Jeff Heath - defensive back

[Jimmy Chitwood]

in a world where "speed" is all-important, and "talent" is all that matters, one continues to be befuddled by the countless examples of White athletes who somehow "slip through the cracks" despite the "un-ending scouring" by so-called scouts around the country.

Jeff Heath is perhaps the latest in the long line of caste-shunned White speedsters who has toiled in football anonymity, despite possessing all the physical talent that coaches allegedly covet.

Heath is "somehow" an undrafted rookie free agent from Division II Saginaw Valley State, despite the following numbers: stands 6-foot-1 and weighs in at close to 210 pounds; ran a 4.48 forty at a Pro Day (at a different campus than his own), as well as posting a 37-inch vertical jump, 22 reps on the bench press, a 4.36 shuttle, 6.88 3-cone drill, and a 10-foot-6-inch broad jump. "weird," that he wouldn't be drafted, huh? not if you understand the Caste System, of course.

those impressive physical attributes parallel his on-field excellence, where he was an all-conference player as a junior and senior ... the only two years he started. he totaled 77 tackles/5 interceptions/7 pass breakups as a senior, after amassing 81 tackles as a junior. still, he was passed over at least 7 times by every team in the NFL.

but check out the idiocy purveyed as "evaluation" by the so-called expert scouts (i emboldened the obvious discrepancies):

Positive: Athletic and aggressive safety best defending the run. Quick up the field, chases hard to make plays and looks to intimidate ballcarriers. Effectively reads and diagnoses the action, displays good range, and makes plays up the field or outside the numbers. Remains disciplined with coverage assignments. Possesses a terrific closing burst to the action.

Negative: Occasionally too quick up the field and gets caught out of position. Marginal ball skills. Struggles covering tight ends.

Analysis: Keith passes the eyeball test and has the size/speed numbers for the next level yet is a bit one-dimensional as a downhill safety. He could be used in a zone system and on special teams.

it's ridiculous. at any rate, Heath looked good in his opening game as a Cowboy. he had two tackles (one solo tackle on 4th-and-short, which forced a turnover on downs) and was in on several other plays.

hopefully, he'll overcome the long odds and earn a roster spot.

 

[BeyondFedUp]

in a world where "speed" is all-important, and "talent" is all that matters, one continues to be befuddled by the countless examples of White athletes who somehow "slip through the cracks" despite the "un-ending scouring" by so-called scouts around the country.

Jeff Heath is perhaps the latest in the long line of caste-shunned White speedsters who has toiled in football anonymity, despite possessing all the physical talent that coaches allegedly covet.

Heath is "somehow" an undrafted rookie free agent from Division II Saginaw Valley State, despite the following numbers: stands 6-foot-1 and weighs in at close to 210 pounds; ran a 4.48 forty at a Pro Day (at a different campus than his own), as well as posting a 37-inch vertical jump, 22 reps on the bench press, a 4.36 shuttle, 6.88 3-cone drill, and a 10-foot-6-inch broad jump. "weird," that he wouldn't be drafted, huh? not if you understand the Caste System, of course.

those impressive physical attributes parallel his on-field excellence, where he was an all-conference player as a junior and senior ... the only two years he started. he totaled 77 tackles/5 interceptions/7 pass breakups as a senior, after amassing 81 tackles as a junior. still, he was passed over at least 7 times by every team in the NFL.

but check out the idiocy purveyed as "evaluation" by the so-called expert scouts (i emboldened the obvious discrepancies):



it's ridiculous. at any rate, Heath looked good in his opening game as a Cowboy. he had two tackles (one solo tackle on 4th-and-short, which forced a turnover on downs) and was in on several other plays.

hopefully, he'll overcome the long odds and earn a roster spot.

Hey JimmyChitwood,
Brian Braddus' blog from the Cowboys' scouting and reporting after the Hall of Fame game against the Dolphins had some really good things to say about Heath on the DC site:

"I believe this is the first time that I have mentioned rookie safety

• Jeff Heath but he didn’t struggle at all with his first live game action. Heath doesn’t get many reps during practice and when he did, it was only been during the Blue Period.
  
