Safety is not priority number one in this draft

[LatinMind]

Did you miss the part where I said I don't think Jerry and this set of coaches can find and develop a Chancellor, Sherman, etc? How many years are we going to let them continue to sift through the rubbish looking for gold when they have pretty clearly proven they are no good at it?

The 2 rookie safeties in question didn't just struggle, they stunk out loud and were part of a historically bad defense that wasn't all caused by front 7 injuries.Wilcox played 1 whole year of safety at a small school, who the heck knows if he will ever be able to play at this level? He couldn't even beat out the even smaller school UDFA who is the other rookie.

To go into next season depending on Wilcox to be an NFL level player at a position he has been playing for all of two years or Heath to suddenly sprout talent is just the type of thinking that gets us seasons of watching Alan Ball flail around uselessly for 16 games. Heck, maybe Matt Johnson will be healthy too this time, let's go all in on the Hope and Prayer Express back there.

If he wasnt a NFL player he wouldnt be in the NFL. Youre going to say if Dallas didn draft wilcox he wouldnt have been drafted?

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Here, Here!

Under most circumstances I would agree with Rich, but this year is different The Cowboys are faced with having the 2nd worst DT in the NFL teamed with a guy who missed all of last season due to his torn Achilles, backed up by another guy who missed all of last season. AND they're losing a DT who contributed 11 sacks to a team that only had 30-some to begin with.

DT is really a cesspool at this point.

 

[4lifecowboy]

Under most circumstances I would agree with Rich, but this year is different The Cowboys are faced with having the 2nd worst DT in the NFL teamed with a guy who missed all of last season due to his torn Achilles, backed up by another guy who missed all of last season. AND they're losing a DT who contributed 11 sacks to a team that only had 30-some to begin with.

DT is really a cesspool at this point.

And I'm in agreement that the DL needs to be addressed, but it doesn't have to be the first pick. I have a tremendous amount of confidence that a) we can find a couple of DTs between the 2nd and 7th rounds. and b) When we do find them Marinelli will get the most out of what they bring to the table. Unlike most I believe the key to a good defensive line is depth, a rotation of 8 capable lineman will wear down a offensive line over the course of a game.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

And I'm in agreement that the DL needs to be addressed, but it doesn't have to be the first pick. I have a tremendous amount of confidence that a) we can find a couple of DTs between the 2nd and 7th rounds. and b) When we do find them Marinelli will get the most out of what they bring to the table. Unlike most I believe the key to a good defensive line is depth, a rotation of 8 capable lineman will wear down a offensive line over the course of a game.

But as of this day (Feb 4th... prior to the combine... prior to private workouts) other than "Ha-Ha" I don't see a FS-type worth taking at 16/17. The chances are much better than a DL is going to be sitting there when Dallas picks.

 

[reddyuta]

But as of this day (Feb 4th... prior to the combine... prior to private workouts) other than "Ha-Ha" I don't see a FS-type worth taking at 16/17. The chances are much better than a DL is going to be sitting there when Dallas picks.

then they should take him. this defense is not magically going to get better even if we pick 2 or 3 Dlinemen,its broken almost completely,even the good players are a major injury risk.we will all probably be back here next year hoping for a top ranked safety .

 

[4lifecowboy]

But as of this day (Feb 4th... prior to the combine... prior to private workouts) other than "Ha-Ha" I don't see a FS-type worth taking at 16/17. The chances are much better than a DL is going to be sitting there when Dallas picks.

I think both safeties will be sitting there @ 16-17 unless one goes to early and cause a team behind us to panic and trade up to take the other.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

I think both safeties will be sitting there @ 16-17 unless one goes to early and cause a team behind us to panic and trade up to take the other.

Not everyone is universally acknowledging that there are two safeties worth taking at 16/17.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

then they should take him. this defense is not magically going to get better even if we pick 2 or 3 Dlinemen,its broken almost completely,even the good players are a major injury risk.we will all probably be back here next year hoping for a top ranked safety .

