Awuzie at SS (please no)

[Chuck 54]

FS SS...really doesn’t matter anymore.

Having a deep patrol ball hawk and a LB type thumper won’t get it done as primary skills.

You need safeties who are smart, instinctive, and who can tackle and cover 1-1. In today’s NFL, you’d better have someone who can cover TEs 1-1, whatever you call him.

 

[JoeyBoy718]

Awuzie replaced Heath for about 9 snaps the last time he played.

Woods has only played in 3 Safety sets (i.e. With Heath, not replacing him).

If you look at Awuzie and Woods, Awuzie looks like the Safety and Woods looks like the CB.

Finding players that can function like Safety but also cover WRs in man is a great asset in the modern NFL.

The Cowboys have used a lot of 3 Safety sets the past few years and the 4th Safety even plays some snaps in most games.

This year it's Woods as #3 and Frazier as #4.

Last year is was Wilcox as #3 and Heath as #4.

Think about how often you saw Wilcox/Heath in 2016 and Woods/Frazier in 2017 and you'll realize that multiple Safeties are needed.

Thumper type Safeties are going extinct. Several have moved to LB in recent years.

Basically you're going to see more hybrid Safety-Corners in the future and more players whose role changes based on base/Nickel/Dime etc..

So what do you think (in 2018) something like this:

S - Jones, Awuzie, Heath, Frazier
CB - Lewis, Woods, Brown, Scandrick (maybe), vet and/or rookie

 

[MichaelWinicki]

People worry too much about size and old school beliefs.

6-1, 202 is fine for a SS. The league has been drifting away from the hulking, big, 6-1, 225lb bruiser safeties and playing guys at both FS and SS that can both cover, etc.

If Awuzie and Woods give us our starting safeties for the next 7-8 years, fine by me.

Personally I think this secondary starting going downhill when a 6' 230lb strong safety was drafted. Ever since the safeties have been a weak link in coverage.

 

[Risen Star]

He was a sack machine at CO as they lined him up all over the field. I think they drafted him to play corner. It will be interesting to see if RM can use his talents for timely blitzes here and there. I remember Bobby Taylor gave this offense fits back in the day with those blitzes.

I think they drafted him with the belief he can do both.

 

[Oh_Canada]

The hoodie must he an idiot.

His safeties are 6'0 190 and 5' 10 210lbs.

Chung is slightly heavier than Chido but a similar player coming out of college. Thought of as a swiss army knife.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

You guys have no idea what he is to begin with. He hasn't even played much this year.

 

[ActualCowboysFan]

His speed is marginal for NFL corner....above ave for a safety. It was said he had s.Lee smarts..nice at safety

What? He's a 4.4 guy.

 

[Irvin88_4life]

Woods has been named the starter at safety for Sunday

 

[Toruk_Makto]

Awuzie replaced Heath for about 9 snaps the last time he played.

Woods has only played in 3 Safety sets (i.e. With Heath, not replacing him).

If you look at Awuzie and Woods, Awuzie looks like the Safety and Woods looks like the CB.

Finding players that can function like Safety but also cover WRs in man is a great asset in the modern NFL.

The Cowboys have used a lot of 3 Safety sets the past few years and the 4th Safety even plays some snaps in most games.

This year it's Woods as #3 and Frazier as #4.

Last year is was Wilcox as #3 and Heath as #4.

Think about how often you saw Wilcox/Heath in 2016 and Woods/Frazier in 2017 and you'll realize that multiple Safeties are needed.

Thumper type Safeties are going extinct. Several have moved to LB in recent years.

Basically you're going to see more hybrid Safety-Corners in the future and more players whose role changes based on base/Nickel/Dime etc..

I remember when people **** on Jalen because he could play both CB and Safety and people complained he didn't have a "true best position."

<--- still bitter

 

[Toruk_Makto]

His speed is marginal for NFL corner....above ave for a safety. It was said he had s.Lee smarts..nice at safety

Are you aware of who we're talking about? Calling his speed marginal is an absolute joke.

 

[xwalker]

I remember when people **** on Jalen because he could play both CB and Safety and people complained he didn't have a "true best position."

<--- still bitter

I didn't understand that concept in regards to Ramsey; although I was not a huge fan of drafting him top 5. His microfracture surgery and lack of INTs was more of a concern than him being a hybrid Safety-CB.