  What I have noticed about Heath’s work during these practices is that he doesn’t make many if at any mental mistakes. In the game, he played much the same way. He took advantage of the playing time he received both on defense and with his special teams snaps.
  
  He was physical and did mix it up when he was called into action. He showed awareness in coverage and when he had to tackle, he was there to wrap his man up. I just think, the position he plays, the numbers will most likely get him but he should be proud of the way he played Sunday night because he did stand out on the tape."
  

I can only hope I guess that he is in the rotation. Coach Garrett, as bad as he has been at play-calling (thankfully Callahan has those duties now), has been a coach who has shown time and again to give several talented White players a chance in the system and the team because he knows many of them are not goof-offs, work hard, and are dedicated, which he wants as a PRIORITY. Among several others on the team, Sean Lee is excelling there at LB, barring injuries again, and Cole Bealey, is given time at WR (probably number 3 or 4, and number 1 or 2 as far as the slot only) despite almost midget size in a usually all black position battle. Of course Whitten is there and they drafted the big White TE Gavin Escobar, who has great hands and is learning under Whitten's experience and advice. We'll see.

 

[BeyondFedUp]

And I forgot to mention Travis Frederick, whom they drafted #1 at Center did a nice job Sunday night and has been said by the scouts to almost assured himself the starting spot and is speeding up the offense and the tempo of getting the plays off, which was a real problem issue sometimes last year with Costa there in that particular role.

 

[dwid]

What exactly does that mean? I hear it said all the time about talented White players who should be making the team "its just a numbers game" and it just basically seems to me that it means that there are a bunch of generic black players listed ahead of him on the depth chart, some might have shown a flash or two in a practice, or maybe a big hit on special teams, or living on measurables, or a few college games where they dominated, but are they really more talented? In most cases, no, but those dwfs sure do love those affletes so "insert white player here" just got caught up in a numbers game so its practice squad for him, and then once his ps eligibility is used up its "hes not talented enough, he hasn't been able to get off the practice squad.

in fact, I was watching NFL Network the other day, and an older black player put it best, laughing about the state of football today saying that it isn't football, it entertainment.

I mean did anyone see that linebacker I believe it was who made the pick and ran it back in the HOF game? He looked so stiff, like a lineman and didn't look like he belonged in th NFL, but odds are he will stick around a while.

 

[BeyondFedUp]

What exactly does that mean? I hear it said all the time about talented White players who should be making the team "its just a numbers game" and it just basically seems to me that it means that there are a bunch of generic black players listed ahead of him on the depth chart, some might have shown a flash or two in a practice, or maybe a big hit on special teams, or living on measurables, or a few college games where they dominated, but are they really more talented? In most cases, no, but those dwfs sure do love those affletes so "insert white player here" just got caught up in a numbers game so its practice squad for him, and then once his ps eligibility is used up its "hes not talented enough, he hasn't been able to get off the practice squad.

in fact, I was watching NFL Network the other day, and an older black player put it best, laughing about the state of football today saying that it isn't football, it entertainment.

I mean did anyone see that linebacker I believe it was who made the pick and ran it back in the HOF game? He looked so stiff, like a lineman and didn't look like he belonged in th NFL, but odds are he will stick around a while.

dwid, I gotta agree with you wholeheartedly. I caught that too in Broaddus article and the whole "numbers game" is a cop-out for sure. It is definitely the 'caste game" numbers in truth. I still hope that Heath can make the team, even though I don't wish any injuries on another player, it happens from time to time and I hope he gets his chance going into the season.

 

[Don Wassall]

Heath will be starting his second straight game due to a sprained knee suffered by rookie starting SS J.J. Wilcox. Jeff had a big game last week, with 9 tackles (5 of them solo) and a forced fumble.

I was shocked to hear Michael Irvin single Heath out for praise when the NFL Network was showing highlights of the Dallas-Detroit game last Sunday night, which was echoed by Deion Sanders and even the White dweeb hosting the otherwise coal black studio crew. With Matt Johnson, the Cowboys' fourth round pick in 2012, perpetually injured at least Heath is getting some playing time and making the most of it. It wouldn't be surprising in the least if he's much more capable than the far more heralded Wilcox, who was drafted in the third round this year.

