Dallas Cowboys: Safety Damontae Kazee Loves His New Defense
The Dallas Cowboys dipped their toes into the safety pool of free agency a few times during this off-season. Former Atlanta Falcons safety Damontae Kazee is the headliner of that group. Former Colts safety Malik Hooker and former Falcons safety/linebacker Keanu Neal are the other additions. On the team's inaugural unofficial depth chart, Kazee slots […]
The Dallas Cowboys dipped their toes into the safety pool of free agency a few times during this off-season. Former Atlanta Falcons safety Damontae Kazee is the headliner of that group. Former Colts safety Malik Hooker and former Falcons safety/linebacker Keanu Neal are the other additions.
On the team's inaugural unofficial depth chart, Kazee slots in as the starting free safety. It sounds like he's pumped for the opportunity to contribute to the Cowboys defense.
That quote should be music to Dallas fans' ears right now. Playing with urgency is one of many things that their defense was missing last season under former DC Mike Nolan. Their defense in 2021 will undoubtedly be more aggressive. That plays into Kazee's strengths, too.
Prior Production
The 4-year missed most of the 2020 season with an injury. That was the first time Kazee missed a game in his NFL career, though. Until last year, he had been a model of availability. Not to mention, he was very productive for the Falcons as a starter in 2018 and 2019. He already made some big plays against NFC East teams with Atlanta, too.
Kazee broke onto the scene in 2018 as one of the best young safeties in the league. The safety totaled 77 tackles, 10 passes defended, and 7 interceptions. His seven interceptions tied for the most with cornerbacks Kyle Fuller and Xavien Howard.
Keep in mind, he was playing safety as well on a defense that allowed the fifth-most yards per game in that season. The pieces around him weren't nearly top-notch, yet he had elite production.
Current Situation
The Cowboys also have more talent on this year's team than Atlanta did in 2018 and 2019 when he had the bulk of his career production. Will that talent turn into improvement? Only time will tell. A young addition like rookie linebacker Micah Parsons and a second-year Trevon Diggs at cornerback will help them at multiple levels.
For Dallas, Kazee will play a big role in Dan Quinn's defense. He's not the biggest at 5'11" and 175 pounds, but his play style certainly wouldn't tell you that. His physicality will be very valuable in Quinn's secondary.
A handful of new players will be key to success for the team's defense in 2021, and Kazee is at the top of list.
There's no doubt that he is locked in and ready to help the Cowboys win the division and contend in the playoffs.
