Jeff Heath - going forward

[jwooten15]

It's not hate. It's reality. He looked good against GB but that's one game. He's looked lost at other times this year.

We seem to do this every year with a player or two where a guy has a game out of nowhere, and we start to extrapolate well beyond what we should for the guy.

There's nothing here that suggests we should find a starting safety role for him at this point. He's a solid back up safety, nickle/dime guy. Not a starter for us. Maybe down the line he might be that guy, who knows.

I'm not basing my opinion on one game. I'm basing my opinion on the times I've seen him on the field the last two seasons.

Has Jones not looked lost at times? Has Wilcox not looked lost at times? Has Church not looked lost at times?

Heath has made more plays than any of them, and played more than half the snaps.

 

[Sydla]

I'm not basing my opinion on one game. I'm basing my opinion on the times I've seen him on the field the last two seasons.

Has Jones not looked lost at times? Has Wilcox not looked lost at times? Has Church not looked lost at times?

Heath has made more plays than any of them, and played more than half the snaps.

Sure. They have all looked lost.

Which is why I'd like to see them possibly upgrade at S, either in the draft and/or free agency. Maybe a guy like Jefferson from Arizona who won't be costly. Maybe a guy like Peppers slides in the draft.

Jeff Heath is likely not the upgrade you are looking for.

 

[RJ_MacReady]

I have no desire to rip Jones, but what's the defensive snap counts for both?
I would guess Jones was on the field, defensively way more than Heath was by a large margin.

Bingo.

 

[jwooten15]

Sure. They have all looked lost.

Which is why I'd like to see them possibly upgrade at S, either in the draft and/or free agency. Maybe a guy like Jefferson from Arizona who won't be costly. Maybe a guy like Peppers slides in the draft.

Jeff Heath is likely not the upgrade you are looking for.

I think someone will take a chance early on Peppers (much like the Cards did with Honey Badger), only because of Peppers' playmaking skills. That's hard to find.

But you're right. We need an overall upgrade at the S position. Just not sure how much is realistically possible considering the fact that we HAVE to go heavy on DL in the draft

 

[Sydla]

I have no desire to rip Jones, but what's the defensive snap counts for both?
I would guess Jones was on the field, defensively way more than Heath was by a large margin.

About 1853 to 1171.

So Jones has played 58% more snaps than Heath. That equates to more interceptions per snap but less passes defended per snap.

My overriding point here is that Heath hasn't really outplayed anyone in the secondary for people to start talking about things like moving Jones to CB or handing Heath a starting safety spot.

 

[John813]

About 1853 to 1171.

So Jones has played 58% more snaps than Heath. That equates to more interceptions per snap but less passes defended per snap.

My overriding point here is that Heath hasn't really outplayed anyone in the secondary for people to start talking about things like moving Jones to CB or handing Heath a starting safety spot.

I agree with you it would be nice to upgrade the SS spot in the draft/FA.

It was sort of refreshing seeing the FO draft a safety in the first (Jones) after years of DII projects and UDFAs. However, with needs at DL, corner, WR, etc we may or may not have the ability to draft/sign a clear upgrade over Heath/one of Church/Wilcox.

I wouldn't move Jones. First year at FS, and as expected he had his ups and downs. It would be risky to just give Heath a spot day 1 and roll with it. However, he has made some nice progress since his rookie year and has shown flashes of making plays on the ball. I think we re-sign Church (Captain and the defense played well with him in the lineup) for around the same coin. I do think though Heath can start to push for more playing time, similar to how we used Church/Wilcox last year.

 

[erod]

Heath is the best special teamer on the roster. That's valuable. He can also play safety in a pinch, and do it pretty well.

That's a useful player.

 

[CATCH17]

He played great in that game and say what you want about the guy but he gets quite a few turnovers in the limited amount of time he plays.


I want to see him play a lot more going forward. He's earned it.

 

[Hawkeye19]

He was solid this year. So was Wilcox actually. If we bring back Church and Jones can take a step or two in development next year (third year so we could see a jump)-- then I actually feel good about our back end

 

[CATCH17]

There's something to be said about sticking with a guy and continuing to develop him.

Heath is one of those guys.

Yep...

So many on here don't understand that line of thinking.


Oh you were bad as a rookie or 1st year player.. Now you're story is written.


Sorry but sports doesn't work like that. The more repetitions you get and more knowledge you acquire can turn you into a better player over time.


Heath may be ready to be an actual playmaker on this defense and has done nothing but look good when called upon recently.

We got a lot of positions that need to be filled and SS is one of those positions we will need to take more of a budget approach.

 

[CATCH17]

He was solid this year. So was Wilcox actually. If we bring back Church and Jones can take a step or two in development next year (third year so we could see a jump)-- then I actually feel good about our back end

It's hard for me to point at any defender and say they had a bad year. The whole group was solid.

They just got worked by Rodgers and I think it was more of a scheme issue with the soft coverages.

Once we started pressing their WR's we slowed them down.


Press & contain.. Press and contain... That's how you beat that guy.

 

[iceberg]

Played a great game, and almost won it twice ( sack, overturned int) plus he had another int preventing a long gainer.

