Repeal and Replace in the secondary is underway in a big way! Having lost two starting CB’s and two starting safeties to free agency, created an urgency that finds fifteen bodies being squeezed into the secondary’s classroom. Nine at corner and six at safety. Four came via the draft in Awuzie, CB in the 2nd, Lewis, CB in the 3rd, Woods, S in the 6th and White, CB in the 6th as well. In addition to the draftees, the CB’s now include returning playes, Orlando Scandrick, Anthony Brown and McFadden (not Darren). Via free agency they added, Nolan Carroll, while Sammy Seamster was added after the season & McKinnon as an undrafted free agent. We can expect that to get whittled down to 5 roster players on the 53. Its pretty easy to figure out the five most likely to be on the opening day roster.
The Scandrick scuttlebutt is a concern and one he appears to believe that a trade is still in the teams plans. I expect that he won’t be going anywhere, unless maybe he’s trying to force himself out of Dodge. When healthy he’s still real good, real smart out there. His only shortcoming is that he reminds me of Roberto Duran, with “Hands Of Stone”.
Dallas went with DE in the first, making the call that quality CB’s would still be available in the next few rounds. Awuzie is highly regarded and Lewis, until the domestic violence accusations was thought to be a solid 2nd rounder or a 1st rounder, according to his own comments. We should expect the first three selections to grab snaps from the start of the season. Why else draft them? Fellas. pull up your big boy pants, the team needs you to take those snaps!
Found this tweet that might be interesting as Lewis and Switzer have competed back in high school days,. Now teammates, note Switzer has some hops!
The safeties on the roster are Byron Jones, Heath, Jameel Showers, Blanton who was recently signed, the 6th round selection in Xavier Woods (my Pet Cat) and returning for his 2nd year, Kavon Fraser. Expecting four safeties to make the 53, however, if hard pressed for those spots, they could use position flex capabilities with Awuzie & Lewis. Not their preference necessarily, but it will become an option to ponder. Woods, by the way grabbed 14 INT’s during his years at Louisance Tech. That’s a big time need for this team to get valuable takeaways. High hopes with someone with those skills. Level of competition is a leap, no question, but a valued trait. Heath has proven at the NFL level to be able to get those takeaways in limited snaps. A bigger role hopefully yields those much needed turnovers in 2017. Concern I have is that Bisaccia wants Heath on his specials and bangs the table, to keep him from a bigger role in the secondary.