 

[whiteathlete33]

Heath will be starting his second straight game due to a sprained knee suffered by rookie starting SS J.J. Wilcox. Jeff had a big game last week, with 9 tackles (5 of them solo) and a forced fumble.

I was shocked to hear Michael Irvin single Heath out for praise when the NFL Network was showing highlights of the Dallas-Detroit game last Sunday night, which was echoed by Deion Sanders and even the White dweeb hosting the otherwise coal black studio crew. With Matt Johnson, the Cowboys' fourth round pick in 2012, perpetually injured at least Heath is getting some playing time and making the most of it. It wouldn't be surprising in the least if he's much more capable than the far more heralded Wilcox, who was drafted in the third round this year.

You have mentioned multiple times that these sports shows are scripted so why say now that Irvin praised Heath? Wasn't he told to do so by the PTB? It's like me saying that I'm surprised John David Jackson said that Sergey Kovalev is the best light heavyweight in the world. He trains him, BTW.

 

[Don Wassall]

I've never said they're scripted down to the last sentence. General outlines of the shows are made ahead of time, as with any talk or current events show whether on sports or any other subject, and on shows where two or more analysts are to debate issues, it's obvious from watching that their respective talking points are established ahead of time.

There's no way a highlights show shown right after 12 or so games can be fully scripted ahead of time as common sense would indicate. And if Irvin & friends are reading off cue cards then they're damn good actors. I think you have me confused with another poster here, or maybe you got up on the wrong side of bed today. . .

 

[whiteathlete33]

I've never said they're scripted down to the last sentence. General outlines of the shows are made ahead of time, as with any talk or current events show whether on sports or any other subject, and on shows where two or more analysts are to debate issues, it's obvious from watching that their respective talking points are established ahead of time.

There's no way a highlights show shown right after 12 or so games can be fully scripted ahead of time as common sense would indicate. And if Irvin & friends are reading off cue cards then they're damn good actors. I think you have me confused with another poster here, or maybe you got up on the wrong side of bed today. . .

My point is I sometimes wonder how members here actually believe that these black sportscaster actually mean anything they say. Steven A Smiff, quite possibly the biggest racist of them all, may at times give white players props but you know he doesn't mean it.

 

[dwid]

have you been around black people? guys like Michael Irvin sticking to a strict script? guys like him blurt out stuff all the time thats not even related to the segment, so I can't imagine them following the script to the tee. They might have said for him to acknowledgethat Heath made plays, and he could have made a backhanded compliment, which we have seen so many times before.

I think what we have here is, a guy that caught Megatron, supposedly the fastest wideout in the league, so you really can't downplay his ability. Now in the following weeks they might downplay his athleticism, like praise his straight line speed but talk about his "stiff hips" and how he struggles to cover in man coverage. From what I remember from the play, they couldn't use the whole "he knew the exact angle to take and just a smart player that knew where to be", because I remember a few other players with good angles, that just didn't get to him before Heath.

Its not impossible for a black guy to actually believe a White player is good, in fact they are more likely to mention than Whites and of course jews. They probably don't want to admit many times but when they make a play like that against a black "super afflete" then they have to justify it some way.

 

[backrow]

have you been around black people? guys like Michael Irvin sticking to a strict script? guys like him blurt out stuff all the time thats not even related to the segment, so I can't imagine them following the script to the tee. They might have said for him to acknowledgethat Heath made plays, and he could have made a backhanded compliment, which we have seen so many times before.

I think what we have here is, a guy that caught Megatron, supposedly the fastest wideout in the league, so you really can't downplay his ability. Now in the following weeks they might downplay his athleticism, like praise his straight line speed but talk about his "stiff hips" and how he struggles to cover in man coverage. From what I remember from the play, they couldn't use the whole "he knew the exact angle to take and just a smart player that knew where to be", because I remember a few other players with good angles, that just didn't get to him before Heath.

