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

He looks short and slow on tape.

rnr_honeybadger said:

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

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Jaylon too.

It's nice to see capable coaches coming in and seeing these things and immediately doing something about it.

1. Investing in defensive tackle
2. Moving Smith to strongside linebacker where his skills belong
3. Putting Awuzie in more of a safety role
4. Bringing in cornerbacks that suit their scheme to be able to move Chido

If only we had coaches like this in 2017...

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 FS?

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Good video.

Almost exactly the same analysis that I've posted here multiple times.

stasheroo said:

Jaylon too.

It's nice to see capable coaches coming in and seeing these things and immediately doing something about it.

1. Investing in defensive tackle
2. Moving Smith to strongside linebacker where his skills belong
3. Putting Awuzie in more of a safety role
4. Bringing in cornerbacks that suit their scheme to be able to move Chido

If only we had coaches like this in 2017...

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Boyhowdy, until you put it all in one post I hadn't realized it!!!!! This new coaching staff is really doing almost everything we've been screaming about. What still gets me is that it was so obvious, but they couldn't see it. Twitterpated twaddles.

stasheroo said:

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

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That's going to be another interesting facet, what the new coaching staff does w/ Wilson. My A&M fan friends keep insisting this cat can play in the NFL at a high level.

kskboys said:

Boyhowdy, until you put it all in one post I hadn't realized it!!!!! This new coaching staff is really doing almost everything we've been screaming about. What still gets me is that it was so obvious, but they couldn't see it. Twitterpated twaddles.

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I'm going to continue to get a whole lot of use and enjoyment out of this gif:

kskboys said:

That's going to be another interesting facet, what the new coaching staff does w/ Wilson. My A&M fan friends keep insisting this cat can play in the NFL at a high level.

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He's got his former coach here now in Maurice Linguist so unlike last year, I expect that he will get a fair shot to compete for a starting job.

The last crew of morons had their undeserving favorites who were entrenched and couldn't be challenged. Forget the fact that Wilson was intercepting passes in every game he played, we must continue to trot Jeff Heath out there, because 'the guy just tries so hard...'

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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Lewis was terrible in 2019. Beyond terrible. He had 499 terrible snaps and then 1 INT and that's all it takes for many fans to crown him as awesome.

Did you see the play in the video where Awuzie blew past everyone and ran down the ball carrier on the opposite side of the field.

Did you see Awuzie dunking the ball over the goalpost in training camp?

Awuzie is bigger, faster, stronger than Lewis.

stasheroo said:

He's got his former coach here now in Maurice Linguist so unlike last year, I expect that he will get a fair shot to compete for a starting job.

The last crew of morons had their undeserving favorites who were entrenched and couldn't be challenged. Forget the fact that Wilson was intercepting passes in every game he played, we must continue to trot Jeff Heath out there, because 'the guy just tries so hard...'

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Few years ago I used to argue w/ the guys who claimed that this staff played favs and some players were never really given a chance to compete. Although it still amazes me that it would be so, man, the facts are just too glaring to deny.

xwalker said:

Lewis was terrible in 2019. Beyond terrible. He had 499 terrible snaps and then 1 INT and that's all it takes for many fans to crown him as awesome.

Did you see the play in the video where Awuzie blew past everyone and ran down the ball carrier on the opposite side of the field.

Did you see Awuzie dunking the ball over the goalpost in training camp?

Awuzie is bigger, faster, stronger than Lewis.

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Maybe!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Lewis is admittedly my pet cat!! I'm refusing to completely admit I was wrong about him until we see what the new coaching staff does w/ him. However, if he sucks this year, I will take my beatings like a man!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

kskboys said:

Few years ago I used to argue w/ the guys who claimed that this staff played favs and some players were never really given a chance to compete. Although it still amazes me that it would be so, man, the facts are just too glaring to deny.

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Yet some people will still try.

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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Not sure it hoses him. If he's great at safety and serviceable at corner, then he's got a much better chance of cashing in by switching positions. He can either be a starting corner in this league for a team that doesn't want to pay much for a starting corner or possibly a starting safety that is coveted.

