Jaylon and DeMarcus Positional Flex?

[T-RO]

I have no hard opinions on this and am going to just post this as an open question.

If you look at the physical capabilities of two of our talented defenders it’s not difficult to envision them playing different roles...on some downs.

Jaylon Smith has the speed and quickness of a strong safety. If he’s fully healthy. Meanwhile Gregory has the speed and quickness of a linebacker. His size is also that of a linebacker.

If the Cowboys see a need they could play Jaylon deeper in more of a strong safety role on some downs. And if they wished they could play Gregory some as a linebacker.

Do you see either of these things as possible or advisable? Could you see it ever happen?


(Thread title says DeMarcus—I meant Gregory)

 

[glimmerman]

I wouldn’t trust it. If a descent qb sees Jaylon as lining up as a safety. They will audible and make him cover deeper. Not sure he can cover like that. Same with D-Law. You see him line up and the qb is making him cover a TE. Lol. If they could do it then ok. But they will be trying them immediately.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

We waited too long for Lawrence to become what he is to do something like that and we are still waiting on Jaylon. I'm not interested. I don't envision it either. I think they like what they have in safeties:

 

[OmerV]

Nope. Neither is experienced at those positions, and therefore wouldn't be better than who they would be replacing. Also, whoever would replace them at the positions they currently play (DL moving into Jaylon's LB spot?) wouldn't be as good as they are. These are just dramatically different positions. Position flex, I believe, only works when the positions has a lot in common with each other. For example, while DT and DE are definitely different positions, they employ some of the same pass rush moves and techniques for fighting off blocks at the line of scrimmage.

 

[T-RO]

I wouldn’t trust it. If a descent qb sees Jaylon as lining up as a safety. They will audible and make him cover deeper. Not sure he can cover like that. Same with D-Law. You see him line up and the qb is making him cover a TE. Lol. If they could do it then ok. But they will be trying them immediately.

I meant Gregory, not D-Law. (I corrected).

Linebackers and safeties often end up covering the same kind of players: running backs and tight ends. Now we saw that Jaylon wasn’t very good in coverage at times last season, but that may change w/health improvements. And if it’s zone coverage I could see Jaylon perhaps handle the task in a strong safety capacity.

Again I’m not suggesting it. Just mulling it in my mind and looking for opinions.

 

[OmerV]

I meant Gregory, not D-Law. (I corrected).

Linebackers and safeties often end up covering the same kind of players: running backs and tight ends. Now we saw that Jaylon wasn’t very good in coverage at times last season, but that may change w/health improvements. And if it’s zone coverage I could see Jaylon perhaps handle the task in a strong safety capacity.

Again I’m not suggesting it. Just mulling it in my mind and looking for opinions.

Gregory probably makes a little more sense, but even so, he is a pure pass rusher, and in a 3-4 defense the primary pass rushers are the DE's.

 

[T-RO]

If we ran a 3-4 I think it’s obvious that Gregory would be an OLB. That’s his most natural position in the NFL, IMO.

 

[glimmerman]

I meant Gregory, not D-Law. (I corrected).

Linebackers and safeties often end up covering the same kind of players: running backs and tight ends. Now we saw that Jaylon wasn’t very good in coverage at times last season, but that may change w/health improvements. And if it’s zone coverage I could see Jaylon perhaps handle the task in a strong safety capacity.

Again I’m not suggesting it. Just mulling it in my mind and looking for opinions.

I would love to see Jaylon come up and hit a WR. He would blast them. He likely hits harder than a safety.

 

[speedkilz88]

It's the 3-3-5 that you will see them play with Jaylon at Sam. Colleges have had success against the RPO offenses with it and the seahawks have as well.

 

[T-RO]

I would love to see Jaylon come up and hit a WR. He would blast them. He likely hits harder than a safety.

Hell yeah, he would.

 

[T-RO]

Follow-up question...suppose Gregory plays well but appears a bit small as a 3-down player. Would we be better served trading him to a team running a 3-4? If we could get a first round pick for him...how would you feel about trading him in the offseason?

 

[Corso]

Let's just find a good LB position and let Jaylon succeed at something first, before we start with the position flex to Safety.
Yeah?

Just a little bit? Dude has to show he can fully play before the fantasies go into ovedrive, I thought.

 

[speedkilz88]

Follow-up question...suppose Gregory plays well but appears a bit small as a 3-down player. Would we be better served trading him to a team running a 3-4? If we could get a first round pick for him...how would you feel about trading him in the offseason?

Randy Gregory fits Marinelli's defense to a t. He's the RE they have been needing. No, you don't trade him. His value would likely be pretty low with the suspensions anyway.

 

[T-RO]

Let's just find a good LB position and let Jaylon succeed at something first, before we start with the position flex to Safety.

I totally agree that Jaylon needs to get grounded and build success in his current role first.

 

[Verdict]

I have no hard opinions on this and am going to just post this as an open question.

If you look at the physical capabilities of two of our talented defenders it’s not difficult to envision them playing different roles...on some downs.

Jaylon Smith has the speed and quickness of a strong safety. If he’s fully healthy. Meanwhile Gregory has the speed and quickness of a linebacker. His size is also that of a linebacker.

If the Cowboys see a need they could play Jaylon deeper in more of a strong safety role on some downs. And if they wished they could play Gregory some as a linebacker.

Do you see either of these things as possible or advisable? Could you see it ever happen?


(Thread title says DeMarcus—I meant Gregory)

I could see it happening on Jumbo Defense at the Goal Line. Not sure about the rest of the time. Probably not often.

 

[Verdict]

Follow-up question...suppose Gregory plays well but appears a bit small as a 3-down player. Would we be better served trading him to a team running a 3-4? If we could get a first round pick for him...how would you feel about trading him in the offseason?

He may be suited to play a strong side linebacker.

 

[Corso]

I totally agree that Jaylon needs to get grounded and build success in his current role first.

I don't think he needs to get grounded.
I think fans of his need to get grounded.

Let's let him succeed before the wishes for fishes.

 

[T-RO]

Gregory probably makes a little more sense, but even so, he is a pure pass rusher, and in a 3-4 defense the primary pass rushers are the DE's.

Not really. Many teams running 3-4 defenses have the most sacks from their OLBs. Lawrence Taylor comes to mind. Gregory would be a monster in a 3-4.

 

[AmericasTeam81]

I have no hard opinions on this and am going to just post this as an open question.

If you look at the physical capabilities of two of our talented defenders it’s not difficult to envision them playing different roles...on some downs.

Jaylon Smith has the speed and quickness of a strong safety. If he’s fully healthy. Meanwhile Gregory has the speed and quickness of a linebacker. His size is also that of a linebacker.

If the Cowboys see a need they could play Jaylon deeper in more of a strong safety role on some downs. And if they wished they could play Gregory some as a linebacker.

Do you see either of these things as possible or advisable? Could you see it ever happen?


(Thread title says DeMarcus—I meant Gregory)

I like your out of the box thinking, but I just don’t see this coaching staff doing that.

 

[Corso]

Not really. Many teams running 3-4 defenses have the most sacks from their OLBs. Lawrence Taylor comes to mind. Gregory would be a monster in a 3-4.

Demarcus Ware happens to come to mind for no good reason also...