The Dallas Cowboys decided they had seen enough of watching highlight reels of other teams steamrolling their defense. In a move that signaled they were legitimately serious about the secondary, they traded up one spot in the first round to snag Ohio State’s Caleb Downs with the 11th overall pick. It was the kind of assertiveness that is required to go get your guy, and that’s exactly what the Cowboys did. The team didn’t just get a new safety. They got the smartest defensive player in the entire
draft, and that is music to our ears considering this squad looked dumbfounded far too often last season.
Downs’ college résumé reads like a script that builds more and more excitement with every word. He walked onto the field at Alabama as a true freshman and immediately played like a seasoned pro, leading the entire team in tackles. When Nick Saban decided to trade the headset for golf clubs and retire, Downs took his talents to Ohio State. He didn’t miss a beat with the Buckeyes, remaining absolutely remarkable and helping lead them to a national championship. If winning follows him like a shadow, Cowboys fans have plenty of reasons to start getting excited about the upcoming season.
The problem
Last year, the Cowboys’ run defense was frequently a disaster because players were constantly misaligned. The secondary looked like they were running around frantically asking for directions, plagued by confusion and blown assignments that left everyone wondering who was actually responsible for what.
The solution
Downs steps in as the ultimate solution because he is an elite communicator who gets everyone lined up exactly where they need to be. He has already earned a reputation as being the on-field coach due to his exceptionally high football IQ and leadership skills. Having him back there is like having a GPS for a defense that was previously lost.
The problem
The defense also had a habit of giving up massive plays because defenders were hesitant and slow to reach their spots. Between taking poor pursuit angles and failing to wrap up ball carriers, the tackling last year was severely lacking and often times a flat-out embarrassment.
The solution
Downs is an explosive attacker who reacts the moment he sees the play developing. He is a tackling machine with rock-solid fundamentals, and he has a knack for shutting plays down and limiting yards after the catch. Whether he is at the line of scrimmage or in the open field, he is highly disruptive.
The problem
To make matters worse, the Cowboys’ secondary allowed the second-most passing touchdowns in the league last season. It felt like every possession for the opponent was a guaranteed six points through the air, and good luck getting stops when they’re playing from behind.
The solution
Downs brings a stat with him that sounds too good to be true. He has not allowed a single passing touchdown over his last two seasons of college football. Bringing that kind of lockdown reliability to Dallas is exactly what this defense needs for a group that was giving up scores far too easily.
The problem
Coaching was a big issue last year, but so was their talent at the safety position, as most guys were typecast as one-dimensional players. Dallas had guys who were great at playing downhill but looked like fish out of water in coverage. Non-cover guys were asked to be cover guys, and it was just something they simply could not handle.
The solution
Downs is a do-everything safety this team desperately needed. He is extremely versatile, with the ability to play deep safety, drop into the box as a run defender, or even slide over as a nickel cornerback. He provides the coaching staff with a level of flexibility they haven’t had in years.
The problem
Finally, the Cowboys became infamous for their spot drop zone blunders, where defenders would just go to their spot and cover grass. Receivers would just blow right past them, turning routine plays into long gains for the opposition. It was excruciating to watch.
The solution
Downs excels at route recognition, always having a leg up on what the offense is trying to do before they even do it. By dissecting plays instantaneously, he minimizes those big gains and ensures the defense stays one step ahead of the quarterback.
Bringing it all together…
Selecting Downs is a massive win for the Cowboys because he addresses every single weakness that held the safety position back last year. He brings the brains, the brawn, and a championship pedigree to a secondary that was starving for a leader. If you were looking for a reason to believe this defense is about to turn a major corner, look no further than this Buckeye bandit. With any luck, the era of the big play against Dallas might just be coming to an abrupt end.