Also, just saw he was being trained as backup kicker due to Dan Bailey disk problem.

Guy has some wheels 4.3 best, and is 6' 1" and 212 lbs...

Also recall he is a hitter.....

Idea ... Move Jones back to CB, and give Jeff a try at Safety

Reactions welcomed.....

seems every time we draft a CB people go MAKE HIM A SAFETY!!!! and now that we did that for jones, people are MAKE HIM A CB...

just let him play where he excels and quit moving people around.

 

[Sydla]

Yep...

So many on here don't understand that line of thinking.


Oh you were bad as a rookie or 1st year player.. Now you're story is written.


Sorry but sports doesn't work like that. The more repetitions you get and more knowledge you acquire can turn you into a better player over time.


Heath may be ready to be an actual playmaker on this defense and has done nothing but look good when called upon recently.

We got a lot of positions that need to be filled and SS is one of those positions we will need to take more of a budget approach.

The converse to this is putting way too much value in a few games, or as some have done, in one game. He's also not some young, second year guy here. He's been in the league 4 years.

Hey, if you want to give him a shot at a starting safety spot, have at it. But to not try to improve the position because you have Jeff Heath........... that would be silly.

 

[CATCH17]

Sure. They have all looked lost.

Which is why I'd like to see them possibly upgrade at S, either in the draft and/or free agency. Maybe a guy like Jefferson from Arizona who won't be costly. Maybe a guy like Peppers slides in the draft.

Jeff Heath is likely not the upgrade you are looking for.

It's hard to watch any defense, even the good ones, and not see them look lost at times. It's just not a defensive league at all.


What you have to do is create turnovers and make teams kick FG's. That's the new NFL brand of defense.

 

[gimmesix]

Played a great game, and almost won it twice ( sack, overturned int) plus he had another int preventing a long gainer.

Also, just saw he was being trained as backup kicker due to Dan Bailey disk problem.

Guy has some wheels 4.3 best, and is 6' 1" and 212 lbs...

Also recall he is a hitter.....

Idea ... Move Jones back to CB, and give Jeff a try at Safety

Reactions welcomed.....

Heath has played all year and just done the OK job that keeps him in a reserve role. He had some good opportunities against Green Bay, just like he's had some good games previously. But we need to understand that it's easier to not make mistakes when you're not on the field as much.

I think the Cowboys know what they are doing in limiting Heath's snaps. He's had to get more playing time in the past and most Cowboys fans were calling him out then for his blown coverages.

Being on the field more, Jones is going to make more mistakes, and fans seem to be calling him out particularly because of his blown coverage on the game-winning throw. This is an overreaction to a player who played a big role in our secondary improvement this year. He's going to get beat some, like any corner, but he also defended plenty of passes this year.

 

[CATCH17]

The converse to this is putting way too much value in a few games, or as some have done, in one game. He's also not some young, second year guy here. He's been in the league 4 years.

Hey, if you want to give him a shot at a starting safety spot, have at it. But to not try to improve the position because you have Jeff Heath........... that would be silly.

I'd like to improve the position but it's way down the list.


DE
CB
DT
Coverage LB
Right Tackle
Tight End
Backup QB
then safety

That's my order of priorities.

 

[tyke1doe]

Many of us are so prisoners of the moment. Cut Carr because he sucks (heard after he gives up a pass completion), Cut Mo (heard after he gives up a pass completion), Start Heath (heard after he has a good game).

I don't know whether Heath is starting to get it or whether he played well, and he was trying to impress.

I just feel we need to evaluate players over more of a stretch than just one game. If Heath is all that, he'll be on the field as a starter next year. If he's not, then he'll play spot duty and give us plays because he may just be one of those players who is dynamic in spurts and not necessarily over long periods.

We'll see.

 

[CATCH17]

Heath has played all year and just done the OK job that keeps him in a reserve role. He had some good opportunities against Green Bay, just like he's had some good games previously. But we need to understand that it's easier to not make mistakes when you're not on the field as much.

I think the Cowboys know what they are doing in limiting Heath's snaps. He's had to get more playing time in the past and most Cowboys fans were calling him out then for his blown coverages.

Being on the field more, Jones is going to make more mistakes, and fans seem to be calling him out particularly because of his blown coverage on the game-winning throw. This is an overreaction to a player who played a big role in our secondary improvement this year. He's going to get beat some, like any corner, but he also defended plenty of passes this year.

Blown coverages is a mental mistake though and something that can be improved on.

Just because he made those mistakes as a young player doesn't mean he won't grow smarter and learn from the mistakes hes made.


The guy is making plays. You have to get him on the field more. I'm not saying to start him but give him a path to where he can compete for the starting job. He's earned it.

 

[Gameover]

Heath made his first NFL start on October 27, 2013 at free safety against his hometown Detroit Lions.

I've held this game against him ever since.

 

[Gameover]

He has 4 interceptions in 4 years to Jones' 1 interception in 2 years.

He also has 7 pass breakups in 4 years to Jones 18 in 2 years.

The desire to rip Jones to prop up Heath is bizarre to me.

Limited role mean anything to you?