Ken Hamlin visiting Dallas on Wed.

[Big Dakota]

Come on, lets see if he's even offered a contract before we get to bent either way. Just because he's coming in doesn't me he's signed, and if he signs it may be a very reasonable deal. The ONLY way i get mad about this is if we give the guy a bunch a guaranteed cash. With his health and character concerns i can see a TO type deal coming. Hey, i don't mind giving the guy 4 million a year if it's a year to year deal and he might be down to that after all the crapola he's pulled since high school. He's a good "rental" type player but i wouldn't buy into it long term. Besides, we still have what, 14 million left? This will be about it in FA and the draft is what, 4 million or so? We'll hide some cash for next year in one of those incentive deals to Davis or someone and we'll still have a few mill to play with for the season. Sometimes i think we forget teams don;'t get in cap trouble anymore and it's JERRY'S MONEY.

 

[CCBoy]

on a rush to judgement as to quality of draft pool at that point....

at that point in the draft, players have jumped up tremendously as to likelihood of panning out as real difference makers....

First, with the presence of a possible, Ken Hamlin, Pat Watkins, and availability of Anthony Henry shifting to free safety, why would you want to go the Landry route, and pack in some more top end salary, with the hopes of getting four All Pro players in your secondary? Somewhere else, the leak would spring up....

Hamlin paired with Roy Williams, well could compare to what the Cowboys had with Darren Woodsen, at the tail of his career, and Roy Williams paired up. That would be sufficient I think...with the addition of Pat Watkins thrown in in Red Zone and short yardage situations, where the ability to jump and height are a major consideration....

Denver presently has one of the best pairs of cornerbacks in the league, with their Blye and Bailey. The addition of CB Leon Hall, would put Dallas into that very elite portion of the NFL, with Hall and Terrence Newman holding down the man-on-man duties of a Wade Phillip's defense....Now, add in the rest of this group's corners, and you have a group of:

Terrence Newman
Leon Hall
Anthony Henry
Aaron Glenn
Nathan Jones
Jacques Reeves
Quincy Butler

That would be the strongest cornerback group in the NFL, if you ask me!

Next player, OT Levi Brown-who many project right now, as a solid left tackle in the NFL, and probably an above average right tackle. This being the final year for Flozell Adams, Brown would be a very quality pickup to season for a year, and then make a long-term decision concerning the Dallas offensive line...wouldn't you rather be presented the problem of whether to keep, Adams and Marc Colombo, rather than being forced to match contract demands...Dallas would be in a very strong offensive tackle position, and able to now, trade away, what a concept, an offensive tackle, for a Day One draft pick this next season, when offensive playmakers might be at the forefront of the Dallas draft objectives....For this season, Brown could push Kosier out at left guard, and totally dominate all along the Dallas offensive line...what isn't to like about those prospects?

Next, starting at about pick 14, the linebacker types of players, will start to take hits...if you are going to get a player that you project as being a definite upgrade in your system, the 10-14 pick area is where to do this...you go for what you want in YOUR system...not static point values. Here, I picked an outside pressure and a very fast and playmaking middle linebacker... both of which would highlight a very solid Dallas linebacker group. Willis will be a true stud at middle linebacker. He is very fast, and plays from sideline to sideline. He would immediately bring about a more aggressive defense and help create turn-overs, as well as be a three down middle linebacker...upgrading pass defense and harrassment of opposing backs and tight ends in their passing games. This would be major.

Moss does it for me, as to an outside pressure that could function with his hand down or up, similar to an aging Greg Ellis*. This would be a fine time to add his name to the group that is quickly becoming a premier unit. You don't like him, fine, go get a Jamal Anderson or Lawrence Timmons...no problem, by me....

 

[STSINAZ]

remember jerry probably learned a thing or two from parcells...why would he drive up the price on any player by acting like he needs him so much? same thing with the draft...he's playing poker...that may be his new thing...rather than to blurt everything out...i guess he learned something from BP

 

[Da Hammer]

Hamlin would be a very solid signing!!!! especially cause we wouldnt have to draft a FS anymore and Watkins would get more time to grow as a player by backing up Hamlin and not having too much pressure on him.

 

[big dog cowboy]

First line of the Phillips defensive playbook:

"This is an aggressive defense"

And ends like this.........

 

[TDH]

Another genius.... (sorry for the sarcasm) the round a player is picked does not mean he will be any less of a player who was picked in the 1st round.

Please, get this out of your head.