Its not impossible for a black guy to actually believe a White player is good, in fact they are more likely to mention than Whites and of course jews. They probably don't want to admit many times but when they make a play like that against a black "super afflete" then they have to justify it some way.

very astute observations, dwid.

Archuleta was freakishly fast and that didn't help him much when the purge came after he was allowed to star for a few seasons... at least he had that!

 

[Don Wassall]

This thread has been dormant since 2013 as Jeff Heath served his long racial apprenticeship, always playing well as a backup and in a few spot starts, but now he has a legit chance to start in 2017. With Heath and the great Sean Lee on defense and all-time great Jason Witten and WRs Cole Beasley and rookie Ryan Switzer on offense, the Cowboys could be one of the better NFC teams to root for this year.

Safety Jeff Heath ready for his chance to start for Cowboys

BY CHAREAN WILLIAMS

Jeff Heath waited five years for this. After making only 10 starts in his first four seasons, Heath has the starting strong safety job in his sights.

“It feels good,” Heath said Sunday during the team’s 13th annual Taste of the NFL to tackle childhood hunger. “But I think I’ve earned that trust, and I’m just ready for the competition. Competition brings out the best in everyone if you approach it the right way. I think it’ll bring the best out in me and really our whole team. So I’m just excited for the opportunity.”

The Cowboys lost safeties Barry Church and J.J. Wilcox in free agency. The two combined for 16 starts at strong safety, making 162 tackles and three interceptions.

While Church and Wilcox combined for 1,262 defensive snaps, Heath played 238, 106 fewer than he played on special teams. Heath made 20 tackles on defense, with an interception and two pass breakups, while contributing another seven tackles on special teams.

“Everyone wants to play more,” Heath said. “Obviously, I feel like the more I play, the more of an impact I can make. So it’s kind of frustrating sometimes when you feel like you’re not impacting a game very much. But I feel like my role is always pretty important on the team with all the special teams, and that’s kind of been an overlooked aspect of the game. It wins and loses games, and you don’t really notice it until you mess up or make a crazy play. …When you’re on a winning team, that kind of handles a lot of the frustrations.”

The Cowboys made it clear when Church departed to the Jaguars and Wilcox to the Bucs that they had faith in Heath. They signed veteran Robert Blanton late in free agency and didn’t draft a safety until taking Louisiana Tech’s Xavier Woods in the fifth round.

“Every time we’ve given him a chance to play on defense, he does something really good for our football team,” Cowboys coach Jason Garrett said earlier this month. “Makes tackles, makes interceptions, and he’s just demonstrated that he’s worthy to be in this conversation about competing for that starting safety spot.”

http://www.star-telegram.com/sports/nfl/dallas-cowboys/cowboys-corner-blog/article149209039.html

 

[celticdb15]

Awesome! Heaths a real feel good story. Small school rangy safety with sub 4.4 speed. He's stuck around now he's due for a breakout year. Really glad Dallas kept Garrett. Fair coach.

 

[Don Wassall]

The headline and the question asked of the writer says a lot about how well trained DWFs are.

Why Cowboys fans shouldn't worry if Jeff Heath starts at safety

Jon Machota, Cowboys beat writer for SportsDayDFW.com and The Dallas Morning News, answered questions about the team in a live chat Friday. Here are some highlights.

Aren't we getting to the point where it'll be too late to have someone other than Jeff Heath start at safety?

Jon Machota: I don't think the Cowboys view that as a problem. Heath was outstanding during the first minicamp practice, picking off two Dak Prescott passes. Like Kellen Moore and Terrance Williams, Heath is another guy the Cowboys have a lot more confidence in than the fans do. From everything I've seen and heard, I'm expecting Heath to be one of the starting safeties Week 1.

https://sportsday.dallasnews.com/da...y-jeff-heath-starts-safety-rookie-catches-eye

 

[Don Wassall]

The headline to this article should be "Is Jeff Heath's Long Racial Apprenticeship Finally Coming to an End?"

Is Jeff Heath finally poised for Cowboys stardom?

By Jon Machota, Staff Writer Contact Jon Machotaon Twitterjonmachota

Jeff Heath was the star of the first day of minicamp practices last week. Working with the first-team defense, Heath found ways to pick off two Dak Prescott passes.