Well when one of the defensive lineman is almost the worst in profootball... well.

 

[reddyuta]

Well when one of the defensive lineman is almost the worst in profootball... well.

funny you should mention Hayden,i hope the coaches are not that enamored by him as these 2 guys.

http://www.dallascowboys.com/news/a...ortunity/8de04f87-bef0-47e8-a296-9fd9c2b31441

 

[MichaelWinicki]

funny you should mention Hayden,i hope the coaches are not that enamored by him as these 2 guys.

http://www.dallascowboys.com/news/a...ortunity/8de04f87-bef0-47e8-a296-9fd9c2b31441

LOL!

OK.

Don't get me wrong I think part of Hayden's suckage could be due to having to play way too many snaps given his talent level. It could be that giving him 15 snaps a game instead of 50-some he could be a functional sub. But if he's a staring DT for this defense come next September... Well the ugliness on defense is going to continue.

 

[jnday]

I would like to see a DL drafted first, but not if it means passing over a higher rated player to draft him. No need in reaching to fill a need.

 

[wileedog]

If he wasnt a NFL player he wouldnt be in the NFL. Youre going to say if Dallas didn draft wilcox he wouldnt have been drafted?

I'm saying he was a ******* draft pick when you have nothing on the roster that is a sure thing, or at least one that should not have been counted on for several years considering his lack of experience even playing defense, much less safety.

Sure someone else could have drafted him. It should not have been anyone who did not already have proven safeties in place who were looking for down the road replacements, unlike us.

 

[LatinMind]

I'm saying he was a ******* draft pick when you have nothing on the roster that is a sure thing, or at least one that should not have been counted on for several years considering his lack of experience even playing defense, much less safety.

Sure someone else could have drafted him. It should not have been anyone who did not already have proven safeties in place who were looking for down the road replacements, unlike us.

So go out and draft another rookie? Wouldnt the smarter answer be go sign a vet?

 

[tm1119]

I would like to see how the young Cowboy safeties play with:

1. Additional experience.
2. Linebackers that are consist in their pass drops.

Personally I think the safeties get a bum-wrap because the linebackers (even Lee) were not consistent in dropping into coverage for much of the season, which left the middle of the field wide open.

Now I'm not saying Chuch, Wilcox, Heath are world beaters but they need to be given more of a chance.

I know he's on your favorite team and everything man, but come on with the Jeff Heath talk. He's a special teams guy at best. And Wilcox has some potential, but he's a downhill strong safety just like Church. Development time with him at FS is going to cost us games

Personally I'd like to see us bring in a trusted veteran to sure up the spot for the next 2 years. Chris Gamble or Chris Clemons would get the job done without breaking the bank.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

I know he's on your favorite team and everything man, but come on with the Jeff Heath talk. He's a special teams guy at best. And Wilcox has some potential, but he's a downhill strong safety just like Church. Development time with him at FS is going to cost us games

Personally I'd like to see us bring in a trusted veteran to sure up the spot for the next 2 years. Chris Gamble or Chris Clemons would get the job done without breaking the bank.

Nick Hayden hurts this defense more than Jeff Heath.

Hey, if the Cowboys can improve BOTH positions in the offseason, then I'm all for it.

 

[jobberone]

Draft* even.... lol



http://cover32.com/cowboys/2014/02/04/safety-is-not-priority-number-one-in-this-draft/

I tend to agree. But safety has been a safer pick lately than anything but C. It depends on what they think of Johnson and Wilcox and to a lesser extent Heath.

Here are the projected starters next year:

DE: Ware and Selvie; don't know about Spencer
DT: ??Bass and Crawford; don't know about Brent or Hatcher
Mike: Lee
Sam: Wilbur; Holloman is in the mix somewhere
Will: Carter
CB: Carr and Claiborne; Slot: OScan
S: Church and Wilcox; have no idea about Johnson

Ware stays injured and not at normal playing efficiency. There's a hole. Selvie is IMO probably going to get significant snaps. At 270 and not that strong he gets hurt in the run. Spencer is a huge ? mark. There's no way to know his status and how likely he is to play nor where.

