Stock Up/Stock Down: Defensive Backs

[casmith07]

This oughta be a fun one.

Thoughts on the DBs? Who makes the 53? Who starts in New York on September 5th?

 

[HoosierCowboy]

others will supply more detailed and precise analysis, and I thank them but here's mine:

everyone returner=down
every FA and draftee and UDFA=up

 

[CyberB0b]

It should be better, after all the money Jerry sunk into it. No excuses now.

 

[jobberone]

Well Carr and Claiborne make the team. Jenkins if he's healthy and not traded. Scandrick in the slot. After that I have no idea.

 

[DFWJC]

Way up

though there still are questions at safety.

 

[BlindFaith]

It would be nice to actually see the younger guys play before deciding who can play.

 

[RS12]

UP= Addition by subtraction of Newman alone. Carr will be a major upgrade. I expect growing pains from Claiborne. Safties look as mediocre as ever.

 

[casmith07]

I haven't contributed yet, but I think the stock is way up.

We have essentially replaced 32-year-old Terence Newman with Brandon Carr and Morris Claiborne. Two for One is always a good replacement, especially considering the caliber of player added.

Safety, however, is still a question mark. But it wasn't our weakness in the secondary last year - CB was.

 

[SilverStarCowboy]

Will be routing for rookies like Whitely or Johnson to make an upgrade in the final 53.

 

[Deep_Freeze]

Safety, however, is still a question mark. But it wasn't our weakness in the secondary last year - CB was.

While I do agree that CB was a weakness, safety was a huge weakness last year also. When you have a guy like Elam, who cant even get an interception or pass defensed in 16 games as a safety, you have to believe there is some weakness there.

Pool will be marginally better, but its not like he is a huge upgrade at all. As for CBs, we did make a huge upgrade, but the secondary is far from being fixed as a whole as long as we have the mediocre safeties we have on the roster right now.

 

[casmith07]

While I do agree that CB was a weakness, safety was a huge weakness last year also. When you have a guy like Elam, who cant even get an interception or pass defensed in 16 games as a safety, you have to believe there is some weakness there.

Pool will be marginally better, but its not like he is a huge upgrade at all. As for CBs, we did make a huge upgrade, but the secondary is far from being fixed as a whole as long as we have the mediocre safeties we have on the roster right now.

INTs and PDs are not always an accurate gauge of the level of play from a DB.

Nnamdi Asomugha barely has 10 INTs in his career.

 

[Frozen700]

Corners- Carr, Clai, Jenk, Scandrick, Butler

Safties- Sensy, Matt Johnson, Barry Church...Possible FA....Sensy and Matt start

Pool is let go....

 

[Deep_Freeze]

INTs and PDs are not always an accurate gauge of the level of play from a DB.

Nnamdi Asomugha barely has 10 INTs in his career.

While it is true that it is hard to determine safety play cause we rarely see them unless they make a mistake, it should be no secret that Elam was bad last year which is why he isn't here.

 

[JonJon]

INTs and PDs are not always an accurate gauge of the level of play from a DB.

Nnamdi Asomugha barely has 10 INTs in his career.

And one of those was gift wrapped courtesy of Martellus Bennett.

Elam may not have had the stats, but he was serviceable and didn't seem to be out of place much. He wasn't nearly as bad as Ball.

I'm not sure what Pool can provide, but I believe he will be a one and done until our next starting free safety is drafted from college in 2013.

As for the CB position, I think we are vastly improved

 

[baj1dallas]

While I do agree that CB was a weakness, safety was a huge weakness last year also. When you have a guy like Elam, who cant even get an interception or pass defensed in 16 games as a safety, you have to believe there is some weakness there.

Pool will be marginally better, but its not like he is a huge upgrade at all. As for CBs, we did make a huge upgrade, but the secondary is far from being fixed as a whole as long as we have the mediocre safeties we have on the roster right now.

I don't think Safety was a huge weakness, it was not a strength at all thanks to Elam but Sensy had some good games early covering TEs. IMO Pool is a pretty solid player and I think he's a legit starter compared to Elam who really wasn't. Plus I think Church will be more ready to step in if needed although he probably won't ever be a legit starter.

 

[Bman32x]

I do agree getting a top five talent at cornerback essentially for only a 2nd round pick is a steal to me. I'm curious to see how our younger talent at safety works out. No stock invested in Jenkins. He's proven to me he's a quitter with no heart or resolve. Won't even fight for his job or see it as a team positive.

 

[TheCount]

As a unit? Obviously, Stock Up although there are more questions here than some want to admit. How will Brandon Carr do in Big D? Will Claiborne be ready to start the season? Will be he the clear cut #2 and will he live up to his draft position? How is Jenkins' shoulder and will he be ready? What role will Scandrick have, assuming all 4 guys are healthy and will it be a problem? How will the SS competition shake out? Will we be forced to keep Pool since he's the only experienced safety next to Sensabaugh? How long will it take MAtt Johnson to catch up?

That's before you even get into the scheme, the matchups, etc.

Lots of question marks here, and we have a while to get those answers.

 

[Bman32x]

INTs and PDs are not always an accurate gauge of the level of play from a DB.

Nnamdi Asomugha barely has 10 INTs in his career.

My only rebuttal to my bro is self comparison. Dallas was at its best when we had strong safety play. I miss ol reliable Woodson in the secondary. I think with a pass happy NFL and teams with slot mismatches, hello Patriots Eagles and Giants, safety is vastly under rated. I don't look at defense as what stats they earned, but by what stats the took away from the opposing offense. Hold teams under 100 rushing, under 200 passing, no receiving touch downs, no receptions over 20 yds, 2/13 3rd down conversions etc.

 

[casmith07]

While it is true that it is hard to determine safety play cause we rarely see them unless they make a mistake, it should be no secret that Elam was bad last year which is why he isn't here.

And one of those was gift wrapped courtesy of Martellus Bennett.

Elam may not have had the stats, but he was serviceable and didn't seem to be out of place much. He wasn't nearly as bad as Ball.

I'm not sure what Pool can provide, but I believe he will be a one and done until our next starting free safety is drafted from college in 2013.

As for the CB position, I think we are vastly improved

We played that game when we had Ken Hamlin -- he was good for the system, and was consistent in keeping stuff in front even if he wasn't the best tackler.

I'd take a guy that doesn't give up the easy pass over the top and might not be a turnover machine any day of the week over guys who are out of position all the time. Hopefully some combination of Pool and Church and Johnson can make that happen for us.

 

[elcowboi]

I think it's too early for me to predict who'll make the team but I do believe the stock is up simply because addition by subtraction. I was a huge Newman fan but I was mad/sad to see the way he played. Ball and Walker weren't that good either. I am however worried about Jenkins injury. It seems like he may not be ready until after the season starts.