Dowling as starting safety talk -- anything behind it?

[drew4008]

I keep hearing people saying that Dowling is going to be our starting safety this year... is there actually anything to back this up? As far as I knew, he'd been injured most of training camp and then was just working at corner (and not in a starting role).

Has he been working at safety in camp/preseason? And with the one's at all? I'm pretty sure that he'd need an extensive amount of time working there in order to be ready to start in the first few weeks at a different position.

I just don't get where this is coming from, other than speculation, since the safety position looks awful thin on paper.

 

[Husse]

Mostly wishful thinking up until now, they don't see a clear-cut starter next to Chung and want Dowling to play S because he could fit in that role with his attributes and potential.

 

[JackBauer]

Who has been saying Dowling would be the starting safety?

 

[Deus Irae]

Some people have been projecting him as a safety from at least as far back as when he was drafted.

 

[TruthSeeker]

I believe Dowling played some safety in the Giants preseason game.

 

[signbabybrady]

I think this is coming from 2 places and none of them have to do with what is seen on the field. I could be wrong but just my opinion of where this starts.

1) He is big and so naturally during draft time that sort of thing is discussed as a possibitly for whichever team takes him.

2) because we did it with Eugene Wilson last time we dumped our second safety so close to the start of the season. I would imagine Wilson wasnt working much at safety that camp and had very little time to make the switch and it worked for him which means this must be the plan again.


Two valid reasons to discuss it as an option but certainly not enough to jump to conclusions with.

 

[Sciz]

He played safety in high school, so it's not completely foreign to him. I'd rather let him completely destroy WRs on the outside, though.

 

[Armchair Quarterback]

I think they might try Molden there.

 

[TheComeback]

My bet is on Brown as the starter. Dowling will play corner.

 

[JackBauer]

Some people have been projecting him as a safety from at least as far back as when he was drafted.

I'm aware of that.

I haven't seen many thinking he'll be a starting safety this year.

 

[Displaced - Fan]

I think they might try Molden there.

This was also my thought. He also has the size too.

 

[Deus Irae]

I'm aware of that.

I haven't seen many thinking he'll be a starting safety this year.

It seems to me that this team's injury history at CB would make keeping him there the smarter move, but it's been mentioned in more than one thread, so I was pointing it out.

 

[patriot lifer]

AndyJohnson in 3...2...1...




But seriously, if the kid is good, then they should be getting him out on the field however they can. If safety is a role they need and McCourty, Bodden, and Arrington are ahead of him on the depth chart at CB, then it might not hurt to throw him in there. The only issue is how much of a commitment is it to have him play safety. He's barely practiced so it might be too much to ask a player as young and green as he is to play another position.

It's worthy of some speculation. Chances are probably against it happening but it's just that, speculation.

 

[JackBauer]

It seems to me that this team's injury history at CB would make keeping him there the smarter move, but it's been mentioned in more than one thread, so I was pointing it out.

Fair enough. I would also say Dowling's injury history probably warrants it as well.... assuming one's body takes more punishment at safety than at cornerback.

 

[Mack Herron]

Safety is the QB of the defense. Unlikely to see a rookie there, never mind a rookie who played CB in college, has hardly practiced there or anywhere else in the NFL. Expect he will look at Brown and Barrett first.

 

[drew4008]

Safety is the QB of the defense. Unlikely to see a rookie there, never mind a rookie who played CB in college, has hardly practiced there or anywhere else in the NFL. Expect he will look at Brown and Barrett first.

Yeah that's what I mean... he's barely even been seeing practice time there (from all accounts). And I mean I'm sure his job as a CB is to know quite a bit about what the rest of the DBs should be doing at any given time as well, but there's a big jump from immersing yourself in the CB playbook to moving over to safety and having to know your duties (and quite thoroughly, if you want to be a starter).

 

[patsfan13]

Situation football rules he will initially be in sub packages where he can help the team in specific matchup's and situations.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

Anybody else think that RAF Dowling would be a great name?

 

[Ring 6]

Yeah that's what I mean... he's barely even been seeing practice time there (from all accounts). And I mean I'm sure his job as a CB is to know quite a bit about what the rest of the DBs should be doing at any given time as well, but there's a big jump from immersing yourself in the CB playbook to moving over to safety and having to know your duties (and quite thoroughly, if you want to be a starter).

Pretty much the exact same thing happened with Eugene Wilson at pretty much the same time. Dowling, arguably has more safety skills than Wilson.
It's certainly an option, but at this point nothing more than a wild guess that has some basis in past moves.

 

[Ring 6]

Situation football rules he will initially be in sub packages where he can help the team in specific matchup's and situations.

Unless one of the situations he helps the team in is 1st nd 10.