Reading the safety tea leaves

[Verdict]

We seemed to be a bit short on depth at safety prior to Xavier getting injured and Showers going on IR. What we don't know is what the team thinks they have in young guys on the roster.

I know many of you have been beating the ET drum saying the trade is imminent and you guys may be right. That's certainly one possibility.

I may be in the minority but I think the Cowboys have options at safety. They could bring in ET. That's certainly not outside the realm of possibility. They have seemed to keep a roster spot open for that eventual possibility coming to fruition.

On the other hand Jeff Heath is a very underrated player at safety. I also think Frazier is a real find as a strong safety. So that's two very solid players, and I'm higher on Heath than most.

To the Cowboys credit, so far they haven't panicked and given up the farm on ET. That's prudent team management.

But there are other ways of grabbing a safety or two. Teams will have to cut rosters almost in half in about two weeks. Could the Cowboys have their eyes on a safety or two who will be coming available on roster cutdowns or in trade for a late round pick?

It makes sense to poach a safety or two at the cut to 53. Some solid players will be available to be picked up on the cheap. That may or may not be the "plan", but it is certainly a safety net that should give the Cowboys some options if they are unable to pickup ET or another safety in a trade, or if they aren't happy with what they have.

 

[John813]

Think the best option is George Iloka.

Only costs money. While not the ET level of safety he does provide years of starting experience and still is in the "prime" years.

 

[EMMITTnROY]

I still think we get ET to phone home.

 

[Sydla]

We seemed to be a bit short on depth at safety prior to Xavier getting injured and Showers going on IR. What we don't know is what the team thinks they have in young guys on the roster.

I know many of you have been beating the ET drum saying the trade is imminent and you guys may be right. That's certainly one possibility.

I may be in the minority but I think the Cowboys have options at safety. They could bring in ET. That's certainly not outside the realm of possibility. They have seemed to keep a roster spot open for that eventual possibility coming to fruition.

On the other hand Jeff Heath is a very underrated player at safety. I also think Frazier is a real find as a strong safety. So that's two very solid players, and I'm higher on Heath than most.

To the Cowboys credit, so far they haven't panicked and given up the farm on ET. That's prudent team management.

But there are other ways of grabbing a safety or two. Teams will have to cut rosters almost in half in about two weeks. Could the Cowboys have their eyes on a safety or two who will be coming available on roster cutdowns or in trade for a late round pick?

It makes sense to poach a safety or two at the cut to 53. Some solid players will be available to be picked up on the cheap. That may or may not be the "plan", but it is certainly a safety net that should give the Cowboys some options if they are unable to pickup ET or another safety in a trade, or if they aren't happy with what they have.

I've long given up trying to read the tea leaves on this team.

The "tea leaves" read 4 months ago that the Cowboys needed safety help and they did nothing - didn't even draft one in the later rounds. The front office can't be surprised that they are in a bind at safety when they willingly headed into camp with only 3 competent FS on their rosters in Heath, Woods and Frazier.

Heath is becoming overrated as a player at this point by some. He's not even playing FS, he's playing SS. So right now, we have a FS who has a bum leg and two strong safeties. Something's gotta give here with the front office. Swallow your pride and bring in a vet safety, even if they are ones like Reid or to a lesser extent Iloka, who were socially active. Or figure out what to do with Thomas.

But patience at this point is just going to cost us. They put themselves in this situation where they might just have to panic a bit.

 

[gmoney112]

I hadn't kept up with S in FA but it looks like most of the ones that were decent and available got signed.

Probably Iloka or ET at this point, just from who I saw available. Then there are cuts we can probably get some depth at least.

I'm going to guess it's Iloka

 

[CIWhitefish]

Iloka probably going to Oakland where his former DC is at. I would not hold my breath for him. If Dallas was going to deal for ET it would have happened already. Doing it now puts Seattle in the driver seat and I seriously doubt Dallas would have gone this far just to panic trade now. I am betting an in house replacement and maybe a low priced vet on a one yr deal when cuts come. Anything other than this would be a huge surprise to me.

 

[KingintheNorth]

On the other hand Jeff Heath is a very underrated player at safety

.....and done.

 

[Verdict]

I've long given up trying to read the tea leaves on this team.

