The safety position has been characterized by inconsistent play for the Cowboys for the past few seasons.
The team seems to think that Byron Jones has a chance to solidify himself as the starting Strong Safety as early as next season, and I tend to agree with this assessment of Jones.
However, while Barry Church and JJ Wilcox have their strong points, they also have a ton of deficiencies which are evident whenever you turn on the tape. Both Church and Wilcox have struggled with taking poor angles, resulting in missed tackles and big plays for the offense (see CJ Spiller’s overtime touchdown).
Due to these deficiencies, we knew that the Cowboys needed to address the safety position at some point in the 2016 NFL Draft. They did so in the sixth round with the 212th overall pick by selecting Central Michigan Chippewas Free Safety Kavon Frazier.
Like Purdue Cornerback Anthony Brown, the Cowboys liked Frazier and thought that he deserved to go much earlier in the draft. So, when he was available in the sixth round, the Cowboys jumped on the opportunity.
Cowboys VP Stephen Jones said they had fourth-round grades on CB Anthony Brown and SS Kavon Frazier. Drafted both in the sixth.
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) April 30, 2016
Frazier was second in the Mid-American Conference and first on his team with 108 tackles last season, and he finished with five career interceptions. Frazier also earned 2nd Team All-Conference honors last season, and earned defensive player of the week twice, including a 13 tackle game against Oklahoma State.
The first thing you notice about Frazier is his size. Standing at 6’0″ 217 pounds, Frazier has the build of an NFL player already with broad shoulders and a muscular frame.
He is similar to current Cowboys safety Barry Church in the sense that he is a physical in the box safety, who comes downhill quickly and explodes through his tackles. I love Frazier in run support, but it results in him biting on play action a little too often.
As I said earlier, Cowboys safeties have struggled with their angles these last few seasons, and it has resulted in giving up big plays time and time again. Frazier also has a tendency to overrun plays or take a poor angle, but he takes a perfect angle on this play.
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Here we see Frazier make a pretty simple play, but it is one that has been missed in Dallas all too often. Frazier comes from the opposite side of the field, avoids the Tight end who is meant to cut him off, and prevents a 8-10 yard run from becoming a 20-25 yard run. I know it isn’t a flashy play, but he is doing what Free Safety’s are meant to do.
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Frazier has great size for a safety, and he knows how to use it. He comes downhill so quickly and delivers blows in run defense. Here he reads the run, and is matched up with the pitch man. He stays true to his assignment, attacks the line of scrimmage and makes a nice tackle.
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Here is yet another example of Frazier’s ability to support in run defense. He immediately reads run and attacks the line of scrimmage. As soon as he gets there, he delivers a huge hit.
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Frazier is at his best when he is able to come up-field and attack. Here, he recognizes the ball is getting out quick to his man, and he uses his speed to make up ground and make the tackle.
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Not a whole lot to say about this play that I haven’t said before. Frazier is aggressive, he reads and reacts especially against run plays and underneath passes quickly, and is able to come up and be a sure tackler.
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As I alluded to earlier, Frazier sometimes shows the tendency to be overaggressive, both against play action and in pass coverage. We see him be too aggressive here, as he tries to jump the Tight end’s route too early, and gets beat on an inside cut for a touchdown.
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I could see Frazier making the team this year, especially due to his ability to tackle on Special Teams. If he can make plays like that, there will be a spot for him as a Gunner on the Punt Team in Dallas this season.
I don’t see Kavon Frazier as a starter in 2016, and the jury is still out on whether or not he ever starts for the Cowboys at safety. However, at times I love what I see from him. He has a nice build, good instincts, and can fly around and make plays.
Like current Cowboys’ safeties, he struggles with angles and his ball skills are questionable at times. Sometimes he is overly aggressive, which can get him into trouble, but at his best Frazier fits the Cowboys’ free safety role to a “T.”
I think the selection of Kavon Frazier is a solid one, which could result in a solid Special Teams player and possibly a defensive contributor down the line.