Yeah, i get that genius. There are Tom bradys, marques colstons, etc. etc. etc. However, 7 out of 10 times, these hundreds of scouts who get paid to evaluate these kids throughout the entire year normally get it rt. Hitting on a solid NFL player in the 5th rd, the odds are alot lower than the earlier rds.

So yes, "genius", i get that what rd you are drafted in doesnt necessarily determine what kind of player you will ultimately be, but more often than not...it will be a good indicator of what your talent level is and what these hundreds of scouts think your ceiling is. Can you understand that genius?

And no one should be acting like watkins just got drafted. He's been here. We have a whole years worth of tape on him. He may be an average FS one day, and an adequate back up. But he doesnt have the instincts, doesnt have very fluid hips, or the raw speed to be a ball hawking NFL FS. Sorry.

 

[Thick 'N Hearty]

Come on, lets see if he's even offered a contract before we get to bent either way. Just because he's coming in doesn't me he's signed, and if he signs it may be a very reasonable deal. The ONLY way i get mad about this is if we give the guy a bunch a guaranteed cash. With his health and character concerns i can see a TO type deal coming. Hey, i don't mind giving the guy 4 million a year if it's a year to year deal and he might be down to that after all the crapola he's pulled since high school. He's a good "rental" type player but i wouldn't buy into it long term. Besides, we still have what, 14 million left? This will be about it in FA and the draft is what, 4 million or so? We'll hide some cash for next year in one of those incentive deals to Davis or someone and we'll still have a few mill to play with for the season. Sometimes i think we forget teams don;'t get in cap trouble anymore and it's JERRY'S MONEY.

Crapola? Way to put the football jargon in there. C'mon. Everyone knows Hamlin will be a better FS than anyone we have on the roster right now. Those who feel otherwise need to lay off the bong. He's a solid cover safety and centerfielder. Do you see anyone else on the roster who can do that? I would rather sign Hamlin for a three or four years and move on from there. Anyone remember Washington? How about Teague? Weren't they FS? How long did they last with the Boys? Don't worry about it fellas. They'll be fine.

 

[Wrangler87]

Funny how no one metioned that this possible signing might be being considered in regard to moving Roy Williams closer to the line of scrimmage on third down and long nickel and dime packages.

Hamlin, as someone mentioned, is a better SS, and SS he would be in these situations. Watkins would be our FS and Roy Williams would be given the opportunity to be moved up into the area where he can make plays, just like Jerry mentioned.

From that perspective, it makes sense.

On 1st and 2nd down, you go with Roy at SS and Hamlin at FS, both of which do very well in run support.

Maybe, Hamlin can cover Shockey on the goal line.

 

[Big Dakota]

Crapola? Way to put the football jargon in there. C'mon. Everyone knows Hamlin will be a better FS than anyone we have on the roster right now. Those who feel otherwise need to lay off the bong. He's a solid cover safety and centerfielder. Do you see anyone else on the roster who can do that? I would rather sign Hamlin for a three or four years and move on from there. Anyone remember Washington? How about Teague? Weren't they FS? How long did they last with the Boys? Don't worry about it fellas. They'll be fine.

I guess i could have said an assult, 3 arrests for DUI and 2 convictions. That make sense to ya football jargon boy?

You sign him to a long term deal, looks like the rest of the NFL agrees with you so far

 

[AmishCowboy]

If it's not too much money, then I'm all for it, surely Wade and Stewart have watched film and think they can use him.

 

[gimmesix]

If it's not too much money, then I'm all for it, surely Wade and Stewart have watched film and think they can use him.

Nah, that's unbelievable.

It's either:

1) This is Jerry Jones' move and he doesnt' know what he's doing and should hire a real GM (not that I'm against that).

OR

2) Some members of this board obviously know more than the coaches possibly could about him, so there's no reason to bring him in.

 

[InmanRoshi]

Kind of funny listening to everyone just repeat say over and over that Hamlin is a natural SS, considering he's played FS his entire career in the NFL. He also played free safety his entire career in college.

