Where are the Jeff Heath haters now?

[Fredd]

el oh el

the guy falls into a nice play and this thread comes out....Ms Heath, I didn't know that you signed up for the zone just to support your son!

 

[maxdallasfan]

He was undrafted for a reason.

I'm sure he'll be a fine ST player, and will fill in as a back-up once in awhile so the starter can catch a breather, but he's nothing more than that.

We, as fans, have to stand by our pledge as to not anoint each and every player on this roster as the best in the NFL.

Iggles fans do it. Cowboys fans should not.

 

[landroverking]

Give the kid a chance. You guys would have cut Charlie Waters.

 

[RoyTheHammer]

He was undrafted for a reason.

I'm sure he'll be a fine ST player, and will fill in as a back-up once in awhile so the starter can catch a breather, but he's nothing more than that.

We, as fans, have to stand by our pledge as to not anoint each and every player on this roster as the best in the NFL.

Iggles fans do it. Cowboys fans should not.

We also need to give the players a chance, too. To sit here and say that just because he was undrafted that he'll never be more than a backup is ridiculous.. especially when you consider who the highest paid player on our team is right now.

 

[RoyTheHammer]

He got handed the football..

He is the Cole Beasely of the defense.

Explanation required.

 

[theSHOW]

He got handed the football..

He is the Cole Beasely of the defense.

I am a HUGE Cole Beasley Fan!

 

[maxdallasfan]

We also need to give the players a chance, too. To sit here and say that just because he was undrafted that he'll never be more than a backup is ridiculous.. especially when you consider who the highest paid player on our team is right now.

I agree, but a Safety who can't tackle is equivalent to a RB who can't hold onto the ball.

 

[CATCH17]

He just needs time before we can see what kind of player he really is. BW Webb too.

These guys shouldn't be on the field this year.

 

[BigStar]

I've never seen a player "fake strip" as a way to shadow themselves as being poor tacklers. I haven't seen it from him as much recently I will admit, but his "fake rip" at the end of tackles to almost give a "reason" for his inability to tackle is what caught my eye. Racking up 9 tackles in a blowout loss to NO and against the Lions doesn't say much, the whole D was MIA in those games.

 

[Silverstar]

Heath could turn into a Bill Bates type of player, if he's used strictly as a backup safety and ST contributor. I guess I'm rooting for him in that regard.

BTW, Bates never scored a TD in his entire 15 year career.

 

[Blackspider214]

Hahahaha totally did not see this dumb thread.

I'm right here. Just because he was standing around like he was waiting for the bus and a ball popped right into his hands and scored, does not mean anything. He is horrible.

 

[links18]

There are Heath haters? Are those like Stephen Jones supporters?

 

[Corso]

I am guessing that Heath had a blind spot angle when Carter allowed the receiver to catch the ball, Heath felt that because Carter didn't act like he didn't touch the downed receiver that the player was downed. Still not super alert but not at fault to the degree of our starting linebacker. To respond to the can't tackle so he goes for the strip comment...Heath had 6 tackles while he went for those strips. Did anybody see a missed tackle attempt? No? Thought not. And one of our haters (risko just a few comments up the page) quoted "it must have been the only tackle he made all night"

Although I despise the term "hater", I like your style.

 

[RoyTheHammer]

I agree, but a Safety who can't tackle is equivalent to a RB who can't hold onto the ball.

Good thing he's had 9 tackles each in 2 of the past 3 games then.

I believe he leads the team in total tackles over the past 4 games.

Not bad for a guy who "can't tackle".

 

[mmohican29]

He got handed the football..

He is the Cole Beasely of the defense.

This thread is about Jeff Heath. And if he's the Cole Beasley of the D, that's not so shabby considering Beasley been a major contributor to our last two victories and has done nothing to remotely warrant any kind of "doesn't belong" talk. Cole can play, and IMO once Heath sheds his skin in the league a few times- I think he will ALSO contribute at a competent NFL level.

We don't know his ceiling yet but we DO know his floor.

Other than his play these two facts stand out to me more than just my own personal eyeball test:

1)The coaching staff has inserted him into the starting lineup without actively searching for a vet to spell Wilcox's injury (and also released one player who now starts in Pittsburgh).

2) On this very board chock full o' Cowboys nuts: The continual discussion of Jeff's future or lack thereof- tells me he has flashed one way or another to more people than just myself and that's where ANY professional football players career begins- only it's NFL coaches that have greenlighted his active roster spot on Sundays. Period.

He's 22, a UDFA from a FCS school, and he's going to have growing pains. If you don't think the Cowboys coaching staff knows this then I don't know what to tell you. It's clear they like the kid for a reason.

