Free Safety In Cowboys History

[SFloridaCowboy]

We have seen star-studded positions for the Cowboys at QB, WR, RB, offensive linemen, at DE, DT, and LB, but at defensive back, much fewer stars. You can throw out there the few great corners, Mel Renfro at the very top, Deion Sanders for a limited number of years, dropping off to Terrence Newman and Everson Walls. The rest, some were good, but no stars.

When we go to free safety, all the way back to 1970, what a graveyard, very, very few really good ones:

Cliff "Crash" Harris clearly #1, all 1970's team.

Then, is there anyone much better than average who lasted five years or more as a starter since 1989? Michael Downs, probably the only one. Brock Marion was very good for 3-4 years before he left in free agency. Darren Woodson was a strong safety as well as Roy Williams, although the latter played 1-2 years at free safety.

Ray Horton, James Washington, Thomas Everrett, George Teague, Ken Hamlin, Pat Watkins, Gerald Sensabaugh, JJ Wilcox, Jeff Heath, even Byron Jones had two years.

I want to see a star at FS who can stay there for 5 years or more, and be an impact player.

Other than Pat Watkins, Xavier Woods is the worst free safety in Cowboys' history. Overrated, drafted in 6th round for a reason. He has been so bad this year, I swear, Jimmy Johnson would have cut his *** after showing the team on video how bad he was, missing tackles, overrunning plays, allowing wide receivers to blow past him. Even Jeff heath would have been better.

With the team winning lately, they no longer can trade down for a greta bundle, so just take the best CB on the board. There will be a rush to get the top 5 QB's, Sewell, top OT's, so one of the top corners shoudl still be there.

High in the 2nd round, the Boys can get a real good safety, and they must get one, after hopefully taking a CB in the first round. I encourage the team to sign a bonanza free agent, DT Leonard Williams from the Giants. He has finally become a dominant DT and at 6'5", fits the nold of taller DT's this team needs. He can single-handily improve the secondary with his high number of inside QB pressures. Let Gallimore and Trysten Hill rotate at the other DT position.

Sign our free safety early, get him into camp and learn fast. We need him to assert himself early. We must have dramtically improved free safety play. Donovan Wilson has shown enough to grow with him at strong safety.

 

[HappyOnions]

Ugh...

Barry Church and Ken Hamlin have been our best safetys over the past 15 years...

Let's hope this is corrected going forward. One would think that with the evolution of the passing game, more attention would be given to the secondary.

I'll give the team this, on paper, they have a nice young group of CBs...

 

[SFloridaCowboy]

Ugh...

Barry Church was a strong saftey most of his Cowboys' career. Why was Damian Thompson on the roster and how bad was Haha Clinton Dix to not even make the team?

 

[Proof]

We have seen star-studded positions for the Cowboys at QB, WR, RB, offensive linemen, at DE, DT, and LB, but at defensive back, much fewer stars. You can throw out there the few great corners, Mel Renfro at the very top, Deion Sanders for a limited number of years, dropping off to Terrence Newman and Everson Walls. The rest, some were good, but no stars.

When we go to free safety, all the way back to 1970, what a graveyard, very, very few really good ones:

Cliff "Crash" Harris clearly #1, all 1970's team.

Then, is there anyone much better than average who lasted five years or more as a starter since 1989? Michael Downs, probably the only one. Brock Marion was very good for 3-4 years before he left in free agency. Darren Woodson was a strong safety as well as Roy Williams, although the latter played 1-2 years at free safety.

Ray Horton, James Washington, Thomas Everrett, George Teague, Ken Hamlin, Pat Watkins, Gerald Sensabaugh, JJ Wilcox, Jeff Heath, even Byron Jones had two years.

I want to see a star at FS who can stay there for 5 years or more, and be an impact player.

Other than Pat Watkins, Xavier Woods is the worst free safety in Cowboys' history. Overrated, drafted in 6th round for a reason. He has been so bad this year, I swear, Jimmy Johnson would have cut his *** after showing the team on video how bad he was, missing tackles, overrunning plays, allowing wide receivers to blow past him. Even Jeff heath would have been better.

With the team winning lately, they no longer can trade down for a greta bundle, so just take the best CB on the board. There will be a rush to get the top 5 QB's, Sewell, top OT's, so one of the top corners shoudl still be there.

High in the 2nd round, the Boys can get a real good safety, and they must get one, after hopefully taking a CB in the first round. I encourage the team to sign a bonanza free agent, DT Leonard Williams from the Giants. He has finally become a dominant DT and at 6'5", fits the nold of taller DT's this team needs. He can single-handily improve the secondary with his high number of inside QB pressures. Let Gallimore and Trysten Hill rotate at the other DT position.

