Stephen Jones on FA losses

[Texas_Pete]

 

[Idgit]

Been saying this for a long time.

I think all of this means we will play more zone. Tough to play zone without pressure and Stephen saying that pressure is a #1 priority is in line with a team that wants to play more zone.

Making more plays on the ball generally requires more zone as well. Tough to fool offenses with man, but man is certainly needed at times.

By the sounds of it, they think Heath is the starting SS and are probably not looking at a safety in the draft unless one is clear and away the BPA.

YR

I agree that it sounds like they think Heath can start and that they're probably expecting him to get the nod. I could still see S be a high pick, though, depending how the board breaks.

They've been saying for years that the goal is to build a solid DL rotation from top to bottom. It's been slow-going with the injury to Lawrence and the suspensions for Gregory, but I imagine that's still the priority.

The draft this year is deep, and pretty straightforward. They're gong to maneuver to get in position where taking CB, DL makes the most sense, but it's pretty clear what they're going to do unless a surprise just falls into their laps.

 

[JBell]

Whoa!

So bold.
Such blunt.

Those are words you'd expect to hear from a GM behind closed doors after a few drinks. Pretty shocked he'd throw former players under the bus like that, but at least it sounds like we're getting the all-defensive draft we've been craving.

 

[JBell]

Do intelligent people make an evaluation based on one game?

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

[gimmesix]

Remember in Marinelli's defense, the safeties are pretty much interchangeable. Plus I don't see Heath being "handed" the job, but rather Heath having shown enough to have earned it. Maybe they will bring in a verteran to compete with him, as well as Dallas drafting a S, but Heath is now a young verteran, so it might be time to see what we got with Heath as a starter.

Depends if we're going with more Cover 2. We adjusted Marinelli's scheme to more man coverage with Carr and Claiborne because they were better at that than zone. That left Church playing more like a traditional strong safety, which is also his strength.

I know Scandrick can play man or zone, but I'm not sure how well Brown and Carroll can play zone. If they allow us to switch primarily to Cover 2, then Heath is probably better suited for that than Church. He has more speed and range.

However, I disagree on Heath having earned the job whether it's man or Cover 2. Heath has earned a reserve job and a chance to compete for a bigger role. You don't earn a starting job by being the best backup because backup roles are different than starting roles. Mistakes are made (Alan Ball, Troy Hambrick come to mind, but there are plenty of other examples) when you assume that a player who does well in a limited role can handle being the starter.

If Heath only has to beat out Frazier (who doesn't fit Cover 2 as well if we go that route) and some other non-top-of-the-draft choice for the starting job, then we will be essentially handing him a job that he has not shown he can handle. I think that it is bad way to do business. Plus, it leaves us in the position where if we lose Jones or Heath to injury all we have is unproven depth.

 

[Stash]

So bold.
Such blunt.

Those are words you'd expect to hear from a GM behind closed doors after a few drinks. Pretty shocked he'd throw former players under the bus like that, but at least it sounds like we're getting the all-defensive draft we've been craving.

I appreciate his honesty. Players left to get paid, this team shouldn't be worried about hurting their feelings at this point. They placed a value, had a number, and stuck to it and didn't panic and overpay for guys they wanted to replace.

Kudos fellas!

 

[Deep_Freeze]

Whoa!

If said, probably the most profound statement I've ever heard Stephen say.

Thing is, we are taking a step back to take a step forward, in hope the youngsters can carry us for the time being. It could actually work, we are just depending on the draft really hard. Having Mo only would've been nice right now, he is really rolling the dice hoping we hit the lottery out of the draft again.

Hope it works.

 

[Texas_Pete]

I appreciate his honesty. Players left to get paid, this team shouldn't be worried about hurting their feelings at this point. They placed a value, had a number, and stuck to it and didn't panic and overpay for guys they wanted to replace.

Kudos fellas!

Yep. Just how he drew a line in the sand with DM29. He went to Philly and got paid...we ended up with Zeke. Works for me.

 

[aria]

"Voids get filled if you pick the right CHARACTER guys". Bravo bravo!