Now, it's possible that he's also just so-so at safety, but we won't know that until we try. However, the only way we can try IMO is if a couple of these other players look better than so-so at corner.

kskboys said:

Maybe!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Lewis is admittedly my pet cat!! I'm refusing to completely admit I was wrong about him until we see what the new coaching staff does w/ him. However, if he sucks this year, I will take my beatings like a man!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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I expect everyone to be better in the new scheme including Lewis, Awuzie, Jaylon, etc..

Lewis 2018:

• He was good in 2018. Not nearly as good as his fan club claimed, but he was good.
• He was the starting Nickel CB for 2 games in 2018 (Awuzie and Brown each missed a game).
• He also had the 8 really good snaps vs Kamara that year.
• Prior to 2019 Lewis had shown above average tackling ability.

Lewis 2019:

• In 2019 everything fell apart for Lewis once Brown went to IR.
• Offenses intentionally run right at him make him the force player (i.e. for the RB inside or outside) and he was terrible in that situation.
• Fans loved that he got a couple of INTs, but he took chances that allowed for the INTs but caused him to get burned more often than not.
• A Nickel CB getting burned vs the slot WR is generally not as dramatic as an outside WR getting burned and therefore fans don't tend to notice.

Brown vs Lewis

• In general fans have over-rated Lewis and under-rated Brown.
• Brown was very good when he started a game on the outside in 2018.
• Brown has an uncanny ability to shed blocks by OL and TEs in run defense.
  • I've seen multiple plays where CB Brown actually pushed an OL backwards.
  • I watched a couple of those plays over and over and I can't explain it. It seems to defy physics.

gimmesix said:

Not sure it hoses him. If he's great at safety and serviceable at corner, then he's got a much better chance of cashing in by switching positions. He can either be a starting corner in this league for a team that doesn't want to pay much for a starting corner or possibly a starting safety that is coveted.

Now, it's possible that he's also just so-so at safety, but we won't know that until we try. However, the only way we can try IMO is if a couple of these other players look better than so-so at corner.

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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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If Awuzie had a very good year at CB in 2019 then moving him to Safety would be "hosing" him; however, whatever makes him the best player in 2020 makes him the most valuable in free agency.

Here was his draft profile:
DRAFT ANALYSIS:
"Awuzie was the highest corner remaining on my board. He played outside, but kicked inside. You can see him as a nickel blitzer. He can also play safety because of his toughness." -- Mike Mayock

• 6'0"HEIGHT
• 30 5/8"ARM LENGTH
• 202LBS.WEIGHT
• 8 1/2"HANDS

OVERVIEW
Pro corner Nnamdi Asomugha is a family friend of Awuzie (ah-wooz-yeh), but his style of play would make you think he's a relation. He made an immediate impact as a freshman, starting seven games, making 59 tackles, five for loss, and breaking up four passes. Awuzie was leading the team in tackles with 64 through nine games in 2014 (along with two interceptions, eight pass breakups), but missed the end of the year with a lacerated kidney suffered in practice. Healthy again in 2015, he was a second-team All-Pac 12 pick starting mostly at the nickel spot (90 tackles, nine for loss, four sacks, two INT, 10 pass breakups). Awuzie was second-team all-conference again as a senior (65 tackles, six for loss, one INT, 12 PBU), joining two other members of the Buffaloes' secondary on that squad.