It was an excellent showing from a player stepping into a larger role in his fifth season. With Barry Church departing in free agency, Heath is expected to start at safety alongside Byron Jones.

"I've seen a lot [from Heath]," Jones said last week. "All of this stuff we saw last year. He wasn't getting a lot of playing time earlier in the season but he was coming in at critical situations and making good plays. That's what Jeff Heath's main thing is.

"Even on special teams, he's a core guy. He's a guy who is calling the plays, he's a personal protector on punt [coverage]. That's a big job. If there's one guy we can trust with that, it's Jeff Heath.

"Having him back there with me is awesome. He's helping me out there and we're making plays, as you could see [during minicamp]."

Since signing with Dallas as an undrafted rookie free agent in 2013, Heath is tied for the team lead in interceptions. Including the playoff loss to Green Bay, he has picked off five passes.

The quarterbacks he's intercepted: Jameis Winston (3), Kirk Cousins and Aaron Rodgers. All three have appeared in at least one Pro Bowl.

To continue improving his game, Heath has been studying some of the league's best at his position. He's had the video staff put together clips of players like Earl Thomas, Harrison Smith, Eric Berry and Kam Chancellor.

If there's a player making plays on the back end, Heath wants to see how they're getting it done.

"They're making plays and it's not like the ball is just being thrown [to them]," Heath said. "They're seeing something and they're making great plays, so I try to kind of see what they see and put myself in that situation so when I'm in that situation in a practice or a game I can try to do the same thing."

https://sportsday.dallasnews.com/da...ath-offseason-makes-plays-critical-situations

 

[Don Wassall]

Why Jeff Heath will be a Pro Bowler in 2017

Here are the reasons why I believe Dallas Cowboys safety and special teams ace Jeff Heath will become a Pro Bowler for the first time in 2017.

by Tyler Harris

The Dallas Cowboys are in desperate need of playmakers on their defense. Safety – and now potential leader – Jeff Heath will fill those shoes this season.

Cowboys fans will likely hold onto Heath’s rookie season as an indicator of the type of player he is. Simply put, most fans aren’t being logical. Heath was an undrafted free agent that made the team and was thrust into a starting role too soon.

He wasn’t ready, but he is now.

For a defense lacking many true ball-hawks, Heath could bring a huge spark. Dallas fans have to remember the incredible performance he put on against Aaron Rodgersin the Divisional Round of the playoffs.

Jeff single-handily got Dallas back in that game. If Rodger’s didn’t have amazing grip strength, Heath would have caused a game-winning fumble as well.

Fans need to let go of his 2013 season, and embrace what could be. Heath has been the hardest hitting player in the secondary and has been around the ball a lot. All of this was during a backup role as well.

What Heath has been able to accomplish in his career thus far deserves recognition. Not many undrafted players get contract extensions in their careers. Very few get the chance to start.

Development is often forgot about in the NFL. Jeff needed to develop in order to become a great safety in this league and I believe he will do just that and shock the league.

Not only will he play well, he’s going to be one of the best strong safeties in the NFC. Heath is going to make the Pro Bowl next season.

This team needs the defense to do big things in order to win a championship. On defense they need players that can turn the ball over. Heath may not be the flashy pick for this role, but he will be the one to get it done.

https://thelandryhat.com/2017/06/26...th-dak-prescott-share-interesting-similarity/

 

[Van_Slyke_CF]

I always thought Heath had the physical skills to play CB in the NFL, but I'll settle for a starting safety spot.

 

[Don Wassall]

I get a daily alert on Jeff Heath. Here is today's compilation exactly how it showed up in my inbox. It's like this day after day, month after month, year after year. You'd think Heath was the worst player in the league instead of a solid, athletic safety who has made lots of clutch plays. Whether it's politics, sports or anything else, the anti-White haters are relentless and unyielding:

Dallas Cowboys: Safety in a Safety
SportDFW
Jeff Heath is a solid special teams player and good depth guy, but asking him to be your ... So where does that leave the Cowboys in relation to 2019?

