Why not Pat Watkins?

[Future]

I agree wholeheartedly but you can have better talent at every position. Nelson, Landry and Meriweather are better talents plain and simple.

better talents based on what? their NFL experience? they certainly aren't better physically

 

[Yakuza Rich]

Watkins got wayyy too overly criticized this year. In fact, I believe footballoustiders.com had him in their voting for "player that most hurt their team."

In reality, he only had 1 bad game (and it was extremely bad) and then couldn't make the play on the deep bomb to Burress two weeks later (of course the referee tackled Roy)

Other than that, he played quite well and was no issue in pass coverage. He also made 3 INT's despite not playing every game which was 3 more than Keith Davis and Willie Pile had all year in 2005.

That being said, depth is king in the NFL and you'd like to see a backup plan in case Watkins doesn't improve or gets hurt. Plus, if they could find a quality cover safety that wouldn't mind playing backup, we could do some creative things with Roy in the nickel.



YAKUZA

 

[theogt]

Watkins got wayyy too overly criticized this year. In fact, I believe footballoustiders.com had him in their voting for "player that most hurt their team."

In reality, he only had 1 bad game (and it was extremely bad) and then couldn't make the play on the deep bomb to Burress two weeks later (of course the referee tackled Roy)

Other than that, he played quite well and was no issue in pass coverage. He also made 3 INT's despite not playing every game which was 3 more than Keith Davis and Willie Pile had all year in 2005.

That being said, depth is king in the NFL and you'd like to see a backup plan in case Watkins doesn't improve or gets hurt. Plus, if they could find a quality cover safety that wouldn't mind playing backup, we could do some creative things with Roy in the nickel.



YAKUZA

Right. There were 2 plays (Philly and Giants game) that just seared into people's minds with Watkins kinda the same way the 2005 Week 2 performance of Roy Williams basically defined his coverage ability for 99.9% of the population.

If we go FS in the first 3 rounds, it'll be pretty unsettling. Now, I wouldn't mind going CB and moving Henry, but that's only because we'd have a pair of talented corners to last us for the next half-decade or so.

 

[CATCH17]

Pat Watkins has talent no doubt but he'll be lucky to ever be as good as Woodson.

Watkins could end up being a good solid player for us but I think Reggie Nelson has a chance at being one of the elit safeties in the NFL with his style of play.

BTW I have no problem going into next season with Watkins as the starter.

 

[austintodallas]

I agree. Drafting a CB in round one essentially kills two birds with one stone by (a) addressing our aging CB stuation (Henry and Glenn) and (b) giving us the flexability to move Henry to FS if we so choose.

Not saying we should give up on Watkins whatsoever, just that I would feel much better about our FS situation with both Watkins and Henry available to play the position.

Drafting a CB in the 1st is the prudent move IMO. A gaurd can be had in free agency.

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

Not suggesting we take a safety in one.

From two on FS is fair game.

We don't want to put our entire season on PW's shoulders.

All NFL battles are won at the lines... the D line, the O line... I hope we go O-line early... even if its a 1st...

 

[Yakuza Rich]

Right. There were 2 plays (Philly and Giants game) that just seared into people's minds with Watkins

Watkins wasn't even bad overall in the Giants game. He just had one bad play that for whatever reason he didn't jump for the ball (and the ref helped Burress out). Other than that, he wasn't an issue in coverage in that game and actually tackled pretty well.

He was awful in the Eagles game and that was really it.



YAKUZA

 

[baj1dallas]

Because some people are impatient and expect every player drafted by Dallas to come in and be all-pro immediately. They also believe drafting a FS in the
1st round is a guaranteed lock move to solve the pass defense problems.
Watkins may or may not be the answer but no one knows for sure.

That sums it up pretty well. All that said Watkins isn't a sure thing. It would be awful nice to have a vet that we could put back there and have a reasonable degree of confidence in. Maybe a guy on a 2 year contract or something.

 

[ScipioCowboy]

I'm not certain the FS issue is relegated entirely to Watkins' development. Even assuming Watkins becomes a good starter (as I believe he will), he would be Dallas' only viable cover safety. I'm certainly not making any great revelation here. Roy Williams, though a great player, possesses average coverage skills, at best - it's the elephant in the room of which we are all painfully aware - and any competent defense needs more than one safety who excels in coverage; otherwise, offenses will exploit Dallas just as they did last year. This reality alone justifies spending a high pick on a safety.

