I've finally come to terms with the safety position

[Avenging Hayseed]

For the longest time I was sure we would either draft, trade for, or sign a free agent safety to come in and start alongside Sensabaugh. And then.......Nothing happened. I thought this because if ever there was a team primed for a championship that needed to make that ONE FINAL MOVE, it was us.

After looking over every dang roster in the league Ive come to the conclusion that there just isnt anybody worth moving on. Not for the compensation that would be needed to make a move like that. Seems to me that the NFL REALLY has a shortage of decent safety's these days. Guys that can cover, hit, run with receivers, and move up to attack the run. There are a few of those top tier guys in the Ed Reed category and then a HUGE droppoff from there. After that top tier of 5-6 guys its a horse apiece to be honest.

Thing is,....your not going to trade for one of those top tier guys, way too much compensation, AND whatever team has a player like that isnt going to trade him anyway due to their rarity. No sense trading for a middling safety either, if thats the case we might as well just KEEP OUR DRAFT CHOICES, MONEY, AND GO WITH BALL. which is what we did. And truthfully, it was the smart thing to do. We may want a safety very badly, but if theres nothing out there, theres just nuthin out there. Hopefully Ball and Hamlin have a spirited camp battle which in turn will make whoever comes out on top that much better, probably Ball.

Taken awhile to come to terms with it, but in the end I now agree with the philosophy at Valley Ranch.

 

[Avenging Hayseed]

Having said all that.......I do think Ball earns the job in camp as starter. I just dont think he keeps the job. Think Hamlin enters the starting lineup by midseason or so.

 

[Arch Stanton]

Welcome the the club.

 

[Cowboys22]

I've been fine with the safety position ever since their selection in the 4th round was announced. I liked the way Ball played last year and with him, Hamlin and AOA, I feel there will be good competition and someone will step up. We don't need an all-pro back there and would not be able to afford one moving forward. All we need is a solid player that won't give up the deep ball on a regular basis. I think we've got that and will be fine.

 

[BIGDen]

I've been fine with the safety position ever since their selection in the 4th round was announced. I liked the way Ball played last year and with him, Hamlin and AOA, I feel there will be good competition and someone will step up. We don't need an all-pro back there and would not be able to afford one moving forward. All we need is a solid player that won't give up the deep ball on a regular basis. I think we've got that and will be fine.

Well said and I hope you're right. I think our D will be very good. My concerns (like most fans) are OL and kicker. Kickers can cost you a season and our O-line has had some of its worst performances during the biggest games at the end of the year. I pray that it all comes together this year. We just need to shut the rest of the NFL up with #6.

 

[AsthmaField]

What most people worry about with a safety is his coverage. In that aspect, Ball is going to be fine. It is his tackling that worries the coaches. In other words, he is the anti-Roy Williams.

While Roy could hit like a truck (early in his career), he had definite shortcomings in coverage. That lack of coverage ability eventually got us killed. Teams took advantage of it and we couldn't get them off the field on third downs.

Ball is a cornerback. His coverage is going to be very solid for us... and truthfully, in today's game, that is what you need from a safety. He might struggle some on a few plays if a big back gets into the secondary, but like Wade Phillips said, our front seven isn't going to let that happen very often. Particularly not with the big, lumbering type of backs that you'd worry about with Ball.

Balls coverage is going to be better than most safeties in the league. His coverage ability should be better than OJ Atogwe - but are his tackling and ball skills as good, we don't know.

While I am a little concerned about the physical aspect of his game... I'm not really worried at all about Ball's coverage skills. And that is the one thing that you have to have in today's game.

 

[Hostile]

I keep saying it, Safety is evolving in the NFL right now. It is easier to move a CB and utilize his coverage skills and give up some tackling skills, than to put a coverage liability out there. Teams pass more than they run now. Unless you can get an elite Safety, you are better off going coverage strong.

 

[NoLuv4Jerry]

I know this will bring out the cliche cops...but football is won and lost in the trenches....if our OL plays well....the Safety position will be the LEAST of our worries. You control the ENTIRE game with your OL. Now of course this is not true if you have ZERO at the skill positions. But we are LOADED at the skill positions. If our OL is above average...we will be in the hunt for the Super Bowl.