Cowboys interested in trading for Jets safety Jamal Adams
Cowboys Wire
The play of Jeff Heath has been a thorn in the side of the secondary for far too long and Dallas has neglected to invest heavily in the position.

Cowboys strike out on potential trade to bring Jets Pro Bowl safety Jamal Adams home
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Ultimately, the Cowboys didn't swing hard enough and struck out. ... So the status quo at safety remains with the maligned Jeff Heath at strong safety ...

Cowboys Talking NFL Trade for Jets Pro Bowl Safety Jamal Adams
Sports Illustrated
Cowboys Talking NFL Trade for Jets Pro Bowl Safety Jamal Adams ... He would represent a significant upgrade over Jeff Heath while plugging in ...

Cowboys Offered Massive Deal to Jets for Jamal Adams: Report
Heavy.com
Jamal Adams wanted the Dallas Cowboys. ... “The #Cowboys strongly pursued trade for #Jets safety Jamal Adams right to the deadline, ... the Cowboys do make another move, possibly as a replacement for strong safety Jeff Heath.

 

[Bucky]

321 career tackles and 8ints in his career. Facts say he, he's a solid starter. Caste Whore Media is just appalled at the sight of a White Man playing a Black Man's Position.. Let's hope Heath can finish the Year strong with a few more picks.

Heath, like Chris Conte, had memorable plays against Aaron Rodgers. So personally I've always held them both with high regards.

 

[Johnny Tightlips]

Well this is as anti-white of an article as you are going to get...."Should the Cowboys Kick the Tires One More Time on Eric Berry?" If Eric Berry was really going to be an upgrade over Heath, you'd think he would have already been on the team, or a team for that matter. Pure nonsense, Jeff Heath has a PFF rating of 62.3 which falls in line with the "above average" radius. Also according to scout.com, he has been the 29th best DB in all of football in terms of fantasy points. This doesn't exactly spell a must replace now type scenario, but if you read the news, you'd think hes the worst player in football!
https://thelandryhat.com/2019/11/01/dallas-cowboys-eric-berry-kick-tires-more/

 

[Shadowlight]

Good grief. Eric Berry is two steps away from using a walker yet he is somehow preferable to Jeff Heath?
The hatred and extermination level is off the charts. Fans feeding local beat reporters and vice versa until it turns into a feeding frenzy with a distinct medieval taste. This is ugly stuff.

In fact if fans and those beat writers had once ounce of credibility they would be calling for the heads of virtually every black defensive back in the NFL. What a weird situation. We are in the midst of the worst black defensive back play probably in the history of the game yet the media and fans are targeting the few very good white DBs left. Reason doesn't enter into the equation. Heath is an excellent player and the Cowboys have been a better defense since he has started the past several years but it is obvious this screaming has little to do with his actual play and everything to do with him being white which is apparently a certifiable crime now.

The whole media has been obsessed with the Jamal Adams story. The NY media has discussed it non stop for an entire week describing how Adams has been disrespected by the Jets and for them having the gall to try and trade him to the Cowboys. Adams has been bitching like a mad housewife the entire time.

What about Heath? Shouldn't he feel disrespected? Why is he playing the Invisible Man? Simple. Remember when WR Cole Beasley voiced a few concerns last season? The Cowboys dumped him faster than you can say goodbye. Sheer hypocrisy.

The hate brigade will be out in full force today as it appears that Redskins safety Troy Apke is scheduled to start today due to an injury to a starter of course. Never mind since Apke has been in the lineup the past couple of games the Redskins defense has improved. Take the media hatred for Heath and triple it when it comes to Apke. The knives will be out and one minor mistake will likely force the Redskins to publicly execute Apke on the town square at dawn. Amidst a huge crowd of cheering blood lusty fans.

Just think. The Redskins beat writers and a lot of their fans would prefer for Apke to fail rather than have their team win with him starting. Priorities?

 

[icsept]

White defensive players must be All-Pro, or they’re destined to be replaced.

 

[Bucky]

White defensive players must be All-Pro, or they’re destined to be replaced.

Absolutely True.