SI Cowboys Most Underrated Player

817Gill · Jun 29, 2020

A lot of fans tend to ignore all statistical measurements & schematic deficiencies to act like a solid player is bad. Chido especially has been done no favors schematically and was often left on an island with no safety help due to KR’s attempts to correct Rod’s front 7 alignments (@xwalker). He was still able to have a solid season and had very similar stats to guys like James Bradberry, who just signed a 15M dollar deal to be a #1 CB. He’s often in good position and with better coaching and technique variation has a chance to get a great deal in FA next season. Dude is a solid #2 with the ability to be a nice 1B type guy.

"For two straight years now, Chidobe Awuzie has allowed a completion percentage below 60 and, in 2019 added an opposing QB rating of 89. He tackles incredibly well, has A-plus closing speed and plays 95% of the team’s defensive snaps at a critical wide DB position. Though the loss of Byron Jones stings, Awuzie made it a little more palatable.''

You can read the whole article here:

https://www.si.com/nfl/2020/06/27/e...inow&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_medium=social

TheMarathonContinues · Jun 29, 2020

I actually agree with them but I know this is going to be controversial here. I think if the Cowboys were smart and if he's willing to do it their best bet is to sign him before this season. I really believe if he's our starting corner he's going to have a breakout year.

xwalker · Jun 29, 2020

817Gill said:
A lot of fans tend to ignore all statistical measurements & schematic deficiencies to act like a solid player is bad. Chido especially has been done no favors schematically and was often left on an island with no safety help due to KR’s attempts to correct Rod’s front 7 alignments (@xwalker). He was still able to have a solid season and had very similar stats to guys like James Bradberry, who just signed a 15M dollar deal to be a #1 CB. He’s often in good position and with better coaching and technique variation has a chance to get a great deal in FA next season. Dude is a solid #2 with the ability to be a nice 1B type guy.

"For two straight years now, Chidobe Awuzie has allowed a completion percentage below 60 and, in 2019 added an opposing QB rating of 89. He tackles incredibly well, has A-plus closing speed and plays 95% of the team’s defensive snaps at a critical wide DB position. Though the loss of Byron Jones stings, Awuzie made it a little more palatable.''

You can read the whole article here:

https://www.si.com/nfl/2020/06/27/e...inow&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_medium=social

Good post.

Most fans and most media tend to judge players on a handful of big plays good or bad and ignore the other 1000 snaps that player played that season.

I think the new defensive scheme will be better for Awuzie especially from the standpoint of how fans judge him. The actual stats that you posted might not necessarily change that much considering that they were already good, but those handful of ugly plays are likely to disappear.

Regardless, I think the plan is for the top 3 CBs in 2021 to be Diggs, Brown and Robinson with Awuzie getting a big contract elsewhere.

robjay04 · Jun 29, 2020

Awuzi has some of the best coverage on catches as well.

Future · Jun 29, 2020

But he doesn't get INTs durrrrffff

The hate on Chido is just evidence of how little this fan base actually knows about the team.

big dog cowboy · Jun 29, 2020

rocyaice said:
I know this is going to be controversial here.

No doubt about that. But he is solid and playing under different coaches and schemes this year my guess is he shines. Main thing, turn around and look for the ball.

TheMarathonContinues · Jun 29, 2020

robjay04 said:
Awuzi has some of the best coverage on catches as well.

Yeah and I have no idea why that is. I'd like to say he's unlucky but yeah I've seen some guys make some great catches on him.

TheMarathonContinues · Jun 29, 2020

big dog cowboy said:
No doubt about that. But he is solid and playing under different coaches and schemes this year my guess is he shines. Main thing, turn around and look for the ball.

Yep. He has the coverage skills he just has to turn around. I really expect big things for him that's why it hurt me to hear potential position switch....don't do that now.

erod · Jun 29, 2020

Chido is a good player. I do think he's better with the game in front of him, and safety would be a better position for him.

