Signed by Cowboys Cowboys Sign S Keanu Neal

[Risen Star]

That's part of a WRs job description. Kudos to Noah Brown for taking such a hard hit and still be able to hold on to the football. After watching the replay, Noah Brown looked to be the only receiver open early, which the play looked to be called to go to him since Noah was clearly expecting the quick slant pass, so you might want to hold off on the bum QB comments.

If I was an uneducated as you appear to be I would hold off on those comments.

Good looking out though.

 

[Risen Star]

Well, at least you’re still getting likes from those who aren’t tired of the Hate Dak Shtick.

So if you legit hate a player but a lot of fan boys get emotional about it, that hate becomes "shtick".

Thanks for the info, Charles.

 

[phildadon86]

If I was an uneducated as you appear to be I would hold off on those comments.

Good looking out though.

Didn’t Wentz get someone laid out with a similar pass last season?

 

[fansince68]

Why do we have to pay over market value for guys to come here? I just don't understand.

Harris only gets $5M with the Eagles
King only gets $5M

We have to pay Neal $5M? What the hell?

I could be wrong but I thought that Neal has the potential to be a star with his versatility, position flex. At least we are not overpaying like we are for Jaylon. If he can somewhat neutralize the TE, he might toughen up our middle. We complain vigorously about our soft middle on running plays, but we are also soft defensively on passing plays as well in the middle of the field.

 

[lwehlers]

i am not impressed with deal. i wish they could have put in option years in the deal in case he plays the level he is capable of playing. we are going to be in the same position as this year looking again in free agency for a safety. i do not like these one year deals.

 

[RustyBourneHorse]

i am not impressed with deal. i wish they could have put in option years in the deal in case he plays the level he is capable of playing. we are going to be in the same position as this year looking again in free agency for a safety. i do not like these one year deals.

I agree, but a lot of players are signing 1 year deals this year with the cap. We may not have been able to get more than 1 year for him. Takes 2 to tango.

 

[irishline]

Didn’t Wentz get someone laid out with a similar pass last season?

I am sure just about every QB inadvertently did at least once last season. Sucks, but happens.

 

[TequilaCowboy]

i am not impressed with deal. i wish they could have put in option years in the deal in case he plays the level he is capable of playing. we are going to be in the same position as this year looking again in free agency for a safety. i do not like these one year deals.

True, he could be a one and done kind of player here. If he plays like Dallas wants him to play, they better pony up and try to keep him. But we shall see. They should consider drafting a hybrid like him. Wilson is your prototypical SS.

 

[NEODOG]

So if you legit hate a player but a lot of fan boys get emotional about it, that hate becomes "shtick".

Thanks for the info, Charles.

 

[lwehlers]

True, he could be a one and done kind of player here. If he plays like Dallas wants him to play, they better pony up and try to keep him. But we shall see. They should consider drafting a hybrid like him. Wilson is your prototypical SS.

that is what i am hoping for in this draft that with four picks in first three round that one of them is a quality safety. hopefully it is not another woods draft pick.

 

[ondaedg]

I am sure just about every QB inadvertently did at least once last season. Sucks, but happens.

But I heard it here on the Zone that only Dak makes mistakes. Look at how Dak got Collier killed here

 

[QuincyCarterEra]

I could be wrong but I thought that Neal has the potential to be a star with his versatility, position flex. At least we are not overpaying like we are for Jaylon. If he can somewhat neutralize the TE, he might toughen up our middle. We complain vigorously about our soft middle on running plays, but we are also soft defensively on passing plays as well in the middle of the field.

No sir.

 

[Risen Star]

 

[Denim Chicken]

The money:

 

[quickccc]

Pro football reference says he is but I guess in the Quinn system the safeties are somewhat interchangeable? Only 2 career INTs but 100+ tackles in 3 of his 5 seasons.. Missed 15 games in '18 games in '19.. durability red flags all over the place now.. Still he had 4 times as many tackles as the guy they list as the Falcons SS last year (Ricardo Allen) .. 100 to 25.. so I'm guessing they got it wrong.. Allen is listed as the SS but weighs 185 pounds.. Yeah that's more than a little fishy. The other thing that bothers me is that clearly Neal is a box safety and we already got a potential star in the making at that position in Wilson. Wilson has the same number of career INTs (2) and 5 forced fumbles and 3 fumble recoveries in only 10 starts.. while Neal has 2 INTs, 8 forced fumbles and 4 fumble recoveries in 48 starts. Now I'm scratching my head on this acquisition. Seems like the guy we already have is the better player.

- One site could have Neal as this role position...another site could have him as that position... that's why I continue to stress to look at available game tape, live television games to
what we're seeing ...with our own eyeballs to see what/how he is playing,.. is he playing in the deep half in coverage ? .. or is he playing upfront as a box safety ?

