Post by scorpion42 on Dec 31, 2008 16:23:19 GMT -7
Safety Position A Top Priority Again
Eatman: Safety Position A Top Priority Again
Nick Eatman
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
December 30, 2008
IRVING, Texas - Seems like this is turning into an annual story.
Every year, it's the same question. Maybe there was an exception last year.
But that won't be the case heading into next season.
Nope, the safety position has once again turned into a big need on this team and the Cowboys must put that spot either at the very top, or near the top of the priority list.
For some reason, the Cowboys just haven't found anything that has stuck at this position. And now, they've got players to fill up the spots, but no one who seems to be an every-down player.
Just looking at the numbers, the Cowboys have three, maybe four and possibly five safeties who have a role and can contribute to this team. And by contribute, I'm talking about next year.
But as for the actual starters, I don't think the Cowboys should have anyone in place.
Now they certainly have safeties with contracts that suggest they start. Those contracts should suggest more than that, like Pro Bowl-caliber production.
Of course, this year, that didn't happen. But let's not single out the safeties when it comes to playing below expectations. That should be across the board.
But let's do single out the safety position when looking ahead to next year. Despite the frustrations that might exist with this team, there aren't many positions that will have a lot of change. It's just not feasible.
Safety, however, could be one of them. Actually, they have guys under contract, but there are some tricky situations there.
OK, let's go with Roy Williams. Yes, the safety Roy Williams. Seems like it's been forever since we've been able to discuss him.
But he should be healthy to return this season after breaking his right forearm twice last year - the second time ending his season for good. Did it end his Cowboys' career as well?
That's a decision the Cowboys will have to make this off-season. He's got two seasons left on his contract - 2009 and 2010. If he stays on the roster, he will count $6.6 million on next year's cap. If Williams is released, he will count $4.4 million. So the quick math tell us that cutting Roy Williams this off-season will save the Cowboys $2.2 million in cap space.
Now, the next question is, can the Cowboys afford not to have him? It's not like they couldn't have used a little experience back there at strong safety. Sure, Williams has been a regular punching bag the last few years, but like we've always said, who are you going to play instead of him?
This year, it was guys like Pat Watkins and Keith Davis. Now, Davis held his own. In fact, he might have been an upgrade at the position, but by the end of the year, starting at safety and playing special teams just wore him down. He ended the season with neck and knee injuries, not to mention a high-ankle sprain that he suffered early in the Eagles game and will have him in a walking boot for a few weeks.
We'll get back to Davis in a bit. As for Roy Williams, I would like to see the Cowboys bring him back. You know he doesn't want to end his career here like he did, with two injuries.
But financially, not sure if it makes sense because the last two years, Williams hasn't been more than a two-down player. The Cowboys have pulled him off certain packages. Still, the opposing teams found ways to attack him. It's not like there is a rule you have to go deep only on third-and-long.
So if the Cowboys are only playing him in spot duty, then I'm not sure any one is worth $6.6 million. And you wouldn't think, with as much pride as Williams has, he would be willing to take a pay cut.
Now, if he did, maybe the Cowboys could work some kind of incentive-based contract where he could possibly take a lower base salary, but hit enough clauses to get back to the $4.4 million range again.
As it stands right now, it would seem rather surprising if he is back next year, at least with that contract.
Now, as for Ken Hamlin, he isn't going anywhere. The club just signed him to a six-year, $39 million deal last season and despite not playing at a Pro Bowl level, he will be back next season. That doesn't mean he has to be the free safety. He has played strong safety in Seattle before, and that might be his better position.
So what happens at free safety? Well, this is where Anthony Henry could enter the equation.
For about two years now, we've been getting e-mails and questions about this move. And every time, I've had the standard answer.
"That's fine, but only if you have a viable replacement at cornerback."
This is a classic "Don't rob Peter to pay Paul" theory. And for the last two years, they didn't have anyone better than Henry to play cornerback. But just maybe they do now. Maybe Mike Jenkins and Orlando Scandrcik can fill the void. It looks like one of them, or both, could be ready for an expanded role. As for Pacman Jones, who knows with him? I get the feeling that this off-season will work itself out, as far as he is concerned. If he goes the entire spring and summer with no problems, that will be a big step for him.