This is the same fan base that has dogpiled Doug Free, Jeff Heath, Tyrone Crawford, and Flozell Adams.

Not the most knowledgeable fan base by a long shot.

TheMarathonContinues · Jun 29, 2020

erod said:
Chido is a good player. I do think he's better with the game in front of him, and safety would be a better position for him.

This is the same fan base that has dogpiled Doug Free, Jeff Heath, Tyrone Crawford, and Flozell Adams.

Not the most knowledgeable fan base by a long shot.

And you dog Dak so what does that say about your knowledge lol?

erod · Jun 29, 2020

rocyaice said:
And you dog Dak so what does that say about your knowledge lol?

I don't dog him as much as I just recognize what he is and what he isn't. I'm fine with him being our QB as long as we have a ton of cap space to build an elite defense and surround him with elite offensive personnel.

He's like Jake Del Homme, Rex Grossman, Tony Eason, Stan Humphries, or Neil O'Donnell. You can carry him to a Super Bowl, but he can't take you there.

Pay him like he can carry a team, and that's just ridiculous. He isn't capable of that.

TheMarathonContinues · Jun 29, 2020

erod said:
I don't dog him as much as I just recognize what he is and what he isn't. I'm fine with him being our QB as long as we have a ton of cap space to build an elite defense and surround him with elite offensive personnel.

He's like Jake Del Homme, Rex Grossman, Tony Eason, Stan Humphries, or Neil O'Donnell. You can carry him to a Super Bowl, but he can't take you there.

Pay him like he can carry a team, and that's just ridiculous. He isn't capable of that.

You were making sense until you named those list of quarterbacks. You are trying to be funny or troll at this point. Its no slight to say he can't take you to a Super Bowl by himself because no one can. Not even Mahomes.

Cowboyny · Jun 29, 2020

Awuzie is the team;s best CB on the roster and it is by a wide margin. Good cover CB, above average tackler, durable, but doesn't possess elite ball skills. He struggles with his back facing the QB. Usually has great coverage, but gives up too many contested passes cause of his lack of ball awareness. He will be seeing some time at Safety this year in the nickel and could be an ideal spot for him. Coming into the league he was a CB/S prospect who was one of the better nickel players in the entire class.

Most likely he will not be back after this season, not only do to his price, but I think Nolan and the rest of the staff want, big corners with length and plus ball skills.

erod · Jun 29, 2020

rocyaice said:
You were making sense until you named those list of quarterbacks. You are trying to be funny or troll at this point. Its no slight to say he can't take you to a Super Bowl by himself because no one can. Not even Mahomes.

Brady has gone to the Super Bowl with essentially 5 completely different teams. Some of those teams had horrific offensive talent. Some were great.

Dak needs perfect surroundings to be successful. Not just good. Perfect.

Last year should have been a layup to win the division. This division is just horrible. At the most important moments, he failed miserably.

There's a reason some QBs get massive money. Because they determine success in tough situations. That ain't Dak.

Williamsboys · Jun 29, 2020

If Awuzie can turn his head once in awhile he could be really good, the penalties he gets are when he loses sight of the ball.

buybuydandavis · Jun 29, 2020

817Gill said:
A lot of fans tend to ignore all statistical measurements & schematic deficiencies to act like a solid player is bad. Chido especially has been done no favors schematically and was often left on an island with no safety help due to KR’s attempts to correct Rod’s front 7 alignments (@xwalker). He was still able to have a solid season and had very similar stats to guys like James Bradberry, who just signed a 15M dollar deal to be a #1 CB. He’s often in good position and with better coaching and technique variation has a chance to get a great deal in FA next season. Dude is a solid #2 with the ability to be a nice 1B type guy.

"For two straight years now, Chidobe Awuzie has allowed a completion percentage below 60 and, in 2019 added an opposing QB rating of 89. He tackles incredibly well, has A-plus closing speed and plays 95% of the team’s defensive snaps at a critical wide DB position. Though the loss of Byron Jones stings, Awuzie made it a little more palatable.''

