Why are people so upset about Jeff Heath

[northerncowboynation]

He already got replaced as a starter when we signed George Iloka.

There is even the possibility he doesnt make the 53 if cheaper backup options like Wilson, Frazier and/or Thompson show they are worthy of a roster spot

I remember when Heath was the darling too many. That UFA underdog thing. Then he got paid lol. Heath did not making himself the starting SS. There was a competition and he earned it. Not saying the competition was great by any means. For some it's that ET come and get me BS and they bought it. Heath has always been a good ST'er and decent dime DB. He certainly has his limitations but hey, he was handed the keys about three years ago by the FO and for all the rant about McClay and his ability he hasn't found a decent replacement, even for Heath. So there is that

 

[Verdict]

I agree with the OP. I’m not sure why people have so much hate for Heath. He’s not a pro bowler but he is a solid player who has some degree of upside, and he is very athletic.

I’m not opposed to upgrading him, but he’s not anywhere near the weakest spot on this roster.

When Witten starts, and Lee starts as the 3rd linebacker, they are much greater liabilities.

Heath is also a currently better player than X Woods.

 

[mmohican29]

The problem with Heath is he's an average player on a potentially great D.

He's a back up. But he starts. His miscues are beaten to death because he makes the most on the team.

He's serviceable but we need better.

 

[QuincyCarterEra]

Other than Dak, Zeke, T-Smith, Zach, Fredbeard, Jaylon, LVE, and D-Law, our entire roster seems to consist of nothing but rotational and/or position-flex players.

Which according to your definition, every single team is the exact same way. We just have more staple players than other teams.

But Byron, who played the most snaps on the team, not being listed is an interesting omission.

 

[Hawkeye0202]

Lol yeah and Iloka is just such a beast(insert eye roll), no offense but he's nothing special at all. Most on the boards are upset because the draft totally seemed to go Dallas way and they had a buffet of safeties to choose from at 58 and even a couple that could have been pretty nice with their second pick and choose to ignore the position. I tend to agree with those that are upset. A great safety could take this defense to the next level and a couple of those that were available at 58 could have possibly done that for this team IMHO.

Couple things

**** Read a piece couple years ago from NFL scout how as rule safeties ( especially FS ) is only as good as his DL. But every once in a while see a great one ( Earl Thomas, Ed Reed ) with the total package of speed, football IQ and more importantly, instinct. He emphasized instinct and it makes sense. What I didn't know until ( until reading it ) as he pointed out, a large percentage of FS interceptions come from great DL play of pressuring QB ( forcing underthrown or tipped passes ).

****Just me, but remember 32 teams ( many of them twice and some three times) passed on the two "great safety" before 58. Not sure that many scouting reports can all be wrong.

Point is, even w/o Thornhill or Rapp, I think we'll be fine......JMO

 

[CouchCoach]

Couple things

**** Read a piece couple years ago from NFL scout how as rule safeties ( especially FS ) is only as good as his DL. But every once in a while see a great one ( Earl Thomas, Ed Reed ) with the total package of speed, football IQ and more importantly, instinct. He emphasized instinct and it makes sense. What I didn't know until ( until reading it ) as he pointed out, a large percentage of FS interceptions come from great DL play of pressuring QB ( forcing underthrown or tipped passes ).

****Just me, but remember 32 teams ( many of them twice and some three times) passed on the two "great safety" before 58. Not sure that many scouting reports can all be wrong.

Point is, even w/o Thornhill or Rapp, I think we'll be fine......JMO

Consider how many picks are the DB actually being out of place. If a DB is doing his job, the QB shouldn't be throwing to his guy unless it's desperation. Sanders used to have to bait the QB to get him to throw to his guy.

If any team focuses on the DL pass rush and the CBs for coverage in the pass game, the S position doesn't have to be a blue chipper. That can actually be the worst players on your D and still be effective. If your S's are making too many plays, may not be that they're as great as what's in front of them isn't that good. Run game, that's different.

 

[Beaker42]

He already got replaced as a starter when we signed George Iloka.

There is even the possibility he doesnt make the 53 if cheaper backup options like Wilson, Frazier and/or Thompson show they are worthy of a roster spot

Ooooh ooooh ooooh!!! I know this one.
He sucks.

 

[Melonfeud]

Base salary

Iloka: 930,000

Heath: 2,000,000

#38 has got tiered bonuses to strive towards also( I'd checked into it earlier& promptly forgot, I know there's another 1/2 million he could pull in,but for some reason 4 million possible total is dancing around up in there)

 

[KJJ]

He already got replaced as a starter when we signed George Iloka.

