If there is a surprise cut, look at the starting safeties

[Cowboyny]

Our safety play last season took a big step back:

-Wilson was almost unplayable early in the season. Very undisciplined against the run was a liability in man coverage and missed a ton of tackles.

-Hooker wasn't much better. Him being the free safety, you rarely saw him around the football, seems always a tick slow to react. Like Wilson struggled taking the right angles and tackling in space.

Both players signed big extensions where there is an out in each contract this season. They did resign Bell and Thomas to lower extensions and even spent the most undrafted fa dollars at the position. Both starters aren't locks to remain with the team and are poor fits in Eberflus defensive scheme. This is something to keep our eyes on, perhaps one is used as trade bait.

 

[Dalmations202]

Our safety play last season took a big step back:

-Wilson was almost unplayable early in the season. Very undisciplined against the run was a liability in man coverage and missed a ton of tackles.

-Hooker wasn't much better. Him being the free safety, you rarely saw him around the football, seems always a tick slow to react. Like Wilson struggled taking the right angles and tackling in space.

Both players signed big extensions where there is an out in each contract this season. They did resign Bell and Thomas to lower extensions and even spent the most undrafted fa dollars at the position. Both starters aren't locks to remain with the team and are poor fits in Eberflus defensive scheme. This is something to keep our eyes on, perhaps one is used as trade bait.

Why do you think they are poor fits in Eberflus defensive scheme?

Both are fairly good at zone coverage and stepping up for the run.

Neither are very good when they have to man up. Zimmer had them man up against elite TE's and they both failed that one especially Wilson.

Eberflus from what I have been told -- haven't watched much of his defensive tendencies-- depends heavily on zone defenses. Is this not the case?

If they do rely on zones, then both players may be just what they are needing. If not, then they should have drafted some.

 

[blueblood70]

Our safety play last season took a big step back:

-Wilson was almost unplayable early in the season. Very undisciplined against the run was a liability in man coverage and missed a ton of tackles.

-Hooker wasn't much better. Him being the free safety, you rarely saw him around the football, seems always a tick slow to react. Like Wilson struggled taking the right angles and tackling in space.

Both players signed big extensions where there is an out in each contract this season. They did resign Bell and Thomas to lower extensions and even spent the most undrafted fa dollars at the position. Both starters aren't locks to remain with the team and are poor fits in Eberflus defensive scheme. This is something to keep our eyes on, perhaps one is used as trade bait.

Yeah, but here's the caveat you said at the beginning of the season you're right DONO look like he was out there looking to build his stats, Head hunting ,going off script IE I call it hero ball but he got that going in a better direction, he finished the year strong just like a lot of other players kind of found their game late...

The dudes are straight up dog he hits hard he's aggressive I don't think you want to cut that off this team right now but so I don't have an answer whether somebody's going get a surprise cut but they weren't bad when when you take away a whole lot of your pass rush a lot of your linebackers a lot of your corners of course your safety are going look bad they're out there running amok trying to clean up all the holes and there's no way they can clean up all the holes the entire defense looked bad last year...


I think the competition is more at the interior D line you know the overrun with numbers I mean the running backroom is pretty deep and now there's going to be some surprise cuts or not so surprised at wide receiver but at safety I don't know bell and Thomas were coming off injuries the one thing we counted on is **** and Donovan Wilson were there all year and Donovan Wilson got better they're steady at best is what you need with a young defense trying to find its brand new season one feet...

 

[Coogiguy03]

I hope they'll upgrade that spot next off season get a play making safety in there that can do a lot of different things then just one good thing.

I think Thomas gets a little too much hype because he played good in a small role, would need to see more before I crown him

 

[CCBoy]

These safeties support the changes in the current scheme well. Upgrade individually from there.

 

[CCBoy]

Yeah, but here's the caveat you said at the beginning of the season you're right DONO look like he was out there looking to build his stats, Head hunting ,going off script IE I call it hero ball but he got that going in a better direction, he finished the year strong just like a lot of other players kind of found their game late...

The dudes are straight up dog he hits hard he's aggressive I don't think you want to cut that off this team right now but so I don't have an answer whether somebody's going get a surprise cut but they weren't bad when when you take away a whole lot of your pass rush a lot of your linebackers a lot of your corners of course your safety are going look bad they're out there running amok trying to clean up all the holes and there's no way they can clean up all the holes the entire defense looked bad last year...


I think the competition is more at the interior D line you know the overrun with numbers I mean the running backroom is pretty deep and now there's going to be some surprise cuts or not so surprised at wide receiver but at safety I don't know bell and Thomas were coming off injuries the one thing we counted on is **** and Donovan Wilson were there all year and Donovan Wilson got better they're steady at best is what you need with a young defense trying to find its brand new season one feet...

The defensive unit as a whole has improved as well, in the now.

 

[BHendri5]

I hope they cut Hooker and Wilson

 

[blueblood70]

I hope they cut Hooker and Wilson

 

[Pass2Run]

Our safety play last season took a big step back:

-Wilson was almost unplayable early in the season. Very undisciplined against the run was a liability in man coverage and missed a ton of tackles.