Let's see if their right or wrong but let's not be overly hasty in that judgement.

 

[mmohican29]

Give the kid a chance. You guys would have cut Charlie Waters.

I never really saw Charlie play until his late vet years but I know his story. He struggled BIG time until he started spelling Cliff. Then his career took off and he became a great, great player. Sometimes it takes more than 5 games to make that determination and I like the fact we take a chance on youth more than in the past.

 

[Everlastingxxx]

Heath sucks! lol, he can’t cover or tackle but i do like his hustle and he is doing the best he can with what he has.

 

[CooterBrown]

I never really saw Charlie play until his late vet years but I know his story. He struggled BIG time until he started spelling Cliff. Then his career took off and he became a great, great player. Sometimes it takes more than 5 games to make that determination and I like the fact we take a chance on youth more than in the past.

I saw all of Charlie Waters' career. In the Cowboys first Superbowl season 1970, (they lost to Baltimore), Charlie Waters was a great free safety. He started the last half of the season and was a key member of that Doomsday defense. Cliff Harris (UDFA from a small school by the way) played the first 5 games and then had to go into the Army. Harris came back after the third game in the 1971 season. Landry moved Waters to cornerback, where he did struggle. In 1975, when Cornell Green retired, Charlie was moved to the strong safety spot where he belonged, and finished a great career there. He was always a great, great safety, but he was behind Green and Harris, two of the best ever to play the position in my opinion.

The point is that the determination of Waters' ability to play safety was made in pre-season. Landry knew he could play and was ready when Harris had to go. Because we didn't have the information systems we do now, I didn't even know who Charlie Waters was until he stepped in for Harris, but I trusted the coach's ability to judge his players.

And so, here is the obvious truth about Jeff Heath: Danny McCray, who has been here several seasons, is obviously behind Heath on the depth chart. Will Allen, who was ahead of Heath on the depth chart was cut. Since he started Heath has had more tackles and assists than Church.

Do not misunderstand this post. I am not saying Heath is the next Waters or Harris, those guys are in a class of their own. And, I am not saying Heath is the long term answer at safety. All I am saying is that he is not the waste of roster space some would like to portray him to be. He is a rookie, he will get better with experience and physical growth. I can see a scenario where Church is cut before Heath.

 

[Zimmy Lives]

I saw all of Charlie Waters' career. In the Cowboys first Superbowl season 1970, (they lost to Baltimore), Charlie Waters was a great free safety. He started the last half of the season and was a key member of that Doomsday defense. Cliff Harris (UDFA from a small school by the way) played the first 5 games and then had to go into the Army. Harris came back after the third game in the 1971 season. Landry moved Waters to cornerback, where he did struggle. In 1975, when Cornell Green retired, Charlie was moved to the strong safety spot where he belonged, and finished a great career there. He was always a great, great safety, but he was behind Green and Harris, two of the best ever to play the position in my opinion.

The point is that the determination of Waters' ability to play safety was made in pre-season. Landry knew he could play and was ready when Harris had to go. Because we didn't have the information systems we do now, I didn't even know who Charlie Waters was until he stepped in for Harris, but I trusted the coach's ability to judge his players.

And so, here is the obvious truth about Jeff Heath: Danny McCray, who has been here several seasons, is obviously behind Heath on the depth chart. Will Allen, who was ahead of Heath on the depth chart was cut. Since he started Heath has had more tackles and assists than Church.

Do not misunderstand this post. I am not saying Heath is the next Waters or Harris, those guys are in a class of their own. And, I am not saying Heath is the long term answer at safety. All I am saying is that he is not the waste of roster space some would like to portray him to be. He is a rookie, he will get better with experience and physical growth. I can see a scenario where Church is cut before Heath.

Well said, CB, both about Charlie Waters and about Heath.

Heath has exceeded all expectations so far and may have a future if he can improve his technique and knowledge. What he appears to have going for him at the moment is athleticism and good football instincts. If he can grasp the mental part of his position as well improve his technique, he could be a solid safety.

 

[gimmesix]

Heath will make the 53 next year easily. Do you believe they would keep McCray over Heath? Unless they spend another draft pick on a safety and Mathewglass Johnson suddenly stays healthy, Heath is a shoo in on this roster next year.

I would be surprised if safety is a priority because I think Dallas feels set with Church and believes Wilcox is the other starter. Although if Johnson is healthy, he might be better than Heath (really don't know at this point), I believe the fact that Dallas chooses to play Heath ahead of McCray shows where they are in that pecking order.

So next year's safeties are likely: Church, Wilcox, Johnson (if healthy) and Heath, if they keep four and don't draft any.