How to upgrade the Safety position from within

[AMERICAS_FAN]

The Cowboys have a decision to make at Safety, namely, what to do with SS Roy Williams and CB Anthony Henry. And I believe that if they play their cards right, they can upgrade the Safety position from within.

From a salary-cap perspective, if they release Williams, the Cowboys would save $4.4 million against the salary cap in 2009 and avoid paying more than $9 million owed to Williams over the next two years. His current value is too high for a part time safety in sub-packages.

CB Anthony Henry, who is in the final year of his contract, has a $5.6 million cap hit for 2009 which includes a $1 million roster bonus; but the Cowboys would save only $3.6 million of that against the cap by releasing Henry.

So my speculation is that Dallas will eventually part ways with SS Roy Williams, move Ken Hamlin to SS, and slide Anthony Henry to FS. With one year left on his contract, this last season is the perfect opportunity to find out what Henry can do at FS.

Dallas does not need to rush to make any rash decisions at Safety just yet. I think it's expected that one veteran will be released from the secondary (in addition to Pacman Jones who is already gone), and I can see it being SS Roy Williams over Anthony Henry because Henry can cost less to keep and has a better chance to be a starter. But Dallas can wait until after the draft to first see which Safety they ultimately draft (strong or free), and that may impact who they release.

Keeping Henry makes sense because he has played well over his contract every year (minus the injuries), so I would be shocked if Dallas kept SS Roy Williams and cut Anthony Henry.

If he stays healthy then Henry is solid, and he has proven in the past he can play FS. So I see Dallas eventually parting ways with SS Roy Williams, and explore trading him away rather than cutting him. Williams has played to his contract standards in a 4-3, so I can see him getting a lot of interest from 4-3 teams. Therefore Dallas should explore this trade before cutting him outright.

I also think Henry has some trade value, but that’s because he is worth keeping. And in Dallas' 3-4 defense, a Safety tandem of Anthony Henry at FS and Ken Hamlin at SS would be solid. And Dallas can draft a SS to provide depth, and also keep Watkins for depth at FS (and they need Watkins because he's among the best special-team players on the roster).

So I think Dallas is sitting pretty at this position, and with a slight move of sliding Henry to FS can easily upgrade this position, and keep him healthier as this is a less-physical position. And if he plays well in 2009 he can be extended for 2010 or longer. This move would also move Ken Hamlin to SS, where he can play more aggressively; and he seems to play better when he does that, so moving him to the position where that is more naturally expected makes a world of sense.

So I think Dallas has a great opportunity to add youth to this position - even get an extra draft pick -, upgrade Safety from within with veteran leadership, and still save money on the cap.

Your thoughts?

 

[zrinkill]

The Safety position is much more physical than the Corner position.

Henry has had trouble staying healthy at the Corner position ..... I have a hard time believing he can stay healthy.


Skill wise I think his abilities are perfect for the FS position ..... just do not think his body could handle it.

 

[Hostile]

I have not read the thread yet but I will.

20 bucks says this is the same old move Hamlin to SS and make Henry the FS idea that has been propagated 100 times already.

 

[Hostile]

So my speculation is that Dallas will eventually part ways with SS Roy Williams, move Ken Hamlin to SS, and slide Anthony Henry to FS. With one year left on his contract, this last season is the perfect opportunity to find out what Henry can do at FS.

Bingo!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

Hamlin is an average tackler. I do NOT want him at SS and Henry is an average tackler as well. Great for a CB but nothing special. Tackling from our safeties was bad enough.

I want RW38 back and I think the defense does too. First and second down and he is worth the cash he is getting paid.

 

[AMERICAS_FAN]

I have not read the thread yet but I will.20 bucks says this is the same old move Hamlin to SS and make Henry the FS idea that has been propagated 100 times already.

Then you should read it because it also includes salary cap implications of keping/cutting Roy Williams and Anthony Henry, and the possibility of getting draft picks for either one. This takes it far beyond the "can Henry play FS" and "can Hamlin play SS" debates because it adds dollar values to the moves and has implications of how the entire depth at Safety can be reshaped.

 

[Stash]

I'd perfer to let both Williams and Henry go and sign a veteran free safety like Darren Sharper - who has proven he can play the position - to man the position until a younger player is ready.

I think a Sharper/Hamlin tandem would be a significant upgrade and Sharper would cost less than cutting Williams and Henry would save the team.

He's not a long-term solution, but he would be solid the next season or two until a younger choice is groomed for the role.

 

[Hostile]

Then you should read it because it also includes salary cap implications of keping/cutting Roy Williams and Anthony Henry, and the possibility of getting draft picks for either one. This takes it far beyond the "can Henry play FS" and "can Hamlin play SS" debates because it adds dollar values to the moves and has implications of how the entire depth at Safety can be reshaped.

I did read it like I said I would. I hollered bingo.

 

[Idgit]

Hamlin is an average tackler. I do NOT want him at SS and Henry is an average tackler as well. Great for a CB but nothing special. Tackling from our safeties was bad enough.

I want RW38 back and I think the defense does too. First and second down and he is worth the cash he is getting paid.

I agree. It's possible to hit on a mid-round starter at safety in the draft, and we should definitely take a shot on someone with potential, but I'm not comfortable creating another hole on defense for us to fill this offseason. This defense was good, bordering great for a stretch last year when we were healthy, and that needs to continue if we're going to work our way through some of our problems on offense early in the year.

