Free Safety

[dawkins20]

To me, this position is the one that may make or break any run we go on. It's really a tough call on who to go with. I realize the coaches seem to favor Jones. But here is my breakdown

Jones: best in coverage - godawful tackler. Has a good head on his shoulders and has the most experience of the group

Harris: almost as good as Jones in coverage. Much better tackler. Inexperience is working against him

Demps: worst of the bunch in coverage. Best tackler. Terrible head gets him penalties

In the end I would feel so much better with Harris back there than I would Jones.

How does everyone else feel?

[stevemc]

tough call but I think in the end, Harris may end up being the best combo of coverage and tackling. We can't let Demps expose us on coverage and we can't let Jones' suspect tackling continue. Harris is the least of the evils because as each week goes by, his lack of experience slowly dissipates.

[Leonard Tose]

I don't think Jones is very good in coverage. He's a decent ballhawk and gets the occasional pick, but that doesn't make him good in coverage. He does bring some violence to the secondary.

Harris is much better in coverage. I don't think he's ever going to be the ideal free safety -- both rangy in coverage and forceful at times in run support. But he's pretty good in coverage and can help out at corner in a pinch. He's a useful utility player in the secondary, IMO, and probably the more consistent choice right now.

IMO, the Eagles will target free safety in next year's draft.

[leifdawg]

Jones has been the best safety on the team since he's become the starter.

[dawkins20]

LT, he brings violence? when? I have yet to see a nice hit or a wrap up tackle from Jones. In the last two weeks I have seen receivers run right over him.

He concerns the hell out of me right now and could be our undoing in the playoffs

[BIGPHILLY]

Prob. Harris because of his coverage skills. Never ever put Demps back there. He will give up a big play at the wrong time. Just his style.

I can live with Jones as well. Just don't put Demps back there.

[dawkins20]

Jones has been the best safety on the team since he's become the starter.

Q admittedly had an off game against the Giants. But man oh man so did Jones...and he did it again yesterday.

by no means is he our best safety. In fact I would call him our worst starting defender.

I think some of it is hidden or ignored because we have won 5 straight.

[stevemc]

The last two weeks have exposed Jones something awful.

[leifdawg]

Q admittedly had an off game against the Giants. But man oh man so did Jones...and he did it again yesterday.

by no means is he our best safety. In fact I would call him our worst starting defender.

I think some of it is hidden or ignored because we have won 5 straight.

Mikell has taken a huge step back most of the year not just last week.

[dawkins20]

Mikell has taken a huge step back most of the year not just last week.

maybe that has something to do with the FS he has to play with now compared to what he had prior

he played well yesterday

[Leonard Tose]

LT, he brings violence? when? I have yet to see a nice hit or a wrap up tackle from Jones. In the last two weeks I have seen receivers run right over him.

He concerns the hell out of me right now and could be our undoing in the playoffs

He and Sheldon Brown are the only two guys in the secondary who appear capable of laying some wood.

[dawkins20]

sadly I think Sheldon is currently alone in that dept

I certainly have not seen Jones do it

though I do think Macho could lay the hurt if he got to play more

[stocknowledge]

Everyone who has played safety this year has been inconsistent. Mikell has had some good and some bad games. Ditto Harris and Jones. Demps has no business being back there.

[andrewaters]

i think we are OK for the playoff run. our best safety is in college this year and will be acquired via a high round pick because none of these 3 guys is the player this defense needs because a lot of what they do relies on great safety play.

in a related story the 49ers gave michael lewis a bunch of money and man is he a stiff now.

[stevemc]

i think we are OK for the playoff run. our best safety is in college this year and will be acquired via a high round pick because none of these 3 guys is the player this defense needs because a lot of what they do relies on great safety play.

in a related story the 49ers gave michael lewis a bunch of money and man is he a stiff now.

This lead me to think about free agency as well. We're getting a DE and safety in free agency and the draft. I'm just not sure where each is coming from. There are some interesting choices out there. If there is no CBA before March 1, then we're uncapped and you have to have 6 years of service to be a free agent. There are a bunch of good safeties that would become free agents normally but only have 5 years of service after this year (Nick Collins, Bethea from Indy, Atogwe). Would any of you take a chance on Bob Sanders if he came loose? High risk/high reward guy.