 

[CF74]

I've been fine with the safety position ever since their selection in the 4th round was announced. I liked the way Ball played last year and with him, Hamlin and AOA, I feel there will be good competition and someone will step up. We don't need an all-pro back there and would not be able to afford one moving forward. All we need is a solid player that won't give up the deep ball on a regular basis. I think we've got that and will be fine.

Ditto. I believe Ball will hold the position well and long enough for AOA to eventually learn and take over...

 

[Angus]

For the longest time I was sure we would either draft, trade for, or sign a free agent safety to come in and start alongside Sensabaugh. And then.......Nothing happened. I thought this because if ever there was a team primed for a championship that needed to make that ONE FINAL MOVE, it was us.

After looking over every dang roster in the league Ive come to the conclusion that there just isnt anybody worth moving on. Not for the compensation that would be needed to make a move like that. Seems to me that the NFL REALLY has a shortage of decent safety's these days. Guys that can cover, hit, run with receivers, and move up to attack the run. There are a few of those top tier guys in the Ed Reed category and then a HUGE droppoff from there. After that top tier of 5-6 guys its a horse apiece to be honest.

Thing is,....your not going to trade for one of those top tier guys, way too much compensation, AND whatever team has a player like that isnt going to trade him anyway due to their rarity. No sense trading for a middling safety either, if thats the case we might as well just KEEP OUR DRAFT CHOICES, MONEY, AND GO WITH BALL. which is what we did. And truthfully, it was the smart thing to do. We may want a safety very badly, but if theres nothing out there, theres just nuthin out there. Hopefully Ball and Hamlin have a spirited camp battle which in turn will make whoever comes out on top that much better, probably Ball.

Taken awhile to come to terms with it, but in the end I now agree with the philosophy at Valley Ranch.

Valley Ranch is glad.

 

[Rampage]

they had a chance at one in the 2nd round (cough,cough)

 

[casmith07]

For the longest time I was sure we would either draft, trade for, or sign a free agent safety to come in and start alongside Sensabaugh. And then.......Nothing happened. I thought this because if ever there was a team primed for a championship that needed to make that ONE FINAL MOVE, it was us.

After looking over every dang roster in the league Ive come to the conclusion that there just isnt anybody worth moving on. Not for the compensation that would be needed to make a move like that. Seems to me that the NFL REALLY has a shortage of decent safety's these days. Guys that can cover, hit, run with receivers, and move up to attack the run. There are a few of those top tier guys in the Ed Reed category and then a HUGE droppoff from there. After that top tier of 5-6 guys its a horse apiece to be honest.

Thing is,....your not going to trade for one of those top tier guys, way too much compensation, AND whatever team has a player like that isnt going to trade him anyway due to their rarity. No sense trading for a middling safety either, if thats the case we might as well just KEEP OUR DRAFT CHOICES, MONEY, AND GO WITH BALL. which is what we did. And truthfully, it was the smart thing to do. We may want a safety very badly, but if theres nothing out there, theres just nuthin out there. Hopefully Ball and Hamlin have a spirited camp battle which in turn will make whoever comes out on top that much better, probably Ball.

Taken awhile to come to terms with it, but in the end I now agree with the philosophy at Valley Ranch.

Good post. We'll be fine.

A lot of people are concerned about Ball being able to "stop the run" but my argument would be that teams don't have punishing runners like they used to. I'd much rather have a guy with speed and quickness trying to tackle a Chris Johnson than someone that can "deliver the hit" like Roy Williams.

Also, our fans need to remember how well our front seven stops the run. Ware, Brooking, James, Spencer, all behind Ratliff, Olshansky, and Spears (for now). We've got a very stout front seven. If our free safety has to take on a bunch of running backs on consistent enough basis to cause reason for concern about his health, then DeMarcus Ware & Co. must all be playing with their arms and legs hogtied.

 

[T-RO]

Taken awhile to come to terms with it, but in the end I now agree with the philosophy at Valley Ranch.

I doubt that Ball is the result of a philosophy so much as the lack of viable options, given the free agent market and guys that were available with our draft slotting.

You might still see the Cowboys address the situation before the seasons starts. And if not then we'll likely see an upgrade next offseason.

