Is Jeff Heath starting material?

[sbark]

Has more instincts than Byron Jones, Set him at FS--fits him better regardless. Had one pick vrs. G.Bay, should've had 2. Byron Jones gives us more value at CB right now regardless--need a top flight CB on board already ready in our scheme.

Would've he let Rogers have a pass angle to Cook on the sidelines to set up the game winning FG?.....I'll take the odds on nope.

 

[CowboyRoy]

The guy has some quickness and strength. 6'1" 210lbs.... 4.40 in the 40 yard dash....10' broad jump and 22 reps on the bench press and a 37" vertical. I had no idea he was that athletic. He has 2 forced fumbles and 4 picks in what little play he's seen. He's also a devastating hitter. He's 25 years old so he's still a young guy. I think anyone would admit that even with his limited playing time he makes plays. Are the Cowboys considering starting him? I think he would do fine, or at least give him a chance and see what happens.

NO!!

He has been on this team for 6 years and never was good enough so start with marginal talent in front of him. What has changed but the marginal talent in front of him? Or the hopes and wishes of certain fans?

 

[CowboyRoy]

would gladly trade tackling for coverage

LOL.........Heath is NOT good in coverage.

 

[jazzcat22]

Heath is a very good athlete. He was signed for this, and that he was from a very small college. The plan was to take a flyer on him, and bring him along slowly.
However due to all the injuries, he was thrown into the fire literally in a way. The D was so bad, that fans picked on his plays, and therefore the hate started.

Heck, I even said he needed to be replaced after a few years.
However he has been playing much better lately. He has an uncanny nose to be in the right place at the right time for INT's and Fumble recoveries.
He's a great ST's guy. And has a great attitude and that...take no prisoners...attitude. Which has been what we lacked for years.

I still go back to the play where he sacked cousins, when he played for the injured RG3, and just looked at cousins on the ground. Cousins extended his hand as if Heath was going to help him up. Jeff just looked, turned around and walked away...as if saying...screw you, I'm not your friend....
That is when I started liking him more.

I am sure it's on youtube, but I am not good at posing photo's and videos.

 

[jazzcat22]

With only 10 games started (9 his rookie year), he has 7 pass deflections, 4 INTs, and 2 FF. I actually think he is a safety that will fit Rod's defense well.

Heath gets a lot of crap for that Peterson highlight play where he bulldozed Heath and other Cowboys into the end zone. Not really fair, Peterson is just a beast and has done similar things throughout his career.

I think if you really look at that play, Heath was already going in a backward fall, from our own guy. Peterson just so happen to get a nudge on him to finish off the play.

 

[Proximo]

NO!!

He has been on this team for 6 years and never was good enough so start with marginal talent in front of him. What has changed but the marginal talent in front of him? Or the hopes and wishes of certain fans?

He has not been on the team for 6 years.

He's 25 years old. He did not join the NFL at 19 years of age LOL.

 

[jamesdojr]

With only 10 games started (9 his rookie year), he has 7 pass deflections, 4 INTs, and 2 FF. I actually think he is a safety that will fit Rod's defense well.

Heath gets a lot of crap for that Peterson highlight play where he bulldozed Heath and other Cowboys into the end zone. Not really fair, Peterson is just a beast and has done similar things throughout his career.

I dont even remember the hit Peterson put on Heath. But with that said, Heath can rattle bones when he hits as well. He has been the cause of medical staff coming onto the field a couple of times. There was one play last year... if the receiver would have caught it, I seriously think Heath would have ended the guys season.

 

[John813]

http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-cant-miss-plays/0ap2000000275418/WK-9-Can-t-Miss-Play-Amazing-Adrian

Heath stands him up then AP gets help from #52(our team) and then #86(Vikings) to push him into the endzone.

 

[Tass]

So white guys playing Safety are now seen as black guys playing QB in the pre-80s?

No. I'd say it is the same as black guys playing QB now. Makes you take note but it's not that weird. A white guy playing cornerback would be the pre-80's black QB equivalent.

 

[chicago JK]

I would say no. Now could he do what Wilcox did last year? Possibly. I was ready to run Wilcox out of here during training camp and surprisingly he was solid. I think the similar expectations should be given to Health.

 

[DandyDon1722]

We need to start being a whole lot better than "fine" at the safety position.

When talking about Health comparing him to everyone else on the roster is one thing - comparing him to other safeties in the league is another.

For whatever reason, we simply do not value that position - but our Def Pass Rating always seems to reveal it.

 

[JoeyBoy718]

He's not a freak a la Garrett, but he is a helluva athlete. 4.4 40, 37 inch vertical, etc.

 

[CATCH17]

Jeff Heath deserves an opportunity to start.

He is constantly making plays in his very limited time on the field.


Did he get burned by Calvin Johnson? Yes. But you have to believe that these guys have the ability to improve at a young age just like you have to believe they have the ability to diminish as they age.


Am I passing up on a stud player in the draft because we have Heath? No.

 

[LittleLexodus]

I'm sorry, I lost consciousness when you said he was freakishly athletic. What was the rest again?

He's not athletic?

 

[Gameover]

He definitely deserves a chance.never understood the hate on the young man.

Detroit game from 2013, and much of that season.

 

[ShiningStar]

some players are just good in limited roles. Will it hurt to give heath a chance, not if we have another guy ready to go. Until than, dont break whats not broken.

 

[CowboyRoy]

He has not been on the team for 6 years.

He's 25 years old. He did not join the NFL at 19 years of age LOL.

Ok, butty, so what is it 5? 4?

The number of years is not the point. The fact that he was never good enough to start is the point. He is a special teams ace, that is why he is on the team. Turn a blind eye all you want. Its not going to magically make Heath the stud safety that he never has been up to this point. And its not like he has been playing behind great talent. The guy ONLY gets on the field when our other 3 safeties are hurt.

 

[65fastback2plus2]

I'm sorry, I lost consciousness when you said he was freakishly athletic. What was the rest again?

freakishly athletic and provided you no topless or shorts pics...smh.

 

[Proximo]

Ok, butty, so what is it 5? 4?

The number of years is not the point. The fact that he was never good enough to start is the point. He is a special teams ace, that is why he is on the team. Turn a blind eye all you want. Its not going to magically make Heath the stud safety that he never has been up to this point. And its not like he has been playing behind great talent. The guy ONLY gets on the field when our other 3 safeties are hurt.

Did I ever say he was a stud safety? Did I ever say he should be penciled in as the starter?

No, I didn't.

I was simply correcting your misstated facts.

Now go back to the RantZone Roy.

 

[Idgit]

some players are just good in limited roles. Will it hurt to give heath a chance, not if we have another guy ready to go. Until than, dont break whats not broken.

This is probably the reality of it. Personally, Heath's always gotten a bad rap around here, but he's hardly alone in that category. He's a good ST player, and he turns in plays in limited opportunities on defense. You want to give guys like that a chance to show they can cut it, and you want insurance because they often can't.

As a guy holding a job down going into the draft, I'm ok with Heath. If he takes the next step, that's great. People probably don't remember Barry Church had a similar career arc, and Heath's a better athlete that Church ever was. But if he can't cut it, you need insurance back there that you have somebody that probably can. Frazier is a ST player as far as I'm concerned, trying to earn some snaps in the defensive rotation. We're going to want another player with his pedigree or better to round out he position group. I'd be happy with a S at any point in the draft. If the guy they like is there, pull the trigger.