Sign our free safety early, get him into camp and learn fast. We need him to assert himself early. We must have dramtically improved free safety play. Donovan Wilson has shown enough to grow with him at strong safety.

Derwin James was RIGHT THERE :-(

 

[speedkilz88]

Derwin James was RIGHT THERE :-(

RIGHT THERE as in two picks before they drafted. He also hasn't played since the fifth week in 2019. He keeps getting injured.

 

[Proof]

RIGHT THERE as in two picks before they drafted. He also hasn't played since the fifth week in 2019. He keeps getting injured.

So does LVE. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯. He’s a stud and I’d have loved him. 2 picks is trivial which is the point. Let me lament in peace

 

[75boyz]

I guess I unfortunately have some kinda disease like Jones philosophy opinion of FS play too.

It's kinda like the saying how an elite franchise QB can cover up a lot of Team warts.

I guess I still stick to front line/7 pressure on the QB as the number one defensive determinant that covers up a lot of back end warts.

As recent history suggests, those extremely rare Ed Reed's and Polamolus of the world, who arguably played a hybrid mix of free and strong safety many times are certainly a rare breed. And that's probably even an understatement to those 2 players greatness. Earl Thomas "might" get an honorable mention to those 2 but not their longevity. Not real convinced the current NFL FS landscape is littered with any such impactful playmakers.

I guess what Im trying to say is I can settle for the likes of Hamlin and Sensabaugh if your front seven is bringin it with excellent/elite pass rushers.

I know the game is evolving but I still believe QB pressure dictates more win and loss outcomes than coverage.

 

[John813]

Wasn't Hamlin good for one year then "retired" when he got that extension

 

[J817]

So does LVE. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯. He’s a stud and I’d have loved him. 2 picks is trivial which is the point. Let me lament in peace

Which isn’t good either. I’m sure if the Cowboys had a do over LVE wouldn’t be the pick. Good news for u i guess is if the Chargers had a do over James probably wouldn’t be their pick either.

 

[blueblood70]

We have seen star-studded positions for the Cowboys at QB, WR, RB, offensive linemen, at DE, DT, and LB, but at defensive back, much fewer stars. You can throw out there the few great corners, Mel Renfro at the very top, Deion Sanders for a limited number of years, dropping off to Terrence Newman and Everson Walls. The rest, some were good, but no stars.

When we go to free safety, all the way back to 1970, what a graveyard, very, very few really good ones:

Cliff "Crash" Harris clearly #1, all 1970's team.

Then, is there anyone much better than average who lasted five years or more as a starter since 1989? Michael Downs, probably the only one. Brock Marion was very good for 3-4 years before he left in free agency. Darren Woodson was a strong safety as well as Roy Williams, although the latter played 1-2 years at free safety.

Ray Horton, James Washington, Thomas Everrett, George Teague, Ken Hamlin, Pat Watkins, Gerald Sensabaugh, JJ Wilcox, Jeff Heath, even Byron Jones had two years.

I want to see a star at FS who can stay there for 5 years or more, and be an impact player.

Other than Pat Watkins, Xavier Woods is the worst free safety in Cowboys' history. Overrated, drafted in 6th round for a reason. He has been so bad this year, I swear, Jimmy Johnson would have cut his *** after showing the team on video how bad he was, missing tackles, overrunning plays, allowing wide receivers to blow past him. Even Jeff heath would have been better.

With the team winning lately, they no longer can trade down for a greta bundle, so just take the best CB on the board. There will be a rush to get the top 5 QB's, Sewell, top OT's, so one of the top corners shoudl still be there.

High in the 2nd round, the Boys can get a real good safety, and they must get one, after hopefully taking a CB in the first round. I encourage the team to sign a bonanza free agent, DT Leonard Williams from the Giants. He has finally become a dominant DT and at 6'5", fits the nold of taller DT's this team needs. He can single-handily improve the secondary with his high number of inside QB pressures. Let Gallimore and Trysten Hill rotate at the other DT position.

Sign our free safety early, get him into camp and learn fast. We need him to assert himself early. We must have dramtically improved free safety play. Donovan Wilson has shown enough to grow with him at strong safety.

nut whos that safety in this draft? havent seen a great one is a while in the last 3-4 drafts

 

[blueblood70]

So does LVE. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯. He’s a stud and I’d have loved him. 2 picks is trivial which is the point. Let me lament in peace

not trivial even that would have cost a lot to move up for of injured player.,cant be great from the training table..