 

[casmith07]

I doubt that Ball is the result of a philosophy so much as the lack of viable options, given the free agent market and guys that were available with our draft slotting.

You might still see the Cowboys address the situation before the seasons starts. And if not then we'll likely see an upgrade next offseason.

Won't happen.

 

[JackMagist]

I know this will bring out the cliche cops...but football is won and lost in the trenches....if our OL plays well....the Safety position will be the LEAST of our worries. You control the ENTIRE game with your OL. Now of course this is not true if you have ZERO at the skill positions. But we are LOADED at the skill positions. If our OL is above average...we will be in the hunt for the Super Bowl.

That's all well and good and I do get your point...but the OL doesn't play Defense. And without a good (or better yet...great) defense what the offense does could turn out to be irrelevant. If we have a safety getting burned deep regularly and letting the opponents score freelythe OL won't help any.

 

[big dog cowboy]

You might still see the Cowboys address the situation before the seasons starts. And if not then we'll likely see an upgrade next offseason.

Nope and nope.

 

[21Savage]

That's all well and good and I do get your point...but the OL doesn't play Defense. And without a good (or better yet...great) defense what the offense does could turn out to be irrelevant. If we have a safety getting burned deep regularly and letting the opponents score freelythe OL won't help any.

Would four and half games be enough for you to know if this were the case or not?

 

[jobberone]

What most people worry about with a safety is his coverage. In that aspect, Ball is going to be fine. It is his tackling that worries the coaches. In other words, he is the anti-Roy Williams.

While Roy could hit like a truck (early in his career), he had definite shortcomings in coverage. That lack of coverage ability eventually got us killed. Teams took advantage of it and we couldn't get them off the field on third downs.

Ball is a cornerback. His coverage is going to be very solid for us... and truthfully, in today's game, that is what you need from a safety. He might struggle some on a few plays if a big back gets into the secondary, but like Wade Phillips said, our front seven isn't going to let that happen very often. Particularly not with the big, lumbering type of backs that you'd worry about with Ball.

Balls coverage is going to be better than most safeties in the league. His coverage ability should be better than OJ Atogwe - but are his tackling and ball skills as good, we don't know.

While I am a little concerned about the physical aspect of his game... I'm not really worried at all about Ball's coverage skills. And that is the one thing that you have to have in today's game.

Somebody gets it. Sensabaugh is really the weaker link in coverage relative to Ball. And he's not shabby. We'll be ok at safety this year. Not great but ok. And Hamlin is more of a SS. He doesn't have the coverage skills of Ball. He won't be the FS unless Ball rotates into the 4th CB slot and Hamlin comes in to play safety.

 

[JackMagist]

Would four and half games be enough for you to know if this were the case or not?

I was not saying that I have no confidence in Ball. I was saying that his play is the issue here and the OL is not germane to this discussion. Had bbailey brought up the front seven and their pass rush or their run stopping I would have had no issue with it since it has a direct affect on the safety's play.

As for Ball's play in the 4 and a half games...he was adequate. He did not bring in any WOW factor but he was adequate. I have concerns about the position but I have not seen a better option available to us and we have addressed the issue going forward by drafting AOA. I wouldn't say I'm comfortable with our safety situation but I am not having any great anxiety over it either.

 

[NoLuv4Jerry]

I was not saying that I have no confidence in Ball. I was saying that his play is the issue here and the OL is not germane to this discussion. Had bbailey brought up the front seven and their pass rush or their run stopping I would have had no issue with it since it has a direct affect on the safety's play.

As for Ball's play in the 4 and a half games...he was adequate. He did not bring in any WOW factor but he was adequate. I have concerns about the position but I have not seen a better option available to us and we have addressed the issue going forward by drafting AOA. I wouldn't say I'm comfortable with our safety situation but I am not having any great anxiety over it either.

I brought it up because EVERY off-season fans, media etc...go back and forth about many different topics. And that is fine because it generates discussion. And all I am saying is that at the end of the day, the play of the OL GENERALLY makes or breaks a team. All I am saying is that if the OL plays well...the Safety position will not make or break this team. Heck look no further than our last game last year. The OL was horrendous...and pretty much nothing else mattered after that.