What's going on with Caleb Downs?

[roll-out]

Ehh..with these rules today the days of Roy Williams safety coming in and laying wood all over the field are over

 

[SportsGuru80]

He's playing high safety which is taking him out of the action around the line of scrimmage.

 

[Beast_from_East]

The way the war room was celebrating and the comments on this board when he was drafted would have had most thinking he’s the next Ed Reed. So far he looks small, a tick late, timid. I get he’s a rookie but what’s his best position? I think he was at least noticeable when he was in slot. The last two games he’s been invincible. I think the giants knew something we didn’t (they passed on him twice) ?

Go watch tape of him at Ohio State, he was literally the QB of the defense.

The Cowboys and their Micky Mouse coaching staff have no idea how to properly use him.

 

[JoeyBoy718]

I’m having a hard time blaming the players. There’s something systemically wrong with our defense. No way everybody is terrible. We have a bunch of guys who have had recent success on other teams who do nothing when they get to Dallas. For example, I know Von Miller is old, but he had 9 sacks in limited snaps last year. He’s completely useless in Dallas.

 

[Ranching]

I called it when we drafted him. Too small and not strong enough to make an impact. So far, that is what we are seeing.

 

[CowboysLakerBamaFan]

The main problem is that he's a safety.

Probably the least important/impactful position on any defense. You can have Ed Reid/Ronnie Lott / Brian Dawkins...it won't matter if ur DLine and corners are bad...or even average.

If you are incredibly strong at all the more important positions, THEN maybe you splurge and add the final touch of a great safety.

But we weren't. What we did was order a $30 dollar dessert, when we were having microwave corn dogs for the entree.

Dumb team building. Nothing to do with Downs.

 

[Amarth]

I called it when we drafted him. Too small and not strong enough to make an impact. So far, that is what we are seeing.

Yeah, it’s gotta be his size, since he’s pretty much exact same size as that Troy Polamalu loser that played for the Steelers for 12 years and is in the Hall of Fame. I always told people they should have skipped over Troy because he was too small, too bad the Steelers didn’t listen to me.

 

[Whyjerry]

The taint and rot affects most players in Dallas. Very few can overcome the carnival and cupcake atmosphere.

Plus he has an absolute zero scheming the defense.

It might turn out bad.

 

[SymphonySteve]

The main problem is that he's a safety.

Probably the least important/impactful position on any defense. You can have Ed Reid/Ronnie Lott / Brian Dawkins...it won't matter if ur DLine and corners are bad...or even average.

If you are incredibly strong at all the more important positions, THEN maybe you splurge and add the final touch of a great safety.

But we weren't. What we did was order a $30 dollar dessert, when we were having microwave corn dogs for the entree.

Dumb team building. Nothing to do with Downs.

Raises an interesting question. Is it the changes in most D schemes that have rendered the safety position less impactful? The safeties you mentioned had huge impacts. So, what changed?

 

[b0xZZ]

Ehh..with these rules today the days of Roy Williams safety coming in and laying wood all over the field are over

So are the days of defenses routinely holding opposing teams to under 20 points unless of course you are playing Dak Prescott's Dallas Cowboys then you have the 85 Bears defense.

 

[CWR]

I’m having a hard time blaming the players. There’s something systemically wrong with our defense. No way everybody is terrible. We have a bunch of guys who have had recent success on other teams who do nothing when they get to Dallas. For example, I know Von Miller is old, but he had 9 sacks in limited snaps last year. He’s completely useless in Dallas.

Yeah its pretty obvious. When every single player regresses simultaneously there is a coaching problem.

 

[nate dizzle]

If it was just him looking lost and out of place out there I would worry. It's the whole defense that looks like they are just free-lancing.

The CP master class was apparently in basket weaving or something because it sure as hell wasn't about defense.

 

[Rockport]

The way the war room was celebrating and the comments on this board when he was drafted would have had most thinking he’s the next Ed Reed. So far he looks small, a tick late, timid. I get he’s a rookie but what’s his best position? I think he was at least noticeable when he was in slot. The last two games he’s been invincible. I think the giants knew something we didn’t (they passed on him twice) ?

He’s the only one on defense that is playing worth a damn.

 

[CowboysLakerBamaFan]

Raises an interesting question. Is it the changes in most D schemes that have rendered the safety position less impactful? The safeties you mentioned had huge impacts. So, what changed?

She'll coverage, constant 2 deep safety schemes. Don't really need stud safeties for that.

Few teams fun single high, where ur high safety better have sideline to sideline speed and be a star

 

[zrinkill]

He is a rookie 5 games in on a horrible defensive scheme playing out of position.

He is the least of the teams problems.

 

[Captain-Crash]

He's got his country club card now. He can relax and enjoy the club.

 

[Proof]

the secondary is decimated and the pass rush is non existent. he’s a stud

 

[SteveTheCowboy]

I'm stilla big fan....but it was odd to me he could not close on Bucky Irving.

 

[starz88]

Well they want to play him in the slot and he’s a safety I thought and excelled at that as Ohio state so it makes sense to play him at a different spot lol I’ve seen people say something about the slot or nickle or whatever “unlocks” Parker’s defense lmao

 

[Chocolate Lab]

He's fine, nothing wrong and not complaining, but he did blow a couple of coverages in the Houston game, supposedly the first huge play to Collins in the slot and the TD where Bland was close.