-- You're definitely right in taking a look at the turnover numbers per Neal vs Donovan Wilson.
Neal has been in the league far more than 2nd year guy Wilson, but yet Donovan seems to be on a roll with his ability to create and collect turnovers - per QB fumble strip, as well as INTs in coverage.
2 career INTs from Neal suggests that he's not a ball hawk., and his game seems to be directed more towards in-the-box than deep coverage.
And we've also seen how WIlson can make a physical mark in his hitting ability - ala his destroy hit-fumble on Vikes RB Davin Cook.

- And from all reports, Cowboys are still pursuing free safety- centerfield types in Malik Hooker or Damontae Kazee which suggest team wants a ball hawk INT guy at safety.

 

[quickccc]

1. Sits 6 yards off the LOS.
2. A tick slower than other LBers to read the play.
3. Will at times chase the wrong ball carrier.
4. Struggles to plant and change direction.
5. Cannot or will not stack and shed.
6. Stays upright and often times back pedaling when taking on blockers.
7. Easily blocked with a push by OL, FB or TE at times.

Nope it’s clearly his fault.

.. ..and easily fooled by misdirection plays, and has issues matching up in coverage.
Several times in coverages, he has his back to the thrown ball.

 

[eromeopolk]

Boom

Did you see what Dak Prescott did to the ATL secondary in 2020, 2018, and a lot of you think Dak Prescott is a below average QB. You Arlington Jonesboys fans are comical.

Neal is at best a WLB. He will be toast in the secondary at SS or FS. I don't think he is faster than the Cowboys two "wounded knee" and "broke neck mountain" Linebackers (Lee, Smith, and Vander Esch)?

Trade for Delpit, and sign the other "Achilles Heal" safeties Kazee, and Hooker to one year deals. Then keep your fingers crossed like the Cowboys have done drafting and signing unavailable and unreliable defensive players under Jerry Dumbo GM Jones. Roll that cheap dice bet Jerry. Where is Aldon Smith when you need him?

 

[Typhus]

- One site could have Neal as this role position...another site could have him as that position... that's why I continue to stress to look at available game tape, live television games to
what we're seeing ...with our own eyeballs to see what/how he is playing,.. is he playing in the deep half in coverage ? .. or is he playing upfront as a box safety ?

-- You're definitely right in taking a look at the turnover numbers per Neal vs Donovan Wilson.
Neal has been in the league far more than 2nd year guy Wilson, but yet Donovan seems to be on a roll with his ability to create and collect turnovers - per QB fumble strip, as well as INTs in coverage.
2 career INTs from Neal suggests that he's not a ball hawk., and his game seems to be directed more towards in-the-box than deep coverage.
And we've also seen how WIlson can make a physical mark in his hitting ability - ala his destroy hit-fumble on Vikes RB Davin Cook.

- And from all reports, Cowboys are still pursuing free safety- centerfield types in Malik Hooker or Damontae Kazee which suggest team wants a ball hawk INT guy at safety.

Im inclined to believe that he will also be setting the back 7, who else would be more qualified?
Are we expecting Xavier Woods, Jaylon, or Lewis to be the field general?
Thats a scary thought in itself.

 

[d_cowboy31]

I'm intrigued at what the nickel D would look like considering that is more or less base D now...

Are we really going to have $12M LB in Jaylon on the sidelines for 60+% of plays? Because, no Jerry isn't going to cut him yet

Is Neal going to be on the field only in base D (25% of snaps) and then just be a backup LB/SS? In which case $5M seems a bit expensive considering what our FO is willing to spend in free agency.

Or did we just spend $5M to replace Wilson?

Unless Quinn plans to Utilize a 3-3-5? Use Jaylon as a blitzer with only 3 down lineman? This option actually kind of intrigues me the most...

Who cares how much money Jaylon is making next year. It was a mistake giving him that much money and pretty much everyone knows that now...sunk cost.

 

[quickccc]

Im inclined to believe that he will also be setting the back 7, who else would be more qualified?
Are we expecting Xavier Woods, Jaylon, or Lewis to be the field general?
Thats a scary thought in itself.

yes, ..a big asset to the Neal signing is his familiarity with Quinn/Whitt Jr. system.
That's also a reason why I think (and expect) ATL's Kazee will end up being the actual signing over Malik Hooker after the visit.

- By draft grade status, Malik Hooker is a superior athlete and player but he's been absolutely crushed by injuries in his NFL career
as such that I tend to think there has to be a need for Plan B option should he get the injury bug again.
But like you said, Quinn and Whitt are gonna want leaders, field general(s) to help lead and place teammates in position.

- Both players (Hooker, Kazee) have suffered past Achilles tendon injuries, so there's also a wait and see recovery as there's a chance
neither could be even near their previous pre-injury form, and more limited than ever.

- It maybe my skeptical thinking per Stephen Jones, but if we manage to sign up a Hooker or Kazee as free agents, that will likely eliminate
the eagerness to draft a regarded safety prospect early on.... just my opinion.