Jeff Heath Can He Start?

[timb2]

I remember a couple of years ago he was constantly targeted and got beat multiple times. I think the only way Jeff Heath stays a starter at safety is he has to become the next John Lynch and he needs to be crushing anyone who comes near him.. I don't think he will and I think he becomes are weakest link as a starter. I'm hoping for Xavier Woods to emerge as the starter at strong safety. That's my thought. What do you guys think???

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

I remember a couple of years ago he was constantly targeted and got beat multiple times. I think the only way Jeff Heath stays a starter at safety is he has to become the next John Lynch and he needs to be crushing anyone who comes near him.. I don't think he will and I think he becomes are weakest link as a starter. I'm hoping for Xavier Woods to emerge as the starter at strong safety. That's my thought. What do you guys think???

No. I remember him getting beat by Megatron and AP but I also remember him understanding the offense and constantly being in position which was a nice change from McCray and the other crap they trotted out.

People refuse to believe that a white guy can run and jump and John Lynch is just a lazy comparison. Meanwhile he ran a 4.48 and jumped 37" at his pro day. He has demonstrated on the filed an ability to get to the sideline, the smarts to consistently be in position, and he turns the ball over more than any other player to this point.

 

[timb2]

No. I remember him getting beat by Megatron and AP but I also remember him understanding the offense and constantly being in position which was a nice change from McCray and the other crap they trotted out.

People refuse to believe that a white guy can run and jump and John Lynch is just a lazy comparison. Meanwhile he ran a 4.48 and jumped 37" at his pro day. He has demonstrated on the filed an ability to get to the sideline, the smarts to consistently be in position, and he turns the ball over more than any other player to this point.

He is good as the dime safety playing centerfield,but I am holding my breath him being the starter. I really wish we had kept JJ Wilcox.

No John Lynch is a good comparision because that is how Lynch survived as a starter as being a heat seeking missile. Lynch also was slower and if Heath was so great why did he go undrafted???

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

He is good as the dime safety playing centerfield,but I am holding my breath him being the starter. I really wish we had kept JJ Wilcox.

No John Lynch is a good comparision because that is how Lynch survived as a starter as being a heat seeking missile. Lynch also was slower and if Heath was so great why did he go undrafted???

I have no idea beyond him being a tiny school guy that was not invited to the combine. Bottom line is that he is an excellent athlete for the position as per his metrics. I find it interesting that Church never got these types of concerns and he actually was a bad athlete.

You are using your emotions to evaluate. Less back brain more front brain please.

Lynch used to turn the ball over a ton as evidenced by his 26 career interceptions. That was what got him to the all pro team. He had excellent ball skills and a nose for the ball. All safeties were physical back then. It's not like he was Atwater or Lott.

 

[timb2]

I have no idea beyond him being a tiny school guy that was not invited to the combine. Bottom line is that he is an excellent athlete for the position as per his metrics. I find it interesting that Church never got these types of concerns and he actually was a bad athlete.

You are using your emotions to evaluate. Less back brain more front brain please.

Lynch used to turn the ball over a ton as evidenced by his 26 career interceptions. That was what got him to the all pro team. He had excellent ball skills and a nose for the ball. All safeties were physical back then. It's not like he was Atwater or Lott.

Oh yes,Lynch was a feared hitter. he was the Bucs enforcer. I remember Derrick Brooks holding up I believe it was Marion Butts and wrenching and twisting Butts to expose his ribs and Lynch came in horizontal and nailed his ribs. Butts was very quiet in that game after that hit.

We will discuss again by Thanksgiving and see what happens.

 

[DFWJC]

I remember a couple of years ago he was constantly targeted and got beat multiple times. I think the only way Jeff Heath stays a starter at safety is he has to become the next John Lynch and he needs to be crushing anyone who comes near him.. I don't think he will and I think he becomes are weakest link as a starter. I'm hoping for Xavier Woods to emerge as the starter at strong safety. That's my thought. What do you guys think???

I think your memory in this case is limited and selective.

he can start and do relatively well.
I'm glad they're trying to upgrade the DB position groups though

 

[John813]

Honestly, it's something we all are watching to some level of degree.

Luckily, we didn't put all our eggs in the Heath basket, bringing in a journey man level guy in Blanton, drafting Woods and Fraizer was drafted last year.
So, if Heath can't handle it, we can rotate again to play to each players strength in the mean time.

Personally, I think he will fine back there. His rookie year he didn't make any terrible mistakes. He knew where to be, just that the NFL gameplay/talent was a huge jump in playing level for him IMO. Having a D-II player step in right away and play against the top players in the game won't give you favorable results.

His limited snaps after his rookie year has shown that he is in the right place at the right time and/or knows where to be. He has capitalized on those situations too. His play in the Green Bay game was also encouraging as well.

I think the FO/staff saw something in him last offseason to give him that 4 year deal. At worst, it becomes a good salary for a good STer. At best we get a guy who can play meaningful snaps on defense for peanuts.

 

[big dog cowboy]

I really wish we had kept JJ Wilcox.

Wilcox = progress stopper.

 

[xwalker]

I remember a couple of years ago he was constantly targeted and got beat multiple times. I think the only way Jeff Heath stays a starter at safety is he has to become the next John Lynch and he needs to be crushing anyone who comes near him.. I don't think he will and I think he becomes are weakest link as a starter. I'm hoping for Xavier Woods to emerge as the starter at strong safety. That's my thought. What do you guys think???

He will be better than Church in coverage.

Church was likely better in run defense.

It will be hard to make a direct comparison because of all the surrounding changes.

 

[Verdict]

In a word, yes. I also think he wil excel.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

He will be better than Church in coverage.

Church was likely better in run defense.

It will be hard to make a direct comparison because of all the surrounding changes.

He'll be a lot better in coverage over Church who has no range or ball skills.

He's a bigger hitter than Church but Church is more consistent in his reads and pursuit. Church did take a step back on his tackling last year. He was still good but not as reliable as previous years.

Given that it is a passing league and Heath will get better at the margins he has with experience, by the end of the year I don't think anyone is going to miss Barry Church but Nick Eatman.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

Oh yes,Lynch was a feared hitter. he was the Bucs enforcer. I remember Derrick Brooks holding up I believe it was Marion Butts and wrenching and twisting Butts to expose his ribs and Lynch came in horizontal and nailed his ribs. Butts was very quiet in that game after that hit.

We will discuss again by Thanksgiving and see what happens.

Atwater and Lott were big hitters. Striking a guy while a teammate is holding them up is great and all but I'm talking about taking on a big back in the hole and knocking them back big hitter. Lynch was never remotely that.

Lynch was a typical hitting safety from that era. He was nothing like Roy Williams before he found religion or Woody much less the really big hitters I mentioned.

As of the Bucs the guy I recall slobberknocking people was Hardy Nickerson. He was the main guy stoning people and standing them up so the little guys could take shots.

The things that stood out to me with Lynch was his range and ball skills.

 

[LocimusPrime]

He can and will start