News: Who is the Dallas Cowboy with the most to prove in 2017?

CCBoy

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Who is the Dallas Cowboy with the most to prove in 2017?
https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/201...-dallas-cowboy-with-the-most-to-prove-in-2017


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..He might not be the most talented guy in the defensive backs meeting room. He didn't have the benefit of the same level of coaching that many of his contemporaries had been through, but somehow, he was always there when it mattered. This cat was proving that given a chance to develop he might just make a go of his gig with Dallas.

The football gods are fickle and they had other plans for the small school product. Injuries decimated the Dallas secondary and before long Heath was not only in the NFL, he was starting for one of the league's high-profile franchises.It was not pretty. Heath was not NFL ready. Regardless of pedigree, an NFL starter must strap on his headgear and battle the best the game has to offer. Those guys ate Heath's lunch on a continual basis and he drew the wrath of those who follow the team. No one understood that better than Heath himself.

He returned to his role as a situational player, primarily a special teams ace, and dedicated himself to the resources available to help improve his game. Slowly he fought his way up the pecking order. By the time 2016 had worn to a close, Jeff Heath had quietly convinced those who make decisions in Dallas that he was a viable option for the Cowboys secondary. His development was one of the factors that allowed the front office to comfortably allow both J. J. Wilcox and Barry Church to seek employment elsewhere. Heath is currently penciled in as the starting safety opposite Byron Jones. Those that remember him getting torched three times by Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints during his rookie season may not be comfortable with the idea, but the Cowboys are. The Jeff Heath of 2017 bears only a slight resemblance to the player pressed into a starting role during his rookie season. The ‘new guy' is confidently making plays, proving himself to his teammates and the coaching staff, and he is driven to make fans forget the humble beginnings that drew the wrath of the faithful...
 

Bullflop

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Not every rookie can be blessed with the background to make a seamless transition into pro football . . . Heath is a good example of this. Saginaw Valley State isn't nearly a college that is likely to produce a rookie capable of making a fast start in pro ball right from the get-go. His early exploits drew some harsh criticism from many of the members of this website after he was "thrown to the wolves" early in his career.

Needless to say, that commentary here has changed dramatically in the last two years or so when time, experience and his eventual development made such a noticeable difference in his performance. He'll have no shortage of promising competition from the youngsters, Kavon Frazier and Xavier Woods behind him.

In any case, he'll be afforded the opportunity this year to demonstrate his competence. He'll certainly be obliged to deal with the burden of proving his worth, despite the fact that his limited performances last year revealed evidence of a somewhat dramatic transition. Here's hoping he bears his burden of proof with pride as he joins Byron Jones in the defensive backfield as a starting strong safety.
 
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CCBoy

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This rookie class will be asked to contribute a lot early and often. Are they up for the job? We don’t know yet, but the attitudes of all these young guys seem to right on par with what Jason Garrett has been preaching for years. Compete. Compete. Compete.

http://cowboyszone.com/2017/06/dallas-cowboys-rookie-stat-projections.html

Heath will be something of a leader, here, now...
 

Bullflop

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This rookie class will be asked to contribute a lot early and often. Are they up for the job? We don’t know yet, but the attitudes of all these young guys seem to right on par with what Jason Garrett has been preaching for years. Compete. Compete. Compete.

http://cowboyszone.com/2017/06/dallas-cowboys-rookie-stat-projections.html

Heath will be something of a leader, here, now...

Nice article that you included with the link here, CCBoy -- thanks for that!
 

jazzcat22

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I like Heath's take no prisoners attitude.
Can he be the next Charlie Waters / Cliff Harris type player, with a bit of Bill Bates in him. By that I mean he brings some tenacious hits creates some fear for players on offenses. Play hard every play and damn if you if you come my way.
 

SaltyNovice

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I like Heath's take no prisoners attitude.
Can he be the next Charlie Waters / Cliff Harris type player, with a bit of Bill Bates in him. By that I mean he brings some tenacious hits creates some fear for players on offenses. Play hard every play and damn if you if you come my way. - Jazzcat22

I agree totally - I very well remember Waters/Harris both being burned on multiple plays. I was ready to cut both of those guys several games. But they both turned into some pretty good db's. Of course back then I was a very young fan and had no idea of the development it took to become a good pro. Here is to hoping this group of db's can become what Waters/Harris did for the boys' back then!!!!
 

Deep_Freeze

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Everyone.

Sitting here watching our playoff game this year again so I might not be in a good mood.
 

Hardline

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They all got a lot to prove. There's not a single player on this team that can't step up their game.
 

SHAMSzy

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Orlando Scandrick-- he could become an integral leader of this defense for the next few years or quickly become forgotten depending on his performance this year.
 

plasticman

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It would have to be Jaylon and La'el.