 

[Toruk_Makto]

I didn't understand that concept in regards to Ramsey; although I was not a huge fan of drafting him top 5. His microfracture surgery and lack of INTs was more of a concern than him being a hybrid Safety-CB.

Microfracture scared me a bit but then you realize he had it in hs....played well all that time at FSU and tested off the charts athletically.

As far as turnovers the guy gave up less than a 40% completion percentage against and was avoided.

And he plays one of the most valuable positions in all of football. Made no sense. And in light of Zeke's knuckleheadedness the choice might not only cost us in the future on a 2nd contract to a rb but it's costing us today in missing one of our best players.

Awful.

 

[xwalker]

Microfracture scared me a bit but then you realize he had it in hs....played well all that time at FSU and tested off the charts athletically.

As far as turnovers the guy gave up less than a 40% completion percentage against and was avoided.

And he plays one of the most valuable positions in all of football. Made no sense. And in light of Zeke's knuckleheadedness the choice might not only cost us in the future on a 2nd contract to a rb but it's costing us today in missing one of our best players.

Awful.

I wanted him to be the obvious choice because of the value of an elite CB/Safety relative to RB but I couldn't convince myself that he was a safe pick.

As a fan I couldn't really judge Zeke's character issues, but in regards to talent he was a near guaranted Super Star type player.

 

[Toruk_Makto]

I wanted him to be the obvious choice because of the value of an elite CB/Safety relative to RB but I couldn't convince myself that he was a safe pick.

As a fan I couldn't really judge Zeke's character issues, but in regards to talent he was a near guaranted Super Star type player.

Given it was close....and consensus and even our own front office said it was basically a coin toss....you gamble on the position of value as a tiebreaker.

Shame.

 

[Setackin]

Was just reading on the mothership where BB was asked if Awusie is our future at SS. Brian replied that's where he would play him.
So I looked him up on the roster, he's listed at 6'1" and #202. Surely not right ?
Hes a frickin corner, let him play where he was drafted to play and an injured rookie to boot. Dont ruin another high draft pick by trying to make him what he's not.
Thoughts ...

I agree. Awuzie at CB, I’d try and develop Woods to be the SS. If I remember correctly his Size was almost perfect, I think he may have need to add a little weight.

 

[Setackin]

I don’t like this teams Philosophy with DBs. It seems like they believe that all DBs can play safety or CB. I understood the thinking with Jones, because he had played both already and was green with both. But Awuzie is a CB. If I’m remembering Awuzies combine he doesn’t have the range to play SS. And on this team Safety’s need range cause the CBs can’t cover squat.

 

[sbark]

Are you aware of who we're talking about? Calling his speed marginal is an absolute joke.

Pre/Post draft scouting reports are sprinkled with speed concerns............Long speed? Can he follow a receiver across the feild.....but then as a safety---so are is his tackling habits.........
https://sportsday.***BANNED-URL***/...said-chidobe-awuzie-aggressiveness-revved-way

 

[xwalker]

So what do you think (in 2018) something like this:

S - Jones, Awuzie, Heath, Frazier
CB - Lewis, Woods, Brown, Scandrick (maybe), vet and/or rookie

Unlikely. Woods is unlikely to move to CB full time; although he did OK when he had to play the slot in a couple of games.

The 3rd Safety plays a lot of snaps. As the 3rd Safety, Woods is averaging around 50% of the snaps over the last several games with a high of 63%.

Having said that if Awuzie and Woods are both at Safety, one of them would likely be the backup (4th CB).

I like the defense for next season. They must add more LBs and maybe a legit 1tech but those are less expensive than pass rushers and CBs.

 

[Floatyworm]

Why is this team forever complicating things? Xavier Woods is the safety you drafted, give him the reigns.

Xavier Woods is your dime safety. Nice player to have...But I wouldn't want him playing in the box in run support as a strong safety. He would get destroyed in there...and then your down another DB...and then your shuffling players again...which for a secondary...is bad.

Don't like the idea of Awuzie moving either...his is a CB. Leave him there. I mean look @ what moving Byron Jones all over did. It set him back 2 years.

We need to sign a real strong safety...Letting Barry Church walk...has turned into a disaster. Talk about over estimating your hand....thinking Jeff Heath was the answer.