Alan Ball

[dfense]

This sunday will be the most important game of Ball's career. It will say alot about weather the Cowboys will need to address the FS position in the very near future.

I've yet to see any of the Cowboys safeties make a single play all season. And here comes Randy Moss.

I can see the Vikings running Moss deep all day just to free up their TE in the seam.

Then when the Cowboys adjust, long ball to Moss down the sideline. Ball is going to be the key to this game, and he better show up.

 

[IheartRomo]

Ball has probably already shown what he's got...nothing.

 

[big dog cowboy]

This sunday will be the most important game of Ball's career. It will say alot about weather the Cowboys will need to address the FS position in the very near future.

We aren't there yet?

 

[Prodigal Son]

I'm not expecting a whole lot from him...hopefully I'll be surprised.

 

[casmith07]

Alan Ball should have stayed a career 4th CB.

 

[craig71]

I don't think that Ball has the instincts to play the safety position. He's a player that can fill in there for a couple of starts and then his warts will start to show, as they have. I also think that part of the problem, with the lack of turnovers, from the safety position has to do with the scheme they are running.

Craig

 

[casmith07]

I don't think that Ball has the instincts to play the safety position. He's a player that can fill in there for a couple of starts and then his warts will start to show, as they have. I also think that part of the problem, with the lack of turnovers, from the safety position has to do with the scheme they are running.

Craig

He has the instincts to play it, but not the experience. Safety is a very different position from Corner...only one training camp is not going to prepare you to play it at the kind of level required of an NFL Safety.

It's okay, though...he'll probably get better throughout the season but unfortunately we don't have that kind of time to wait unless we really catch some breaks and rattle off a bunch of wins in a row.

 

[Yakuza Rich]

I think he would make a nice backup who can play CB and safety and work in nickel and dime packages while being a special teams ace. I thought that before, but thought he might be able to pull off being a quality starting FS...but he hasn't shown that yet.





YR

 

[craig71]

He has the instincts to play it, but not the experience. Safety is a very different position from Corner...only one training camp is not going to prepare you to play it at the kind of level required of an NFL Safety.

It's okay, though...he'll probably get better throughout the season but unfortunately we don't have that kind of time to wait unless we really catch some breaks and rattle off a bunch of wins in a row.

I don't think he does. He had a few starts last year filling in and now we are four games into this season. Between the two oppurtunities he has had right at 8 games to showcase what he can do. I just don't get the feeling that he has the makings of a decent starting safety. Doesn't mean I'm right, just the way I see it at this time. I also realize that the transition from corner to safety is not completed overnight. Also, as I said previously, I think part of the problem with the safety play in Dallas is schematic. If the scheme is putting the player in a bad position to succeed, they never will make many plays.

Craig

 

[basstapp]

this may sound stupid, but i almost hope Favre doesn't sit because he has been terrible this year. T-Jax will have something to prove and is pretty mobile which will give our defense fits. Alan Ball concerns me because he never tackles anyone, he is extremely light to be a safety and doesn't lay wood.

 

[Idgit]

Did you guys see the Sensabaugh quote in the other thread that implied that both safeties had been graded in the 90s for their play so far this season? That's hard to believe.

The linked article was to a registration site, and I didn't register to confirm the date it was written, but it looked like a recent piece. Had some glowing quotes from Brett Maxie to go along with the Sensabaugh comment.

 

[craig71]

Did you guys see the Sensabaugh quote in the other thread that implied that both safeties had been graded in the 90s for their play so far this season? That's hard to believe.

The linked article was to a registration site, and I didn't register to confirm the date it was written, but it looked like a recent piece. Had some glowing quotes from Brett Maxie to go along with the Sensabaugh comment.

Didn't see it. If it was from a recent article then that is disturbing to me. I wonder what sort of curve they are using to grade?

Craig

 

[Idgit]

Found it:

http://cowboyszone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=195495

It reads like a canned puff-piece, but, as I said, I'm not registered so it's hard to check the date on the article. The article references the CHI game, but I don't know if Sensabaugh's quote was from before that or after it.

“He has his checks on his side and I have mine,” Sensabaugh says. “I trust that he’s going to make the right ones and I’m going to make the right ones, and the whole defense will be set up according to how it’s supposed to be played.

“We haven’t had too many minuses. I think we both graded in the high 90s every game. We’re doing our job. I know the production doesn’t look that great as far as picks and stuff, but I don’t think we’ve really had any chances. I don’t think we have even had a pass break up or anything. With our man coverage scheme, a lot of times teams are going to try to attack our corners because they’re out there by themselves a lot. That’s a credit to them. We’ve got some good corners and they’ve done a good job out there. I don’t think we’ve given up the deep ball.”

 

[7footer]

This sunday will be the most important game of Ball's career. It will say alot about weather the Cowboys will need to address the FS position in the very near future.

I've yet to see any of the Cowboys safeties make a single play all season. And here comes Randy Moss.

I can see the Vikings running Moss deep all day just to free up their TE in the seam.

Then when the Cowboys adjust, long ball to Moss down the sideline. Ball is going to be the key to this game, and he better show up.

I hear what you're saying about Ball, but Sensy has been playing well. Sensy has made a few plays for us, and while they haven't resulted in turnovers, that doesn't mean he hasn't been effective.

Ball on the other hand has looked lost in coverage, and has played about as bad as any starting free safety in the league. I'm not sure how much longer we will continue this experiment, but thus far it has been a failure.

 

[craig71]

Found it:

http://cowboyszone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=195495

It reads like a canned puff-piece, but, as I said, I'm not registered so it's hard to check the date on the article. The article references the CHI game, but I don't know if Sensabaugh's quote was from before that or after it.

With the remark about not giving up the deep ball I would think that the piece was written previous to the Bears game.


Craig

 

[Idgit]

With the remark about not giving up the deep ball I would think that the piece was written previous to the Bears game.


Craig

The piece wasn't, because if you read more of the excerpt, it mentions the Johnny Knox pass. But it's hard to say when the quotes were provided. They could be older than the rest of the piece. Still, it's pretty interesting.

 

[craig71]

Found it:

http://cowboyszone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=195495

It reads like a canned puff-piece, but, as I said, I'm not registered so it's hard to check the date on the article. The article references the CHI game, but I don't know if Sensabaugh's quote was from before that or after it.

The piece wasn't, because if you read more of the excerpt, it mentions the Johnny Knox pass. But it's hard to say when the quotes were provided. They could be older than the rest of the piece. Still, it's pretty interesting.

I see what you're saying after looking at the thread. I would think that by the remarks of Sensabaugh the interview was before the Bears game. I think the writer finished the piece after the game for publication. Your right, it is interesting.

Craig

 

[ThreeSportStar80]

With the last name Ball, you'd think he's be able to play like a ballhawk but he's horrible in space which is surprise given his CB days.

 

[CanuckCowboysFan]

He has the instincts to play it

how you figure?