2021 Safety Snaps per Game

• Observations:
  • Wilson started 2 games over Kazee and game 1 over Kearse.
  • Wilson played the most snaps in 2 games (1 when all 4 were active).
  • Wilson played the 2nd most snaps in 2 games.
  • Wilson played the most snaps in game 1 before being out with an injury for game 2.
  • Hooker only played the 2nd most snaps in game 17 (Kearse was DNP).
  • Hooker was the 3rd starter in 2 games (i.e. They opened in Big Nickel).
  • Kazee only played 100% of snaps in 2 games which is non-standard for a starting FS.
  • Kazee played over 90% only when Wilson was inactive.

Are we certain that Hooker is the 2nd Safety after Kearse ?
- It's not a big issue because they play a high percent of Big Nickel.
- 40% Big Nickel (3 Safeties) in 2021.

Kearse had 101 total tackles.
- The other 3 all together had 125 total tackles.

True but Kearse is almost like an extra LB playing up on the line of scrimmage and within the box. with 2 safeties also on the field

Can we give them more time to play like maybe a few real games first, even a camp

I expect more from Hooker this season and to be more of an impact. I think they used him sparingly last year to make sure he was over all his injuries.

I think Wilson is a bit of a disappointment so far, as he showed promise. But that could been more from being a fan favorite. One of those guys some fans like but what does he really have. I don't recall him making any huge plays in regular season games.
Maybe the coaches think otherwise. I am pulling for him to be a ball hawk as we seen in PS games.

xwalker said:

• Observations:
  • Wilson started 2 games over Kazee and game 1 over Kearse.
  • Wilson played the most snaps in 2 games (1 when all 4 were active).
  • Wilson played the 2nd most snaps in 2 games.
  • Wilson played the most snaps in game 1 before being out with an injury for game 2.
  • Hooker only played the 2nd most snaps in game 17 (Kearse was DNP).
  • Hooker was the 3rd starter in 2 games (i.e. They opened in Big Nickel).
  • Kazee only played 100% of snaps in 2 games which is non-standard for a starting FS.
  • Kazee played over 90% only when Wilson was inactive.

Are we certain that Hooker is the 2nd Safety after Kearse ?
- It's not a big issue because they play a high percent of Big Nickel.
- 40% Big Nickel (3 Safeties) in 2021.

Kearse had 101 total tackles.
- The other 3 all together had 125 total tackles.

Click to expand...

I think they will stick with big nickel. They like Kearse as coverage linebacker that sticks his head in on the run. I wonder if Cox will be competing against the safeties more then the linebackers for playing time.

jazzcat22 said:

I expect more from Hooker this season and to be more of an impact. I think they used him sparingly last year to make sure he was over all his injuries.

I think Wilson is a bit of a disappointment so far, as he showed promise. But that could been more from being a fan favorite. One of those guys some fans like but what does he really have. I don't recall him making any huge plays in regular season games.
Maybe the coaches think otherwise. I am pulling for him to be a ball hawk as we seen in PS games.

Click to expand...

Agree that they limited Hooker due to him coming off of a torn Achilles in 2020.

It appears that the coaches like Wilson more than fans based on the snap counts.
- He was the #1 Safety in game 1 based on snap count.
- He then missed the next 4 games.
- His snaps ramped up after returning from injury.
- In his 4th game back from injury, he started and had the most snaps of any Safety (94%).
- All 4 Safeties were active for that game.
- In his 5th game back from injury, he started and was 2nd in snaps behind Kearse.
- He then missed the next 4 games due to injury issues.
- When he returned his snaps were ramping up until game 17 when they gave Hooker the start and rested Kearse.
- Then in the playoff game, Wilson started and had the 2nd most snaps after Kearse.

• Snap counts in the playoff game:
  • 95% Kearse
  • 65% Wilson
  • 46% Kazee
  • 45% Hooker

xwalker said:

Agree that they limited Hooker due to him coming off of a torn Achilles in 2020.

