Would Dwight Smith help the Cowboys??

[silverbear]

Here's an interesting, somewhat different look at his effectiveness thus far in his career:

From 2001 through 2004, he played for Tampa Bay, then last year he went to New Orleans...

In 2001, the Bucs ranked 5th in the NFL in pass defense, at 184.1 yards per game...

In 2002, the Bucs ranked 1st in the NFL in pass defense, at 155.6 yards per game...

In 2003, the Bucs ranked 3rd in the NFL in pass defense, at 169.4 yards per game... by this time, Dwight was a full-time starter...

In 2004, the Bucs ranked 1st again in the NFL in pass defense, at 161.2 yards per game...

In 2005, the Saints ranked 3rd in the NFL in pass defense, at 178.1 yards per game... they had ranked 27th the year before, at something over 243 yards per game...

I think this is particularly significant, the Saints were AWFUL last year in every other statistical category, but the pass defense improved radically... and the only other significant addition to that secondary besides Smith was rookie Josh Bullocks (who WAS, to be fair, pretty solid for them)...

While Dwight was obviously not personally responsible for all of that, in 5 years in the league, no team he's played on has ever ranked outside the top 5 in the league in total defense... announcers and personnel types would undoubtedly say "good teams seem to follow him around"...

What I'D say is if you plug a free safety like that into a pass defense already stocked with good starters at the other DB positions, and quality depth, it would be quite likely that said free safety would help that pass defense get even better... I'd also say that there isn't a current contender for the starting job with that level of talent... adding to the value, he's also played cornerback and strong safety in his time in the league...

 

[EMMITTnROY]

What I'D say is if you plug a free safety like that into a pass defense already stocked with good starters at the other DB positions, and quality depth, it would be quite likely that said free safety would help that pass defense get even better... I'd also say that there isn't a current contender for the starting job with that level of talent... adding to the value, he's also played cornerback and strong safety in his time in the league...

I agree with this completely.. I am hoping beyond all hope that our secondary ends up looking like this:

CB- Newman, Henry, Glenn, Reeves, Coleman
S- Williams, Smith, Watkins, Davis, Beriault

Coleman, Reeves, and Smith can all play CB or S, which Parcells loves.. I know you don't usually end up keeping 5 safeties, especially if you keep Coleman as a CB.. but you gotta keep Watkins.. Davis is a special teams ace and he has starting experience.. and I just have a feeling that Beriault is gonna do enough to make himself stick around..

 

[xpistofer]

great info...and although I would love to see watkins get a shot, your observations are quite convincing...

 

[silverbear]

I agree with this completely.. I am hoping beyond all hope that our secondary ends up looking like this:

CB- Newman, Henry, Glenn, Reeves, Coleman
S- Williams, Smith, Watkins, Davis, Beriault

Coleman, Reeves, and Smith can all play CB or S, which Parcells loves.. I know you don't usually end up keeping 5 safeties, especially if you keep Coleman as a CB.. but you gotta keep Watkins.. Davis is a special teams ace and he has starting experience.. and I just have a feeling that Beriault is gonna do enough to make himself stick around..

I could get behind keeping those 10...

 

[silverbear]

great info...and although I would love to see watkins get a shot, your observations are quite convincing...

Watkins will get his shot, just maybe not this year... he'll make the 53 man roster (barring injury), and get some limited exposure his rookie season, you know, just get his feet wet...

I like the thought of a 6-5 safety too... those fade routes down in the red zone would be somewhat more difficult to complete with somebody like that back there...

 

[felix360]

dont you think we over paid davis to be 3rd string

 

[silverbear]

dont you think we over paid davis to be 3rd string

I don't think that consideration should factor into this decision at all... it's not like the Boys are cap-strapped...

 

[bbgun]

Dwight Smith? No.
Jaclyn Smith? Yes.

 

[the_h0wey]

Here's an interesting, somewhat different look at his effectiveness thus far in his career:

From 2001 through 2004, he played for Tampa Bay, then last year he went to New Orleans...

In 2001, the Bucs ranked 5th in the NFL in pass defense, at 184.1 yards per game...

In 2002, the Bucs ranked 1st in the NFL in pass defense, at 155.6 yards per game...

In 2003, the Bucs ranked 3rd in the NFL in pass defense, at 169.4 yards per game... by this time, Dwight was a full-time starter...

In 2004, the Bucs ranked 1st again in the NFL in pass defense, at 161.2 yards per game...

In 2005, the Saints ranked 3rd in the NFL in pass defense, at 178.1 yards per game... they had ranked 27th the year before, at something over 243 yards per game...

I think this is particularly significant, the Saints were AWFUL last year in every other statistical category, but the pass defense improved radically... and the only other significant addition to that secondary besides Smith was rookie Josh Bullocks (who WAS, to be fair, pretty solid for them)...

While Dwight was obviously not personally responsible for all of that, in 5 years in the league, no team he's played on has ever ranked outside the top 5 in the league in total defense... announcers and personnel types would undoubtedly say "good teams seem to follow him around"...