There is even the possibility he doesnt make the 53 if cheaper backup options like Wilson, Frazier and/or Thompson show they are worthy of a roster spot

IIoka was brought in as competition he’s going to have to beat Heath out. He isn’t going to be handed the job. He’s playing on a one-year prove it deal.

 

[Hennessy_King]

I agree with the OP. I’m not sure why people have so much hate for Heath. He’s not a pro bowler but he is a solid player who has some degree of upside, and he is very athletic.

I’m not opposed to upgrading him, but he’s not anywhere near the weakest spot on this roster.

When Witten starts, and Lee starts as the 3rd linebacker, they are much greater liabilities.

Heath is also a currently better player than X Woods.

Heath is a below average starter in the NFL. X woods played better than heath last season. Heath is going into his 6th or 7th season. Lee and Witten still being on the team is a disaster

 

[gmoney112]

I like Heath's story. UDFA, team dude, haven't really spec'd him out but he's typically been a beast on special teams. I've seen him wanting to fight dudes on special teams plays. If I'm looking to fill out a roster, I like those kinds of guys.

He's also the guy who got in the middle of Hardy's thing that game. He's tougher than people think, and I like him on the team.

But, when I consider the defense as a whole, getting down to individual pieces that can provide better performance as a sum of the parts, he can be "upgraded" and the defense could improve there. He also just missed quite a few tackles, something that can make a difference.

I'm fine with him as a backup. But, as far as starting value both to the position and to the defense as a whole, that's probably where he should be. I think the lack of options and aggressiveness pursuing options at the position has probably been most of the reason for people not liking him.

 

[Teague31]

Gee i don’t know. Maybe cause he sucks and is the worst starter on the team?

 

[Hawkeye0202]

Consider how many picks are the DB actually being out of place. If a DB is doing his job, the QB shouldn't be throwing to his guy unless it's desperation. Sanders used to have to bait the QB to get him to throw to his guy.

If any team focuses on the DL pass rush and the CBs for coverage in the pass game, the S position doesn't have to be a blue chipper. That can actually be the worst players on your D and still be effective. If your S's are making too many plays, may not be that they're as great as what's in front of them isn't that good. Run game, that's different.

Exactly........good post!

 

[ChronicCowboy]

Heath is our Bill Bates...leave him alone

 

[glimmerman]

They weren't beaten in LA, glimm, they were whipped and humiliated. Any team in the division round of the playoffs give up 275 yards rushing, most of it up the gut to a backup, good backup though, has their butt whipped and their lunch money taken.

If I were the HC, I would make the team, including coaching staff, watch every play of that game to get ready for the regular season. And I wouldn't say a word during it and after it was, mercifully, over I would say one thing and walk out. "That, gentlemen, is the textbook example of us not doing our job".

I am a big believer in the motivation of the avoidance of pain over gain. I would want them to feel that pain again. It's like a boxer keeping the clippings of all of his losses.

I agree. They need to use that humiliation as fuel. And it includes the staff and HC. He was standing right there watching. Again I say that the players and staff take losses less personal than we do. But this needs to be a lesson and motivation to not let this happen again. From the top to bottom.

 

[northerncowboynation]

In the words of Hank Hill... "I'll tell you whhhat" if Heath is the only reason we don't win a SB in Feb 2020, we're golden.

 

[northerncowboynation]

They weren't beaten in LA, glimm, they were whipped and humiliated. Any team in the division round of the playoffs give up 275 yards rushing, most of it up the gut to a backup, good backup though, has their butt whipped and their lunch money taken.

If I were the HC, I would make the team, including coaching staff, watch every play of that game to get ready for the regular season. And I wouldn't say a word during it and after it was, mercifully, over I would say one thing and walk out. "That, gentlemen, is the textbook example of us not doing our job".

I am a big believer in the motivation of the avoidance of pain over gain. I would want them to feel that pain again. It's like a boxer keeping the clippings of all of his losses.

I bet JG dangles a dollar in front of them and says.....

 

[BigStar]

Heath is our Bill Bates...leave him alone

Bill didn't start several seasons wo any legit attempts to find a replacement. If stuck to ST, he could be the fan favorite he was bf starting.

 

[Hennessy_King]

Bill didn't start several seasons wo any legit attempts to find a replacement. If stuck to ST, he could be the fan favorite he was bf starting.

Bill Bates didnt start any games while we were a championship team

 

[CouchCoach]

Bill Bates didnt start any games while we were a championship team

And neither has Jeff Heath