DC: Phillips: Top 3 Rookies Face Competition To Start, But Will Have Roles

[xwalker]

that is the case and the reason you put him in CB, but if the CB is filled, get taht boy on the field. Play S for a play or two, or let him run around, idc, get him on the field if he cant be on the field as a CB. Would you agree to that?

If he is a top 3 CB on the team then he should play CB (The 3rd CB played about 66% of the snaps last year). There would need to be 3 CBs that are clearly better than him right now before I would move him to Safety. Patmon looks really good, but is limited by his size. In the videos, Dez ran a 9 route against both Jones and Patmon and both times it was on the offensive right sideline (i.e. almost an identical play). Patmon had really good coverage but Dez caught the ball anyway. Jones had similar coverage going down the field but with his size/length was able to prevent Dez from catching the ball. Scandrick has similar size limitation to Patmon against big WRs like Dez. Carr has the size but lacks elite athletic ability. I do like Patmon in the slot, but that would put both him and Scandrick on the field together which doubles up on size limited CBs on the field.

I think White is a good candidate to move to Safety; although I think Wilcox retains the job. I would likely only move Jones to Safety if White is ahead of him at CB.

 

[Galian Beast]

I would say that Byron Jones should probably start at free safety at this point. Also this as has been said is a product of drafting BPA.

We drafted Gregory after we already signed Hardy and drafted Lawrence last year. Collins just fell into our lap. We didn't draft anyone with the expectations that they would necessarily start this year.

That isn't to suggest however that our roster is so packed that we couldn't have talented rookies start for us. I think we probably could have started a rookie defensive tackle, a rookie linebacker, a rookie running back, and maybe even a rookie wide receiver, and I think Byron Jones could certainly start at safety.

 

[Galian Beast]

If he is a top 3 CB on the team then he should play CB (The 3rd CB played about 66% of the snaps last year). There would need to be 3 CBs that are clearly better than him right now before I would move him to Safety. Patmon looks really good, but is limited by his size. In the videos, Dez ran a 9 route against both Jones and Patmon and both times it was on the offensive right sideline (i.e. almost an identical play). Patmon had really good coverage but Dez caught the ball anyway. Jones had similar coverage going down the field but with his size/length was able to prevent Dez from catching the ball. Scandrick has similar size limitation to Patmon against big WRs like Dez. Carr has the size but lacks elite athletic ability. I do like Patmon in the slot, but that would put both him and Scandrick on the field together which doubles up on size limited CBs on the field.

I think White is a good candidate to move to Safety; although I think Wilcox retains the job. I would likely only move Jones to Safety if White is ahead of him at CB.

I think safety is a much weaker position for us than corner, especially if we have an improved pass rush. We got toasted last year mostly by tight ends. Our cornerback play wasn't terrible, especially down the stretch.

I think Jones could be a pro bowl safety or a good corner. We've been dying to have the safety position fixed for such a long time, here is our opportunity. I still think we're going to have to go back into the secondary next year early during the draft.

 

[dallasdave]

That was funny because.....?

Just laughed because of " Maybe you're just sensitive". But no offense it was just a good laugh, and just hit me as funny.

 

[jobberone]

Just laughed because of " Maybe you're just sensitive". But no offense it was just a good laugh, and just hit me as funny.

I thought maybe I had screwed up something and wanted to know what the heck I had said. Not offended at all. Just needed clarification. You've never messed with me anyway.

 

[jobberone]

I think safety is a much weaker position for us than corner, especially if we have an improved pass rush. We got toasted last year mostly by tight ends. Our cornerback play wasn't terrible, especially down the stretch.

I think Jones could be a pro bowl safety or a good corner. We've been dying to have the safety position fixed for such a long time, here is our opportunity. I still think we're going to have to go back into the secondary next year early during the draft.

I agree wholeheartedly about safety and I think we are stronger at CB than in a long time. But I hope they don't weaken CB for the sake of safety. I have some faith in Wilcox continuing to progress and I think Heath is a much better prospect than many here believe. However, I don't really know where he's at in terms of being a dependable backup. I don't care much for the STs guy and can't even remember his name since I don't really care.

 

[Galian Beast]

I agree wholeheartedly about safety and I think we are stronger at CB than in a long time. But I hope they don't weaken CB for the sake of safety. I have some faith in Wilcox continuing to progress and I think Heath is a much better prospect than many here believe. However, I don't really know where he's at in terms of being a dependable backup. I don't care much for the STs guy and can't even remember his name since I don't really care.

Wilcox can't cover at all. I've lost all confidence in him at this point.

Going forward he needs to be replaced with a true cover safety like Jones.

You have Jones and Church at safety, and then you have Scandrick and a high draft pick next year. You then spend the next year or another high draft pick in the same year to try and replace Scandrick the next year. We can put together a good secondary pretty quickly here.

 

[jobberone]

Wilcox can't cover at all. I've lost all confidence in him at this point.

