Film Room: What Is J.J. Wilcox's Ceiling?

[ConstantReboot]

Slide him towards the line and limit his responsibilities and I think we would see his highest potential. Let him use his athleticism and hands to make plays closer to the line of scrimmage. If Jones were to stick at FS he'd be a perfect compliment over the top with his range.

This. I thought he played pretty good sniffing out screens and making tackles. Don't think he's that good in coverage. However, he is still learning and might grow into a role as a Strong Safety instead.

We have too many strong safeties. Church and him are one of the same.

 

[Little Jr]

I have no clue what Wilcox's ceiling is. But I know he gets 16 chances this year to prove he deserves to be a starter or his replacement will be coming on board a year from now.

Maybe but I still think they'll keep him and move him over and let him take Church's spot

 

[LatinMind]

I dont think Church or Wilcox have a future in Dallas. I think Dallas drafted part of the solution for this yr in Byron Jones. Wouldnt be suprised if he turned into the FS Dallas has been looking for. Garrett already said he had plans for Jones as a CB/S role.

 

[wileedog]

He just looks like an athlete trying very very hard to be a safety. You cannot teach instincts.

This has always been my view on Wilcox.

 

[black label]

 

[pacboyX]

You guys really think Church is better than Wilcox? LMAO! There is a reason Church was taken off the field last year and Wilcox was not. Church had his worst year as a starter last year and I believe that was his ceiling since we are talking about ceilings. Hopefully CBs can stay healthy, so Byron can go FS and get Church off the damn field. Im just done with people giving support to Church, he hasnt done ishh for me since his practice squad days (besides a few ff).

 

[Yakuza Rich]

He and Church both are liabilities when asked to cover a TE. Not sure what the solution is for that, but this is the one area I hope the Cowboys figure out a solution for in the upcoming season.

We were 11th best in defending TE's in 2014 according to Football Outsiders.

32nd in 2013 when Wilcox played roughly 1/2 a season.

32nd in 2012.

20th in 2011.

I think Wilcox's best attribute is his man-to-man coverage, particularly on TE's and the stats indicate that to be correct.

I think any move of Byron Jones to FS tells me that Church's days are close to being numbered. They'll just move Wilcox to SS and get rid of Church who has a much lower ceiling that has already been hit now and he's far worse in coverage.

Furthermore, teams are using more 3 safety packages on defense to defend against TE's and tall WR's. The problem we had was our 3-safety rotation consisted of Wilcox, Church and Heath. I think the plan is simple, see what the health of the corners as we get into training camp and if they are healthy, move Jones to more FS play and if they are not healthy, keep him at corner. If he stays at corner, then we'll probably try to get him on the field when we want those 3 safety packages.






YR

 

[Yakuza Rich]

You guys really think Church is better than Wilcox? LMAO! There is a reason Church was taken off the field last year and Wilcox was not. Church had his worst year as a starter last year and I believe that was his ceiling since we are talking about ceilings. Hopefully CBs can stay healthy, so Byron can go FS and get Church off the damn field. Im just done with people giving support to Church, he hasnt done ishh for me since his practice squad days (besides a few ff).

I agree. The stats show the impact Wilcox had compared to Church. Church is a really good tackler, but not much in coverage and guess who had direct Church where to be last year?




YR

 

[Everson24]

The fact that they have talked about moving BJones to FS tells you everything you need to know about JJWilcox. Too Slow and lacks the range for Safety. His numbers are terrible against the pass and run.

Ceiling: 2nd/3rd string Safety, Special Teams and Emergency RB

I think it may say more about Church. I think this team would love to have Wilcox as the strong safety and eventually Byron Jones as the rangy free safety. I might be wrong but that is what I see for our future safety position.

 

[waving monkey]

Wilcox is learning the game but this is a make or break year

Wilcox will climb up the ratings

 

[Everson24]

I may be in the minority here, but I really like JJ Wilcox. I've seen a ton of improvement from him as a player. He rarely gets beat deep ala Gerald Sensabaugh and least does make some plays on the ball in the air. I know he had a rough day tackling in the playoff loss to the Packers, but I think that was footing as much as anything. He seems like a smart player and I expect this year to be even better. I would say that he has a very high ceiling as a strong safety.

