Dallas Cowboys: 3 Players with rising stock after Week 13 win
By Randy Gurzi
3. Chidobe Awuzie
The Dallas Cowboys defense has been much maligned in recent weeks, and rightfully so. Linebacker Sean Lee went down with a hamstring injury early on against the Atlanta Falcons and they simply fell apart without him. However, putting all the blame on the missing linebacker is unfair. The defensive backs were just as much to blame, and heading into this one the coaching staff finally decided to make a change.
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One move was to put second-round pick Chidobe Awuzie in the starting lineup and it was the right move. After waiting all season to see him get healthy, Awuzie didn’t disappoint in his first start. He went toe-to-toe with whatever receiver he was asked to and was able to break three passes in this one, including a jump ball to the much taller Josh Doctson.
A hamstring injury limited him throughout the season and it started to feel like their 2017 draft was going to be one to gforget. However, Awuzie stepped up and so did the guy taken before him. Defensive end Taco Charlton recorded his second career sack, and forced a fumble from Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins in the process. If the top picks for Dallas start to shine, things could be looking up for this young defense.