But something tells me there is a good chance that Pacman won't be returning next year.
With or without him, you've got some options now at cornerback, and so moving Henry to safety would make sense.
However, as Henry indicated last summer, it's a move that needs to be done soon, so he can have an entire off-season to get acclimated the position. Sure, Henry played some safety in the nickel and dime packages this year, but as a three-down player, it's not an easy switch.
On Tuesday, I actually talked to a guy who knows a thing or 20 about safety in Darren Woodson. And he not only endorsed Henry moving to safety, but said he has the ability to be an "Ed Reed type of player." Maybe that's a stretch, but anything close, would be much more than what the Cowboys have had at safety here lately.
OK, so with Hamlin and Henry, the Cowboys could then draft a safety as well. They don't have a first-round pick, but maybe in the second or third, and they do have two in the fourth.
Now that leads us back to Keith Davis, who signed just a one-year deal after being released by the Dolphins.
He'll probably get an idea of his worth yet again, but you would think the writing is on the wall with him. He's a pretty good safety and a superb special-teams guy. That has value.
The Cowboys should realize it. More than that, he's a leader. He's as tough as they get. And he's one guy that his teammates will downright respect.
Is there a price on that? If so, I'm not sure what it is, but it's something the Cowboys should make room for.
And the Cowboys do want him back. They will try to re-sign him, probably with the idea of being the third or fourth safety, and the special teams leader once again.
Personally, I give Keith Davis a rather large contract. And not because maybe he'll compete for a starting job, but I would do it because he's the best special teams player on the team and the best they've had here in about five years.
That alone should send a message that special teams IS indeed a priority. Not only are we going to keep these guys, but pay the ones who have earned it.
After that, I'm not sure where guys like Courtney Brown, Pat Watkins and Tra Battle fit into the mix. Watkins has a chance because of his special teams play, but he was bit by the injury bug all season.
There are certainly lots of pieces to this safety puzzle - one that might not get sorted out for a while.
Eatman: Safety Position A Top Priority Again
Nick Eatman
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
December 30, 2008
IRVING, Texas - Seems like this is turning into an annual story.
Every year, it's the same question. Maybe there was an exception last year.
But that won't be the case heading into next season.
Nope, the safety position has once again turned into a big need on this team and the Cowboys must put that spot either at the very top, or near the top of the priority list.
For some reason, the Cowboys just haven't found anything that has stuck at this position. And now, they've got players to fill up the spots, but no one who seems to be an every-down player.
Just looking at the numbers, the Cowboys have three, maybe four and possibly five safeties who have a role and can contribute to this team. And by contribute, I'm talking about next year.
But as for the actual starters, I don't think the Cowboys should have anyone in place.
Now they certainly have safeties with contracts that suggest they start. Those contracts should suggest more than that, like Pro Bowl-caliber production.
Of course, this year, that didn't happen. But let's not single out the safeties when it comes to playing below expectations. That should be across the board.
But let's do single out the safety position when looking ahead to next year. Despite the frustrations that might exist with this team, there aren't many positions that will have a lot of change. It's just not feasible.
Safety, however, could be one of them. Actually, they have guys under contract, but there are some tricky situations there.
OK, let's go with Roy Williams. Yes, the safety Roy Williams. Seems like it's been forever since we've been able to discuss him.
But he should be healthy to return this season after breaking his right forearm twice last year - the second time ending his season for good. Did it end his Cowboys' career as well?
That's a decision the Cowboys will have to make this off-season. He's got two seasons left on his contract - 2009 and 2010. If he stays on the roster, he will count $6.6 million on next year's cap. If Williams is released, he will count $4.4 million. So the quick math tell us that cutting Roy Williams this off-season will save the Cowboys $2.2 million in cap space.
Now, the next question is, can the Cowboys afford not to have him? It's not like they couldn't have used a little experience back there at strong safety. Sure, Williams has been a regular punching bag the last few years, but like we've always said, who are you going to play instead of him?