What I'D say is if you plug a free safety like that into a pass defense already stocked with good starters at the other DB positions, and quality depth, it would be quite likely that said free safety would help that pass defense get even better... I'd also say that there isn't a current contender for the starting job with that level of talent... adding to the value, he's also played cornerback and strong safety in his time in the league...

This is the missing piece of our defensive puzzle.... What defensive position are we more skeptical and worried about when it comes to our starter then FS??? NOTHING.... I hope we take a chance on this guy, when it come to football he is solid

 

[sago1]

We all worried about FS position. It's the only starting weak link in our defense. Don't know about Smith's skills but at this point he would appear to be the best FS candidate. But he's got some high profile character issues--namely he keeps pulling a gun on people--that's not good PR in most circles. Also understand that last year he upset management by his criticism of them--not surprising given it is the Saints we talking about here but Katrina does mitigate some of the flack they deserved.

But we can't keep 10 secondary players. If we do, we'll have to cut back somewhere else on defense.

Parcells definitely will keeps 8 LBs (Ware/Oyodele/James/Carpenter
with Burnett/Boiman/Fowler?/Singleton as backup) but what happens if one of undrafted players (Hoyte/Parham/?) look REALl good--Parcells will probably want to keep him. That would give us 9.

AT DL we'll probably have 8 (Spear/Ferguson/Canty with their backups of Ratliff/Johnson-Stanley/Ellis-Hatcher). Don't see us keeping anyone else. Ferguson/Canty with Ratliff/Johnson-Stanley/Ellis-Hatacher behind them).

Counting 10 secondary, just 8 LBs & 8 DL we've got 26 defensive players.

Assuming specialty players at ST will be 3 (K, P & LS), we've already got a total of 29 and if we gotta keep another keeper cause Vanderjaght can't do it, that's 30 leaving offense with just 23 players.

OL - minimum 9 (but Parcells might want keep 10 if they all look good)
QB - 3
RB - 3
TE - 4
WR - 5 or 6 (TO/Glenn/Crayton/Green & either Copper/Rector/Merritt with Hurd/Austin going to PS.

Total offense - 24
Defense - 26
ST (prob 4) 4
Total 54 (max is 53) D### Jerry Jones for being unwilling pay for Vinetarie so now we prob need another kicker to aid Vanderjaght.

So which player do we cut? Obviously the secondary. So we either don't sign Smith, we tell Davis to have bullet removed/he doesn't pass physical & we put him on PUP, or we sign Smith but one of the other players in the secondary has to go. If we sign Smith (understand he can play both safety positions and CB?), why do we need Coleman? Of course this assuming that Beriault shows he healthy enough coming off difficult knee surgery to play in NFL.

 

[CrazyCowboy]

Experience would help

 

[ThreeSportStar80]

Damn you people don't sleep huh... Ok now that I have my joke in for the day. Dwight Smith is a playmaker but will his ability outweigh that attitude problem that seems to follow him around? I still would like to see him man the FS spot for Dallas.

 

[Doomsdayblitz]

I don't think it's a coinsidence that Smith has always been on great pass defenses. He is a big reason for it. He provides a presense & confidence that has been lacking the past few years here. Also, when you consider that NO's pass rush was second to last in 2005, it is amazing they could still rank that high.
Another ingredient, of course, is that other teams rushed on them so well, that they didn't have to pass. I don't know.

I DO know that our weakest link is at FS & Smith would turn it into a strength. Is there really anything else to know?

 

[Bob Sacamano]

would Dwight Smith help the Cowboys? yes

will he be a Cowboy? no

 

[superpunk]

The Saints defensive pass ranking is a paper tiger. Yes, they finished 5th in total ypg, but teams were just running it down their throats. Teams got the early lead, and just ran it to put them away. And, while they were in the upper half in completion percentage, at 57.7%, they allowed about 7.7 yards per attempt. Which is pathetic.

But, I don't believe that's a huge reflection on Dwight Smith. I'd be all over him already. Because the bottom line is, he's no superman, but he's way better than anything we have now. So why wouldn't we look at this position of need? This could really hurt us if we don't make it happen.

 

[silverbear]

would Dwight Smith help the Cowboys? yes

will he be a Cowboy? no

How is summer gonna be funner if you keep on pissin' on the picnic??

 

[Bob Sacamano]

How is summer gonna be funner if you keep on pissin' on the picnic??

hey, I'm just breaking your guy's fall once you hear the news :

 

[superpunk]

hey, I'm just breaking your guy's fall once you hear the news :

I really don't think anyone's going to be surprised, if this doesn't happen.

I'll be disappointed, and then pissed, when I see Keith Davis getting his *** smoked this year, but not surprised.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

I really don't think anyone's going to be surprised, if this doesn't happen.

I'll be disappointed, and then pissed, when I see Keith Davis getting his *** smoked this year, but not surprised.

I don't think anyone will be suprised, but judging by some member's comments on here, they will be a trite pissed off about him not coming here

 

[2233boys]

I just heard he signed with the Vikes, so it is dosen't matter anymore. Nice Job JJ...