The "tea leaves" read 4 months ago that the Cowboys needed safety help and they did nothing - didn't even draft one in the later rounds. The front office can't be surprised that they are in a bind at safety when they willingly headed into camp with only 3 competent FS on their rosters in Heath, Woods and Frazier.

Heath is becoming overrated as a player at this point by some. He's not even playing FS, he's playing SS. So right now, we have a FS who has a bum leg and two strong safeties. Something's gotta give here with the front office. Swallow your pride and bring in a vet safety, even if they are ones like Reid or to a lesser extent Iloka, who were socially active. Or figure out what to do with Thomas.

But patience at this point is just going to cost us. They put themselves in this situation where they might just have to panic a bit.

I agree that it is impossible to know what the Cowboys' plan is at this point. But I do think they have options which don't require drastic measures.

The problem coming up as I see it is that whoever they bring in will not have much time to get up to speed. So maybe they have someone on their roster they think they can get by with for a couple of weeks.

That could prove costly though if we lose a game because of poor safety play.

 

[cheftjpeck]

Iloka probably going to Oakland where his former DC is at. I would not hold my breath for him. If Dallas was going to deal for ET it would have happened already. Doing it now puts Seattle in the driver seat and I seriously doubt Dallas would have gone this far just to panic trade now. I am betting an in house replacement and maybe a low priced vet on a one yr deal when cuts come. Anything other than this would be a huge surprise to me.

I tend to agree

 

[Sydla]

There is another possibility here.

The Cowboys think/know Woods' injury isn't really serious at all and 3-4 weeks is just a real conservative timeline set by them. But then again, didn't Garrett or Stephen get quoted as saying they have to start looking at safety options?

 

[Alexander]

Think the best option is George Iloka.

Only costs money. While not the ET level of safety he does provide years of starting experience and still is in the "prime" years.

Think lower. Cheaper. And non-threatening.

Think a player 90% of this forum would go "who?" when he is signed.

 

[John813]

Think lower. Cheaper. And non-threatening.

Think a player 90% of this forum would go "who?" when he is signed.

Yea, not betting on them getting an upgrade.

Maybe Matt Johnson hamstrings are healed.

 

[Rayman70]

we been "reading the tea leaves" at safety for over 20 years. I mean..crap or get off the pot already!!! SOMETIMES ya gotta do what ya gotta do. SIGN EARL THOMAS AND CALL IT A DAY. Also...watch out for this Tyree Robinson kid we have in camp. He's looked good when he's been called on. Nice Barry Church type to mold.

 

[Sydla]

.....and done.

As I said in another thread, what's funny about the Heath love is how his fans all run to Pro Football Focus' rating to justify their praise of the guy.

But if you look at his PFF rating, according to them, that rating would rank as "average". And that's what Heath is. An average NFL safety.

 

[erod]

We're in a pinch because Jameill Showers got hurt.

Let's ponder that a moment.

Our backup free safety was a former quarterback who failed to make 53 the past several seasons.

Wow.

I will say, I love that Showers kid and his determination to keep trying.

 

[LittleD]

I still think we get ET to phone home.

Keep dreaming...your nightmare is coming up just around the next bend.

 

[Clove]

You can either get chicken salad or chicken ****. You want the best, it cost.

 

[Rayman70]

20 years is waaay to long to be void of a stud at safety. Its one of the most important positions on any team. Without a QB for the db's...we are sunk. You all feel giddy about the prospects of Woods and Heath at safety? Barry Church looks like a perennial Pro Bowler in comparison. George IIoka isn't the answer. He is known as a big hitter. That doesn't jive with todays rules. But Earl Thomas is the best fit. We been kicking the can down the road for 20 years at safety. Its just dumb.

 

[Alexander]

Also...watch out for this Tyree Robinson kid we have in camp. He's looked good when he's been called on. Nice Barry Church type to mold.

It is just this kind of optimism that explains why they will not go after a player like Earl Thomas.

"We like what we have in Tyree Robinson."

 

[Avery]

It’s never been about not wanting ET, it’s about not wanting his contract.

Barring an abomination of performance, we will have to re-up Dak, Zeke and Jaylon after next year. If they perform like we want them to, they ain’t gonna come cheap.