Safety

[Simpleton]

I've noticed that alot of people seem to think safety is near the top of our needs but I think most of that is due to the horrific safeties we've trotted out there for basically a decade. We don't have elite safeties, and I'd love a true centerfielder type but I feel like people won't be happy until we have the next Ed Reed out there.

Wilcox was a very raw project coming out and he has certainly improved greatly since last season, at the ripe old age of 23 at that. He's been generally solid, we aren't getting beaten over the top every game on huge bombs like we're out there with Roy Williams and Keith Davis, he's a very physical tackler and has come up with a few picks. He's at least an average starting safety and you have to assume that he should only improve.

I realize that alot of the angst centers around the fact that him and Church are very similar players, more SS types than FS, but can anybody point out any games this year where our safeties have just been torched up and down the field like was so common for so many years?

Sure, our pass defense is average at best, but I attribute most of that to the fact that our DL gets no pressure and Carr is playing like a UDFA scrub.

Basically what I'm getting at is that we have two guys who are at least average starting safeties, one will be 27 next year and is on a very reasonable contract, the other is 24, on a rookie deal and has a reasonable amount of room to grow. We aren't getting mutilated over the top like in years past and they've actually made some big plays for us. So in a weak safety class, why force it, especially when there isn't a glaring hole there?

It goes without saying that I'd be all for an elite Ed Reed type of prospect, but all things being equal, I see safety as a luxury pick rather than a true need right now. Even if we spent our first 2 picks on the DL I'd still draft another in the 3rd over an equally rated safety, and at this point I'd argue that LB, RB, QB and CB are bigger needs, and RT certainly would be as well if we let Free walk.

 

[Smitty]

CB isn't a huge need. Fix the DL and watch how much better these guys look.

 

[Jwooten15]

DL DL DL. All draft long.

 

[Cowboysrock55]

Pass rush isn't the cure all. Our corners still suck. Anyone can see that when teams drop back and throw the ball instantly and guys are wide open. No pass rush will fix that.

With that being said the moves at corner this offseason need to be more about a shift of resources then anything. Moving big salary money away from corner so that in the future we have the money to spend on D-lineman and other positions. The only way to do that is to move on from Carr and build some depth at the position.

As far as safety is concerned Church drives me nuts. Some days he looks passable and other days he looks horrific. His worst games this season were absolutely maddening. I'm cool with Wilcox. He has been solid all year and I think he will continue to get better from here. Church is actually the one who worries me. He is what he is and what he is isn't very good.

The best way to approach this defense is with numbers. Ignore positions and throw as much talent at it as possible. With the exception of a stud RE. I don't think that can be ignored.

 

[Carp]

As much as I want a cover corner, I value a sure tackler at CB now just as much. Passes are going to be completed with the way offenses are run now, so I want a guy who will stick his nose in there and make a tackle on those bubble screens and quick slants.

 

[Rev]

I agree that the DL is the glaring need but CB still needs to be addressed. Carr could be gone with his contract, Claiborne cut because he is just horrid, and Sterling Moore could get a better offer than we are willing to pay. Can't just have Bradley Fletchers or Lance Frazier's out there.

 

[Carp]

I agree that the DL is the glaring need but CB still needs to be addressed. Carr could be gone with his contract, Claiborne cut because he is just horrid, and Sterling Moore could get a better offer than we are willing to pay. Can't just have Bradley Fletchers or Lance Frazier's out there.

Brandon Flowers will be available, but I think he may have earned himself a decent deal. I like Buster Skrine too.

 

[Simpleton]

Pass rush isn't the cure all. Our corners still suck. Anyone can see that when teams drop back and throw the ball instantly and guys are wide open. No pass rush will fix that.

With that being said the moves at corner this offseason need to be more about a shift of resources then anything. Moving big salary money away from corner so that in the future we have the money to spend on D-lineman and other positions. The only way to do that is to move on from Carr and build some depth at the position.

