Word surfaced on Monday that the Dallas Cowboys 2017 second-round draft pick Chidobe Awuzie is expected to practice this week and possibly play Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons. This is great news considering the rookie defensive back has missed the last five out of six games, but will his return benefit the Cowboys defense?
It's no secret Chidobe Awuzie has been dealing with a hamstring injury this season and it has caused him to miss games. Cowboys Nation knows all too well how the dreaded h-word tends to strike Cowboys players and how it always seems to linger throughout the season. This has definitely been the case for Awuzie so far, but if healthy he could possibly make an immediate impact.
The Dallas Cowboys spent a second-round pick on him in the 2017 NFL Draft for a reason. Chidobe Awuzie was expected to come in and contribute right away after the Cowboys pretty much cleaned house in their secondary. Injuries have unfortunately kept that from happening, but the wait might finally be over. The defense could certainly use his unique skill set.
You may have forgotten, but Chidobe Awuzie is a versatile defensive back who the Cowboys were really looking forward to inserting into their secondary. They obviously had a plan to use that versatility to their advantage and to utilize his unique skill set much like his college coaching staff did during his time at Colorado.
While at Colorado, Awuzie played nearly every position in the secondary. Not only did he play nearly every position, but he excelled, especially as a blitzer. His size, speed, and footwork would allow him to play anywhere in the Cowboys secondary as well. Whether it is at safety or cornerback, it doesn't really matter. He would likely be an immediate upgrade.
Now, with the way the Dallas Cowboys defense has continued to improve week after week, I don't really know where Awuzie fits in right now. I kind of doubt the Cowboys coaching staff wants to make any changes with the way the defense is performing right now, but it's good to have Chidobe in their back pocket.
Injuries have already hit the cornerback position pretty hard this season. In fact, Anthony Brown is the only CB who contributes on a regular basis not to sustain an injury. Let's just hope that doesn't change anytime soon (knock on wood). So, it's good to have a player as talented as Chidobe in the fold once again.
I personally wouldn't be surprised if the Dallas Cowboys had a specific role in mind for Chidobe Awuzie when he returns to the field. His versatility and athleticism could allow Rod Marinelli to really get creative with coverages, and I believe that will benefit the entire Cowboys defense. But, what that role may be is still a mystery…
Regardless of what kind of defensive role #33 has going forward, it is definitely great news to have back in the mix of things for the Dallas Cowboys.