-Hooker wasn't much better. Him being the free safety, you rarely saw him around the football, seems always a tick slow to react. Like Wilson struggled taking the right angles and tackling in space.

Both players signed big extensions where there is an out in each contract this season. They did resign Bell and Thomas to lower extensions and even spent the most undrafted fa dollars at the position. Both starters aren't locks to remain with the team and are poor fits in Eberflus defensive scheme. This is something to keep our eyes on, perhaps one is used as trade bait.

Hooker never should have been given his contact. DQ likely helped him with that.

Wilson was always kind of a hit or miss player.

 

[Canada180]

Our safety play last season took a big step back:

-Wilson was almost unplayable early in the season. Very undisciplined against the run was a liability in man coverage and missed a ton of tackles.

-Hooker wasn't much better. Him being the free safety, you rarely saw him around the football, seems always a tick slow to react. Like Wilson struggled taking the right angles and tackling in space.

Both players signed big extensions where there is an out in each contract this season. They did resign Bell and Thomas to lower extensions and even spent the most undrafted fa dollars at the position. Both starters aren't locks to remain with the team and are poor fits in Eberflus defensive scheme. This is something to keep our eyes on, perhaps one is used as trade bait.

I can honestly say I never want to see Wilson trying to cover a TE ever again!

 

[Cowboyny]

Why do you think they are poor fits in Eberflus defensive scheme?

Both are fairly good at zone coverage and stepping up for the run.

Neither are very good when they have to man up. Zimmer had them man up against elite TE's and they both failed that one especially Wilson.

Eberflus from what I have been told -- haven't watched much of his defensive tendencies-- depends heavily on zone defenses. Is this not the case?

If they do rely on zones, then both players may be just what they are needing. If not, then they should have drafted some.

Eberflus scheme calls for basically two, coverage free safeties that possess good range and strong reaction skills. Wilson is more of your traditional box safety that struggles in coverage. Hooker just never around the football as his reaction skills are very limited.

For what they are paying both to be, they are going to need better production to justify their cost. I really don't think there would be a big drop off from them and their backups who make a fraction of their cost.

 

[Cowboyny]

Yeah, but here's the caveat you said at the beginning of the season you're right DONO look like he was out there looking to build his stats, Head hunting ,going off script IE I call it hero ball but he got that going in a better direction, he finished the year strong just like a lot of other players kind of found their game late...

The dudes are straight up dog he hits hard he's aggressive I don't think you want to cut that off this team right now but so I don't have an answer whether somebody's going get a surprise cut but they weren't bad when when you take away a whole lot of your pass rush a lot of your linebackers a lot of your corners of course your safety are going look bad they're out there running amok trying to clean up all the holes and there's no way they can clean up all the holes the entire defense looked bad last year...


I think the competition is more at the interior D line you know the overrun with numbers I mean the running backroom is pretty deep and now there's going to be some surprise cuts or not so surprised at wide receiver but at safety I don't know bell and Thomas were coming off injuries the one thing we counted on is **** and Donovan Wilson were there all year and Donovan Wilson got better they're steady at best is what you need with a young defense trying to find its brand new season one feet...

His best asset is his physical presence, but cannot be a liability in coverage and be so reckless against the run looking for that big hit. Hooker offers us very little to nothing, honestly might be the most overpaid starter we have.

 

[Cowboyny]

I hope they'll upgrade that spot next off season get a play making safety in there that can do a lot of different things then just one good thing.

I think Thomas gets a little too much hype because he played good in a small role, would need to see more before I crown him

They did show interest with the Texas Safety so that could be a tell that they want to upgrade the position.

 

[Cowboyny]

I can honestly say I never want to see Wilson trying to cover a TE ever again!

When his back is turned to the QB, he is as bad as Roy Williams was in coverage.

 

[fivetwos]

I expect safety to be part of next years “needs.”

Then they will wait until the mid rounds of the draft to address it, if at all, because they don’t value the position, and it’ll be an exploitable weakness that was left open because they wouldn’t “overpay (according to Stephens opinion),” and the better staffs will take advantage.

It’s the same act over and over, it just rotates positions.

How long were they trying to win games with the likes of Alan Ball and Jeff Heath figuring to get away with it?

They don’t need to sign a star for big money, just find a mid-level FA that can be counted on, not a mid round rookie unless you’re in the midst of a rebuild.

 

[Dalmations202]

Eberflus scheme calls for basically two, coverage free safeties that possess good range and strong reaction skills. Wilson is more of your traditional box safety that struggles in coverage. Hooker just never around the football as his reaction skills are very limited.

For what they are paying both to be, they are going to need better production to justify their cost. I really don't think there would be a big drop off from them and their backups who make a fraction of their cost.

I agree with your assessment that Dono is a legit box safety, who imo does a descent job covering shallow zone but is in no way a good coverage safety.
But if you are looking for a coverage safety to play deep zone...........that is as bad as asking him to be a man safety who runs with elite WR or TE......not a good idea.

As far as Hooker, he seems to me to be pretty good as a deep safety who isn't afraid to step up and tackle, but seems to have lost a step.

I think both of these guys are solid safeties, but only if they are used to their strength.