Scout’s Notebook: Winning The Battles Up Front, Credit Due To J.J. Wilcox

[RoyTheHammer]

They are doing what benefits him.

Special teams and limited snaps. Paying huge dividends

He's actually playing quite a bit on defense..and playing well. Some people just refuse to see it and that's fine.

But as I've been saying..the two most complained about Cowboys this year..he and T Will..both just continue to make plays every week.

 

[Stash]

J.J. Wilcox, what got in to this guy? I thought we were going to cut him in the pre season.

Me too! It's like there's a different guy wearing that number!

Kudos to those who kept him around. Looks like they were right.

 

[ScipioCowboy]

It's amazing how much better a guy looks when he's used properly. JJ was never going to be a centerfielder.

 

[Carson]

He's actually playing quite a bit on defense..and playing well. Some people just refuse to see it and that's fine.

But as I've been saying..the two most complained about Cowboys this year..he and T Will..both just continue to make plays every week.

He does. I just meant more so he isn't the starter and isn't asked to cover their top receivers over the top like Jones does.

He's a lot like Church. Don't ask them to cover man to man deep and they are solid players.

 

[LandryFan]

True. In truth, the team as a whole has responded to our newfound success. They're all on a natural high and I, for one, love it. Keep it up, Boys!

I would say that the team as a whole has caused the newfound success, rather than responded to it.

 

[chagus]

He is. Broaddus mentioned on the Break that the coach said he can be work with dbs who like to hit, as opposed to those that shy from it. And said he's smarter than we think he is. I think he's refocused him.

Heck all the dbs have been tackling outstanding so far, and turning their heads around for pass deflections, especially Mo, as opposed to last year when they never seemed to do it.

New db coach is just as critical in this improvement as Linehan I say.

I had not thought of the new coach. Excellent point.

 

[morasp]

J.J. Wilcox, what got in to this guy? I thought we were going to cut him in the pre season.

DAN RITCH
RAMMSTEIN, GERMANY
I will be the first to admit I was ready to cut ties with J.J. Wilcox in the offseason. He seemed to be more of a liability than an asset. However, now he seems to have put it all together and is really contributing impact plays every week whether it is big stops at the line or pass break-ups. Has the coaching staff changed his responsibilities or the scheme this year to better fit his strengths?

Bryan: I was talking with Greg Jackson before a preseason game earlier in the year and he told me something interesting about Wilcox: it’s easier to coach a player that is willing to be physical than it is one that is always playing scared. After studying his tape, Jackson really believed that he could help Wilcox with his game from a technique standpoint, and he has. The best example of this was the way that he was able to carry Jeremy Kerley out of the slot and knock the ball away on Sunday. In previous games, that route would have eaten Wilcox alive, but now he is able to make that play due to playing better technique and that comes from coaching.

http://www.dallascowboys.com/news/2...-front-credit-due-jj-wilcox-more?sf38468127=1

 

[Bullflop]

I would say that the team as a whole has caused the newfound success, rather than responded to it.

Splitting hairs, I see. It's understood that they're obliged to make it happen before they're able to reap the benefits. Elementary, Dr. Watson!

 

[Radiashun]

Heck all the dbs have been tackling outstanding so far, and turning their heads around for pass deflections, especially Mo, as opposed to last year when they never seemed to do it.

Good observation. I have to wonder if there's coaches that tell them not to turn their head for some reason, because they would be in perfect position to at least knock the ball down at times, but never see it coming. Either they were taught to react to the reviewer's actions, or nobody thought to fix such a simple yet important issue until now.

 

[ak47kaehu]

Another guy fans wanted cut this offseason lol.

I admit I was one of those guys. But it seems he's playing a lot better. Maybe it's the new coach or maybe it's confidence that winning ball games bring, but I hope it continues. Hopefully he can lay the wood on some of those packers receivers this coming Sunday!

 

[drawandstrike]

Putting together this weeks game film, I noticed something markedly different from how the defense is acting on the field.

