Safety analysis

[HornStar]

okay, lets hope he can play well.

 

[Doomsday101]

okay, lets hope he can play well.

He did not disappoint me last season. I think with an entire off season to focus on the 1 spot instead of 2 will only work to his benifet.

 

[KingintheNorth]

OK, what's the solution then? I read a lot of gripe but didn't read any solutions to the problem. everyone knew our safties aren't all world. yet there wasn't a viable option available when we picked. I had expressed before that MLB was a need position since we had nobody behind James and Brooking, even more so than the saftey spot.

and lets not forget this team gave up 15 points a game. was top 10 in defense. and went 11-5.

how has the saftey play been our down fall?

Dear Apologist,

Having an opinion is not griping. I mean, I guess it can be but I am just a fan who is worried about our safety position. I am allowed to do so. This is a message board not a shrine.

After saying that, I'm not sure what are some viable options. I wish we would have at least scheduled a free agent visit and see if the mighty lure of the Dallas Cowboys (no sarcasm) could have gotten us a player that could have helped. I get that this Free Agent class was weak but I don't like that we didn't schedule a single free agent visit. I like Sean Lee and I get that our scouts (Jerry) were high on him. It appears while some other teams also had a high grade on him, we had the highest grade on him. I just don't think we needed a 2nd string ILB more than a 1st string FS. I have to sit here and hope that it all works out but in the mean time I will use this board to question it among fellow Cowboy fans. Hopefully, objective fans but Apologists are people too.

In regards to your last question, how has safety play been our down fall...

Gearld SensesNoBall has yet to show me he can cover.

 

[eightysiX]

Me personally i dont think safety has been our biggest downfall, but the position that can probably be most improved on. I personally believe we have an above average front 7 and above average cornerbacks and probably average safeties. I know you cant have probowl players at every postion. Although on defense i think we are pretty close.

 

[hendog]

Had no idea that Sensabaugh ran that fast of a time! wow!

He also had a record setting 46" vert!

 

[ThreeSportStar80]

I think Dallas has an eye on the O.J. Atogwe situation in St. Louis.

 

[CowboyMcCoy]

You cannot have probowlers at every position.

Sensy and Ball will cover things until AOA and Hamlin are ready to take over.


Hopefully.

I thought Sensy played at the pro bowl level last year. He really came up big against the Eagles. I thought he and Hamlin both did especially well against the Eagles in all 3 games.

We shut their passing game D.O.W.N.

 

[CowboyMcCoy]

By the way, the dude hating on the Lee pick has lost his marbles.

 

[CowboyMort]

I think with Ball and Sensy back there we will see a slight uptick in production from Hamlin to Ball and Sensy with two hands will be an uptick as well. I am not too worried about safety. Remember just a few years ago we were carting Roy Williams and Hamlin out there and before that we had Roy Williams and Pat Watkins starting. I think we have steadily gotten better at this position.

 

[jterrell]

Dear Apologist,

Having an opinion is not griping. I mean, I guess it can be but I am just a fan who is worried about our safety position. I am allowed to do so. This is a message board not a shrine.

After saying that, I'm not sure what are some viable options. I wish we would have at least scheduled a free agent visit and see if the mighty lure of the Dallas Cowboys (no sarcasm) could have gotten us a player that could have helped. I get that this Free Agent class was weak but I don't like that we didn't schedule a single free agent visit. I like Sean Lee and I get that our scouts (Jerry) were high on him. It appears while some other teams also had a high grade on him, we had the highest grade on him. I just don't think we needed a 2nd string ILB more than a 1st string FS. I have to sit here and hope that it all works out but in the mean time I will use this board to question it among fellow Cowboy fans. Hopefully, objective fans but Apologists are people too.

In regards to your last question, how has safety play been our down fall...

Gearld SensesNoBall has yet to show me he can cover.

You are clearly in the minority on Sensabaugh. He would have had a couple INTs had he not been in a cast and then teams wouldn't have challenged him nearly as much. His coverage metrics are as good as Scandrick who was our nickel.

We couldn't have drafted a guy who tested out better because there were no safeties in this draft as athletic as he is. Beyond that the top 2 guys were clearly upgrades but after that it was a list of guys like Mays who probably don't start for us.

I'd love to see us sign a free agent safety and Jerry Jones has stated that the free agent safety market will come to us. Meaning a guy like Sharper or Otogwe will eventually take a one year deal to play football or just a lot less than they'd like on a longer deal.

You don't win because you have the best roster in May. Just ask the Commanders how much it helps to sign all the top free agent targets the first few days of free agency.

I understand the concern but some patience is more than warranted. Especially while multiple starters sit unsigned.

 

[BAT]

Jamar Wall may be better suited to FS as well. And don't count out Watkins out just yet. At 6'4 214 4.4 he may just be a late bloomer and finally coming into his own.

 

[CowboysFaninHouston]

Dear Apologist,

Having an opinion is not griping. I mean, I guess it can be but I am just a fan who is worried about our safety position. I am allowed to do so. This is a message board not a shrine.

After saying that, I'm not sure what are some viable options. I wish we would have at least scheduled a free agent visit and see if the mighty lure of the Dallas Cowboys (no sarcasm) could have gotten us a player that could have helped. I get that this Free Agent class was weak but I don't like that we didn't schedule a single free agent visit. I like Sean Lee and I get that our scouts (Jerry) were high on him. It appears while some other teams also had a high grade on him, we had the highest grade on him. I just don't think we needed a 2nd string ILB more than a 1st string FS. I have to sit here and hope that it all works out but in the mean time I will use this board to question it among fellow Cowboy fans. Hopefully, objective fans but Apologists are people too.

