How bad does Keith Davis being out of the defense for a little while hurt?

[tomson75]

I think Davis was cut the first time around because he was more useful to Parcells as an example than as a football player.

This time he's the incumbent starting FS and ST ace. While I'm sure Bill will ride him mercilessly for this I think he'll get some slack and won't be outright cut, unless more details surface that Davis was definately involved in something more than his story indicates.

while i don't have a theory on KD'd involvment, you are right about him being used as an example last time. whats changed since then is KD's value to the team. i don't buy that he's no longer valuable to Parcells because of the additions of Coleman, Pile, Boiman, Beriault, etc. he was a starter on defense and special teams and was fourth on the team in tackles i believe. and until KD is proven to have had provided motive to his attackers, i don't see him going anywhere either.

 

[StanleySpadowski]

Anything that keeps Davis off the field is a boon to the Dallas defense. He may have been the worst defensive back in the entire NFL last season.


Everyone does realize that Davis had basically lost his spot to Pile by season's end also don't they?

 

[wileedog]

Everyone does realize that Davis had basically lost his spot to Pile by season's end also don't they?

On obvious passing downs yes. Overall no.

If they thought Pile was better why did they match NO's offer? Heck, if he was that bad, why did NO make it? Payton sure saw enough of Davis.

 

[tomson75]

Anything that keeps Davis off the field is a boon to the Dallas defense. He may have been the worst defensive back in the entire NFL last season.


Everyone does realize that Davis had basically lost his spot to Pile by season's end also don't they?

KD still got the starts. Pile was predominantly playing nickel wasn't he? and even if he had "basically lost his spot to Pile", doesn't the fact that you have to ask the posters here speak volumes? i, for one, don't remember Pile having any significant impact whatsoever (save one big hit, and i think that was covering a punt).

the ONLY way Davis being off the field on defense is a boon to us is if we've found someone to actaully outplay him and take his job. until then, that comment is merely your opinion. do you have stats that support him being the worst defensive back in the NFL last season? i highly doubt that.

 

[StanleySpadowski]

On obvious passing downs yes. Overall no.

If they thought Pile was better why did they match NO's offer? Heck, if he was that bad, why did NO make it? Payton sure saw enough of Davis.

NO's offer sheet was more comparable to that of a top special teamer than a starting safety. Dallas matched for ST purposes, not defensive.

 

[Yakuza Rich]

Plus, I expect/hope for much better play this year from the front 7. More pressure up front means less pressure on the secondary. Even if Davis keeps his job and basically does what he did last year, I don't think it will kill us.

It didn't kill us last season as we finished 2nd in completion % allowed and 9th in QB rating allowed.

At best, our pass rush was decent. We finished 15th in sacks and sacks per passing attempt ratio. Footballoutsiders.com had us 12th in adjusted sack ratio which figures in opposing team's pass protection and down and distance.

The problem was that Davis and Pile were so bad in coverage that they didn't make one play the entire season. It's pretty obvious that coverage wise, our top 4 CB's and Roy were excellent in coverage. So in theory, Davis or Pile should have picked up a few interceptions. Instead, they picked up 0 interceptions the entire season and a decent FS probably would've been the difference in putting Dallas over the top and winning a few games for them last season.


Rich.............

 

[StanleySpadowski]

KD still got the starts. Pile was predominantly playing nickel wasn't he? and even if he had "basically lost his spot to Pile", doesn't the fact that you have to ask the posters here speak volumes? i, for one, don't remember Pile having any significant impact whatsoever (save one big hit, and i think that was covering a punt).

the ONLY way Davis being off the field on defense is a boon to us is if we've found someone to actaully outplay him and take his job. until then, that comment is merely your opinion. do you have stats that support him being the worst defensive back in the NFL last season? i highly doubt that.

I have to remind people because many here seem to get misconceptions ingrained in their heads and lose sight of the truth. A majority here didn't even realize that Campbell was a starter for a majority of games last season.




And of course it only my opinion, but read enough and you'll find that a majority of my "opinions" become accepted facts. Besides, what statistic could quanitify any ranking of defensive backs? The only one that could come close is "missed assignments" (whether a physical or mental error) and without knowing for certain every players specific assignment, gauging that would be difficult. We can take educated guesses as to assignments however and even a novice can see that Davis blew more assignments than any other Cowboy and while I don't study every NFL team as closely as I do Dallas, I haven't seen any regular on another team worse than Davis.

 

[Yakuza Rich]

On obvious passing downs yes. Overall no.

If they thought Pile was better why did they match NO's offer? Heck, if he was that bad, why did NO make it?

Because at the time the true safeties they had were:

Pile
Beriault - coming off a knee surgery that no NFL player has ever played with.
Coleman - drinking issues and may be done with.

It wasn't until they matched the offer that afterwards they drafted Watkins. Even if Reeves winds up starting at FS, they would have some major FS issues with Davis gone because if one of the CB's got hurt, then Reeves would have to play CB.

Plus, Davis is an exception special teams guy and with Vandy's kickoff issues, they are best off getting all of the special teams help they can get.


Rich............

 

[wileedog]

NO's offer sheet was more comparable to that of a top special teamer than a starting safety. Dallas matched for ST purposes, not defensive.

Fair enough. I was going to continue arguing but then I remembered that I don't think he's very good either. :

Maybe he could be an almost competent SS on another team, but you're probably right in that there aren't too many FS's who are worse in coverage.

 

[tomson75]

a couple of weeks ago, i saw a VERY well respected poster on this board damn near give a redkin fan a heart attack by showing more examples of sean taylor getting beat and missing assignments than Keith Davis (i'll look for the link). Keiths problems of late have indeed been there, but its not usually missed assignments, but rather hesitation. that he was fourth on the team in tackles suggests that he was usually in on the play, the problem was he wasn't making the play. this is the type of flaw that can be improved with experience. and if i had a nickel for every time i saw the "three year rule" on this board. he should be given another shot (sorry). i think it completely feasible that he could become a quality starter (although i'd rather see Watkins beat him out).

 

[2233boys]

Not going to vote because your options weren't complete.


My vote is for it won't hurt the defense because he is replaceable...