Going forward he needs to be replaced with a true cover safety like Jones.

You have Jones and Church at safety, and then you have Scandrick and a high draft pick next year. You then spend the next year or another high draft pick in the same year to try and replace Scandrick the next year. We can put together a good secondary pretty quickly here.

I don't disagree completely with Wilcox but Church is roughly the same player even in coverage. IOWs our safeties are average.

I don't see Church getting much better although both may look better this year with an improved pass rush. So I'm going to wait another year to see how they do. I think Wilcox can improve and maybe substantially.

What's for certain is the safeties on this team are upgradeable as of today.

I don't like the idea of moving Jones yet. He will definitely be in the Nickel, Dime, big Dime and Quarter.

 

[dallasdave]

I don't disagree completely with Wilcox but Church is roughly the same player even in coverage. IOWs our safeties are average.

I don't see Church getting much better although both may look better this year with an improved pass rush. So I'm going to wait another year to see how they do.

What's for certain is the safeties on this team are upgradeable as of today.

I don't like the idea of moving Jones yet. He will definitely be in the Nickel, Dime, big Dime and Quarter.

I think Jones will help the team out in the red zone. His size and leaping ability will allow Dallas to match up better in red zone defense.

 

[jobberone]

I think Jones will help the team out in the red zone. His size and leaping ability will allow Dallas to match up better in red zone defense.

He may end up starting esp with Carr hurt and Mo a mystery as to how he will play. This is why I don't want to see them screw around with the CBs.

 

[casmith07]

From what I've seen Jones looks like the best CB on the team. He definitely looks like the best match-up to cover Dez.

I agree. So far, Jones has been even better than Scandrick. Which is saying something. I hope Jones is better - that can only help the defense.

Gregory I hope gets some snaps kind of like how Bruce Irvin started in Seattle -- just stick him out there and tell him to get the QB.

Collins will replace Doug Free either this year or next year. It's a matter of time. We need to extend a guy like Leary sooner rather than later so we only have to plug and play one new lineman, and at RT at that.

 

[dallasdave]

He may end up starting esp with Carr hurt and Mo a mystery as to how he will play. This is why I don't want to see them screw around with the CBs.

Jones will get some action this year, and will help no matter where he lines up.

 

[dallasdave]

I agree. So far, Jones has been even better than Scandrick. Which is saying something. I hope Jones is better - that can only help the defense.

Gregory I hope gets some snaps kind of like how Bruce Irvin started in Seattle -- just stick him out there and tell him to get the QB.

Collins will replace Doug Free either this year or next year. It's a matter of time. We need to extend a guy like Leary sooner rather than later so we only have to plug and play one new lineman, and at RT at that.

Well said, stay thirsty my friend.

 

[casmith07]

He may end up starting esp with Carr hurt and Mo a mystery as to how he will play. This is why I don't want to see them screw around with the CBs.

Byron Jones is going to start at CB at this point, is my guess. Either way, you need 3 and at least 4 good cornerbacks in today's NFL. He will get reps.

All of the talk about moving him to free safety is rooted in fan fantasy. Sure he can probably play there in Dime sets, but that's so far and away from every-down play that it's a silly proposition.

There have been two players in history to make positional swaps and make them at a level that truly impacted the outcome of games -- both of them are named Woodson.

 

[dallasdave]

Byron Jones is going to start at CB at this point, is my guess. Either way, you need 3 and at least 4 good cornerbacks in today's NFL. He will get reps.

All of the talk about moving him to free safety is rooted in fan fantasy. Sure he can probably play there in Dime sets, but that's so far and away from every-down play that it's a silly proposition.

There have been two players in history to make positional swaps and make them at a level that truly impacted the outcome of games -- both of them are named Woodson.

I just feel Jones is going to have an impact this year because of his size and skill set.

 

[jobberone]

Jones will get some action this year, and will help no matter where he lines up.

He will no doubt be in SPs like the nickel and dime.

 

[casmith07]

Wilcox can't cover at all. I've lost all confidence in him at this point.

Going forward he needs to be replaced with a true cover safety like Jones.

You have Jones and Church at safety, and then you have Scandrick and a high draft pick next year. You then spend the next year or another high draft pick in the same year to try and replace Scandrick the next year. We can put together a good secondary pretty quickly here.

You are so far off base its hilarious.

 

[jobberone]

Byron Jones is going to start at CB at this point, is my guess. Either way, you need 3 and at least 4 good cornerbacks in today's NFL. He will get reps.

All of the talk about moving him to free safety is rooted in fan fantasy. Sure he can probably play there in Dime sets, but that's so far and away from every-down play that it's a silly proposition.

There have been two players in history to make positional swaps and make them at a level that truly impacted the outcome of games -- both of them are named Woodson.

I agree. He'll be either a starter which is likely now that Carr is down or at least the #3 IMO. He'll likely play in all the SPs.