You can read the whole article here:

https://www.si.com/nfl/2020/06/27/e...inow&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_medium=social

AKOYE media had a video singing the praises of Awuzie, showing how he was often on an island, or used more like a safety giving run support.

From most reports, the technique the dbs were coached up on was doing them no favors. We could see a jump in play from our guys. Al Harris likes bigger corners too. Good for Awuzie.

McKDaddy · Jun 29, 2020

erod said:
Last year should have been a layup to win the division.

set aside QB discussion, this statement should be obvious to everyone and reason for great sadness.

CalPolyTechnique · Jun 29, 2020

817Gill said:
A lot of fans tend to ignore all statistical measurements & schematic deficiencies to act like a solid player is bad. Chido especially has been done no favors schematically and was often left on an island with no safety help due to KR’s attempts to correct Rod’s front 7 alignments (@xwalker). He was still able to have a solid season and had very similar stats to guys like James Bradberry, who just signed a 15M dollar deal to be a #1 CB. He’s often in good position and with better coaching and technique variation has a chance to get a great deal in FA next season. Dude is a solid #2 with the ability to be a nice 1B type guy.

"For two straight years now, Chidobe Awuzie has allowed a completion percentage below 60 and, in 2019 added an opposing QB rating of 89. He tackles incredibly well, has A-plus closing speed and plays 95% of the team’s defensive snaps at a critical wide DB position. Though the loss of Byron Jones stings, Awuzie made it a little more palatable.''

You can read the whole article here:

https://www.si.com/nfl/2020/06/27/e...inow&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_medium=social

Chido missed 11 tackles last season or 12.2% of his attempts.

Allowing a ~90 QB rating shouldn’t be seen as a good thing. I also don’t see comping him with James Bradberry as good thing.

If Bradberry was on the Cowboys we’d be making the same criticisms.

None of this means Awuzie is straight garbage, but does he needs to take his game up another level. Maybe that will be a byproduct of the new scheme and coaching.

TheMarathonContinues · Jun 29, 2020

erod said:
Brady has gone to the Super Bowl with essentially 5 completely different teams. Some of those teams had horrific offensive talent. Some were great.

Dak needs perfect surroundings to be successful. Not just good. Perfect.

Last year should have been a layup to win the division. This division is just horrible. At the most important moments, he failed miserably.

There's a reason some QBs get massive money. Because they determine success in tough situations. That ain't Dak.

What teams had horrific offensive talent? I'd love to hear this. And everyone needs perfect surroundings. How many Super Bowls does Tom Brady get without Bellicheat?

Bullflop · Jun 29, 2020

817Gill said:
A lot of fans tend to ignore all statistical measurements & schematic deficiencies to act like a solid player is bad. Chido especially has been done no favors schematically and was often left on an island with no safety help due to KR’s attempts to correct Rod’s front 7 alignments (@xwalker). He was still able to have a solid season and had very similar stats to guys like James Bradberry, who just signed a 15M dollar deal to be a #1 CB. He’s often in good position and with better coaching and technique variation has a chance to get a great deal in FA next season. Dude is a solid #2 with the ability to be a nice 1B type guy.

"For two straight years now, Chidobe Awuzie has allowed a completion percentage below 60 and, in 2019 added an opposing QB rating of 89. He tackles incredibly well, has A-plus closing speed and plays 95% of the team’s defensive snaps at a critical wide DB position. Though the loss of Byron Jones stings, Awuzie made it a little more palatable.''

You can read the whole article here:

https://www.si.com/nfl/2020/06/27/e...inow&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_medium=social

Agreed from here! I think a lot of folks on this website are going to be surprised with the improvement that Awuzie shows this year.

I've been saying this all offseason. I'll be surprised if this staff fails to make life far easier for him with an improved scheme in 2020.

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