You can watch the film here: http://cowboyszone.com/threads/custom-game-film-of-the-bengals-at-cowboys.359210/

Note how the defense seems to know exactly what it's doing when it lines up.

In previous years, you'd have guys, especially SECONDARY guys, desperately calling out signals and trying to figure out their coverages even as the ball was being snapped.

You haven't seen ANY of that this year. There's no desperate last second attempt to figure out who's covering who.

This has to be coaching.

When Scandrick gets back out there, this secondary will be even better.

 

[darthseinfeld]

Wouldnt be surprised if Wilcox is given a 3 year deal to be our SS after the season

 

[BoysfanfromCanada]

Good observation. I have to wonder if there's coaches that tell them not to turn their head for some reason, because they would be in perfect position to at least knock the ball down at times, but never see it coming. Either they were taught to react to the reviewer's actions, or nobody thought to fix such a simple yet important issue until now.

Whatever Henderson was doing wasn't working. He should have been fired a season or two ago. He said they were practising turning the heads but we'd always see the ball go over Carr or Mo's head and they just chase the reciever. It was brutal for so many years.

 

[Rack]

"The numbers might not say that Byron Jones is making a ton of plays, but this was the second game where he was matched up with a receiver one-on-one and was able to knock the ball away. Just goes to show you what a weapon this defense has with Jones in the secondary."


I'm going to post this just once...



Woodson-like.

For his versatility and ability, yes. But I won't make any Woodson comparisons till he hits a guy so hard he almost kills him.

 

[BAT]

DAN RITCH
RAMMSTEIN, GERMANY
I will be the first to admit I was ready to cut ties with J.J. Wilcox in the offseason. He seemed to be more of a liability than an asset. However, now he seems to have put it all together and is really contributing impact plays every week whether it is big stops at the line or pass break-ups. Has the coaching staff changed his responsibilities or the scheme this year to better fit his strengths?

Bryan: I was talking with Greg Jackson before a preseason game earlier in the year and he told me something interesting about Wilcox: it’s easier to coach a player that is willing to be physical than it is one that is always playing scared. After studying his tape, Jackson really believed that he could help Wilcox with his game from a technique standpoint, and he has. The best example of this was the way that he was able to carry Jeremy Kerley out of the slot and knock the ball away on Sunday. In previous games, that route would have eaten Wilcox alive, but now he is able to make that play due to playing better technique and that comes from coaching.

http://www.dallascowboys.com/news/2016/10/09/scout’s-notebook-winning-battles-front-credit-due-jj-wilcox-more?sf38468127=1

And this is why there were those advocating to keep Wilcox over Frazier in preseason. He is still learning the position, is the most athletic outside of BJ and is without a doubt the most fearsome hitter on team. He's also Cowboys best STer on coverage units.

If anyone is expendable it would be Church. And Church is still a very good player with value.

 

[dogunwo]

For his versatility and ability, yes. But I won't make any Woodson comparisons till he hits a guy so hard he almost kills him.

Darell Jones?

 

[Rack]

Darell Jones?

Don't remember who it was. It was against the seahawks, that's all I remember.

 

[DakotaReign]

"The numbers might not say that Byron Jones is making a ton of plays, but this was the second game where he was matched up with a receiver one-on-one and was able to knock the ball away. Just goes to show you what a weapon this defense has with Jones in the secondary."


I'm going to post this just once...



Woodson-like.

Gutsy post.

 

[dfense]

Another guy fans wanted cut this offseason lol.

The list was Brandon Carr, Mo Claiborne, Terrence Williams, JJ Wilcox, Ronald Leary(traded)...............that's all I can think of now lol. This offseason proved that Jerry is a better GM than Cowboyszone lol.

Well, let's not go crazy. As bad as bad is, Wilcox was.

 

[dfense]

Many fans want to cut every player, and as usual they are wrong most of the time. Now they want Romo gone......
Glad we have Jerry in charge and not these internet GM's.

Internet GMs lol