Jalen Thompson confident he can ‘do it all’ in Cowboys’ secondary
In his thoughts, Thompson believes the Cowboys are getting a flexible defender who does not essentially have a selected place label connected to him, and can do no matter is requested of him in the secondary.
“A physical safety, a safety that can do pretty much everything. I don’t consider myself just a safety, a DB in general,” Thompson stated of his sport. “Nickel, corner, free safety, strong safety, wherever they need me at, that’s where I’m playing… Just a player that can bring some wins to the team and can just be versatile. Show the versatility and can help the team out in many different ways.”
In the early conversations that Thompson has had with Cowboys defensive coordinator Christian Parker and secondary coach Ryan Smith, who coached Thompson in Arizona, he has really feel with what he’ll be requested to do in Dallas.
“It was more so just whatever we need you at,” Thompson stated of his dialog with Parker. “Come over here and be versatile and show what you can do, and that’s the thing that I’ve been trying to do with [the Cardinals] for the longest time. Coming over here, that’s just my plan. You guys need me at nickel, you guys need me at corner, safety, wherever, I’m willing to do it. Defensive back is the position for me.”
The familiarity Thompson has with Smith is a plus, and was one of many explanation why Thompson elected to signal with the Cowboys in free company.
“I used to go in there and watch film with him when they transferred me down to nickel a little bit,” Thompson stated of Smith. “He just brought the cool element to the game, the calmness of it all. Not really stressing about too much, just really going out there and letting your God given talent do the job. [Smith] It was a big part of my decision to come here. Great coach, great leader and feel like I can make some plays underneath him.”
While some gamers can really feel extra snug in one place versus one other, Thompson really feels confident in his talents to fill any function required in the secondary.
“I feel like I can do it all, not really a comfortability thing with any position so far,” Thompson stated. “If you just watch the tape, you can see I played pretty much everywhere, and I feel comfortable pretty much doing every position.”
Playing a number of positions is not the one comfortability that Thompson has. He believes he’s obtained a robust grasp already of the kind of protection Christian Parker needs to run, and the way he can excel inside it.
“Everything is pretty much familiar to me in terms of scheme, in terms of how [Parker] coaches,” Thompson stated. “So I’m ready to get it going. I also got my coach [Ryan Smith] who came from the Cardinals as well. So ready to get going with him as well.”
