Jeff Heath / Sometimes Heart Matters

[TheStarOne]

I saw in a replay where Jeff Heath came from on the play against Carr and Heath's speed.
It was amazing. I never knew Heath was that fast.
I guess he ran a 4.48 / 40 at the combine.
He could have given up on that play and he didn't.

 

[jarntt]

Heart and "want to" matters. Talent matters more. Both even better. Upgrade needed. But hats off to Heath for two great red zone plays in a row that kept our season alive.

 

[black francis]

also, sometimes an index card matters

but seriously, every team needs a try hard white guy either on defense or as a WR

 

[ArlingtonCowboys100]

The sad part is heath has made more plays than byron jones

 

[jarntt]

The sad part is heath has made more plays than byron jones

Yes and some of those plays were actually for our team

 

[ROMOTOOWENS]

So what is the knock on Jones right now ? I know he is alternating series or something. I'm seeing all 4 safeties getting playing time.

 

[UK Cowboy]

So what is the knock on Jones right now ? I know he is alternating series or something. I'm seeing all 4 safeties getting playing time.

Jones has had a terrible season. Burnt often, tackles worse than a 7th grader, and has had a couple of big plays where he flat out quit. Needs to pick it up next season or find another home

 

[jarntt]

Jones has been much, much better than Heath and Frazier in coverage. It's not close. When used properly one of our best DBs. Made a huge play just this past week to get us back the ball when he stripped the TE on 3rd down. He should be playing deep and covering TEs. He shouldn't be playing SS in the box on run downs.

 

[ROMOTOOWENS]

Jones has been much, much better than Heath and Frazier in coverage. It's not close. When used properly one of our best DBs. Made a huge play just this past week to get us back the ball when he stripped the TE on 3rd down. He should be playing deep and covering TEs. He shouldn't be playing SS in the box on run downs.

Do any of our safeties play full time or are they all rotating ?

 

[jarntt]

Do any of our safeties play full time or are they all rotating ?

They are rotating. But the crazy thing is Heath is playing the most snaps. Heath didn't come off teh field last week. Jones 60%, Woods 70%, Frazier 40%. Brown, Awuzie and Lewis all played 70-80% too.

 

[Manster7588]

Yes and some of those plays were actually for our team

Yep, he's the guy who gently handed the fumble back to the Raider WR

 

[es4m11]

Jones has been much, much better than Heath and Frazier in coverage. It's not close. When used properly one of our best DBs. Made a huge play just this past week to get us back the ball when he stripped the TE on 3rd down. He should be playing deep and covering TEs. He shouldn't be playing SS in the box on run downs.

I have watched most of the games this year on the coaches film, and paid close attention to Byron Jones - IMO Jones has not done anything particularly well this year. Very mediocre across the board. He gets beat by TEs a lot more than you give him credit for. Jones' technique in coverage sucks. You want to point out one or two plays he has made to help the team? I can point out a dozen where he has badly hurt the team.

You are right to say he has been better than Heath and Frazier in coverage, but that is not saying much of anything. You're also correct that Jones has no business playing SS.

The fact of the matter is the entire secondary has been bad this year, and they have had the benefit of a productive pass rush this year, too. Lewis, Awuzie, and Woods give me hope for the future. The rest of the players in the secondary are nothing special. I would exercise Jones' 5th year option, but I would not entertain the idea of re-signing him after his rookie deal unless he takes some pretty big steps forward next year.

Just as an aside, a lot of the things many are saying on this board about Jones now, are things I took flack for saying earlier this season.

 

[jarntt]

So far it looks like a good thing we didn't quit and burn it to the ground. Heart and progress showing through. That's worth way more than picking a handful of spots earlier on draft day

 

[es4m11]

So far it looks like a good thing we didn't quit and burn it to the ground. Heart and progress showing through. That's worth way more than picking a handful of spots earlier on draft day

Will it have been a good thing if we end up 10-6 and on the outside looking in on the playoffs? The coaching staff gets another pass and the Cowboys have a slightly harder schedule? These are all very likely possibilities.

I don't know why guys act like heart and effort is something we should applaud. It shouldn't be a question, it's a prerequisite. The moment players and coaches stop showing it they should be shit-canned. Heart and effort is not an excuse or substitute for (not) getting the job done.

It's fine if you don't agree, by the way.

 

[PDay8810]

Jones has had a terrible season. Burnt often, tackles worse than a 7th grader, and has had a couple of big plays where he flat out quit. Needs to pick it up next season or find another home

I agree and think he should move to corner and compete there. The guy hasn't a clue at safety and still takes the worse angles to the football

 

[jarntt]

Absolutely it will be a good thing if we go 10-6 and miss the playoffs. It will be incredible if we win 5 straight games with the season on the line and something i did not think this team could do. Heck it's a much better thing if we lose the last two and get blown out than it would have been if we lost all of our remaining games starting a month ago. Sports is about trying to win every game and really every snap of every game. There is no place in sports for quitting.

 

[es4m11]

In sports in general I agree, you don't quit. That is fine for amateur athletics. I think there is room for pragmatism in pro sports.

 

[tomodach10]

I have watched most of the games this year on the coaches film, and paid close attention to Byron Jones - IMO Jones has not done anything particularly well this year. Very mediocre across the board. He gets beat by TEs a lot more than you give him credit for. Jones' technique in coverage sucks. You want to point out one or two plays he has made to help the team? I can point out a dozen where he has badly hurt the team.

You are right to say he has been better than Heath and Frazier in coverage, but that is not saying much of anything. You're also correct that Jones has no business playing SS.

The fact of the matter is the entire secondary has been bad this year, and they have had the benefit of a productive pass rush this year, too. Lewis, Awuzie, and Woods give me hope for the future. The rest of the players in the secondary are nothing special. I would exercise Jones' 5th year option, but I would not entertain the idea of re-signing him after his rookie deal unless he takes some pretty big steps forward next year.

Just as an aside, a lot of the things many are saying on this board about Jones now, are things I took flack for saying earlier this season.

I agree 100% on jones, heath, and frazier. None of them should be starters IMO. Heath is what i expected, not starter material. However, good special teams and spot fill in player. Jones, on the other hand, first round pick playing like a guy brought up from the practice squad. Sorry, dont mean to disparaged practice squad players.

 

[es4m11]

I agree 100% on jones, heath, and frazier. None of them should be starters IMO. Heath is what i expected, not starter material. However, good special teams and spot fill in player. Jones, on the other hand, first round pick playing like a guy brought up from the practice squad. Sorry, dont mean to disparaged practice squad players.

I agree with Pday that Jones should be moved to CB and allowed to compete there. He doesn't have it at Safety. I think Jones could be a decent CB on the outside.

I would like to see the coaching staff try an alignment of...
Jones(LCB) Scandrick(Slot) Awuzie(SS) Woods(FS) Lewis(RCB)
...with Brown, Heath, and Frazier as your first guys off the bench.

In this alignment Awuzie can be the floating match up guy when either Heath or Frazier are brought in. Jones is given one job to do and that is man the left side - no more of this multiple responsibilities that he clearly doesn't handle well. Lewis is the future anchor CB. Scandrick is the slot until we find someone better or Brown gets his head on straight. Woods should just be left back at FS and allowed to grow into the position.