JJ Wilcox will be our starting FS, Stephen Jones pretty much says

[big dog cowboy]

That's part of the problem!Stephen Jones is naming who starts.

Not really.

Jones said he thinks Wilcox can rise to the top when camp comes around this year, the same way he did last year.

“My thoughts are that he’s really got a chance, if he goes back to playing like he had been in training camp and how he was playing toward the end of the year, to really be the guy opposite (Church),” Jones said.

 

[Titleist]

For some reason, I think he could be a decent FS. Maybe not the best tackler in the world, but he has pretty good ball awareness and a nose for the ball

 

[CyberB0b]

I sure am glad we are handing the guy the job before camp even begins.

 

[TheDude]

Not to highjack this thread but in that piece is this nugget:

just trying to bait me on a friday night....

i refuse to bite


maybe tomorrow

 

[Idgit]

Not to highjack this thread but in that piece is this nugget:

Yeah. The team really likes him. You can tell from how they're handling him.

 

[Idgit]

On Wilcox, where am I missing SJ naming him a starter? Is it the "he can compete for the job" bit?

“My thoughts are that he’s really got a chance, if he goes back to playing like he had been in training camp and how he was playing toward the end of the year, to really be the guy opposite (Church),” Jones said.

Did I miss the money quote? Or are some of us misrepresenting in order to overreact on purpose again?

 

[SportsGuru80]

Jimmie Ward in the 2nd round please.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Or are some of us misrepresenting in order to overreact on purpose again?

This, this and all day this.

 

[silver]

We've invested a 4th and a 3rd at the safety position recently which might not be a lot but is more than the investments on the defensive line. Me thinks what Stephen is saying is that we need to see those investments pan out before we put more resources to it.

 

[Stash]

Not to highjack this thread but in that piece is this nugget:

“I know everybody kind of smirks, but one day if Matt Johnson stays healthy, then we’ll finally get to look at him,” Jones said. “Hopefully, that’ll turn for him. Hopefully Matt’s going to prove you guys wrong and a lot of people wrong and stay healthy and be the guy we thought we drafted out of there two years ago.”

I'm always concerned whenever anyone named Jones goes the "prove you guys wrong" route. To me, that's a stubborn person who can't admit it when they make a mistake.

And I feel that the first step in correcting a mistake is admitting you made one in the first place.

 

[Chuck 54]

My ideal long term safety tandem would be for Johnson to stay healthy and become the ball hawking FS he was in college, and move JJ to strong safety where his speed, instincts, tackling, and good hands could see him develop into a poor man's Polamalu in time. No further draft picks on the position.

Would I trust that to happen and not draft another safety this year? No! But if a safety prospect doesn't look to be good enough to beat out all others, including Church, right away, I'm not wanting to use a 1 or 2 on him.

Stick with best player in every round....this year that's likely to help us build the future of our OL, DL, and even WR.

 

[Alexander]

Jimmie Ward in the 2nd round please.

Or Joyner. Either one of those two has position flexibility and can make this defense better than just drafting Clinton-Dix or Pryor too high.

All in all, his comments should not be surprising.

We have been told "we like where we are at safety" for weeks.

As long as there is a plan to bolster the personnel around that position and they feel they can make it work, fine.

 

[Alexander]

“I know everybody kind of smirks, but one day if Matt Johnson stays healthy, then we’ll finally get to look at him,” Jones said. “Hopefully, that’ll turn for him. Hopefully Matt’s going to prove you guys wrong and a lot of people wrong and stay healthy and be the guy we thought we drafted out of there two years ago.”

Hopefully. Hopefully.

 

[marchetta]

Agreed, with all this talk about how the 3 tech is the most important position in the Tampa 2 (I'll take their word for it, I'm not a Tampa 2 expert) and how Donald would be a perfect fit for us, I think it might be worth it to move up a few spots to grab him if he's still there.

I think, because of pre-draft trade discussions, we've decided that moving up is too costly and that we've decided to "settle" for Easley in the 2nd or Sutton in the 3rd. When Marrinelly (sp?) was spotted dining with Easley, it showed us the seriousness of there intention to potentially go in another direction.

 

[cej757]

The way the War room erupted when they were about to draft Wilcox last year you know the Cowboys were gonna give him more than 1 season to claim the job. They were high fiving and chest bumpin and everything when they took Wilcox.

 

[noshame]

After the events of last season, I think almost everybody needs to be re-evaluated, there were a cast of payers who played below their talent level. We began the season as a attacking squad who looked pretty good, then we turned into bend but don't break, but we broke anyway.

 

[Alexander]

The way the War room erupted when they were about to draft Wilcox last year you know the Cowboys were gonna give him more than 1 season to claim the job. They were high fiving and chest bumpin and everything when they took Wilcox.

They pretty much high five, pound fists and chest bump over every pick.

 

[DBOY3141]

Most of us that do our mocks every year put players in the top 3 rounds and expect them to start within a year or two. This will be his second year, don't know why some folks are a little agitated that he may start. Stephen Jones is just saying the same things most of us say all the time. Time will tell but I think he has the talent to play in this league and the only way to find out is to get him some playing time.

 

[Alexander]

Most of us that do our mocks every year put players in the top 3 rounds and expect them to start within a year or two. This will be his second year, don't know why some folks are a little agitated that he may start. Stephen Jones is just saying the same things most of us say all the time. Time will tell but I think he has the talent to play in this league and the only way to find out is to get him some playing time.

I think what agitates people is the fact that he was not starting over Jeff Heath at the end of the year, therefore he is not any good.

Somewhat fair assumption. I get that his mother passing was a big deal, would affect anyone. But he is and was a raw player regardless. That is the problem with taking a converted running back and expecting a quick transition.

 

[Eric_Boyer]

That's part of the problem!Stephen Jones is naming who starts.

your first rodeo I see.

just an fyi, what clubs say the week before the draft doesn't mean much.