 

[AdamJT13]

From a salary-cap perspective, if they release Williams, the Cowboys would save $4.4 million against the salary cap in 2009 and avoid paying more than $9 million owed to Williams over the next two years.

Cutting Williams would save less than $2 million of cap room. We could save almost as much with a simple restructuring of his contract (or more than that, if he took a pay cut), and we'd still have him.

 

[TheSport78]

Cutting Williams would save less than $2 million of cap room. We could save almost as much with a simple restructuring of his contract (or more than that, if he took a pay cut), and we'd still have him.

But I don't want him period lol. The guy has become more of a liability than a luxury.

 

[GoBoys41]

Keeping Roy Williams at this point is worse than letting him go even if we can save an equivalent amount of cap space. He's a whiny excuse maker who's brand of "leadership" is exactly what's wrong with Dallas. He cries about the scheme rather than critique his own play. He's as good as a stump against the pass and hardly a force against the run. Get rid of him.

 

[fanfromvirginia]

Cutting Williams would save less than $2 million of cap room. We could save almost as much with a simple restructuring of his contract (or more than that, if he took a pay cut), and we'd still have him.

So does that mean that the number on Henry is correct? I'm all for cutting Henry if it really saves us 3.6 mil.

 

[TheSport78]

Geez our GM is actually clueless when it comes to letting players go. Jerry just doesn't want to admit he's wrong about anything and forces things on the team. RELEASE HENRY who has been a gimp and will only get worse if he gets moved to FS because he's not physical enough to play the position. He's too old and TERRIBLE in open space. RELEASE ROY WILLIAMS bcause the guy has become a 2 down player and even then teams will find a way to target him in the passing game on first and second down. It's time for both of them to go, and then draft a young safety like Louis Delmas, Rashad Johnson or Patrick Chung.

 

[KingintheNorth]

So does that mean that the number on Henry is correct? I'm all for cutting Henry if it really saves us 3.6 mil.

Henry's release would save us $ 3.6 M. Roy's release would only save us $1.66M. Releasing him next year would be a bigger cap relief number. The upside to releasing Roy now is that he would be completely off the books before 2010 season as opposed to the 2011 season.

 

[AdamJT13]

So does that mean that the number on Henry is correct? I'm all for cutting Henry if it really saves us 3.6 mil.

Yes, Henry will be in the final year of his contract, so there are no bonus prorations to accelerate into this coming season.

Although, because of the Rule of 51, the savings would be about $3.215 million instead of $3.6 million.

 

[Doomsay]

Keeping Roy Williams at this point is worse than letting him go even if we can save an equivalent amount of cap space. He's a whiny excuse maker who's brand of "leadership" is exactly what's wrong with Dallas. He cries about the scheme rather than critique his own play. He's as good as a stump against the pass and hardly a force against the run. Get rid of him.

100% dead-on. I can't believe people are still blinded by Woodson era Roy memories when he was freed-up to roam around the field and hit defenseless receivers. He's been one of the main defensive weaknesses targeted by opposing teams over the past few years. No matter where they move him, he becomes the primary target of opportunity.


He can not cover and he is not a presence at the LOS. Contrary to popular opinion, we did not miss him in 2008 in terms of long runs (Ravens game). Our 20 yd+ and 40 yd+ runs allowed in 2007 and 2008 were essentially the same.

We did miss a run stopping SS last year, but it's not Roy, the vastly overpaid whiner/excuse maker/finger pointer.

 

[AMERICAS_FAN]

Keeping Roy Williams at this point is worse than letting him go even if we can save an equivalent amount of cap space. He's a whiny excuse maker who's brand of "leadership" is exactly what's wrong with Dallas. He cries about the scheme rather than critique his own play. He's as good as a stump against the pass and hardly a force against the run. Get rid of him.

I think it's unfair to paint him as whiny. And the fact that he is not a leader is irrelvant because he'll be a 2-down (i.e. part-time) player if he stays. He actually finally played well in his limited role, until he got hurt, and I cna't fualt any player fro that either when it's not due to lack of conditioning (in his case it was not).

The question around SS Roy Williams then is this: should Dallas keep him in this role under a re-strucutred deal, or cut him ouright to give his roster spot to someone else - maybe a guy they darft at SS?

The answer is not a gimmee - those who think so are being blatantly ignorant. I think it's a tough decision because it's a choice between keeping what you 'know' vs. drafting what you 'don't know.' If thet draftee does not pan out then you've saved your cap some space (or perhaps not) but now lost a sure part-time player on first and second down.

EDIT: What complicates it is who are the Cowboys likely to draft at Safety. Strong Safeties don't far too far in the draft, but Free Safeties have a better chancve on doing that. Soif Dallas drafts a Safety then maybe the best value is to draft a Free Safety, kepp Roy Willimas in his part-time role and then the question becomes: what does Dallas do about Anthony Henry; let him compete at FS with a rookie, keep him at CB, cut him outright, or just keep him at CB?

 

[Future]

I have not read the thread yet but I will.

20 bucks says this is the same old move Hamlin to SS and make Henry the FS idea that has been propagated 100 times already.

Your forgot a comma and a zero.

 

[BAT]

I would rather get rid of Hamlin over Roy. But Roy should have more trade value.


If Dallas can get Julius Peppers for Roy and a 2010 first (or package of picks) then let the exodus begin. Both guys get to play in their preferred schemes (Roy in the 4-3, Julius the 3-4). After that, trade Ellis' sorry arse out of here for some future 2nd day pick(s)/backup players too.