Is it time to think about Jones at FS?

[RunDMC]

Jones needs more seasoning... Bring him along slow, let him develop as the season goes on, keep him healthy and his mileage low, and increase his role as it gets later in the season... Once Jones doesn't have to think so much, and he can just react, then his superior athleticism can takeover.

In the mean time we leave Barry Church out there and continue to see him whiff on tackles and get exposed in coverage.

 

[cowboyuptx]

In the mean time we leave Barry Church out there and continue to see him whiff on tackles and get exposed in coverage.

I'm not satisfied with Church either, but Jones isn't ready to start the next 11+ games at FS. He's a first-round draft pick, the coaching staff and the whole organization want him to be a starter, and if he were ready to carry the load for 16 games, then he would have been made the starter, but he's just not there yet...

 

[MRV52]

I know this has little chance of happening but I want to rant about what another disaster Church threw up there yesterday.

He obviously isn't great in coverage, so at the very least, he has to be a productive tackler out there but he whiffed over and over and over yesterday. That was on top of his awful play in the Saints game.

Wilcox isn't great either but I'd rather see him at SS and move Jones to FS. I can't take much more of Church looking inept out there.

Wish you were our coach.

 

[kevm3]

Keep him doing what he's doing now and draft an actual safety next year.

 

[KingintheNorth]

Here's the thing with Jones, I think the team feels pretty safe that he can play FS down the road if necessary. Just listening to and reading the coaches and Jerry all off-season I think that they really want him to work out at CB. They talked a lot about his athletic ability and potential to match up with elite NFL WR's. There were even some comps to Darrelle Revis.

 

[KingintheNorth]

Here's the thing with Jones, I think the team feels pretty safe that he can play FS down the road if necessary. Just listening to and reading the coaches and Jerry all off-season I think that they really want him to work out at CB. They talked a lot about his athletic ability and potential to match up with elite NFL WR's. There were even some comps to Darrelle Revis.

..and this is coming from the president of the Please, Please Get Us a Free Safety committee.

 

[xwalker]

I know this has little chance of happening but I want to rant about what another disaster Church threw up there yesterday.

He obviously isn't great in coverage, so at the very least, he has to be a productive tackler out there but he whiffed over and over and over yesterday. That was on top of his awful play in the Saints game.

Wilcox isn't great either but I'd rather see him at SS and move Jones to FS. I can't take much more of Church looking inept out there.

Did you see the snaps where Jones and Heath were the 2 deep Safeties?

 

[RunDMC]

I'm not satisfied with Church either, but Jones isn't ready to start the next 11+ games at FS. He's a first-round draft pick, the coaching staff and the whole organization want him to be a starter, and if he were ready to carry the load for 16 games, then he would have been made the starter, but he's just not there yet...

Why not? He may be ready he may be not, but he cannot be worse than Wilcox has been as a free safety in the base defense. Church is too much of a liability to be out there as a starter.

 

[big dog cowboy]

i worry about jones though. not sure if it's because hes a rookie still learning. but he's not physical, plays tentative.

not claiborne bad with missed tackles, just jagish.

Not sure if serious.

 

[neosapien23]

I was all for putting Jones at FS but it might not be a good idea for the team's long term success. I really think Jones could be a good FS but he is already showing that he is a good CB right now. White would also be a viable option but it now looks like he has overtaken Patmon as the nickel corner. Claiborne will be gone next year and Jones will have to play opposite Scandrick as I expect Carr to be cut. White will be the nickel back. Might have to right out Church and Wilcox this year and then move both to SS and draft a FS in the draft. Moving Jones to FS will stunt is growth as a corner.

 

[jazzcat22]

I know this has little chance of happening but I want to rant about what another disaster Church threw up there yesterday.

He obviously isn't great in coverage, so at the very least, he has to be a productive tackler out there but he whiffed over and over and over yesterday. That was on top of his awful play in the Saints game.