ANALYSIS
STRENGTHS
Fluid, controlled steps with easy change of direction allows for extended mirroring from press. Decent jam to disrupt. Carries smooth backpedal downfield with excellent mirror-and-match footwork in man coverage. Digests route combinations from zone and makes wise choices. Athletic with suddenness in his movements. Springy feet allow for abrupt click and close to the throw. Opens and swivels hips for desired transition in all directions. Experienced outside and from slot. Able to maintain coverage on shifty slot receivers. Instinctive with feel for route development. Possesses short-area closing burst. Confident on an island. Finds receiver on deep balls and gets head turned around. Dangerous slot blitzer with seven sacks over final two seasons at Colorado.
WEAKNESSES
Short strider. Appears to lack long, recovery speed if beaten over top. Feels smaller than his listed size. Can be handsy down the field with pulls and tugs that turn into flags as a pro. Managed just three interceptions in college. Run support is lacking. Could use more aggressiveness and commitment when stepping downhill to tackle. Passes on the big hit and allows tight ends and big receivers to power through tackle attempts.
DRAFT PROJECTION
Rounds 1-2
NFL COMPARISON
Prince Amukamara
BOTTOM LINE
Sticky man-cover corner who possesses the reactive athleticism and foot quickness to maintain coverage responsibilities around the field. Awuzie's combination of size and speed pairs well with his instincts providing him what he needs to compete downfield. His inconsistencies as a tackler could turn off some teams, but his abilities as a gunner on special teams may counter that. He can play outside or in the slot and has traits and talent to compete for early playing time.-Lance Zierlein

xwalker said:

I expect everyone to be better in the new scheme including Lewis, Awuzie, Jaylon, etc..

Lewis 2018:

• He was good in 2018. Not nearly as good as his fan club claimed, but he was good.
• He was the starting Nickel CB for 2 games in 2018 (Awuzie and Brown each missed a game).
• He also had the 8 really good snaps vs Kamara that year.
• Prior to 2019 Lewis had shown above average tackling ability.

Lewis 2019:

• In 2019 everything fell apart for Lewis once Brown went to IR.
• Offenses intentionally run right at him make him the force player (i.e. for the RB inside or outside) and he was terrible in that situation.
• Fans loved that he got a couple of INTs, but he took chances that allowed for the INTs but caused him to get burned more often than not.
• A Nickel CB getting burned vs the slot WR is generally not as dramatic as an outside WR getting burned and therefore fans don't tend to notice.

Brown vs Lewis

• In general fans have over-rated Lewis and under-rated Brown.
• Brown was very good when he started a game on the outside in 2018.
• Brown has an uncanny ability to shed blocks by OL and TEs in run defense.
  • I've seen multiple plays where CB Brown actually pushed an OL backwards.
  • I watched a couple of those plays over and over and I can't explain it. It seems to defy physics.

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To be honest, given the depth at CB, we should probably entertain the idea of dealing him. If you were to rank the CBs in order of ability, he's probably 4th at best behind Awuzie, Brown and Worley and with Diggs being right behind him as the 5th best CB, I just don't see him getting that many snaps barring an injury.

Manwiththeplan said:

To be honest, given the depth at CB, we should probably entertain the idea of dealing him. If you were to rank the CBs in order of ability, he's probably 4th at best behind Awuzie, Brown and Worley and with Diggs being right behind him as the 5th best CB, I just don't see him getting that many snaps barring an injury.

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Lewis would have minimal trade value at this point. He most likely has more value to the Cowboys than he would net in a trade.

Brown: Returning from a major injury.
Worley: The pay for even average at best CBs tends to be in the 5M+ range. Worley got more than a veteran minimum type contract but it's not much for a free agent CB with starting experience.
Rookies: Can't really count on a rookie being ready immediately.
Awuzie: Rumors about playing Safety.

Lewis has a significant amount of experience despite with 13 (including "starts" as the 3rd CB in 2019 and some starts on the outside during his rookie season).
- 1522 total snaps on defense in his career

I don't always agree with this guy's takes but he definitely knows how to analyze the game.

When Chido was drafted, they talked about Awuzie playing safety until the injuries started happening.

https://247sports.com/nfl/dallas-co...Awuzie-may-also-play-safety-in-2017-53067746/


“We see him as a corner right now, but as a corner who could potentially play some safety,” Baker said, via Charean Williams of Pro Football Talk. “The nice thing about him is he’s got the intelligence to handle it all, so that’s what you also look for as well as the toughness. He’s got all those factors that say, ‘Hey, this guy could go do it [at safety].’

"Right now we’d like to see what he can do at corner first.”