Landing spots for Georgia football safety Richard LeCounte
By Eric Taylor
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys have been searching for a playmaking safety since Darren Woodson retired back in 2004. To this day Woodson leads all Cowboys defenders with 967 tackles. He also finished his career with 23 interceptions, 36 pass breakups, 12 forced fumbles, 11 fumble recoveries, and 11 sacks.
Here is a list of the safeties the Cowboys have drafted since Woodson retired:
- Justin Beriault (2005)
- Pat Watkins (2006)
- DeAngelo Smith (2009)
- Michael Hamlin (2009)
- Stephen Hodge (2009)
- Mike Mickens (2009)
- Akwasi Owusu-Ansah (2010)
- Jamar Wall (2010)
- Josh Thomas (2011)
- Matt Johnson (2012)
- J.J. Wilcox (2013)
- Ahmad Dixon (2014)
- Kavon Frazier (2016)
- Xavier Woods (2017)
- Donovan Wilson (2019)
As you can see, the Cowboys have been desperate to land their next safety for years. Some haven’t panned out because they couldn’t cut it at the next level. Others, like Matt Johnson, just couldn’t stay on the field. Wilson has panned out but is more of a strong safety than a center fielder like LeCounte. Wilson had 71 tackles, 48 solo tackles, two tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, three hits on the quarterback, two interceptions, three forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries.
Dallas’ safeties have combined for just five interceptions over the last two seasons. That is simply not acceptable. They desperately need a free safety like LeCounte playing centerfield for them. They haven’t had a ball-hawking safety like LeCounte in almost 20 years. It is time to fix that once and for all this year with the former Georgia football safety.