 

[Portnoy1]

To me DLINE , OLINE AND QB are the premium positions and that's who I'll pay top dollar to. You can scheme WRs open, without having to have a top tier talent at that position. It's meaningless anyway if the QB is inaccurate or doesn't have time to throw the ball. WRs, RBs are dependent on the QB, and OLINE on offense. On Defense the LBs , DBs are dependent on the DLINE. Case in point , someone here mentioned Barry Church as a great safety for the cowboys. I believe he led the cowboys in tackles one year, which is great for him statistically, but didn't we have the the last ranked Defense 2013?(no productive talent on the DLINE)

 

[Proof]

not trivial even that would have cost a lot to move up for of injured player.,cant be great from the training table..

no it wouldn’t have lol At all. And I’m not advocating pursuing him now, this is alternative history / fantasy. Injuries don’t travel with you.

 

[Proof]

Which isn’t good either. I’m sure if the Cowboys had a do over LVE wouldn’t be the pick. Good news for u i guess is if the Chargers had a do over James probably wouldn’t be their pick either.

Ok!

 

[cowboyec]

mel renfro played s his 1st 6yrs...and made the pro bowl each year.
1970...makes the switch to CB....and makes 4 more pro bowls there.
truly...our greatest db in my opinion.
MEL RENFRO

 

[Carson]

Wasn't Hamlin good for one year then "retired" when he got that extension

I believe he played on a cheap deal, played well.

Was franchised and given an extension and played well.

Then the following year he dropped off, was injured then released

 

[cowboyec]

cornell green also had great success at both s and cb...3 pro bowls at cb...2 at s.
one of the great secondary players we ever had.
CORNELL GREEN

 

[75boyz]

To me DLINE , OLINE AND QB are the premium positions and that's who I'll pay top dollar to. You can scheme WRs open, without having to have a top tier talent at that position. It's meaningless anyway if the QB is inaccurate or doesn't have time to throw the ball. WRs, RBs are dependent on the QB, and OLINE on offense. On Defense the LBs , DBs are dependent on the DLINE. Case in point , someone here mentioned Barry Church as a great safety for the cowboys. I believe he led the cowboys in tackles one year, which is great for him statistically, but didn't we have the the last ranked Defense 2013?(no productive talent on the DLINE)

Outstanding post. Agree with all.

 

[cowboyec]

our greatest s duo was obviously cliff harris and charlie waters.
but i always loved those 80's duo's...michael downs and dexter clinkscale....michael downs and bill bates.

hopefully....we get donovan wilson a partner back there to continue our tradition.

 

[Established1971]

We have seen star-studded positions for the Cowboys at QB, WR, RB, offensive linemen, at DE, DT, and LB, but at defensive back, much fewer stars. You can throw out there the few great corners, Mel Renfro at the very top, Deion Sanders for a limited number of years, dropping off to Terrence Newman and Everson Walls. The rest, some were good, but no stars.

When we go to free safety, all the way back to 1970, what a graveyard, very, very few really good ones:

Cliff "Crash" Harris clearly #1, all 1970's team.

Then, is there anyone much better than average who lasted five years or more as a starter since 1989? Michael Downs, probably the only one. Brock Marion was very good for 3-4 years before he left in free agency. Darren Woodson was a strong safety as well as Roy Williams, although the latter played 1-2 years at free safety.

Ray Horton, James Washington, Thomas Everrett, George Teague, Ken Hamlin, Pat Watkins, Gerald Sensabaugh, JJ Wilcox, Jeff Heath, even Byron Jones had two years.

I want to see a star at FS who can stay there for 5 years or more, and be an impact player.

Other than Pat Watkins, Xavier Woods is the worst free safety in Cowboys' history. Overrated, drafted in 6th round for a reason. He has been so bad this year, I swear, Jimmy Johnson would have cut his *** after showing the team on video how bad he was, missing tackles, overrunning plays, allowing wide receivers to blow past him. Even Jeff heath would have been better.

With the team winning lately, they no longer can trade down for a greta bundle, so just take the best CB on the board. There will be a rush to get the top 5 QB's, Sewell, top OT's, so one of the top corners shoudl still be there.

High in the 2nd round, the Boys can get a real good safety, and they must get one, after hopefully taking a CB in the first round. I encourage the team to sign a bonanza free agent, DT Leonard Williams from the Giants. He has finally become a dominant DT and at 6'5", fits the nold of taller DT's this team needs. He can single-handily improve the secondary with his high number of inside QB pressures. Let Gallimore and Trysten Hill rotate at the other DT position.

Sign our free safety early, get him into camp and learn fast. We need him to assert himself early. We must have dramtically improved free safety play. Donovan Wilson has shown enough to grow with him at strong safety.

Free Safety is the worst position or last to fill, you put your worst player (among those good enough to start) at that position. It's like saying how many really good middle relievers has my favorite baseball team had over the decades (though that is beginning to change now)