 

[GimmeTheBall!]

It seems alot of people have given up on Pat watkins. He was a rookie last year who I thought played well considering.

In comparison to a legend

Pat's first year - 14 games, 28 tackles, 8 assists, 0 sacks, 4 passes defended, 3 interceptions.

Darren Woodson's first year - 16 games, 28 tackles, 5 assists, 1 sack, 4 passes defended, 0 interceptions.



Lets not give up on the kid yet.

Sorry to break it to you, genius.

 

[zrinkill]

Sorry to break it to you, genius.

Hmmm .... what a thought provoking post.

 

[CF74]

It seems alot of people have given up on Pat watkins. He was a rookie last year who I thought played well considering.

In comparison to a legend

Pat's first year - 14 games, 28 tackles, 8 assists, 0 sacks, 4 passes defended, 3 interceptions.

Darren Woodson's first year - 16 games, 28 tackles, 5 assists, 1 sack, 4 passes defended, 0 interceptions.



Lets not give up on the kid yet.

Nobody's given up on him just yet but what are the stats on giving up deep passes for TDs??? I for one think the kid will get better but I'd still rather have Henry back there starting..

 

[zrinkill]

Nobody's given up on him just yet but what are the stats on giving up deep passes for TDs??? I for one think the kid will get better but I'd still rather have Henry back there starting..

It was like 2 ....... as a rookie ...... and he was crucified for it.

 

[Seven]

I understand where you are going but Darren Woodson didn't start and was a backup to J Dub and then Pro Bowler Thomas Everett. Those players are head and shoulders better than what we had at safety in 2006. Only Roy Willy would have a shot at starting on that '92 or '93 team. Watkins wouldn't even had made that roster.

Please explain to me how you know this. Where did Everett end up? Same goes for Washington. Having a great D-line that rotated like BBQ chicken on my grill was a huge factor in their success. As far as being head and shoulders above what the 2006 roster carried, that ain't saying much.


From what Zrin posted, he's definitely on track. I'm with you on this one Zrin. Nobody seems to want to remember Woodys adjustment period. Well, he had one.

Watkins will be fine. I think he did a decent job for his first year. IMO, he was better than anyone we've had since Woody. Davis and the other three schmucks had full seasons and still did not do what Watkins did.
I've stood behind this kid in college,since we drafted him and will until he implodes.
I will go on record as saying he will be my choice for most improved player on the squad this year.

Sporadic starts in ONE season..........a FS? I couldn't even fairly grade a QB on that criteria.

 

[CF74]

It was like 2 ....... as a rookie ...... and he was crucified for it.

Well Watkins gave up 5 or 6 and got yanked...

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

I think the better question is Why Pat Watkins?

I am not saying that it is out of the realm of possibility that he gets it and plays at a high level but he sure as heck wasnt doing that last season.

Everyone wants to talk about how he only made a few mistakes that are being overexaggerated but what they dont want to talk about is how he never seemed to make any plays when he was on the field. He disappeared a la Keith Davis and didnt seem to do anything.

I want a ballhawking turnover creating covering FS so we can allow Roy to play to his strengths and not Zimmerize him any more. Watkins did not come close to doing that last season and until we find someone who does it on the field we need to continue looking.

If Watkins is truly better than someone we bring in then hell win the competition anyway. Its a win win situation.

 

[Hoofbite]

Im just dead sick of seeing Roy Williams be head and shoulders above the rest of the safeties on the team. Roys not that good in coverage and the other guys are worse.

Get a FS that can cover someone all day long. Watkins didn't look to be that, 1st year or not.

 

[Seven]

Well Watkins gave up 5 or 6 and got yanked...

Where did you get that stat?

 

[zrinkill]

Well Watkins gave up 5 or 6 and got yanked...

He had one semi bad game and one horrible game .... The eagles toasted him and Bill Parcells thought it hurt his confidence.

When he came back at the end of the season he was much much better

 

[LatinMind]

Im just dead sick of seeing Roy Williams be head and shoulders above the rest of the safeties on the team. Roys not that good in coverage and the other guys are worse.

Get a FS that can cover someone all day long. Watkins didn't look to be that, 1st year or not.

i like how people convienently forget about the lack of passrush when saying things like this. but bring up the lack of passrush when they need it to prove their own point