This year, it was guys like Pat Watkins and Keith Davis. Now, Davis held his own. In fact, he might have been an upgrade at the position, but by the end of the year, starting at safety and playing special teams just wore him down. He ended the season with neck and knee injuries, not to mention a high-ankle sprain that he suffered early in the Eagles game and will have him in a walking boot for a few weeks.
We'll get back to Davis in a bit. As for Roy Williams, I would like to see the Cowboys bring him back. You know he doesn't want to end his career here like he did, with two injuries.
But financially, not sure if it makes sense because the last two years, Williams hasn't been more than a two-down player. The Cowboys have pulled him off certain packages. Still, the opposing teams found ways to attack him. It's not like there is a rule you have to go deep only on third-and-long.
So if the Cowboys are only playing him in spot duty, then I'm not sure any one is worth $6.6 million. And you wouldn't think, with as much pride as Williams has, he would be willing to take a pay cut.
Now, if he did, maybe the Cowboys could work some kind of incentive-based contract where he could possibly take a lower base salary, but hit enough clauses to get back to the $4.4 million range again.
As it stands right now, it would seem rather surprising if he is back next year, at least with that contract.
Now, as for Ken Hamlin, he isn't going anywhere. The club just signed him to a six-year, $39 million deal last season and despite not playing at a Pro Bowl level, he will be back next season. That doesn't mean he has to be the free safety. He has played strong safety in Seattle before, and that might be his better position.
So what happens at free safety? Well, this is where Anthony Henry could enter the equation.
For about two years now, we've been getting e-mails and questions about this move. And every time, I've had the standard answer.
"That's fine, but only if you have a viable replacement at cornerback."
This is a classic "Don't rob Peter to pay Paul" theory. And for the last two years, they didn't have anyone better than Henry to play cornerback. But just maybe they do now. Maybe Mike Jenkins and Orlando Scandrcik can fill the void. It looks like one of them, or both, could be ready for an expanded role. As for Pacman Jones, who knows with him? I get the feeling that this off-season will work itself out, as far as he is concerned. If he goes the entire spring and summer with no problems, that will be a big step for him.
But something tells me there is a good chance that Pacman won't be returning next year.
With or without him, you've got some options now at cornerback, and so moving Henry to safety would make sense.
However, as Henry indicated last summer, it's a move that needs to be done soon, so he can have an entire off-season to get acclimated the position. Sure, Henry played some safety in the nickel and dime packages this year, but as a three-down player, it's not an easy switch.
On Tuesday, I actually talked to a guy who knows a thing or 20 about safety in Darren Woodson. And he not only endorsed Henry moving to safety, but said he has the ability to be an "Ed Reed type of player." Maybe that's a stretch, but anything close, would be much more than what the Cowboys have had at safety here lately.
OK, so with Hamlin and Henry, the Cowboys could then draft a safety as well. They don't have a first-round pick, but maybe in the second or third, and they do have two in the fourth.
Now that leads us back to Keith Davis, who signed just a one-year deal after being released by the Dolphins.
He'll probably get an idea of his worth yet again, but you would think the writing is on the wall with him. He's a pretty good safety and a superb special-teams guy. That has value.
The Cowboys should realize it. More than that, he's a leader. He's as tough as they get. And he's one guy that his teammates will downright respect.
Is there a price on that? If so, I'm not sure what it is, but it's something the Cowboys should make room for.
And the Cowboys do want him back. They will try to re-sign him, probably with the idea of being the third or fourth safety, and the special teams leader once again.
Personally, I give Keith Davis a rather large contract. And not because maybe he'll compete for a starting job, but I would do it because he's the best special teams player on the team and the best they've had here in about five years.
That alone should send a message that special teams IS indeed a priority. Not only are we going to keep these guys, but pay the ones who have earned it.
After that, I'm not sure where guys like Courtney Brown, Pat Watkins and Tra Battle fit into the mix. Watkins has a chance because of his special teams play, but he was bit by the injury bug all season.
There are certainly lots of pieces to this safety puzzle - one that might not get sorted out for a while.