Dashon Goldson and the free safety position

by Fooch on Apr 5, 2009 8:00 AM PDT in News Comment 12 comments

I was checking out Barrows blog yesterday and read something that struck me as at least a little bit interesting. He runs a weekly (or usually weekly) Q&A from emails readers have submitted. One question and answer jumped out at me this week:

Question: Matt, my question is more of a statement. I did some personal research and found that 31.2% of interceptions in the NFL last season came from safeties, with 4 of the 5 players with more than 5 INT's being safeties. Of the niner's 12 interceptions a big ZERO came from the safety position... Do you think that Dashon Goldson can actually get after the ball? Because I think that Alfonso Smith could come in and make a difference immediately. 21 interceptions in 4 seasons is impressive. Could he convert to safety? He'll definitely be there for us in the 2nd.
KC, Sacramento

Answer: I have no doubt in my mind that if Dashon Goldson stays healthy this season he will lead the 49ers in interceptions. But that's a big if. Goldson has not been able to stay on the field, not in college and not in the NFL despite playing a bit part the last two seasons. Can he put that behind him? Sometimes a player can do that. Look at Frank Gore. But most of the time, the injury bug sticks with a player throughout his career. (See: Woods, Rashaun; Jennings, Jonas).
- Matt

I realize it's hard/impossible to predict injuries, but I'm curious what people expect out of Goldson in terms of playing time this season. Barrows makes a good point about Gore. Gore really is an exception when it comes to overcoming a nasty injury history.

Dashon Goldson seems to have a wealth of talent, but it doesn't do anybody any good if he can't stay healthy. So will Goldson join Gore in overcoming the injuries? Or are we doomed to talking about how good he could've been if he'd just stayed healthy?

Poll

How many games will Dashon Goldson play in this season?

0-5

61 votes

6-10

181 votes

11-15

351 votes

16

143 votes

736 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

All the better reason

to have signed Sean Jones. Instead we’ll suffer an injury to our starting FS and lack the depth behind him. (cue debbie downer music)

I think Goldson will play in 10 games this season, and produce at a better level than Roman. However, when he goes down to injury, it will be hard for the team to overcome the injury because of having no replacement. Unless Reggie Smith’s tranformation to safety is overnight.

by Andrew Davidson on Apr 5, 2009 8:05 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Forget not Mark Roman and Jimmy Williams

Roman is still on the roster and is adequate as a back-up option and Jimmy Williams is on the roster. Even if Goldson gets hurt there is plenty of depth there.

Don't sweat it. I'm illiterate.

by methodrampage on Apr 6, 2009 9:49 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

The answer is

Rashad Johnson

http://www.49ersboard.blogspot.com

by supraman on Apr 5, 2009 9:17 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Well..

What if we don’t think Goldson is even good enough to be an average starting FS in the NFL? Forget the lack of INT’s, the guy has 3 passes defended in his career. He just doesn’t have the instincts to be a centerfielder and make an impact defensively.

The Niners need to be looking at a safety in the first 4 rounds of this year’s draft. I like William Moore from Missouri as a FS/SS, Darcel McBath from Texas Tech, and Rashad Johnson from Alabama in the 3rd/4th round. All of these guys are ballhawks who can provide competition for the starting job in the preseason and much needed depth during the season.

The best possible option IMO is trading down and getting a guy like Sean Smith from Utah who can play both CB and FS. I think having a physical press CB takes some of the pressure off the safeties.

Rays in '08.... Desmond Jennings - the breakout continues.....

by youALREADYknow on Apr 5, 2009 10:00 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I wouldn’t expect Goldson to be a major ball-hawk type. That’s just not his game. He never really got a lot of picks even in college. His calling card, and the reason Singletary likes him so much, is his physical play. He has good range and supports the run well, but he’s no ball-hawk. Hopefully he can develop that part of his game more. Goldson’s physicality is partly why he might be more injury prone. Similar to why John “Shakespeare” Keith’s career was so short…remember that guy?

i personally think Goldson’s best fit is as backup safety, who can play some corner and be a ST demon. I like Reggie Smith’s upside as the starting FS more.

by briandean on Apr 5, 2009 10:04 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

What is this based on?

