Byron Jones has been good

[JohnsKey19]

Lots of good FS in the coming Draft, maybe a couple top SS. If a top FS (worthy of a 1st round pick) is there our #1 or our #2 pick, do we dare take a FS and move Jones to SS...?
We are going to be picking late in the round, all top edge rushers and CBs will most likely be gone.

Probably better value at CB. This is a very deep draft for CBs.

 

[Macnalty]

Lots of good FS in the coming Draft, maybe a couple top SS. If a top FS (worthy of a 1st round pick) is there our #1 or our #2 pick, do we dare take a FS and move Jones to SS...?
We are going to be picking late in the round, all top edge rushers and CBs will most likely be gone.

I disagree the DE quality in the late first round should still be very good at our pick. This edge talent depth for 2017 is a gift with a ribbon for the cowboys. What would help is if we could move some of the QB talent up into the first round, maybe have some outstanding bowl play from them.
I do agree the Safety position depth in the draft is awesome as well. Not a bad consolation prize if our DE falls through. Still would like a DE to start interning next year.

 

[Deep_Freeze]

If we do in FA great, but if we dont, we have to draft one. We cant afford to many positions to dictate us skipping a pass rusher yet again. A good pass rusher will make the defense better from the get go. Even a good CB cant cover a WR all day if no one gets to the qb and we have a problem getting to the QB.

Free agency is where you fill holes. Forcing the draft almost always fails. You don't draft for immediate need, although the higher you are in the first round of the draft, the more you can put need in the equation. Right now, we will be drafting so low that we will have to see what's there, not based on need but on the value and ability of the player.

We have forced it before, in 2000 with DBs, and failed miserably. We have forced it with pass rushers, Ekuban, Carver, and such, and failed miserably. Let's not do that again, especially since most rookie DEs don't perform at a high level anyway.

 

[KJJ]

He's played solid but doesn't seem to have very good instincts to become a real playmaker. Had both hands on what could have been a pick the other night and didn't make the play. Granted it would have been a great play but that's we need back there a playmaker.

 

[robbieruff]

Dude has been doing a great job all season. Even has other teams fans talking about him.

He did good on a great TE like Kyle, and he's not an easy cover.

I can't wait till the draft, so we can build around guys like him and Lee.

Totally agree. I'm also forced to admit that Church has shown something this year that I didn't think he still had. He was sorely missed when he was out and was a welcome site in the Vikings game. I say all of this to compliment Jones since I think it's his overall play, smarts and versatility that has allowed Church to do what he does best and not worry about having a Wilcox playing next to him at FS. Night and day difference in our overall secondary play, particularly given how many injuries we've had to contend with.

 

[1972COWBOY]

I think Byron is raw talent. Physical ability was his main asset for going in round one. He definitely needs to develop the finesse of a good backfield player in order to be like Deon Sanders. He seems to be pretty good also at going forward fast to make tackles.

 

[cowboys1981]

I wish they played a more agressive style of defense. His assignments in the zone bend but don't break keep everything in front of you scheme are why he doesn't have interceptions.

Couldn't agree more. It's hard to get this guy an opportunity when the scheme is designed to allow for short to intermediate completions.

 

[Maxmadden]

He's played solid but doesn't seem to have very good instincts to become a real playmaker. Had both hands on what could have been a pick the other night and didn't make the play. Granted it would have been a great play but that's we need back there a playmaker.

Didn't make the tough interception but made the play = playmaker.
Interceptions will come with a pass rush.

 

[KJJ]

Didn't make the tough interception but made the play = playmaker.
Interceptions will come with a pass rush.

It's anyone's guess when we'll get a pass rush but when you have an opportunity at INT you need to come down with it.

 

[Fletch]

Lots of good FS in the coming Draft, maybe a couple top SS. If a top FS (worthy of a 1st round pick) is there our #1 or our #2 pick, do we dare take a FS and move Jones to SS...?
We are going to be picking late in the round, all top edge rushers and CBs will most likely be gone.

When we draft defense, which I'm pretty sure we will, it will be in the latter part of every round. With that said, we need to draft D-line. DE and or DT first and foremost!

