More Jeff Heath vs JJ?

[mmohican29]

Now don't get me wrong, I think Wilcox has good upside.

But is it possible Heath has better upside?

He looks like a more assignment sound player than JJ, and has near the physicality that Wilcox brings.
He looks improved- greatly.

I'd be curious to know how many snaps he's gotten and if he has been targeted like I think JJ has the first two weeks.

He might be upgradeable- probably is... but I still think the kid has a good future in this league. Great ST player, fearless and athletic. That was big knock he had in the red-zone to prevent a TD vs Tenn.

He reminds me of a Jim Leonard type who still plays at a decent level for the Browns.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

The only thing he and Jim Leonard have in common is they're both white. I just see nothing in Heath aside from a decent special teams guy. I was hoping when Hamilton came back it meant either Heath off the roster or to PS or lower on the depth chart. Its time to find out what we have in Wilcox. Give him the year to know whether you should move on from him or to stick with him.

 

[links18]

This team doesn't seem to value safties all that much. We have a few low round guys and a bunch of UDFAs back there.

 

[Lonestar94]

The only thing he and Jim Leonard have in common is they're both white. I just see nothing in Heath aside from a decent special teams guy. I was hoping when Hamilton came back it meant either Heath off the roster or to PS or lower on the depth chart. Its time to find out what we have in Wilcox. Give him the year to know whether you should move on from him or to stick with him.

Lol. That's exactly the point.

 

[mmohican29]

The only thing he and Jim Leonard have in common is they're both white. I just see nothing in Heath aside from a decent special teams guy. I was hoping when Hamilton came back it meant either Heath off the roster or to PS or lower on the depth chart. Its time to find out what we have in Wilcox. Give him the year to know whether you should move on from him or to stick with him.

Wrong. They were both undrafted. Both come from the north mid-west area of the US. Both played for HS State Championship teams. Both have 4.5 speed (actually Heath has 4.4 speed). Both were special teams demons early in their careers.

Heath actually outsizes Leonhard by quite a bit, and has better measurables.

Leonhard- 9 seasons, 12 interceptions, 2 FF
Heath- 1 season, 1 interception, 1FF

Leonhard has good return skills. And yes, both are white.

 

[Zman5]

They both suck for different reasons. Heath seams to be always around the ball to make a play yet can't finish. Wilcox looks lost in coverage but when he is in position to make a play he does.

They both need time to develop. For now, I think you can play either one and get the same result for different reasons.

 

[mmohican29]

The only thing he and Jim Leonard have in common is they're both white. I just see nothing in Heath aside from a decent special teams guy. I was hoping when Hamilton came back it meant either Heath off the roster or to PS or lower on the depth chart. Its time to find out what we have in Wilcox. Give him the year to know whether you should move on from him or to stick with him.

LOL and boot one of the best ST players on the team? Good strategy: give JJ the job see if he can do it, cut the ST ace who might have upside on D, and draft JJ's replacement if he stinks it up.

Keep in mind it was Heath that gunned that Titan down at the 14 with a snot-bubbler. Not ST ace CJ Spillman- maybe a better Heath comparison? It was also Heath that planted the Titan about to RAC to the endzone and left him also reeling.

If Hamilton was better than Heath or JJ, he'd be playing. He's not.

 

[brymatt94]

I think Wilcox has more athletic ability than Heath. The coaches knew when they drafted him that he needed some time to develop, and "time to develop" means 3-4 years, despite what some fans might believe. I mean the guy didn't play safety until his senior year, but once again he has the athleticism. I'd say that is the definition of a "developmental player". Heath does lack some of that natural athleticism but he makes up for it with his drive and heart, which is probably why the coaches like him so much.

 

[fffiasco]

LOL and boot one of the best ST players on the team? Good strategy: give JJ the job see if he can do it, cut the ST ace who might have upside on D, and draft JJ's replacement if he stinks it up.

Keep in mind it was Heath that gunned that Titan down at the 14 with a snot-bubbler. Not ST ace CJ Spillman- maybe a better Heath comparison? It was also Heath that planted the Titan about to RAC to the endzone and left him also reeling.

If Hamilton was better than Heath or JJ, he'd be playing. He's not.

Hamilton is also suspended

 

[mmohican29]

Hamilton is also suspended

Yes. Let's bring the guy with PS experience up and the Detroit fiasco under his belt, cut Heath and hope Jakar doesn't get suspended again. Another sound strategy.

To be fair Jakar laid two enormous licks on that final debacle drive, but he wasn't ready for that PT. There's a reason Hamilton was 5th or so on the depth chart while Heath was getting burn- not that he should have been getting as much as he was, causing the Heath-hate here on the Zone.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

Wrong. They were both undrafted. Both come from the north mid-west area of the US. Both played for HS State Championship teams. Both have 4.5 speed (actually Heath has 4.4 speed). Both were special teams demons early in their careers.

Heath actually outsizes Leonhard by quite a bit, and has better measurables.

Leonhard- 9 seasons, 12 interceptions, 2 FF
Heath- 1 season, 1 interception, 1FF

Leonhard has good return skills. And yes, both are white.