Maiocco and Barrows consistently rave about Goldson’s ball skills, whereas Reggie Smith hasn’t played even really played in the Safety spot for the 49ers. Your argument could make sense if the team had been keeping Smith at CB because they were convinced that he had the cover skills but lacked the bulk to play FS. But it seems like Smith hasn’t really had enough run as a FS to anoint him to the FSotF—whereas Goldson has not only had practice time, but some legit game experience there.
I may be displaying my ignorance of Goldson’s college career here, but I am interested in what’s shaping your thinking in this case.

Throwback unis? Yes. Throwback afros? YES!

by grantmp on Apr 5, 2009 10:18 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well, I have nothing to go by except for college with Smith, since he didn’t really much action in SF last year. Don’t really know why they used Smith at CB at all, because to me he was purely a safety from the day he was drafted. Maybe it was a numbers thing in ‘08 where they needed a body at CB rather than S…I don’t know. Both players played CB and S in college, neither has an interception in the pros. Watching them play tells the whole story, but here are their college numbers that also bear that out. Got nothing against Goldson, he just isn’t a ball-hawk. Smith doesn’t have gaudy int numbers either.

Dashon Goldson:
Year……int
2004…….2
2005…….1
2006…….1

Reggie Smith:
Year……int
2005…….2
2006…….3
2007…….3

by briandean on Apr 6, 2009 2:01 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Goldson

Can very well turn out to be good at FS. A lot of the times injuries come from poor diets so maybe that was his problem, I’m praying. But in comparing our defense to the Steelers I’m looking for a SS ball hawk as well. V Davis maybe he has the coverage skills for more blitzing.

by rlott#42 on Apr 5, 2009 6:20 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Poor Goldson

Here’s my take on Goldson. Time to take up Real Estates classes. It is one of the more unfortunate realities of sport. Some of the most gifted in a sport, just can’t stay healthy. One of the main reasons is that in today’s NFL, Safeties are used to help in run support. Deshon in life is listed at 6’0", 200 lbs. Not a “shrimp” by any stretch. however, when you’re trying to stop Fullbacks and H-backs averaging 215-230 lbs,(at a dead run) well…..let’s just say the odds don’t favor our side. Most of the teams with great safeties that snag balls have a great front 7 that make QB’s throw too soon. SF doesn’t possess such a rush. So opposing QB’s have al day to decipher our defense.

K.C.Edwards -AKA- "THE" DarkkStarr

by DarkkStarr1 on Apr 5, 2009 9:07 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

con't:Poor Goldson

Another of our woes stems from a lack of being able to stop the run. I can’t tell you how many times I watched the Niners last year where the situation was 2nd or 3rd and 6-7 yds. In comes the back and he scampers for 8 yds before the first Gold helmet touches him. It seemed even when the front guys had the play dead to rights, they would immediately have a brain fart and off the back went.

Thus the Defensive dilemma, bring up the pass coverage to plug the run. Simple right? Oops…..the Offense calls play action and our ineffective secondary (which includes our multi-million dollar corner N. Clements) gets beaten deep, for loads of yards and even touchdowns. Add to the fact, even when our offense has the ball; due to a lack of consistancy, the defense has to trot right back out and try to stop the other team again. Call it the “Ravens Syndrome”. All these add up to the fact that as good as DG is, he is being put into an untenable situation where his body is sacrificed to the gods of ineptitude. No wonder he can’t stay healthy.

Needless to say, the Niners, need to claen house. Find an identity THAT WORKS, and stick with it. Coupled with making more moves in the offseason to acquire better talent and get rid off the dead weight that has hampered us for too long. This cry, from we; the fans, must get to the ears of the Front office moguls and make this change happen. This is the only way our proud franchise can again attain the mantle that we wear so well………… Champions. And further the careers of really talented players like Deshon Goldson.

K.C.Edwards -AKA- "THE" DarkkStarr

by DarkkStarr1 on Apr 5, 2009 9:24 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

If you have a FB on a FS

You’re defense is absolutely horrible.

Don't sweat it. I'm illiterate.

by methodrampage on Apr 6, 2009 9:51 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

nahh i wouldn’t put Goldson on Special teams. he is injury prone and special teams is just another part of the game where injuries occur. I would love to see Goldson as a back up safety and corner back who plays about 20-25 defensive plays a game. Thus minimizing his opportunity to get injured, but at the same time giving him enough experience and opportunities to make a big play (for the first time in his career).

by chris37 on Apr 6, 2009 1:11 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs