It is regarded as an inevitability that the Cowboys would draft a safety in 2019. While Xavier Woods proved in reality that he might be one of the guys at protection, the other protection role is up for grabs due to the choppy play of Jeff Heath in 2018. Dallas signed George Iloka to compete for the position, however taking gain of a deep protection pool inside the draft was regarded as a no-brainer. But while many draftniks, myself blanketed, centered on names like Nasir Adderley, Juan Thornhill, and Taylor Rapp, the Cowboys were extra inquisitive about Trysten Hill than any of the safeties that had been available at 58. Instead, they took a safety in the sixth spherical, 213th average – Texas A&M’s Donovan Wilson. In all honesty, I didn’t recognize who he becomes, and I wasn’t on my own.
However, after looking through some game movie of Wilson from his time with the Aggies, the select makes more feel. As a 3-year starter for Texas A&M in the skills-wealthy SEC, Wilson received experience playing protection and nickel nook. He validated awesome ball talents by snagging eight interceptions in the ones 3 seasons and showed off his abilities as a run defender with 199 tackles and 21.5 tackles for loss in his profession in College Station.
It is that place wherein Wilson shines. Simply placed, Wilson is a thumper. He packs loads of punch at the back of his hits and doesn’t seem to have any hesitation to try to lay the lumber. His tackling mechanics aren’t always perfect, as he sacrifices wrap united states for large hits a long way too regularly, however, Wilson typically takes exact angles that allow him to discover fulfillment with the one’s huge hits. Just look under for instance:
Wilson’s choice for big hits has a high-threat, high reward to it. On the one hand, his 4 forced fumbles in his career are appetizing. But Wilson also has had multiple targeting consequences called on him, and that loss of subject is a prime difficulty with Wilson. If he can easy up until that issue of his recreation, Wilson will see big improvements all around. Iilson doesn’t have all the physical equipment to be reliable unmarried-excessive protection, in insurance but with Woods at the group. Wilson is 6’0” and 199 kilos, giving him a tall and full body, and he has long arms measuring at 33 three/8”. He tied for the fifth most bench press reps of safeties on the integrate and had the fourth first-rate vast soar at 127 inches. This aggregate of power and explosiveness facilitates him out in shallow zones and playing close to the scrimmage line, wherein Wilson has to see a maximum of his snaps in Dallas.
Given his aforementioned revel in as the nickel nook, Wilson is adequate in guy insurance against larger slot receivers and tight ends. His hips are way too tight to depend upon him in man coverage time and again, and Wilson lacks the agility to play an excessive amount of snaps because of the nickel or dime corner. While he can maintain his personal in some instances, he’ll get burned by using shifty receivers on alternate, of course, alone.
That’s now not to mention Wilson is a legal responsibility in insurance because he’s no longer. Shallow zones within the field or filling gaps of a blitzing cornerback are regions Wilson succeeds in and gambling deep in Cover 2 and Cover three shells. Additionally, Wilson did a very good activity as a Blitzer in college; he comes off the road quick in blitz performs and collected 5 sacks in his college profession. Kris Richard will absolutely admire that as he attempts to get his defensive backs greater involved in the bypass rush.
The most critical thing approximately Wilson, though, is his intangibles. Having played special groups as a true freshman and then serving as a three-yr starter, Wilson grew into a frontrunner for the Aggies. He changed into the shielding captain in 2018 and stuffed the role Sean Lee traditionally has for Dallas, getting the play call from the protecting coordinator and ensuring players coated up wherein they have been supposed to be. More than that, Wilson took in this duty as a new coordinator came in, requiring that he research a new playbook quick.
For his efforts, Wilson turned into given the crew’s Defensive Leadership Award at the conclusion of the year, which noticed the Aggies defense rank 34th inside the kingdom. Having that sort of leadership enjoy coming into the NFL will truly assist him down the road. In the short term, Wilson will in all likelihood make contributions on special groups, where he can use his large hit capabilities to face out. But given his traits, Wilson has the ability to comply within the footsteps of his new teammate, Xavier Woods, in going from sixth spherical pick out to starting protection. If he can develop in a few key areas, most extensively field, Wilson can come to be a high effect participant for this protection.
