Fansided

5 breakout stars to watch for Dallas Cowboys in 2020

By Mike Phillips

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - DECEMBER 29: Michael Gallup #13 of the Dallas Cowboys carries the ball against the Washington Redskins at AT&T Stadium on December 29, 2019 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - DECEMBER 29: Michael Gallup #13 of the Dallas Cowboys carries the ball against the Washington Redskins at AT&T Stadium on December 29, 2019 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images) /
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EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY – NOVEMBER 04: Rhett Ellison #85 of the New York Giants carries the ball against Chidobe Awuzie #24 of the Dallas Cowboys during the second half of the game at MetLife Stadium on November 04, 2019, in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY – NOVEMBER 04: Rhett Ellison #85 of the New York Giants carries the ball against Chidobe Awuzie #24 of the Dallas Cowboys during the second half of the game at MetLife Stadium on November 04, 2019, in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) /

4. CB Chidobe Awuzie

One of the more questionable positions on the Dallas defense is cornerback. Thanks to the departure of Byron Jones in free agency, the Cowboys need to find a new starter in the secondary.

Anthony Brown will cover one corner while Dallas is expected to draft another early, but they may aleady have an internal solution. Chidobe Awuzie, a third-year man out of Colorado, is turning 25 this year and entering his prime.

There is no question that Awuzie is one of the most physically gifted players on the Dallas defense, with his excellent speed and big frame giving him the ability to match up in man-to-man coverage with opposing receivers. 2019 was a tough year for Awuzie, however, due to inconsistent fundamental play in coverage.

Awuzie has solid awareness and can naturally stay with receivers, but he struggled with basic principles that savvy veterans can exploit. New defensive coordinator Mike Nolan knows that Owuzie has the tools to succeed physically so it is a matter of helping him develop consistent winning habits.

Owuzie will need to hold off Jourdan Lewis and whoever the Cowboys draft for his starting job but at the moment he has the most potential upside of that group. Finding a way to harness that potential could make Owuzie a very dangerous corner for Dallas.

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