As far as safety is concerned Church drives me nuts. Some days he looks passable and other days he looks horrific. His worst games this season were absolutely maddening. I'm cool with Wilcox. He has been solid all year and I think he will continue to get better from here. Church is actually the one who worries me. He is what he is and what he is isn't very good.

The best way to approach this defense is with numbers. Ignore positions and throw as much talent at it as possible. With the exception of a stud RE. I don't think that can be ignored.

I agree about shifting resources at CB, we need to use the next 2 offseasons to rebuild the group with mid-round picks while signing cheap FA's like Mincey at DE to be bandaids for the short term. I also agree with ignoring positions for the most part and trying to upgrade the talent as much as possible, although to me safety is far ahead where we are at on the DL, especially when you consider that we need a rotation of 7-8 guys as opposed to starting just 2 safeties with a good back-up in an ideal world.

 

[Deuce]

I saw dump Church, restructure Carr for a lesser deal and move him to FS. He performed well there his first year in Dallas and it'll put him on TE's and RB's more often. Then spend all the draft looking for front 7 with a CB mixed in somewhere.

 

[Genghis Khan]

One huge problem with our safeties is depth. We have two mediocre starters and complete trash after that. Thank god we haven't had a major injury at the position this year.

So yeah, I think safety is absolutely a need.

 

[ravidubey]

DL-LB-CB in that order.

 

[Genghis Khan]

The best way to approach this defense is with numbers. Ignore positions and throw as much talent at it as possible. With the exception of a stud RE. I don't think that can be ignored.

YES. Oh my god yes. Ignore positions and throw talent at it is exactly the way to go.

 

[UncleMilti]

Getting some heat on the QB by rebuilding the DL will help, but there's no doubt we need another starting CB, another S, and possibly more CB depth.

Claiborne sucked before he got hurt, and Carr is a huge disappointment. They both need replaced.

I'm not sure Jones can be counted on to hit on enough players in the draft to lift this D more than a few spots in ranking.

 

[boozeman]

Our biggest issue is a lack of support in the deep middle in long yardage situations. That means, yeah, well our safeties are not that good.

I have a sinking feeling though that they think they can make the Church/Wilcox combo work. Stupid, but sounds like what our braintrust does.

 

[GForce78NJ]

I saw dump Church, restructure Carr for a lesser deal and move him to FS. He performed well there his first year in Dallas and it'll put him on TE's and RB's more often. Then spend all the draft looking for front 7 with a CB mixed in somewhere.

This is the first ive heard anyone say they want to dump Barry Church. I think he's the better one out of the 2 and he's only 27. I can't see Wilcox getting much better than what he is at right now.

 

[Jiggyfly]

This is the first ive heard anyone say they want to dump Barry Church. I think he's the better one out of the 2 and he's only 27. I can't see Wilcox getting much better than what he is at right now.

Why?

He is much younger and has only played the position for 3 years, frankly I am surprised he is playing much more than nickel at this point.

 

[Deuce]

This is the first ive heard anyone say they want to dump Barry Church. I think he's the better one out of the 2 and he's only 27. I can't see Wilcox getting much better than what he is at right now.

I say dump him cause he's regressed, he costs more and there's a better liklihood of Wilcox getting better than him.

 

[Jiggyfly]

I say dump him cause he's regressed, he costs more and there's a better liklihood of Wilcox getting better than him.

Why dump him, he is not getting paid alot he would be a very valuable nickel depth guy.

 

[Cowboysrock55]

I say dump him cause he's regressed, he costs more and there's a better liklihood of Wilcox getting better than him.

Church has been bad a lot this year. I don't know if I'd dump him necessarily, but I would actively be looking to upgrade him. It's like Mincey at DE. I wouldn't dump him but I'd be actively looking to replace him in the starting lineup.

 

[Deuce]

Why dump him, he is not getting paid alot he would be a very valuable nickel depth guy.

If you move Carr to Safety, you don't need him for nickel depth.