The 2017 NFL Draft is drawing closer by the day and we are now just a little over two weeks away from the much-anticipated event. Since things are starting to heat up, I thought it would be good time to share with all of you some of the Dallas Cowboys draft targets, especially the prospects that were among their 30 allotted pre-draft visits. Today, we will take a look at Louisiana Tech safety Xavier Woods.
The safety position for the Cowboys is a little thin after the departures of Barry Church and J.J. Wilcox, so you will likely see the organization address the position at some point during the draft. Xavier Woods could be a really good addition and a Cowboys draft target in the middle rounds.
Let’s take a look at the former Louisiana Tech Bulldog Xavier Woods to determine his strengths and weaknesses as a safety.
Xavier Woods, S, Louisiana Tech | 5’11”, 197 lbs | 7/26/1995 (21)
Measurables Arm: 30 3/8 Hand: 9 3/8 Wingspan: 73 7/8
Combine 40-yd: 4.54 10-yd: 1.59 20-yd: 2.65 BP: 19 VJ: 33 1/2 BJ: 10’2″
Strengths
Xavier Woods was a productive and reliable defensive back throughout his collegiate career at Louisiana Tech. He lined up everywhere in the secondary from the slot to the single high safety and started 51 games in his four-year career. He accumulated 14 interceptions, 32 passes defensed, and four quarterback sacks.
Woods has a solidly built frame and adequate arm length for the safety position. On film he shows really good play recognition and anticipation to undercut routes. This has a lot to do with his intelligence both on and off the field. He is a multiple CUSA All-American honors recipient and puts in the time to study game film. He is a true “student of the game”.
He has reliable hand eye coordination and plus ball skills to come away with interceptions. He is a willing tackler in the running game and has a saviness about him as a blitzer. He is also a standout special teams player, which is likely where he will earn his bones to start with in the NFL.
Weaknesses
Despite Xavier Woods’ impressive collegiate production, he possesses just average range as a single high safety and lacks the recovery speed to close the gap when there is separation. He doesn’t have the ideal height for an NFL safety and can be posted up by receivers both downfield and in the red zone.
On film, he is sometimes late to read his keys in the running game, which will cause him to be caught out of position at times. He also tends to get caught with his eyes in the backfield. These two issues can cause him to diagnose plays late and create pursuit issues.
He is a little high in his backpedal and he has a stiffness to his hips. He needs to become a more balanced player as both a tackler in the running game and in coverage. He is a willing downhill tackler, but needs to clean up his technique. He can also be bullied around the line of scrimmage and struggle to get off blocks.
Summary
Xavier Woods has proven in his four-year career at Louisiana Tech that he is a reliable and dependable starter. He possesses natural instincts for the safety position, but also knows how to prepare like a veteran by watching game film.
Woods isn’t the twitched up athlete like Byron Jones, but could come in as a rookie and challenge Jeff Heath for the open spot at the safety position. Woods’ addition to the Cowboys secondary could allow the defense to play more Cover 3 and give them two interchangeable safeties.
Overall, Woods has a few holes in his game, but I believe he is a Day 2 draft pick. I personally have a late 3rd-early 4th round grade on him. For the Dallas Cowboys, he could challenge Jeff Heath for the starting safety position opposite Byron Jones, but also be a core special teams player.
we need Day 1 starters when entering this draft. Any else will get us into trouble. We are short on Defensive players because of FA….
Thomas, so are you saying Xavier Woods isn’t a starter? I think he will compete with Jeff Heath from day one, but he may not start immediately. I think he is going to be a really good reserve player as a rookie and a standout special teams ace.
I was just saying we need like a Zac Martin type of player on defense someone who will come in and just wreck shop day one..I just don’t feel we can go thru any growing pains at this point with our secondary. My honest taught on Xavier next year 2018 he will be ready to be a starter and do excellent at it.(I could be wrong thou) But for right now everyone saw the film on what Aaron did to us and they are throwing the ball all day long this year . Because we lost all our vets (not saying im mad cause we lost them either)…But this Draft is Corner back deep and we need to take advantage of that….Cowboys 4 life…..
I agree that the Cowboys need to find immediate contributors. I think that is exactly what they will try to do. Unfortunately, it gets a little bit more difficult when you’re picking at the end of each round. They definitely have their work cut out for them.
Brian, I agree 1000% picking at #28 is going to have me on Pins and needles, this year on Draft day . They are going to have their work cut out for them. I’m Praying that Jaylon Smith and Charles Tapper are 110% this year and we have a awesome draft like that past 2-3 yrs, and we will do damage this year for sure….
Thomas, I’m right there with you about Jaylon Smith and Charles Tapper. The Cowboys defense definitely needs some of their young players to step up.
YES SIRR!!! COWBOYS 4 LIFE!!!!