Bass and Crawford will be solid to better. Brent could play a 1 and I don't want the thread to deteriorate into a Brent is a pig no he's not one. Huge question mark. Hatcher is a FA and likely gone. I hope they don't throw too much money at him although a 3 year contract voidable after two would be okay with me at the right price. The rest are ???????

Carter was lost last year. Holloman could push although I suspect Carter will come around albeit still inconsistent to what degree I don't know. Lee is an injury concern not his play. Wilbur is a marginal starter. Durant is a two down Sam. He could start or be gone. I don't know his cap status.

Claiborne is a ?. Carr needs to be used properly. He's marginal to average+. OScan is good. Then you have question marks.

Church is average. Johnson has never played a snap I think. If so I've forgotten. At best he's a ?. Wilcox is inexperienced so who knows. Heath is inexperienced +. McCray should leave.

Unrestricted Free Agent
#NAMEPOS.HT.WT.AGEEXP.COLLEGE
63 Cook, Ryan C/G 6-6 331 30 8 New Mexico
97 Hatcher, Jason DT 6-6 299 31 8 Grambling State
55 Jones, Edgar DE 6-3 262 29 7 Southeast Missouri State
3 Kitna, Jon QB 6-2 220 41 16 Central Washington
40 McCray, Danny S 6-1 222 25 4 LSU
59 Sims, Ernie LB 6-0 233 29 8 Florida State
93 Spencer, Anthony DE 6-3 250 30 7 Purdue
64 Waters, Brian G 6-3 320 36 13 North Texas
92 Wynn, Jarius DE 6-3 285 27 5 Georgia

You can figure out the needs. You can basically take the BPA at most any position on defense.

 

[tm1119]

Debatable. But can we agree that they are both shouldn't be anywhere near an nfl starting lineup.

And I think it's way easier to replace Hayden and Jeff Heath than you're making it out to be. The off season will be a complete failure if we can't get upgrades for those 2

 

[jterrell]

It's clear that Seattle has better players than us throughout their defense.

The question is why?

1. Do they identify and acquire them better (draft and FA)?
2. Do they develop them better?
3. Related, do they coach them better?
4. Still related, does their system work better, in a way that promotes the above options?

pretty much all the above applies in some form or fashion.

And by the way if you look at Dix, he's a more talented Heath, but the same tendencies. He doesnt attack the ball, if you want to see what im talking about look at the Texas A&M game.

Matter of fact here you go

that is not like jeff heath at all.
tamu made plays away from dix against the sidelines repeatedly.
he was busting tail to get from single high safety to the sideline to help.
he clearly isnt earl thomas but he is far from jeff heath.

people made plays against heath on POST patterns.
they pretty much threw the ball where he was already standing and let a WR just go up and take the ball away.
as a former DB I can not tell you how imperative it is that you never give up those passes.
that is the main function of a safety.

that looked a lot more like wilcox filling lanes at poor angles but arriving and playing physically. there's tons of footage of dix doing that quite well.
he is in coverage position and takes away his area in essentially all those clips.
he doesnt show as much range as the elite level guys tho that is true and would require more evaluation before a pick at 16 imho.

 

[jterrell]

Debatable. But can we agree that they are both shouldn't be anywhere near an nfl starting lineup.

And I think it's way easier to replace Hayden and Jeff Heath than you're making it out to be. The off season will be a complete failure if we can't get upgrades for those 2

i'd be fine with hayden starting provided he never had to play a passing down.

agree tho that those two positions are so easily upgraded we should almost assume they will be.

 

[Doomsday101]

Only priority the Cowboys have is to find big time players on defense. Not opposed to a top safety in the draft but Dallas needs to get stronger up front. I don't care who is in the secondary if you are not getting after the QB they will burn you. Give top QB 4 or 5 second they will find someone open no matter who is playing safety