too physical to be a CB. He gives us some interchangeability at safety also. We can really mix up coverages with him back there.

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His skillset points toward slot CB/S.

buybuydandavis said:

They talked about moving Jaylon outside a couple of years ago, and I loved the idea. He should have been our edgeLB/blitzer. That's what he's good at.

On Awuzie, I think it's unlikely we give him a new contract. Or that he takes it. If we do, it's because he didn't get much interest elsewhere.

Moving him to S now kind of hoses him for next year. More money at CB, and he has more experience at it. I doubt that he's happy about this, though he could probably read the writing on the wall during the Draft. He'll probably prefer to move on if he has decent options.

Awuzie will be in a tough spot trying to beat out Woods for a S spot, when Woods has years of experience at it, and Awuzie is just trying to pick it up again. But we needed more talent at S, so this is probably good for the team.

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I don't think Awuzie will be competing with Woods, I think Wilson will be.

I've been saying this since we put him at CB, he is better suited to play S.