Well and one is a pretty decent football player and the other isn't lol. We all know Heath has nice measurbles. His speed is a asset. But when the football is in the air....he's proved time and time again he can't locate it. He's not a very good tackler.

I'm one of the few that gave Heath a pass for his rookie year. He had no business out there starting last year and i'm willing to wait on him but i've seen nothing to suggest he's anything more than a special teams guy which is a asset.

 

[mmohican29]

Well and one is a pretty decent football player and the other isn't lol. We all know Heath has nice measurbles. His speed is a asset. But when the football is in the air....he's proved time and time again he can't locate it. He's not a very good tackler.

I'm one of the few that gave Heath a pass for his rookie year. He had no business out there starting last year and i'm willing to wait on him but i've seen nothing to suggest he's anything more than a special teams guy which is a asset.

Hmm I'd garner to think that if a guy that wasn't ready to play NFL football found his way for a TD, Int, and a FF, FR in his first year coming into the league from a DII school... gave him 9 seasons, you'd find similar results to what the pretty good football player has under his belt.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

Hmm I'd garner to think that if a guy that wasn't ready to play NFL football found his way for a TD, Int, and a td in his first year coming into the league from a DII school... gave him 9 seasons, you'd find similar results to what the pretty good football player has under his belt.

There's also a reason why he was undrafted with the measurables he has.

 

[mmohican29]

There's also a reason why he was undrafted with the measurables he has.

He played at Saginaw Valley State. That's a good piece of the "reason why undrafted pie". Has nothing to do with his development between year 1 and year 2 in the NFL with NFL coaching with similarly gifted athletes to his left and right.

He definitely belongs in the NFL. He's made plays at this level. He's failed at this level as well. Only premier players come in and turn the league on it's head. Some take time to develop. I'm just asking the question how much time is JJ afforded if he's being outplayed? He's clearly been a weak link on the defense thus far. If it's OTJ training, let them both learn.

 

[Irvin88_4life]

LOL and boot one of the best ST players on the team? Good strategy: give JJ the job see if he can do it, cut the ST ace who might have upside on D, and draft JJ's replacement if he stinks it up.

Keep in mind it was Heath that gunned that Titan down at the 14 with a snot-bubbler. Not ST ace CJ Spillman- maybe a better Heath comparison? It was also Heath that planted the Titan about to RAC to the endzone and left him also reeling.

If Hamilton was better than Heath or JJ, he'd be playing. He's not.

Hamilton isn't playing because he is suspended. ..... agreed with most everything else you said

 

[Idgit]

We'll continue to play both, and if the gap between the two doesn't widen, I'd give JJ two more weeks before pressuring his snaps further. Especially with Hamilton coming back on Teams.

 

[Jenky]

Wrong. They were both undrafted. Both come from the north mid-west area of the US. Both played for HS State Championship teams. Both have 4.5 speed (actually Heath has 4.4 speed). Both were special teams demons early in their careers.

Heath actually outsizes Leonhard by quite a bit, and has better measurables.

Leonhard- 9 seasons, 12 interceptions, 2 FF
Heath- 1 season, 1 interception, 1FF

Leonhard has good return skills. And yes, both are white.

What can ya tell me about how Heath compares to Conte?

 

[jazzcat22]

I don't care who is in there, just make the plays.
I think Heath has some upside, as well as JJ. Both just need time. I like both of their mentality, hit and hit big [legal hits]....make no apologies about the hit....

JJ still learning the position, afterall, it's his 2nd year, and only his 3rd as a S, right? And last year was spent mostly hurt, or playing hurt.
Heath, is from a very small school, he didn't play against your better players as a big top NCAA school. He needs some time. love him on ST's, and we need that type of player too.

Just seems it's like the old school thing, there is a PET and there is a Whipping boy....why can't both, including Hayden, on the DL, be considered a pet in progress....

 

[guag]

While Heath has made a lot of boneheaded plays, he has also shown some flashes. Coming from a undrafted rookie from a small school, this is about all one can expect from this kind of player at this stage. But the important takeaway is that he has at least flashed some ability at times.

So he is capable. He's not there yet obviously. Not even close. I believe with another year or two under his belt, with more experience finishing off plays, he can be a solid contributor in the NFL.

He is a football player. He loves the game. He's an overachiever. I'm rooting for him. Let's see if he can continue to grow.

 

[Zimmy Lives]

While Heath has made a lot of boneheaded plays, he has also shown some flashes. Coming from a undrafted rookie from a small school, this is about all one can expect from this kind of player at this stage. But the important takeaway is that he has at least flashed some ability at times.

So he is capable. He's not there yet obviously. Not even close. I believe with another year or two under his belt, with more experience finishing off plays, he can be a solid contributor in the NFL.

He is a football player. He loves the game. He's an overachiever. I'm rooting for him. Let's see if he can continue to grow.

Three key sentences as to why Heath is on the team.

I mentioned it yesterday; Marinelli is building a defense with guys who play with effort, know their role and come prepared to play. Heath's biggest challenge is his inability to execute and he needs to improve in that area to have a chance at unseating Wilcox. Until then, he is a good role player.