For the Dallas Cowboys to have a successful 2018 season they are going to need some of their young players step up and improve their game from a year ago. Keeping everyone healthy will be a huge help as well, but today I want to focus on a few players who I believe will have a breakout year this season.
In 2017 we saw DeMarcus Lawrence go from a player who a lot of Cowboys Nation was calling to get released, to a player who became one of the best at his position. It’s rare to see someone take that kind of jump, but I don’t think the Dallas Cowboys or their fans are complaining. The only real complaint I see now is how the Cowboys plan on keeping him around.
To say that Lawrence had a breakout 2017 season would be an understatement. He dominated all year and it’s that kind of progress we are hoping from some of the Cowboys youngsters. But, who is ready to take that kind of jump?
Below I’ve identified three players who I believe are going to have breakout seasons in 2018.
Chidobe Awuzie
Out of everybody on the Dallas Cowboys roster, I think Chidobe Awuzie is the most likely to have a breakout season like DeMarcus Lawrence did in 2017. Part of that has to do with the hiring of Kris Richard, who I believe will help him develop, but it mostly has to do with Awuzie’s talent and how he performed as a rookie.
His rookie season didn’t get off to the best start due to reoccurring injuries. He was only able to start six of 10 games and finished the year with 25 tackles, one forced fumble, and one interception. Not terrible numbers for a first year CB, but it could’ve been much better.
I believe with a full year in the Dallas Cowboys strength and conditioning program and a healthy offseason, Awuzie will without a doubt be the best cornerback on the roster. He has all the tools to succeed, now he just has to go out and prove it.
Hopefully changing from #33 to #24 doesn’t jinx him. The 24 jersey hasn’t been very kind to the last two CBs who wore it.
Xavier Woods
Out of the entire Dallas Cowboys 2017 draft class, Xavier Woods might have been the most impressive in his first year in the NFL. What makes it even more impressive is the fact that he was a sixth round draft pick, the 191st player selected. And I don’t know about you, but I’m really looking forward to see him play this season.
As a rookie, Xavier Woods was used in a variety of roles in the Cowboys secondary and finished the season with 42 tackles and one interception. He played in all 16 games, but only started in for those contests.
I’m really expecting Xavier Woods to take a big jump in his second season with the Dallas Cowboys. I wouldn’t be surprised if he is one of the starting safeties. A lot of people say that he’s a little undersized to play the position, but he is almost exactly the same size as the safety everybody wants the Cowboys to trade for, Earl Thomas.
I believe if the Cowboys don’t take a safety early in the 2018 NFL Draft it’s probably because they like what they have in Xavier Woods.
Byron Jones
I’ve actually been predicting a breakout season for Byron Jones these past several years, but unfortunately he hasn’t really lived up to those aspirations just yet. I’m going to go out on a limb again and predict he finally proves why he was a first-round draft pick.
The Dallas Cowboys didn’t do Byron Jones any favors by continuously having him play different positions in the secondary. I’ve always believed his best position was at CB, which is why am really excited the Cowboys are no longer going to play him at safety. He played safety out of necessity and has been average, but I think he will be an above average CB.
His size and athleticism should benefit him more at CB than it did at S. At safety he was asked to match up with bigger tight ends in coverage and was out physicaled from time to time, but I don’t think that will happen when guarding receivers. I really think we will see a different player in 2018.
* Honorable Mention
Jaylon Smith – I thought about adding Jaylon Smith to the list due to his improved nerve regeneration in his knee/drop foot, but I think he had his breakout season last year. Hopefully he will be even better in 2018 though.
Jourdan Lewis – Jourdan Lewis is another player I contemplated adding to the list, but he is kind of being demoted a little bit and will likely be the Dallas Cowboys nickel cornerback in 2018. I’m still expecting big things from him.
I believe it’s Taco. Only because of the rotation on that defensive line. If he doesn’t step up and compete, he want play.
Won’t*** play
Would be awesome. . . . .
I don’t think I could have written this any better. I agree with every aspect that you listed about these 3 players and I believe each of them will have big years. A lot of people I have conversation with are skeptical because the lack of “big names” in our secondary but I believe that as young as they are, they could surprise people as one of the better secondary units in the league. The big question for me is the other safety position and if heath and Frazier will split time there or if we look to add someone.
My picks for breakout player are rod smith and Charles Tapper.
Smith showed that he can be a suitable RB2 with his ability to run, block and catch the ball and look forward to see him continue the momentum he finished last season with.
I’ve been high on Tapper since we picked him and although we signed Ealy, I think Tapper needs a chance to prove himself. He only played in two games last year but looked explosive off the edge getting a sack against the giants and getting a lot of pressure against Denver.
Taco, after coming on strong at the end, and with teams paying extra attention to Law, is going to break out. Ealy for the same reason. And I think Switz Is going to kick Beasley off the team as well with his breakout, Noah has a chance too. Who I personally want to see is a healthy Gathers. TE could be solved in house if he developes
This list is lame. Now i know for a fact these people are no true cowboys fan. They listed 3DB. They calling a 2nd year player and a guy changing his position a breakout player. Hahaha smh. Lame
STILL – Waiting for your article that shares your awesome list of breakouts. Please share your wisdom, True Cowboy fan.