He's doing it right, that's something daddy never did. Glad to see a changing of the guard so to speak. It's been obvious for the past few years who's really running the show now. If only Jerrah would keep his mouth shut we would be in great shape.

 

[DCBoysfan]

So bold.
Such blunt.

Those are words you'd expect to hear from a GM behind closed doors after a few drinks. Pretty shocked he'd throw former players under the bus like that, but at least it sounds like we're getting the all-defensive draft we've been craving.

I'm surprised he is being so honest also.

 

[Deep_Freeze]

So bold.
Such blunt.

Those are words you'd expect to hear from a GM behind closed doors after a few drinks. Pretty shocked he'd throw former players under the bus like that, but at least it sounds like we're getting the all-defensive draft we've been craving.

Yeah most wouldn't say that, don't know if he has been drinking from Jerry's coffee or not.

He must have gotten tired of hearing criticism and just went off. Don't know, but he has already made the moves to get rid of those guys, so he is just defending himself.

All are marbles are in this draft.

 

[Vinnie2u]

Ohh Snap! Take that Brandon Carr

 

[RS12]

 

[tyke1doe]

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

That's just it, though. You look at one game and wonder why. But the Cowboys know something that we didn't. Maybe he wasn't ready and the Packers game was the game that, finally, he showed he was ready to start.

We'll see.

 

[conner01]

He was not a liability on a limited number of plays playing a different role than Church. As a full-time strong safety, he very well could be a liability. This is why I prefer that a veteran be brought in to at least compete with him. Yes, we might hit on a safety in the draft, but there's certainly no guarantee of it. Let's get someone in here who has at least got some starting experience at strong safety. If that player is beaten out by Heath or a rookie, then Heath or rookie at least will have had to beat out some competition for the job instead of just being handed it.

I agree that's the safe move
But what vet would be cheaper and equal to church
If he costs as much then might as well kept church which I thought we would have done

 

[gimmesix]

I agree that's the safe move
But what vet would be cheaper and equal to church
If he costs as much then might as well kept church which I thought we would have done

I think we can find cheaper, but possibly not equal. The question we need to consider is what vet might be better than Heath, and that could possibly be any of them who have shown the ability to start.

I don't see any problem with considering a vet like Jairus Byrd. He had his struggles in New Orleans, but he's also had some success in the league.

 

[phildadon86]

If Heath is our Day One starter, this team is in trouble.

I know, he actually picks the ball off. What a horrible thing to have

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Depends if we're going with more Cover 2. We adjusted Marinelli's scheme to more man coverage with Carr and Claiborne because they were better at that than zone. That left Church playing more like a traditional strong safety, which is also his strength.

I know Scandrick can play man or zone, but I'm not sure how well Brown and Carroll can play zone. If they allow us to switch primarily to Cover 2, then Heath is probably better suited for that than Church. He has more speed and range.

However, I disagree on Heath having earned the job whether it's man or Cover 2. Heath has earned a reserve job and a chance to compete for a bigger role. You don't earn a starting job by being the best backup because backup roles are different than starting roles. Mistakes are made (Alan Ball, Troy Hambrick come to mind, but there are plenty of other examples) when you assume that a player who does well in a limited role can handle being the starter.

If Heath only has to beat out Frazier (who doesn't fit Cover 2 as well if we go that route) and some other non-top-of-the-draft choice for the starting job, then we will be essentially handing him a job that he has not shown he can handle. I think that it is bad way to do business. Plus, it leaves us in the position where if we lose Jones or Heath to injury all we have is unproven depth.

I think this team is headed towards more Cover 3.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Ohh Snap! Take that Brandon Carr

Brandon Carr is an OK corner if you're playing man coverage. He's not a good zone corner because he simply doesn't have the quick reaction time needed to break on the ball.

And that's probably one of the reasons he wasn't retained.

Mo wasn't retained because he's simply lost in zone coverage.

 

[gimmesix]

I think this team is headed towards more Cover 3.

I don't know. I don't see Heath excelling in the role of strong safety in that scheme. If we're going to start him, I think he'll be better covering a deep half, although I'm sure we'll use some Cover 3.