It appears that the coaches like Wilson more than fans based on the snap counts.
- He was the #1 Safety in game 1 based on snap count.
- He then missed the next 4 games.
- His snaps ramped up after returning from injury.
- In his 4th game back from injury, he started and had the most snaps of any Safety (94%).
- All 4 Safeties were active for that game.
- In his 5th game back from injury, he started and was 2nd in snaps behind Kearse.
- He then missed the next 4 games due to injury issues.
- When he returned his snaps were ramping up until game 17 when they gave Hooker the start and rested Kearse.
- Then in the playoff game, Wilson started and had the 2nd most snaps after Kearse.

• Snap counts in the playoff game:
  • 95% Kearse
  • 65% Wilson
  • 46% Kazee
  • 45% Hooker

Click to expand...

Yup. Wilson was solid last year just didn’t make any eye-popping plays. As long as he’s healthy he’s the 2. Fans want it to be Hooker because of who he used to be, but unless he’s had no limitations from all those injuries I think his best role is as the third S.

Hooker underneath using his physicality with rotations to deep S makes all the sense when seeing how they were used in 2021.

baltcowboy said:

I think they will stick with big nickel. They like Kearse as coverage linebacker that sticks his head in on the run. I wonder if Cox will be competing against the safeties more then the linebackers for playing time.

Click to expand...

Yes, if any of the top 3 Safeties miss a game, Jabril Cox would likely play the role that Kearse plays in Big Nickel.
- It wouldn't really be Big Nickel anymore because JC is a LB.
- That would mean snaps with 3 LBs which rarely if ever happened last season.
- LVE and Neal were rarely, if ever on the field together except when Parsons played DE.
- JC could end up being a very interesting player because in college he was better in coverage than many Strong Safeties.

I think these 3 guys are pretty solid players. And a nice mix of skill sets. That’s why I didn’t support signing another vet safety. A vet as the 4th safety means you aren’t developing a guy to replace the next one of those 3 to leave. Overall I think it’s been awhile since we had the quality of talent at safety

While he didn’t make the dramatic leap thatKearse did in 2021, Hooker ended the year on a high note. He was becoming a more visible presence w/his play making & consistently outshining Kazee. It was no surprise when Dallas re-signed Hooker over Kazee in March.

Wilson is better than Hooker.

xwalker said:

• Observations:
  • Wilson started 2 games over Kazee and game 1 over Kearse.
  • Wilson played the most snaps in 2 games (1 when all 4 were active).
  • Wilson played the 2nd most snaps in 2 games.
  • Wilson played the most snaps in game 1 before being out with an injury for game 2.
  • Hooker only played the 2nd most snaps in game 17 (Kearse was DNP).
  • Hooker was the 3rd starter in 2 games (i.e. They opened in Big Nickel).
  • Kazee only played 100% of snaps in 2 games which is non-standard for a starting FS.
  • Kazee played over 90% only when Wilson was inactive.

Are we certain that Hooker is the 2nd Safety after Kearse ?
- It's not a big issue because they play a high percent of Big Nickel.
- 40% Big Nickel (3 Safeties) in 2021.

Kearse had 101 total tackles.
- The other 3 all together had 125 total tackles.

Click to expand...

This positional group has strengthened quite a bit now.

Yes, Hooker is the 2nd Safety and could make a case as the top S.

Do you want Dono or Kearse at FS? Of course not, so Dallas has like 4 SS types and one true FS. Making Hooker less replaceable.

Looks like DQ would've played more 3 Safety if Dono wasn't always hurt, and that's why I won't value #6 too high.

- Because of his previous draft status as not only a former No.1 pick, but a top 10 overall pick per his draft class -the Cowboys may believe Malik Hooker
is the better talent of all of the current safeties, including Kearse.

- He likely was very high on their draft board at the time. and who knows what the current thinking is with Hooker among the Cowboys staff, especially after he miraculously
made it the the year for the most part (may have miss no more than one or two games)

- He actually was more physical and hard nosed than advertised. especially around the line.
He has the rep of being a very instinctive ball hawk and playmaker with outstanding range coming out of Ohio State.
Of course major injuries and set back thwarted those high expectation and his NFL career.