How can a 2nd year player have a breakout season? From what? A rookie year? Really that’s what they do to these young players? Let these dudes grow!!! It is these same people who cry over every mistake playing coach but to stupid to understand player development. Now people have to start thinking good solid play is now a break out season which still needs to be determined? As in to be seen once the season starts.
Telvin – Still asking??? (I got what you were saying. No need to repeat.) So who do you see, if anyone. as having a breakout, this season?
By design it’s is going to be a team effort. So no one person will shine week to week. Other then on offence I believe Dallas defense is systematic at best. Not even Shawn Lee can say he is a single dominate player. But in understanding the role asked to be played his measurements equate to a very solid piece to the puzzle.
What’s wrong with predicting 3 DBs and two second year players as the breakout candidates.
Awuzie and Woods showed a lot in their rookie years to let us believe that they are on an ascending path. Jones is going into his fourth year now and has yet to hit his stride, mostly because he hasn’t found his best position yet.
The DBs are the unit to watch for me this offseason and training camp. I’m really excited to see their progression as a unit.
And I’m with Everybody Talks. Who are the guys you are expecting to breakout in 2018?
Nothing but the fact of being a redundant subject. You can pick all you want to. Just don’t fall in love with your picks. I noticed a lot of people tend to place blinders over their eyes when it comes to picking who will do what before the season starts. I am the prove it type. With any other team we can have fun if it’s all about fun. With this team talk is cheap. For the cowboys it’s win or shut up.
We aren’t the players, so we can talk all we want. The players have to perform. We can just sit back and talk about it. It’s not like we are influencing the players anyway.
That’s what we all read sites like Inside The Star for. Talk. We obviously don’t know what’s going to happen, but we offer our opinions on what we think will happen.
Projecting a year two jump for Xavier Woods and Chidobe Awuzie is not out of the question. They were decent for much of their rookie seasons, but still have room to grow.
I’m with Brian in thinking that the DB group is going to show the biggest year over year improvement of any unit on the team.
Imo, Rico Gathers @ TE, and Kony Easley @ DE, my dark horse is the rookie wide receiver and Noah Brown, Allen Humes. Just my two cents worth
byron jones?! he is only getting in the way of the younger players. all this talk of him moving to corner to take who’s spot? he is no better than lewis, brown or awuzie…..these are our corners/slot.
as stated previously time to move on and call a bust a bust….maybe he can be dealt during the draft.
a breakout player….frazier!
I like your list. I hope it is spot on, if it is we will have a much better defense this year. Irving had a good half of a year last year so I am going to make him my first break out player – he plays a full year and leads the team in sacks with 15 and is selected All Pro. My 2nd break out player is Collins – he gets 9 sacks and absolutely wrecks the opposing OL from the middle. My 3rd break out player is TE Rico Gathers – he catches 45 passes with 10 TD’s and becomes a really good blocking TE and cements his place as the future of the position for the Cowboys.
Brian, the best cornerback on the Cowboys is Jourdan Lewis, he ranked as one of the top corners in the NFL, Awuzie has potential but he struggles in man coverage. If Lewis is being demoted a little as you say, that just validates what I’ve been saying about the Cowboys not playing the most talented players, that would be an absolutely rediculous move. Lewis covers receivers like a blanket, Awuzie attempts to make up for his inability to tightly cover receivers by trying to dislodge the ball after the catch. That tactic does not work too often in the NFL.
After a player have a so called breakout year. What next? Typical white folks. When they have no where to turn they make shit up. No wonder the NFL is now fag football but Sams still got cut. Breakout??? When??? One year , two years? I get it. Until he is not breaking out NO more then y’all flake out on these players calling them names and put downs crying for them to be let go or traded. Because these so called owners or GMs are stupid enough to blame one guy that is suppose to be playing a team sport. No wonder they care about non sports related issues like being a role model or some sickly kid who make a wish to an imaginary figure. That still don’t make a player play better. Dallas is on a new trip. They so stupid they want their flunky fans talking about trash to sale trash Enstead of player development or recognizing when they have a good player on their team. What they do? They don’t just let their good players walk. They allow rival teams to pick out the players that leave. Some of these players get their revenge. Some of them go to other teams and help them win a super bowl. New age cowboys fans act as if it never happened and the cowboys owners and staff continue with the same bullshit game they call or run. When they win they will win until then enjoy a player that breaks out on a losing team. When you have nothing to demand for you except what ever trash they throw out. PS Jerry and the other staff members know Dak was the real cause behind the poor play. They using Dez to save Dak’s confidence until they get tired of his play. Then they will revile to him who they TRULLY are. Fired Jimmy and let D ware go to another team to get what he could not get in Dallas but yet they still proud? Smh if that don’t say it all. Dez should just leave he will help another team do what Dallas could not do. Win a championship. All that matters is another breakout player who will soon be leaving helping anther team win where Dallas always seem to lose. Let’s see who is more closer to the truth, me or you clowns?