Comment:
Hamlin has an impressive combination of size and speed. He is physical and aggressive, but also fluid. He has solid communication skills in the secondary. He has above-average key-and-diagnose ability and instincts in coverage. He has very good hips and transition skills for a free safety. He has good range and play speed in deep zones. He makes up a lot of ground and can recover from mistakes when the ball is in the air. He has good awareness in short zones and good ball skills. He can match up in against tight ends in man-to-man. He continues to improve in man and zone coverage. He runs the alleys and is a tough insert player in run support. He takes solid angles and is a very good last line of defense. But an offseason incident that led to a scary head injury could compromise Hamlin's playing style. He drops his head and can miss going for knockout shots, which is undisciplined and now potentially dangerous. He attacks downhill and can get into trouble on play action. He needs to be more disciplined in space.

en Hamlin | S

Full Name: Ken Hamlin
Born: January 20, 1981
Memphis, TN
Height: 6-2
Weight: 209 lbs.

Age: 26
Pos: S
Experience: 4 years
College: Arkansas
Drafted: Year:2003 Round:2 Pick:10, Seahawks

Insider Analysis
Grade 74
Expert's Take Hamlin is a hard-hitting tough safety who is one of the best in the NFL in his skill set. He shows good football instincts and has a knack for playing the ball in the air. Hamlin also shows good range and recovery speed off the hash. He is also a smart player who is able to make the calls in the secondary and line up players in position to make plays. He is very good with run support and will step up and make contact on running backs. He is not afraid to lay a hit on receivers coming across the middle. Hamlin is a solid athlete who shows quickness, body control, and outstanding range. He has the ability to play both a traditional free safety and strong safety, but he is better suited as a free safety. Hamlin does a good job of getting in the box and is productive in his pass rush and blitzing. He is a very aggressive player who brings a lot of energy to his play. He is a solid cover guy who can roll up and play effectively over the slot receiver. He plays well in the Cover 2 package showing good turn and transition coupled with smoothness that allows him to turn and run with ease. Sometimes he stutters in his backpedal, but not enough to be overly concerned about. He is an impact player who will help any team upgrade and solidify its secondary. With his leadership and play, he will be a highly sought after player in free agency.

Again, it just all boils down to we've become so accustomed that youre either a good hitter or a good cover guy that we can't wrap our minds around the idea that a guy can be both. Sadly, we've gotten too accustomed to one dimensional, limited players.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

Frankly, this looks like a Patriots move, and that's a great thing.

Look at a former high pick who's been a very good performer in the past but has been down a bit lately. If he's willing to sign cheap, you sign him and see if you can get his rookie year performance out of him. If you can't, he's cheap enough that it doesn't cripple you not to play him. It has a good risk/reward ratio.

In other words, it's a good move unless we just give him a ton more cash than he deserves.

 

[theogt]

Guys - Hamlin is NOT a FS??? At some point, we will have to draft a FS...for the love of ***. I know everyone is rooting for the 6'5" watkins, but sometimes a 5th rd pick is taken in the 5th rd for a reason. We HAVE to get 1-2 rd talent at FS if we want to do what wade wants to do with Roy and not play a cover 2.

That's funny. Hamlin is a FS and was drafted in the 2nd round.

 

[Strong]

"Good coverage skills" That is an upgrade no matter how you slice it. Sign him now. Sign him cheap. Get him to work with the young guys. If he wins the job, so be it.

Strong.

 

[jobberone]

I thought he was more of a SS type. If he comes cheap enough I'd sign him. The more options at safety and FS the better. If the FO wants the guy they know more than me. I hope this isn't panic and they put so much money out there they can't look at another vet later in the year.

 

[AbeBeta]

I thought he was more of a SS type.

Folks say this but he's played FS his entire career.

 

[NeonNinja]

He would be a great addition at the right price.

 

[t.o.boys81]

I would really like this to happen. It could also motivate Pat Watkins to be a better player.

 

[ddh33]

Several thing come to mind.

First of all, I read several times in several different places that Michael Smith was an idiot for mentioning Ken Hamlin on his ESPN segment today. Looks like he was right about Dallas sniffing around.

Secondly, I think there are some misguided ideas regarding Ken Hamlin's coverage ability. This past season, everyone in the Seattle secondary struggled. I don't know exactly why. Was Hamlin struggling because of his injury or was it something else?

Regardless, Hamlin has been very good in coverage before. People act like he's a strong saftey when, in truth, the guy has been playing with another safety who is more of a linebacker. In fact, Michael Bouleware got benched for his poor coverage this past year. Before, he would be in the box a lot and Hamlin would be playing centerfield. Isn't that what we are wanting more of here?

Finally, Hamlin is still a veteran who has seen a lot. If he can help get the secondary lined up and be in the right position, a lot of the other problems will take care of themselves.

Who knows? Maybe Watkins can be the guy everyone hopes he can be, but Ken Hamlin looks like a great get to me.