Taking the Wilcox Challenge

[Nation]

Church and Wilcox are fine at safety if they get the pass rush fixed.

Look at Earl Thomas and Kam Chancellor, who are the best safety combo in the league. When Cliff Avril went down in the Super Bowl they were rendered useless.

The problems on the defense need to be fixed from the front to the back, not the other way around. Not to mention this year's safety class is terrible.

 

[xwalker]

There are basically two kinds of Cowboys fans - those who believe J.J. Wilcox is the man at safety and those who don't.

"The Man" might be an overstatement, but I understand his point.

IMO, Safety is the most misunderstood position by fans. The other is OL.

Nobody should comment on Safety player if they're not watching the All-22. It's impossible to really evaluate a Safety without the All-22. All players and all Safeties makes some mistakes. The broadcast cameras only follow the ball.

Even when the broadcast does show a good view of the Safety, people don't seem to understand how Safeties are dependent on the other defensive players. Marinelli does not teach free lancing. He wants players to play their assignments. The issue with that is that part of a Safety's assignment is knowing what other players should do and reacting to what those players should do, not what they actually do. If other players like LBs don't react correctly, then it makes the deep Safety "look" as if he failed to take the correct angle.

 

[Future]

He'd be an upgrade to Church if they found an upgrade for Wilcox

Absolutely.

I've always thought that Wilcox and an FS would be a much better pairing than Church and Wilcox/FS. I like Church, but he's just so limited, athletically, that it makes sense for him to be the #3 safety.

 

[DBOY3141]

The real question is....how good of a safety is Matt Johnson

 

[gimmesix]

I agree that he could turn out to be good/great FS esp considering the lack of talent being available at the position recently (draft and FA). Ideally, a third S with some speed can be brought in,and the team could let them all battle it for the starting positions but do understand Safety isn't a priority in the off season (luxury pick type).

Yes, I don't think we can really expect much change at the position, and I'm not sure we should because it's less in need than other positions, especially with our number of free agents.

I do think we need to continually be trying to upgrade the backups and present challengers for the starters, but we could definitely do worse than Church and Wilcox. I also feel better about having Jeff Heath as a backup than many here, but we could at least use a challenger to those three while improving our at least four-man group.

 

[gimmesix]

Absolutely.

I've always thought that Wilcox and an FS would be a much better pairing than Church and Wilcox/FS. I like Church, but he's just so limited, athletically, that it makes sense for him to be the #3 safety.

I think Church is given far too little credit for his play in this defense. He's a smart player who understands what his responsibilities are and makes few mistakes. In fact, when he does make one, it stands out because he is so sound the rest of the time.

 

[texbumthelife]

Wilcox is NOT an in the box safety. Putting him their would expose his biggest weaknesses (including tackling, shedding and pursuit, all hall marks of "in the box" safety). I don't know why the armchair experts here have latched on to that theory, but it's horribly inaccurate.

Wilcox is incredibly average. He isn't particularly good at anything. He, however, isn't terrible at anything. His anticipation has gotten better, but as it has he has become a more reluctant tackler.

I would absolutely cringe if they let Church go and expected Wilcox to replicate or even improve on his play. It would be a tremendous step backwards.

What both safeties need is a pass rush. Earl Thomas is amazing and Cam Chancellor is very good at what he does, but you will very rarely find either more than 15 yards down field because Seattle gets to the quarterback so fast.

 

[BigStar]

Wilcox is NOT an in the box safety. Putting him their would expose his biggest weaknesses (including tackling, shedding and pursuit, all hall marks of "in the box" safety). I don't know why the armchair experts here have latched on to that theory, but it's horribly inaccurate.

Wilcox is incredibly average. He isn't particularly good at anything. He, however, isn't terrible at anything. His anticipation has gotten better, but as it has he has become a more reluctant tackler.

I would absolutely cringe if they let Church go and expected Wilcox to replicate or even improve on his play. It would be a tremendous step backwards.

What both safeties need is a pass rush. Earl Thomas is amazing and Cam Chancellor is very good at what he does, but you will very rarely find either more than 15 yards down field because Seattle gets to the quarterback so fast.

What does Church do exceptionally well? He is a good tackler, but not exceptional. He is a vet so he should play with a bit more awareness at the position. Agree that both would be fine starters if the team has a good pass rush which is a hopeful bet with some added ingredients coming in the off season.

 

[Zimmy Lives]

I think the point that some acknowledge but fail to make the point is Wilcox
only played one season at safety before being drafted yet here with limited
experience he is being called average. If Wilcox is average with such limited
time at that position I call that remarkable,even at this point.

Someone said up thread this is a big season for Wilcox and I agree. This is
the year that Wilcox makes a big leap or I have been mistaken. I don't think so.

Wilcox deserves every opportunity to develop; what he has accomplished to date is commendable. Having said that, he needs to step it up if he is to be considered a solid starter whose position is safe from competition.

 

[LatinMind]

Wilcox is NOT an in the box safety. Putting him their would expose his biggest weaknesses (including tackling, shedding and pursuit, all hall marks of "in the box" safety). I don't know why the armchair experts here have latched on to that theory, but it's horribly inaccurate.

Wilcox is incredibly average. He isn't particularly good at anything. He, however, isn't terrible at anything. His anticipation has gotten better, but as it has he has become a more reluctant tackler.

I would absolutely cringe if they let Church go and expected Wilcox to replicate or even improve on his play. It would be a tremendous step backwards.

What both safeties need is a pass rush. Earl Thomas is amazing and Cam Chancellor is very good at what he does, but you will very rarely find either more than 15 yards down field because Seattle gets to the quarterback so fast.

Because all22 is the end of all apparently for them lol.

You dont need all22 to understand that Wilcox is caught cheating alot on plays and tries to over run his pursuit which allows for a easy cutback which gains more yrds. We have seen this so much from him that it gets sickening. Think this tells more and proves your argument on his reluctance to want to tackle.

 

[xwalker]

Wilcox deserves every opportunity to develop; what he has accomplished to date is commendable. Having said that, he needs to step it up if he is to be considered a solid starter whose position is safe from competition.

My concern at Safety is that they don't have much in terms of developmental backups.

At some other positions like DL they at least have several guys with possible upside.

 

[Future]

I think Church is given far too little credit for his play in this defense. He's a smart player who understands what his responsibilities are and makes few mistakes. In fact, when he does make one, it stands out because he is so sound the rest of the time.

He might not make a lot of mistakes, but he doesn't make any plays either. I'd rather have a guy who splashes with a big play and makes the ocasional mistake than someone like Church who doesn't splash and still makes the blunder from time to time.

 

[gimmesix]

He might not make a lot of mistakes, but he doesn't make any plays either. I'd rather have a guy who splashes with a big play and makes the ocasional mistake than someone like Church who doesn't splash and still makes the blunder from time to time.

He makes all kinds of plays in the running game as a sure tackler, but that's not what some are looking for. Personally, having a very solid strong safety is good enough for me. I'm never against upgrading the position, but I don't think upgrading it is as easy as some believe.

Years ago, we spent a first-round pick on a safety who was a lesser player than Church is because he was an actual liability in coverage despite being a big hitter in the running game.

 

[PoundTheRock]

I've said this before, but I think he's a good football player. He's just not a good safety. The ball skills and the willingness to hit people are there. The angles he takes and the lack of reliable tackling is omething you can't have out of a safety though. He was a good pick by the Cowboys. They were right about his talent as a football player, they just have to get him play his position better.