 

[Bullflop]

I believe Wilcox is still a work in progress. He was extremely raw when we got him. This year should tell the tale. He doesn't always take the correct angles in run pursuit and his pass coverage lacks polish. Hopefully, he'll develop further than he has as yet. We'll see.

 

[jday]

As opposed to the rest of the leagues safeties, who have really been shutting down all those pass catching TE's. Amiright?

We were 11th best in defending TE's in 2014 according to Football Outsiders.

32nd in 2013 when Wilcox played roughly 1/2 a season.

32nd in 2012.

20th in 2011.

I think Wilcox's best attribute is his man-to-man coverage, particularly on TE's and the stats indicate that to be correct.

I think any move of Byron Jones to FS tells me that Church's days are close to being numbered. They'll just move Wilcox to SS and get rid of Church who has a much lower ceiling that has already been hit now and he's far worse in coverage.

Furthermore, teams are using more 3 safety packages on defense to defend against TE's and tall WR's. The problem we had was our 3-safety rotation consisted of Wilcox, Church and Heath. I think the plan is simple, see what the health of the corners as we get into training camp and if they are healthy, move Jones to more FS play and if they are not healthy, keep him at corner. If he stays at corner, then we'll probably try to get him on the field when we want those 3 safety packages.






YR

Stats are great...gotta love em'. But the only way the above stat really tells us anything of value is if every team in every game threw to a TE the same amount of times. Otherwise, that particular stat is useless in terms of measuring our safeties effectiveness against TE's.

 

[hendog]

Furthermore, teams are using more 3 safety packages on defense to defend against TE's and tall WR's. The problem we had was our 3-safety rotation consisted of Wilcox, Church and Heath. I think the plan is simple, see what the health of the corners as we get into training camp and if they are healthy, move Jones to more FS play and if they are not healthy, keep him at corner. If he stays at corner, then we'll probably try to get him on the field when we want those 3 safety packages.

That's why for the life of me I can't understand us not using our first 7th rd pick on Ekpre-Olamu. He may not be ready this season but would have been good to go next season. Definitely worth the risk at that point in the draft.




YR[/quote]

 

[unionjack8]

Tyrion Lannister would bump his head on JJ Wilcox ceiling

 

[Aliencowboy]

I think it may say more about Church. I think this team would love to have Wilcox as the strong safety and eventually Byron Jones as the rangy free safety. I might be wrong but that is what I see for our future safety position.

Church has better skills IMP. I think of the plays that Church made in Seattle particularly covering. He is more of a quality starter albeit far from all pro.

They can get by this year well enough. Look to the future in subsequent drafts

 

[SilverStarCowboy]

As a College QB he is still very inexperienced at the FS position and pretty raw yet.

JJ can improve greatly, watching from the sidelines could help him the most. Wilcox ceiling has not been scratched.

This pivotal 3rd year is his make or break season but not sure if he has the tackling ability or the durability to play on the strong side.

 

[StarBoyz83]

You guys really think Church is better than Wilcox? LMAO! There is a reason Church was taken off the field last year and Wilcox was not. Church had his worst year as a starter last year and I believe that was his ceiling since we are talking about ceilings. Hopefully CBs can stay healthy, so Byron can go FS and get Church off the damn field. Im just done with people giving support to Church, he hasnt done ishh for me since his practice squad days (besides a few ff).

church is easily better than wilcox so far. Better tackler, takes better angles, reacts to plays faster, better in coverage.

 

[Toruk_Makto]

He might have already hit it, believe it or not.

I did not see much of a jump from 2013 to his play last year. He just looks like an athlete trying very very hard to be a safety. You cannot teach instincts.

Instincts ar not taught they develop. He is still an infant when it comes to developing at the position. Let's hope his Instincts develop in year 3 of safety play.

What you can't teach is athletiscm.

 

[CyberB0b]

Iguess who had direct Church where to be last year?




YR

You are just making stuff up at this point.