Wilcox isn't great either but I'd rather see him at SS and move Jones to FS. I can't take much more of Church looking inept out there.

Stephen Jones mentioned this earlier this year in his annual conference call with season ticket holders.
he said depending on the play and recovery of Mo, that may be the eventual plan, but they are not sure of when, or if it happens.
And that Wilcox and Church are basically the same player, they love to hit. So they could have one of them up in the box, help against the run more, and have Jones play the more true FS role.

Well, they said it, know it, have a plan if they want to follow it...well now it is time to do it.

 

[burmafrd]

i worry about jones though. not sure if it's because hes a rookie still learning. but he's not physical, plays tentative.

not claiborne bad with missed tackles, just jagish.

you CLEARLY did not watch sundays game.

 

[conner01]

Here's the thing with Jones, I think the team feels pretty safe that he can play FS down the road if necessary. Just listening to and reading the coaches and Jerry all off-season I think that they really want him to work out at CB. They talked a lot about his athletic ability and potential to match up with elite NFL WR's. There were even some comps to Darrelle Revis.

Just looking at the roster next year having jones at CB is ideal
But I think jones is better at safety and I think they are seeing that too
That said I like what they are doing with him now
Let him come along slowly and learn the game
Players have to develope in many cases and I think that's what they are trying to do with him

 

[perrykemp]

In another case of PFF stats not matching up with what I am seeing on the field, they've ranked him as the 23rd best rookie CB in the NFL this season.

In general I've been mighty impressed with his play culminating in his outstanding game against Gronk.

Here is the PFF Rookie CB list for those who are interested:

 

[fivetwos]

All too often with this team, it's gambling that we are fine at places, then a reactionary offseason fix to the obvious, then something else breaks.

I guess that's life in the NFL but it's frustrating.

 

[KingintheNorth]

In another case of PFF stats not matching up with what I am seeing on the field, they've ranked him as the 23rd best rookie CB in the NFL this season.

In general I've been mighty impressed with his play culminating in his outstanding game against Gronk.

Here is the PFF Rookie CB list for those who are interested:

My guy Damarious is doing okay.

 

[dallasdave]

I know this has little chance of happening but I want to rant about what another disaster Church threw up there yesterday.

He obviously isn't great in coverage, so at the very least, he has to be a productive tackler out there but he whiffed over and over and over yesterday. That was on top of his awful play in the Saints game.

Wilcox isn't great either but I'd rather see him at SS and move Jones to FS. I can't take much more of Church looking inept out there.

Or let Jones play corner and move Carr to FS

 

[perrykemp]

My guy Damarious is doing okay.

I suspect Damarious Randall would have been the Cowboy's pick if Byrone Jones wasn't there.

Interestingly, both are college safeties that have been converted to CB -- something of a rarity.

Will be interesting to see how their careers play out.

 

[KingintheNorth]

I suspect Damarious Randall would have been the Cowboy's pick if Byrone Jones wasn't there.

Interestingly, both are college safeties that have been converted to CB -- something of a rarity.

Will be interesting to see how their careers play out.

I would have lost it if Damarious was drafted by Dallas. He played CB for us in 2012 and was a JuCo All-American. I was surprised Graham moved him to safety at ASU since he wasn't known for his tackling, although he ended up one of the top tacklers (stat-wise) in the country for the Sun Devils.

 

[50cent]

I do see a difference in their (Wilcox/Church) physicality, but I think they are different type players. Jones doesn't shy away from contact, he just doesn't approach it with same vigor as they do. While not punishing, he gets the guy to the ground.

The saddest thing about that rookie chart is the fact that he has played so much fewer than those other guys snaps wise. I just don't see the down side in him playing on the back end in base sets. It doesnt affect our startimg CBs. Hes going to be in in spread formations anyway, why are we afraid to play him back there when he's shown he has unique skills that the others don't posses. Speed being one!