If there is a surprise cut, look at the starting safeties

[gimmesix]

I disagree on the depth as I view Wilson/Hooker as marginal starters that are easily replaced. Eberflus is going to be playing a ton of split safety looks, that isn't a strength of Donovan Wilson who is best inside the box. Even is zone coverage Wilson remains a liability. Hooker just is very slow to react and rarely around the football.

Easily replaced is one of those things fans like to say when replacing talent is never easy. We'll see what we've got and whether there is anyone there who can easily replace either of them, but at the moment, I expect them to be our starters. I hope that Thomas and Bell are given a legitimate chance at the starting spots, but I can't say that they will beat them out if they are given that chance.

I'd like to improve the position, just like I prefer improving every position, but I don't know if we've got what it takes to accomplish that this year. I prefer not making the position worse, which is what I believe will happen if we cut one of our top four. If someone shows he should beat one of them out for one of those top four spots, then that's an improvement and I'm all for it. I don't know that if we have anyone who can do that.

I mean, you are talking about some UDFA doing it, which is the definition of wishful thinking.

 

[Cowboyny]

Easily replaced is one of those things fans like to say when replacing talent is never easy. We'll see what we've got and whether there is anyone there who can easily replace either of them, but at the moment, I expect them to be our starters. I hope that Thomas and Bell are given a legitimate chance at the starting spots, but I can't say that they will beat them out if they are given that chance.

I'd like to improve the position, just like I prefer improving every position, but I don't know if we've got what it takes to accomplish that this year. I prefer not making the position worse, which is what I believe will happen if we cut one of our top four. If someone shows he should beat one of them out for one of those top four spots, then that's an improvement and I'm all for it. I don't know that if we have anyone who can do that.

I mean, you are talking about some UDFA doing it, which is the definition of wishful thinking.

What I am hoping for is a legitimate competition for the starting jobs, not start the ones making the most money. If they determine the safety play in camp isn't good enough, then you go out and sign or trade for one.

 

[Cowboyny]

It isn't just Quinn. Most teams play a safety as one of its two linebackers in certain looks where a pass is probable. The problem we had under Quinn is that we ended up playing a safety at linebacker in every situation after we lost LVE to injury.

I don't think you can use Wilson in any looks as a linebacker if he needs to cover. Want to use him in run support, fine, but even as a linebacker cannot cover well enough.

 

[gimmesix]

I don't think you can use Wilson in any looks as a linebacker if he needs to cover. Want to use him in run support, fine, but even as a linebacker cannot cover well enough.

I don't agree with you on this. Matching him up one-on-one with a tight end isn't a good idea, but I don't think he's as bad in coverage, especially zone, as you believe he is.

In 2023, he was PFF's 28th-highest ranked safety in coverage. That's not great but it put him in the top half of starting safeties. Last year in Zimmer's system, he didn't play as well. He did improve later in the season, having 3.5 of his sacks in the last six games and two of his pass breakups.