- Many thought he was humpty dumpty who would never be able to be put back together again.
He was the epitome of a Money Ball player - low risk/high reward.

- i wouldn't be surprised if he did not have as high rep and snaps, with him in a recovery year.
Nor would i be as surprised if he never regain the same range and mobility as he had prior to the achilles tendon injury,.
This gonna still be a touch n go, observation with Malik.

- A year removed from that Achilles injury, If he shows anything similar or close to what he was in Indy, the team may
feel it's only a matter of time before he resembles anything close to pre-Indy days.
If that's so, then they've re-discovered a true gem. A true blue safety.

xwalker said:

• Observations:
  • Wilson started 2 games over Kazee and game 1 over Kearse.
  • Wilson played the most snaps in 2 games (1 when all 4 were active).
  • Wilson played the 2nd most snaps in 2 games.
  • Wilson played the most snaps in game 1 before being out with an injury for game 2.
  • Hooker only played the 2nd most snaps in game 17 (Kearse was DNP).
  • Hooker was the 3rd starter in 2 games (i.e. They opened in Big Nickel).
  • Kazee only played 100% of snaps in 2 games which is non-standard for a starting FS.
  • Kazee played over 90% only when Wilson was inactive.

Are we certain that Hooker is the 2nd Safety after Kearse ?
- It's not a big issue because they play a high percent of Big Nickel.
- 40% Big Nickel (3 Safeties) in 2021.

Kearse had 101 total tackles.
- The other 3 all together had 125 total tackles.

Click to expand...

Good info X
Thanks

I have a lot of confidence that Hooker will return to his former playmaking self.

Achilles is a nasty injury and he got better as last year went along.

Then we revert to the question of if he can stay healthy.

At any rate its nice to have some decent depth at the position after what we were running out there during the Garrett years.

Wilson is probably going to get a decent sized contract offer on the open market if he plays well this year, so it something to keep an eye on for sure.

fivetwos said:

I have a lot of confidence that Hooker will return to his former playmaking self.

Achilles is a nasty injury and he got better as last year went along.

Then we revert to the question of if he can stay healthy.

At any rate its nice to have some decent depth at the position after what we were running out there during the Garrett years.

Wilson is probably going to get a decent sized contract offer on the open market if he plays well this year, so it something to keep an eye on for sure.

Click to expand...

Wilson, maybe but he needs to stay out of the trainers room.

Mr_437 said:

Yes, Hooker is the 2nd Safety and could make a case as the top S.

Do you want Dono or Kearse at FS? Of course not, so Dallas has like 4 SS types and one true FS. Making Hooker less replaceable.

Looks like DQ would've played more 3 Safety if Dono wasn't always hurt, and that's why I won't value #6 too high.

Click to expand...

whose the four Strong Safety types ? kearse, bell, wilson ...and ?

I wouldn't count 2nd year Israel Mukuamu off the roster yet, he's considered more of a free safety centerfield type and reportedly the Cowboys really like him.

quickccc said:

whose the four Strong Safety types ? kearse, bell, wilson ...and ?

I wouldn't count 2nd year Israel Mukuamu off the roster yet, he's considered more of a free safety centerfield type and reportedly the Cowboys really like him.

Click to expand...

Add the UDFA J. Thomas. At 6'1 212, I look at him as the 4th SS.
I think they keep Mukuamu to match up with TEs and big WRs in man coverage, and backup FS.

Who is FS2?

Mr_437 said:

Add the UDFA J. Thomas. At 6'1 212, I look at him as the 4th SS.
I think they keep Mukuamu to match up with TEs and big WRs in man coverage, and backup FS.

Who is FS2?

Click to expand...

Hooker is FS1
Wilson can flex at both SS and FS will likely be FS2
Izzy (Israel Mukuamu) is FS3