Mike Jenkins Has More Tackles Than Alan Ball

[FuzzyLumpkins]

There is not nearly enough vitriol heaped on Ball. He has 34 tackles. Mike Jenkins has 38.

Mike Jenkins is more physical than Alan Ball.

I thought Spievey was the worst player on the field supplanting Ball for the first time this year. Watching Alan Ball in a scrum is just sad. Guys like Maurice Morris can paste him at full stride and when he gets up near the guards, he is always turned sideways and back. He kinda careens all over the place.

 

[CATCH17]

Our entire secondary needs a lesson on how to tackle.

It hampered early last year. We finally got it sewed up. This year its just incredibly bad.

Our safeties are average in pass coverage and below average in Run Support

 

[TD-33]

Dallas needs help in the secondary no doubt. Next draft could help that in a big way, what free agent free safeties will be available for next year? Would be nice to have AOA and the youngsters learn from a savy veteran.

 

[gimmesix]

There is not nearly enough vitriol heaped on Ball. He has 34 tackles. Mike Jenkins has 38.

Mike Jenkins is more physical than Alan Ball.

I thought Spievey was the worst player on the field supplanting Ball for the first time this year. Watching Alan Ball in a scrum is just sad. Guys like Maurice Morris can paste him at full stride and when he gets up near the guards, he is always turned sideways and back. He kinda careens all over the place.

Although I don't care for Ball as a safety, using the tackle numbers to blast him is misleading. A lot of Jenkins' tackles come after a receiver makes a catch on him. His actual numbers in run support would not be that high.

At free safety, Ball is more in coverage than he is coming up and supporting the run (but he doesn't have single coverage, so he doesn't make as many tackles there as the corners). Yes, he has run support obligations, but more as the last line of defense than as the guy who comes up and makes the play. That doesn't mean I think he's great in run support ... but to be honest, it's his role in coverage that is the bigger concern.

 

[jazzcat22]

More tackles doesn't quite cut it to me IMO, and only 4 more at that. How many mis-tackles, how many penalties, and how many that resulted in 1st downs that led to scores for the opponents. How about the BIG WHIFF non-tackle allowing a TD. :bang2:

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

Although I don't care for Ball as a safety, using the tackle numbers to blast him is misleading. A lot of Jenkins' tackles come after a receiver makes a catch on him. His actual numbers in run support would not be that high.

At free safety, Ball is more in coverage than he is coming up and supporting the run (but he doesn't have single coverage, so he doesn't make as many tackles there as the corners). Yes, he has run support obligations, but more as the last line of defense than as the guy who comes up and makes the play. That doesn't mean I think he's great in run support ... but to be honest, it's his role in coverage that is the bigger concern.

Are you really trying to argue that he has less tackle opportunities at the safety position over the CB.

And he does pretty much nothing in coverage.

 

[gimmesix]

Are you really trying to argue that he has less tackle opportunities at the safety position over the CB.

And he does pretty much nothing in coverage.

Yes, I am arguing that based on how the Cowboys use him. When you are in deep coverage most of the time, you're not going to get too many opportunities to make tackles in the running game unless the tailback gets into the secondary.

Second, corners make more tackles on completions than safeties because it is usually the man they are covering who makes the catch. (Corners who give up few catches have fewer tackles, naturally.)

It's all about how you use the safety. Up until the last two weeks, we used the free safety as a center fielder-type, so his tackle opportunities were limited to whoever he was helping cover and whatever support he could give when a run was called or the pass went elsewhere.

I have not seen anything that shows Ball has shied away from his responsibilities in run support, even if he's not very good at it. And again, it is the coverage deficiencies that bother me more than anything he does or doesn't do against the run. If we're going to play the free safety deep, he's got to do a better job of diagnosing pass plays, properly aligning the secondary and reading/getting to where he's most needed and can make a play.

 

[Wood]

i dont think there is a person out there who doesnt feel dallas needs to upgrade S position. I do like McCray long term potential. From what little I saw...i wasnt that impressed with AOA toughness on the field.

 

[big dog cowboy]

There is not nearly enough vitriol heaped on Ball. He has 34 tackles. Mike Jenkins has 38.

Remember you are comparing one of starting CB's to our #4 CB.

Oh wait...........

 

[ThreeSportStar80]

The main problem with the secondary is they aren't very physical... They need a DB coach who's going to get em' to knock some folks out!

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

Yes, I am arguing that based on how the Cowboys use him. When you are in deep coverage most of the time, you're not going to get too many opportunities to make tackles in the running game unless the tailback gets into the secondary.

Second, corners make more tackles on completions than safeties because it is usually the man they are covering who makes the catch. (Corners who give up few catches have fewer tackles, naturally.)

It's all about how you use the safety. Up until the last two weeks, we used the free safety as a center fielder-type, so his tackle opportunities were limited to whoever he was helping cover and whatever support he could give when a run was called or the pass went elsewhere.

I have not seen anything that shows Ball has shied away from his responsibilities in run support, even if he's not very good at it. And again, it is the coverage deficiencies that bother me more than anything he does or doesn't do against the run. If we're going to play the free safety deep, he's got to do a better job of diagnosing pass plays, properly aligning the secondary and reading/getting to where he's most needed and can make a play.

He does not play 15 yards off every snap. He is in a position to close on the ball which gives him an opportunity to get assists all over the field and all the action is front of him. All the runs that get to the second level especially in the first half of the season before Ratliff's renaissance just underscored how bad he is.

He does not shy away from the scrum he just gets owned in it every time. He cannot handle small backs and everyone else just tosses him around like a rag doll.

 

[Shinywalrus]

I'm not sure that this should be that surprising, and while Ball hasn't played well, even if he had I'm not sure the number would be different.

There are 4 or 5 corners with more tackles than the leading couple of free safeties - Rhodes, who tends to be schemed more into run support, and Weddle in San Diego. Jenkins has also been...uh...spotty in coverage at times, which can add to your tackle totals.

But I do think Ball's tendency to play a little bit deeper than is typical is a contributory factor. I don't know how often that's scheme and how often it's just bad play, though.

 

[TheCount]

If you think Mike Jenkins doesn't like to hit, watch Ball. I've seen him standing around piles so often, waiting either for someone else to make the stop or waiting for the momentum of the offensive player to be neutralized before making a half hearted attempt to join the fray.

 

[CowboyManDan]

I think it's safe to say two things about two positions we were unsure of going into the season...

LT: Doug Free can play.

S: Alan Ball is a solid backup CB, but certainly not a starting S.

 

[CATCH17]

I think it's safe to say two things about two positions we were unsure of going into the season...

LT: Doug Free can play.

S: Alan Ball is a solid backup CB, but certainly not a starting S.

Doug Free is a really solid player but lets hope he doesn't take the Mike Jenkins all I need to do is maintain approach.


IMO we have to see what Sam Young has at some point this year but I have a feeling they don't want to see him until he has an offseason under his belt.

 

[casmith07]

lol...when more tackles = more physical let me know.

Might have something to do with Jenkins being targeted more, too.

I'm not saying that Ball is more physical because he isn't, but I think your logic is unsound.

 

[TwoDeep3]

If Wade was the one who thought Ball should be a starter, or even on this team, that should have cost him his job in Sept.

But then there were some of us that thought hiring Wade was a mistake from the start.