When the season ended for the Dallas Cowboys, their starting safeties were undrafted, battle-tested Barry Church and second-year pro Byron Jones. They had combined to produce a grand total of three interceptions during the year. Turnovers have been lacking for the team for a while but this year’s group of safeties could change things for the better.
Dallas Cowboys Safety Depth Chart Projections
Jeff Heath
With the departure of Church and another undrafted product J.J. Wilcox, Jeff Heath’s one sack, one interception performance in the divisional playoff game against the Green Bay Packers may have symbolized a changing of the guard on the Cowboys defensive back-line. Heading into OTAs, Heath is penciled in as the team’s starting strong safety. The fifth-year player will finally get his chance to prove that he can be the difference. Here’s a look at the Cowboys current depth chart at the safety position.
Heath is listed as the starter at the moment. A few years ago, he was considered expendable by many of the Cowboys fans. In fact, Heath was on the bubble as recently as last year’s training camp but he made the team and was able to contribute. Heath’s performance in the divisional round was impressive. He recorded a sack and an interception against the packers. In his four seasons with the team, Heath has had a knack for forcing turnovers.
He has four interceptions and has forced two fumbles. At 6’1” 212 pounds, he has the size to handle the collisions that a strong safety has to experience in the rugged NFC East. Many question his speed but the player ran a 4.4 during his Pro Day and seems to have incredible burst in coverage. He never shies away from contact, either. Surprisingly, Heath has the potential to make a considerable impact as a starter next year.
Xavier Woods
When the Cowboys saw Louisiana Tech safety Xavier Woods still on the board in the sixth round, they had to take him. Woods put together an excellent college resume. He finished his career with 14 interceptions and three consecutive All-Conference USA seasons. Woods runs a 4.5 40-yard dash and has good size. He’s a little short at 5’11” but has the thickness to throw his body around on the field. Woods has tremendous football IQ, as well. He understands angles and has good range in coverage.
Woods will push for either of the starting safety spots, regardless. If he ends up as the number two strong safety, he will likely replace Heath in the nickel package for defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli. Woods has plenty to learn about playing safety at the next level. He will have to improve in many areas to become what he hopes to become. Coach Marinelli and his staff should help turn him into the kind of player he wants to be.
Byron Jones
Byron Jones has been the mainstay at the free safety position the past two season. Although his performance has been nothing spectacular, his availability has been a huge plus. Jones also has outstanding athleticism that allows him to play in space very well. Marinelli has often asked Jones to handle the opponent’s top tight end in coverage. Jones has produced, when called upon. The player is also a sure-tackler and doesn’t shy away from striking the opposition, when need be.
An area of weakness is his inability to produce in the turnover department. In two full seasons as the starter for nearly all of the team’s defensive snaps, Jones has only made one interception. He has forced a fumble and broken up at least 19 passes but he’s dropped more than his share of interceptions, too. Some believe Jones would be an excellent option as a corner-back. He has the ability to play the position but Marinelli has used him sparingly, in that capacity.
Kavon Frazier
Despite his lack of experience, Kavon Frazier may be the one true strong safety on the Cowboys current roster. The former sixth round draft pick is heading into his second year after contributing mostly on special teams. At 6’0”, 212 pounds, Frazier has good size and the confidence to replace Wilcox as the team’s primary thumper in the secondary. Frazier will have to make his impact in the weight room and during OTAs to get a fair-shake. If he hasn’t been working hard all off-season, it will show.
Hopefully, he’s not satisfied with just running down on kick-offs or punts. He has the tools to get in the mix as a full-time contributor with the departures of two of the team’s top safeties. He has only recorded six tackles in one season but that could be due to a lack of understanding of the complex cover 2 scheme the team employs. Frazier has the intelligence to figure it out.
Jameill Showers
At the end of training camp last year, the Cowboys gave former quarterback Jameill Showers an opportunity to make the team by converting him to safety. Showers has the 6’2”, 230 pound frame to bring the thunder and the knowledge of NFL passing attacks to see plays as they develop while in coverage. A full year learning the scheme could pay dividends, when the team gets to Oxnard, CA for training camp. Showers wants to have a career in the league. His best chance could come in the secondary and on special teams.
Robert Blanton
A few weeks ago, the Cowboys signed former Minnesota Vikings and Buffalo Bills safety Robert Blanton as a free agent. Blanton hasn’t produced very much in his four seasons. He has only recorded one interception and has missed significant time in at least one of his seasons. He has decent size and speed but he must show and prove for the Cowboys or the veteran could see his career come to an end very soon.
Ultimately, the Cowboys have the kind of athletes at the safety position that will allow coach Marinelli to use a number of them in various ways. Each of the players who reside in the team’s safeties room bring different attributes to the table. Every one of them has good speed and size but not one of them is freakish by any means. The fact that all of them have tremendous intelligence and desire will make for an interesting training camp. The team is confident that the cream will rise to the top as it usually does.
