Training Camp Notes

           Training camp has begun, marking the start of the NFL football season (in my opinion). Training camp is great because of the inside information that you receive about your favorite team. Make no mistake the reporter want readers so they will target one particular story over solid football information. Fans also get to hear about a player or positional group that they have concerns about.

            My biggest concern for this Cowboys team is the young secondary. Youth doesn’t mean a player isn't talented. It does mean they’re inexperienced and can be taken advantage of. I don’t expect this secondary to be the “Legion Of Boom”, but I don’t want the unit being a liability to a defense that is already projected to be mediocre. If this secondary can be opportunistic at times, that will be a plus for the Cowboys. The pass rush should be better this season and if the secondary can hold up on the back end we may see the beginning of something special.

            Camp reports seem to be positive about the Cowboys secondary. Everything that I’ve read, highlights the performance of Chidobe Awuzie. Awuzie is creating turnovers and having success at both corner and safety. The Cowboys really need a wildcard playmaker like Awuzie. They need a guy that can play all around the defense and give them a pass rusher, a guy that can play the middle, and play up on the line of scrimmage. The Cowboys need them a “Honey Badger.” Awuzie may not be as good as the Honey Badger but he may give them some of those qualities. Awuzie’s progression is important for two major reasons, adding versatility to the defense and allowing the other rookies to come along slowly.

            The Dallas Cowboys defense only has one play maker, Sean Lee. Outside of Lee there isn’t a guy that offenses fear or adjust to. They still may not have more than one play maker but they can get more versatile and turn match ups in their favor. Image not having to take the inside linebacker off the field. Jaylon Smith is considered a three down linebacker. Him being able to play in space and use that athleticism will give the Cowboys a linebacker beside Lee that can help take away the middle of the field. Now image a quarter or nickel formation with three safeties on the field. Bryon Jones has already shown his ability to match up well against any receiver. If Awuzie is that third safety, he and Jones give the Cowboys two safeties that can play well in the box and have corner back skills. Awuzie’s development will give this defense some versatility that it needs. Being more versatile will allow them to keep pace with offenses that like to use tempo. So far I’ve only discussed Awuzie’s development and potential contributions this season. The Cowboys have some other young defensive backs that they would really like to develop that season.

            The Cowboys also selected Jourdan Lewis, Xavier Woods, and Marquez White in this year’s draft. The idea is to throw bodies at the problem and see what sticks. In all honestly the Cowboys need all them to turn out as good players. Reality is that one of these guys turns into a good player maybe two. Awuzie seems like the one player that is earning more time in training camp and will probably get a start or two in these first three preseason games. His rapid development allows the other three guys to come along a little slower but in small increments. If Awuzie earns the third corner/safety spot then these other guys will all come in on a rotational basis. That means that they won’t be counted on unless someone gets hurt. This is really good for Lewis because he was dealing with some off the field issue along with some contract disputes. Lewis is expected to contribute this season but the rise of Awuzie may give him more time to get focused on football and make his push for more time. The reports coming from training camp are all good about Awuzie and I’m excited to see what he can do. I’m also excited to see how Charles Tapper is used.

            Taco Charlton has high expectation for him this season. I’ve read some analysis picking him to be defensive rookie of the year. I hope Charlton is the 10-15 sack player we all think he is but I also want to see how Tapper is used.

            Charles Tapper can be a Swiss army blade for this Cowboys defense. Tapper can bring a speed element to this defense. He ran a 4.50 second forty yard dash at the Combine. He has a game built around using speed moves and turning that into the power needed to beat offensive linemen. Gone are the days where Aaron Rodgers has 10 seconds to throw that ball. Even if Tapper doesn’t get home he can force the ball out the quarterbacks hands. I can see Tapper being a situational rusher to start this season. He will play more as the season goes on if he is able to get the type of pressure the Cowboys expect him to generate. Tapper can also help a power rusher like Taco. Forcing the opponent’s quarterback to roll out the pocket into Taco’s waiting arms will help him and this defense.