Jaylon doesn 't just have to prove he can play, he has to prove he has the potential to be an elite player in the NFL.

After getting hurt and not playing last season, after being touted as a top 5 and having to settle for 2nd round money, the size of that chip has to be enormous.

Do you think La'el ever imagined that je would be considered the weak link on the O-line? And what about losing that top ten money? I'm pretty sure he looks at this season as his make it or break it opportunity.

Both players were considered elite since they first stepped on a football field, now they have more than their share of doubters. That has got to really stick in their gut.

Other players with a lot to prove is DeMarcus Lawrence, Cooper who is considered a high first round bust, Kellen Moore who was once thought of as a future prospect and any TE not named Jason Witten.
 

FuzzyLumpkins

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DLaw - contract year, can he stay healthy and can he play like he did in the second half of 2014 again?
Crawford - pressure rate has been good but can he finish, can he stay healthy?
Irving - going into year 3 and has been inconsistent, can he be a great player or is he just a rotation guy that flashes every now and then?
Thornton - makes $4m AAV. Can he polish his technique and handle the starting job?
Tapper - can he stay healthy and can he play?
Jaylon - is his foot going to limit his athleticism? Can he play in the NFL?
Jones - can he be the dynamic player they envisioned? can he shore up his man coverage in the RZ? Can he start making plays on the ball?
Scandrick - has he lost a step?
Heath - can he maintain his playmaking pace in a starting role? Can he adjust to playing up as the SS?
Frazier - can he become a playmaker on ST? can he contribute on defense?
Green - is he ever going to stay healthy? Does he have the power to play guard?
Cooper - is his athleticism ever going to come back? can he win a starting job?
Bell - was his play in TN what we saw at OG or what we saw at OT?
Collins - can he transition to the RT spot and play at a high level?
Hanna - is the knee toast?
Swaim - can he get healthy?
Zeke - can he expand his receiving game?
Morris - can he run or contribute to this team in some way?
Smith - can he develop as a receiver?
Dak - can he speed up his reads and recognition in the red zone? Can he overcome his slow starts? Can he improve his downfield passing game?
Moore - can he overcome the noodle attached at the shoulder?
Dez - can he stay healthy and return to 2014 form?
TWill - can he expand his catch radius? Can he maintain his explosion he introduced to his route running last year?
Butler - can he become more consistent particularly with his hands? Can he expand and improve in his route tree?
Beasley - Can he work downfield?
Lucky - can he improve his hands? Can he improve his routes? Can he contribute more consistently?

Top 5

1 DLaw - career at crossroads
2 Collins - a lot is counting on him
3 Cooper - veritable unknown
4 Irving - is he a grunt or is he a wardaddy?
5 Jaylon - how much athleticism does he have?
 
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CCBoy

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DLaw - contract year, can he stay healthy and can he play like he did in the second half of 2014 again?
Crawford - pressure rate has been good but can he finish, can he stay healthy?
Irving - going into year 3 and has been inconsistent, can he be a great player or is he just a rotation guy that flashes every now and then?
Thornton - makes $4m AAV. Can he polish his technique and handle the starting job?
Tapper - can he stay healthy and can he play?
Jaylon - is his foot going to limit his athleticism? Can he play in the NFL?
Jones - can he be the dynamic player they envisioned? can he shore up his man coverage in the RZ? Can he start making plays on the ball?
Scandrick - has he lost a step?
Heath - can he maintain his playmaking pace in a starting role? Can he adjust to playing up as the SS?
Frazier - can he become a playmaker on ST? can he contribute on defense?
Green - is he ever going to stay healthy? Does he have the power to play guard?
Cooper - is his athleticism ever going to come back? can he win a starting job?
Bell - was his play in TN what we saw at OG or what we saw at OT?
Collins - can he transition to the RT spot and play at a high level?
Hanna - is the knee toast?
Swaim - can he get healthy?
Zeke - can he expand his receiving game?
Morris - can he run or contribute to this team in some way?
Smith - can he develop as a receiver?
Dak - can he speed up his reads and recognition in the red zone? Can he overcome his slow starts? Can he improve his downfield passing game?
Moore - can he overcome the noodle attached at the shoulder?
Dez - can he stay healthy and return to 2014 form?
TWill - can he expand his catch radius? Can he maintain his explosion he introduced to his route running last year?
Butler - can he become more consistent particularly with his hands? Can he expand and improve in his route tree?
Beasley - Can he work downfield?
Lucky - can he improve his hands? Can he improve his routes? Can he contribute more consistently?

Top 5

1 DLaw - career at crossroads
2 Collins - a lot is counting on him
3 Cooper - veritable unknown
4 Irving - is he a grunt or is he a wardaddy?
5 Jaylon - how much athleticism does he have?


Thanks, Fuzzy...
 
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