xwalker
Well-Known Member
- Messages
- 56,956
- Reaction score
- 64,416
I reviewed all snaps played on defense by Jeff Heath in games 1 & 2 of 2019.
I rate plays as:
Pass
Fail
Good Enough
An example of Good Enough is when it should have been a 5 yard gain but instead was a 7 yard gain but still was not enough for the opponent to get a 1st down.
For both games combined I had the following:
5 plays that were possible fails.
5 plays that were good enough.
All other plays Pass.
Of the 5 possible fails:
3 were almost identical plays. Heath made the same deliberate move each time; therefore, I can't say with 100% certainty that he was at fault.
1 play was the 59 yard run by Barkley. Heath was 15 yards back from the line at the point Barkley crossed the line of scrimmage. It was open field with only Heath between Barkley and the endzone. The probability of making the tackle is below 50% for any Safety considering that Barkley is a top 3 RB and possibly the best open field RB in the NFL. Where Heath failed was in not cutting off Barkley's path to the outside. If Heath had moved more to the outside, then Barkley would cut back inside where other defenders were located. I would still likely be a 20 plus yard gain, but it might have been less than the 59 yards. Awuzie would likely need to be in on the tackle but would obviously be much closer than than having to cross the entire field which is what actually happened on the play.
1 play was the ball hitting Heath's helmet. This play was a Pass or at worst case a Good Enough play as the pass was incomplete. Heath was looking at the WR and DB covering him & was focused on not colliding with them. It does seem odd that he didn't look up at the ball because he had been looking right at the QB until the QB started this throwing motion. It might have been funny to see for some fans but this not a fail.
The group of fans that love to complain about Heath are comical. Let's call the group Heath Haters for reference.
Nobody that I've seen is saying that Jeff Heath is a great player. We would all take a healthy Derwin James type player at Strong Safety if given the choice, but having Vander Esch at LB is more valuable than upgrading from Heath at SS.
Heath Haters as a group are comically uninformed.
I don't really understand the emotional need that people have to continually post about how much they think certain players suck.
I had a thread earlier this year called "Cowboys Safety Quiz". None of the Heath haters could show that they knew any details about the Cowboys Safeties and how the Cowboys used them in 2018 & 2017. Most didn't even know if Heath played SS or FS. None of them appear to have signed up for the NFL Game Pass to review the All-22 coaches film. Safety more than any position is difficult to evaluate based on broadcast game footage.
People that have posted dozens of times that Heath sucks can't even be bothered to review the games to see the details of what Heath does or does not do well. Most just repeat what they've heard such as "bad angles". A few have concluded that Heath lacks lateral agility. I've seen several say that Heath is too slow which is one of the most moronic statements that I've seen anywhere with regards to the Cowboys players. Heath has good speed for a Safety. That should be obvious considering that last year he chased down Barkley from behind. Heath's 4.48 forty time should also be a clue.
I rate plays as:
Pass
Fail
Good Enough
An example of Good Enough is when it should have been a 5 yard gain but instead was a 7 yard gain but still was not enough for the opponent to get a 1st down.
For both games combined I had the following:
5 plays that were possible fails.
5 plays that were good enough.
All other plays Pass.
Of the 5 possible fails:
3 were almost identical plays. Heath made the same deliberate move each time; therefore, I can't say with 100% certainty that he was at fault.
1 play was the 59 yard run by Barkley. Heath was 15 yards back from the line at the point Barkley crossed the line of scrimmage. It was open field with only Heath between Barkley and the endzone. The probability of making the tackle is below 50% for any Safety considering that Barkley is a top 3 RB and possibly the best open field RB in the NFL. Where Heath failed was in not cutting off Barkley's path to the outside. If Heath had moved more to the outside, then Barkley would cut back inside where other defenders were located. I would still likely be a 20 plus yard gain, but it might have been less than the 59 yards. Awuzie would likely need to be in on the tackle but would obviously be much closer than than having to cross the entire field which is what actually happened on the play.
1 play was the ball hitting Heath's helmet. This play was a Pass or at worst case a Good Enough play as the pass was incomplete. Heath was looking at the WR and DB covering him & was focused on not colliding with them. It does seem odd that he didn't look up at the ball because he had been looking right at the QB until the QB started this throwing motion. It might have been funny to see for some fans but this not a fail.
The group of fans that love to complain about Heath are comical. Let's call the group Heath Haters for reference.
Nobody that I've seen is saying that Jeff Heath is a great player. We would all take a healthy Derwin James type player at Strong Safety if given the choice, but having Vander Esch at LB is more valuable than upgrading from Heath at SS.
Heath Haters as a group are comically uninformed.
I don't really understand the emotional need that people have to continually post about how much they think certain players suck.
I had a thread earlier this year called "Cowboys Safety Quiz". None of the Heath haters could show that they knew any details about the Cowboys Safeties and how the Cowboys used them in 2018 & 2017. Most didn't even know if Heath played SS or FS. None of them appear to have signed up for the NFL Game Pass to review the All-22 coaches film. Safety more than any position is difficult to evaluate based on broadcast game footage.
People that have posted dozens of times that Heath sucks can't even be bothered to review the games to see the details of what Heath does or does not do well. Most just repeat what they've heard such as "bad angles". A few have concluded that Heath lacks lateral agility. I've seen several say that Heath is too slow which is one of the most moronic statements that I've seen anywhere with regards to the Cowboys players. Heath has good speed for a Safety. That should be obvious considering that last year he chased down Barkley from behind. Heath's 4.48 forty time should also be a clue.