 

[haleyrules]

If we fix that pass rush next year, our secondary will be very good. Can't give a Qb 4 or 5 seconds to pass as they will make any secondary look like crap.

Absolutely. Thats what needs to happen. This Jones kid will turn out to be a great Cowboy. It takes a few years to really learn the FS position and he is ahead of schedule. FS may be the toughest position to learn on the Defense.

 

[Frozen700]

Byron makes the entire defense better. And by that I mean from liquid garbage to mediocre.

I would love to see how he does with a shred of pass rush.

Agreed

 

[Idgit]

Good Safety play makes a difference. He's put together back to back good seasons for us, and is on a trajectory to be one of our 2-3 best players on defense very soon.

 

[mattjames2010]

I'm still iffy on him. There are times where I think he gets lost in his head a little too much, overthinks things, and I've seen him get beat by quick cuts by TEs far too often; especially in the red zone.

But as mentioned, more pressure applied on QBs may help him in the turnover department. I don't think he'll ever be a ballhawk though, which is what is missing on this defense. Hopefully we find ourselves a Collins type SS.

 

[jrumann59]

I'm still iffy on him. There are times where I think he gets lost in his head a little too much, overthinks things, and I've seen him get beat by quick cuts by TEs far too often; especially in the red zone.

But as mentioned, more pressure applied on QBs may help him in the turnover department. I don't think he'll ever be a ballhawk though, which is what is missing on this defense. Hopefully we find ourselves a Collins type SS.

Ed Reed got beat a lot too. The only reason Reed is so highly regarded (over rated) and why the Ravens were happy to let him go in the twilight is he ad-libbed a lot, he hardly was where he was needed sometimes it worked sometimes it didn't.

 

[Deep_Freeze]

Ed Reed got beat a lot too. The only reason Reed is so highly regarded (over rated) and why the Ravens were happy to let him go in the twilight is he ad-libbed a lot, he hardly was where he was needed sometimes it worked sometimes it didn't.

He also had a really good front 7 for most of his career.

Hopefully we can help Jones out in that department soon.

 

[mattjames2010]

Ed Reed got beat a lot too. The only reason Reed is so highly regarded (over rated) and why the Ravens were happy to let him go in the twilight is he ad-libbed a lot, he hardly was where he was needed sometimes it worked sometimes it didn't.

Not entirely sure how this is relevant.

Ad-lib or not, Jones is no Reed who is a future HOF candidate. Reed was a ballhawk, this would make up for him getting beat. Jones seems to have hands of stones and often doesn't get his head around when the ball is in the air (He could have gotten an INT in the GB game, he instead batted it down)

I have no issue with Jones if he'll only ever be a decent tackler and good cover guy. But we need to pair him with an aggressive SS.

 

[jrumann59]

Not entirely sure how this is relevant.

Ad-lib or not, Jones is no Reed who is a future HOF candidate. Reed was a ballhawk, this would make up for him getting beat. Jones seems to have hands of stones and often doesn't get his head around when the ball is in the air (He could have gotten an INT in the GB game, he instead batted it down)

I have no issue with Jones if he'll only ever be a decent tackler and good cover guy. But we need to pair him with an aggressive SS.

Reed hung his CB out to dry a lot. During the glory years of Raven football if they got beat deep it was because Ed did his own thing. He has this reputation of being a ball hawk, but he was not team scheme sound. Hey INTs are great but if you are not where you are supposed to be and give up a TD what good is an INT next week.

 

[dwmyers]

Byron has affected the entire backfield. With him there, both Church and Wilcox improved markedly. We have a FS who is fast enough to cover up mistakes and you can see it in the reaction times of our SS types. I've seen one mention of this in this thread, the fact that Church and Wilcox can just go out and lay wood because with Byron's speed, the back end is covered.

D-

 

[packpitts]

FS is a strength not a weakness. We need CB in the secondary, now to your question. If we can't trade back and the FS is by far the best on the board then you take him and hope you don't waste time moving him or Jones to corner. With Frazier, Heath, Church and Wilcox we have plenty of SS

To bad there's not a great one in that group, but there's still hope for Frazier I guess. I'm talking if a "GREAT" FS is there, better then ALL we have and the best player available at that point in the draft. People not understanding.