In regards to your last question, how has safety play been our down fall...

Gearld SensesNoBall has yet to show me he can cover.

not an apologist but a realist. with needs at OL, WR, MLB, Saftey, CB and only so many picks, it was tought o address all the positions and be able to keep everyone happy with an impact player. the fact is that you can't get an impact player in every round.

the cowboys had their starters. again not all world but good enough. so we are looking for icing on the cake. was sharper a better choice than anyone we had on the team? the coaching staff didn't like sharper much.

so who were some of the other choices? Atogwe? he is still a possibility.

plus we did draft AOA to be a FS. we drafted hamlin last year to be the same. its not like we haven't addressed the position. its just that we haven't found that probowler border HOF type saftey everyone covets.

REALITY is that we can't have probowlers at every position. there is no such thing. everyone wants an impact FS, impact MLB, impact OLBs, impact DEs, impact LT, impact RBs, impact WRs, impact center, on and on and on.

not possible.

 

[big dog cowboy]

so who were some of the other choices? Atogwe? he is still a possibility.

Not with that bum shoulder.

 

[Gadfly22]

I think the Cowboys know what the situation is at safety:

1. Only a fan of Pollyannaish optimism can think Pat Watkins will be anything other than a decent ST player and at-need back-up. He is what he is, and what is he isn't a starter.

2. Ball is serviceable and will be the starter at FS until someone takes the job from him.

3. That someone is unlikely to be Atogwe, probably mostly for dollar-related reasons.

4. That someone is unlikely to be either AOA or Hamlin until they get some meaningful experience -- i.e., not this year.

5. The UFDAs will sound good in shorts season and may even get some good ink in TC and preseason games but are unlikely to be on the 53-man roster. They should be enjoyed in the spring during their short span of glory, like daffodils or soft-shell crab.

 

[cobra]

I like Sean Lee and I get that our scouts (Jerry) were high on him. It appears while some other teams also had a high grade on him, we had the highest grade on him. I just don't think we needed a 2nd string ILB more than a 1st string FS.

Ahh, so this is just a roundabout way to complain about who we drafted. Gotcha.

 

[Doomsday101]

I think the Cowboys know what the situation is at safety:

1. Only a fan of Pollyannaish optimism can think Pat Watkins will be anything other than a decent ST player and at-need back-up. He is what he is, and what is he isn't a starter.

2. Ball is serviceable and will be the starter at FS until someone takes the job from him.

3. That someone is unlikely to be Atogwe, probably mostly for dollar-related reasons.

4. That someone is unlikely to be either AOA or Hamlin until they get some meaningful experience -- i.e., not this year.

5. The UFDAs will sound good in shorts season and may even get some good ink in TC and preseason games but are unlikely to be on the 53-man roster. They should be enjoyed in the spring during their short span of glory, like daffodils or soft-shell crab.

I think fans are shopping for a FS I do not think the Cowboys are actively shopping for a S

 

[AtlCB]

I think the Cowboys know what the situation is at safety:

1. Only a fan of Pollyannaish optimism can think Pat Watkins will be anything other than a decent ST player and at-need back-up. He is what he is, and what is he isn't a starter.

2. Ball is serviceable and will be the starter at FS until someone takes the job from him.

3. That someone is unlikely to be Atogwe, probably mostly for dollar-related reasons.

4. That someone is unlikely to be either AOA or Hamlin until they get some meaningful experience -- i.e., not this year.

5. The UFDAs will sound good in shorts season and may even get some good ink in TC and preseason games but are unlikely to be on the 53-man roster. They should be enjoyed in the spring during their short span of glory, like daffodils or soft-shell crab.

I disagree with #4. Hamlin and Ball will battle for the starting FS position in training camp. Hamlin has been here long enought to challenge for that spot.

 

[Gadfly22]

I disagree with #4. Hamlin and Ball will battle for the starting FS position in training camp. Hamlin has been here long enought to challenge for that spot.

I just think there's a big difference between being on the squad "long enough" and having "meaningful experience". Hamlin1 was the guy who put the secondary in the correct positions. Sensabaugh may well be able to do that consistently, but having a safety with game experience back there with him would be a plus. Hamlin2 doesn't have that experience, and Ball does.

I'm prepared to be pleasantly surprised by Hamlin2 and the rest of the "redshirt" draft. I'm also prepared to be disappointed to a greater or lesser extent.

Edited to add: I'm also prepared to be patient with the redshirts.

 

[KingintheNorth]

Ahh, so this is just a roundabout way to complain about who we drafted. Gotcha.

I could see why you would say that but it's not true. I like Lee and I feel good knowing that when Brooking is no longer able to do the job, Lee will be ready to step in.

My whole "complaint" or "gripe" is that I think we desperately need to improve our safety situation and we didn't. I'm pretty sure I'm allowed to have an opinion. I understand that the Kool-Aid drinkers see anything that suggests that Jerry Jones isn't the Second Coming is going to be attacked but it's how I feel.

Someone else commented to my post that we have to have patience and that we may still have an opportunity to address the position. You were exactly right, I have to hope that we will. As a powerless fan, hope is all I can do. That and talk about it on a message board.

 

[jobberone]

Atogwe's shoulder isn't a problem. Apparently we don't want to pay his price right now. They are comfortable with Ball and they want to know what they have in Kwasi and Hamlin. Sensabaugh is the starter at SS although I think Hamlin will be a better SS than a FS.