News: This Cowboys player is poised for a breakout season

CCBoy

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This Cowboys player is poised for a breakout season
http://thelandryhat.com/2016/07/21/this-cowboys-player-is-poised-for-a-breakout-season/


After an impressive rookie season with the Dallas Cowboys, this young, versatile defender is poised to have a breakout year in 2016.

First round selections are expected to be good, if not great, right out of the gate in the NFL. If they’re anything but, they are almost always instantly labeled as possible busts. Fair or not, the expectations are sky high for those prospects chosen in the first round

The Dallas Cowboys have had a good run of first rounders who have lived up to that hype. With the exception of LSU cornerback Morris Claiborne in 2012, the Cowboys have found major success in the first round. Those players include: wide receiver Dez Bryant (2010), USC tackle Tyron Smith (2011), Wisconsin center Travis Frederick (2013), Notre Dame tackle/guard Zack Martin (2014) and Connecticut defensive back Byron Jones (2015).

Many believe the Cowboys 2016 first round selection, Ohio State running back Ezekiel Elliott, could also be a home run pick for Dallas as well.

Out of the Cowboys previous six first round selections, prior to Elliott, five of them have become All-Pro’s and Pro Bowlers. The only one without those kinds of accolades is second-year safety Byron Jones. But that could change very soon.

Jones impressed in his rookie season and was undoubtedly the team’s best and most versatile player in the Cowboys secondary last year. Spending time at both the safety and cornerback positions, the 23-year old recorded 66 tackles and had nine pass defends.

Now firmly entrenched at the free safety position in Dallas, Jones has been chosen by NFL.com to be a player who could make the leap to stardom in 2016

“Given Jones’ move to safety on a full-time basis, we expect the defense to force more turnovers. While he might not morph into an Ed Reed-type playmaker in his second pro season, the interceptions will come as he gets more comfortable eyeing the quarterback and making quick breaks on the ball. With his athleticism, speed and versatility, Jones will become the biggest playmaker for a Cowboys secondary in desperate need of game-changing performers.” – Kevin Patra, Around the NFL writer via NFL.com

Last season, you got the sense the Cowboys coaching staff was willing to suffer through the pains of shifting Jones around at different positions for the experience the young rookie would gain overall. By locking him in at free safety this season, Dallas hopes the first rounder will be able to use what he’s learned to become a more complete defender.
 

Stash

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A high quality free safety would be a huge boost to Dallas' defense and it's an ingredient I think they've been missing for quite some time. Hopefully, Byron Jones takes that step in year two to become just that.
 
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