‘All signs point to’ Cowboys’ JJ Wilcox opening the season as the starting free safety
By Mike Dyce
The secondary for the Dallas Cowboys has been a point of weakness and they’re still sorting out their starting line up. Barry Church is locked in as the starter and it is more a matter of who will sign up alongside him, and it looks like J.J. Wilcox is the leading candidate for the job right now
From Fort Worth Star-Telegram:
"But all signs point to Wilcox lining up alongside Barry Church in the Cowboys’ secondary in the season opener against San Francisco. He’s working exclusively with the first team and has the most potential to become a difference-maker in the secondary."
Wilcox has certainly been earning the praise of those around him in Cowboys’ camp, particularly from the coaching staff.
“I think he’s going to be a really good player,” secondary coach Jerome Henderson said. “He’s an unbelievably passionate young man, really explosive hitter. We’re working with him, especially coach Joe Baker, to clean up some of the little detailed things with the transition to the NFL. But he’s doing a heck of a job.”
“You can really see his explosiveness,” defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli said. “He’s a terrific tackler, really good in space, has good ball skills, and he’s physical in the blitz. He can do everything.”
Head coach Jason Garrett said: “J.J. has some natural playmaking traits about him. He has a desire to be a real good player. He just needs to be out there and play a lot of snaps and learn from them.”