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2008 DRAFT ISSUE
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Safeties |
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Charted comments are mostly
drawn from NFL Draft Scouts.com narratives (shown in black) with
comments from additional sources shown in different colors. BRS =
Red Sporting
News War Room = Orange. USA Today =
Green. Surefire Scouting =
Purple. PFW =
Blue. |
|
The departure of Terence
Holt at safety represents addition by subtraction. With Francisco and Wilson
returning to health, we're set at starting safety. It looks as if Antrel
Rolle will complete the transition to free safety/nickel cover guy. Rolle
notwithstanding, the Cards could use someone more dynamic manning the
deep patrol at FS. If the right prospect was available at the right
value spot in the draft, the Cards could pull the trigger. Even Kenny
Phillips at #16 isn't out of the question though not likely. Keep an
eye on guys like DeCoud, Demps or Reggie Smith in the other rounds. |
|
Rk |
Name/School |
Ht |
Wt |
40 |
BP |
20 |
20 |
VJ |
BJ |
20S |
60S |
3C |
WU |
|
1 |
Kenny
Phillips*, Miami (FL) |
6-2
|
212 |
4.49 |
19 |
1.48 |
2.54 |
34 |
10-2 |
4.28 |
11.60 |
6.98 |
-- |
|
Pro Day - Posted a 34-inch vertical jump and ran position
drills. Satisfied with his combine numbers, he didn't take part in
those drills here.
BRS
(Gollin) - Clearly the top prospect at the safety position and
probably a Top 15 - 20 pick. Not as good as Ed Reed or the late Sean
Taylor but still darned good. Cards could use a centerfielder who's
also a secure tackler. Antrel Rolle may be the answer there, but it
wouldn't hurt to add quality depth and a potential starter to the
safety position. If Phillips were to be our selection at #16 (however
unlikely), we shouldn't be stunned
The
Sporting News War Room - Will start early in his NFL career and
make a ton of plays
Surefire
Scouting - Hands down, he is the top safety in the draft. Plays
with great confidence and has a high football IQ. Displays great range
and is physical in run support.
PFW -
Is not nearly the athlete nor does he possess the instincts and
physicality of Ed Reed or the late Sean Taylor. He is, however, a very
experienced three-year starter who should compete for a job early.
|
Physical |
Well-built athlete with very good muscle definition, long arms,
good bubble and thick thighs and calves...Has a tight abdomen,
broad shoulders and good chest thickness. |
|
Range |
Makes plays all over the field due to his above-average speed,
ball-reaction skills and size to come up and generate good pop
on contact when playing in the box...Has great range and
recovery quickness |
|
Speed |
Can cover a lot of ground chasing the ball in flight and has the
second gear to recover when he falls behind |
|
Quicks/COD |
as outstanding agility and balance closing on plays along the
perimeter...Flexible athlete with the feet and explosion to stay
stride-for-stride in man coverage, but is best when making plays
in the open field |
|
Cover Skills |
Has very nice short-area quickness to mirror the moves of
receivers and refuses to allow any underneath cushion...Very
comfortable working in the short area, doing a nice job of
preventing the hooks and crossing patterns from
developing...Efficient in man coverage, but is best when playing
in the zone, as he lets the receiver get right on top of him
when playing in one-on-one situations...sometimes gets turned
around some on receivers' head fakes |
|
Deep Protection |
Skilled deep coverage defender who has very quick feet and when
he stays low in his backpedal, he shows fluid motions turning
and running in transition...Turns his hips easily and gets his
head around quickly on deep routes |
|
Aggressiveness |
Might get a bit wild and reckless attacking the ball, but he
never slows down trying to close on the ballcarrier and is very
effective at impeding the runner's forward progress...Good team
player who sets the tempo for the defense with his aggressive
style of play...Very decisive covering underneath and when he
gets a good read on the quarterback, he can jump the play |
|
Ball Skills |
Decisive ball skills and though he eyeballs the backfield at
times...Anticipates the action, showing proper timing and
leaping ability tracking the ball in flight |
|
Tackling |
Has
good strength to make the tackle in the box...Solid wrap-up
tackler who shows good adjustment agility to break down and fit
in the open...Has the hip snap to explode behind his tackles
...Extremely active in run support, especially when he uses his
hands to play off blocks, as he is developing into an
exceptional force-and-strike type...shows good aggression in run
support, but does not always take proper angles...Very good
run-support tackler, but is not really in the playmaking class
of Sean Taylor and Ed Reed. |
|
Nose for Ball |
Reacts quickly in run support ...Decisive to diagnose,
accelerates quickly to run alleys and is very instinctive
closing on the ball...not the type that will get suckered out of
position easily...Makes quick decisions, showing very good route
recognition and feel staying with the receiver on long
routes...Quick to react and come downhill |
|
Blitz Skills |
Disruptive blitzer who gets aggressive when flushing the
quarterback out of the pocket and shows consistency when
closing...Must show better avoidance skills as a blitzer |
|
Shedding Blockers |
Has
a punishing hand punch, using his arms properly to keep blockers
off his feet...has problems at times disengaging when he fails
to extend his arms properly to keep blockers off his chest |
|
Smarts |
Settles in nicely dropping off in the zone, handling the
switch-off with ease |
|
Intangibles |
Plays special teams and gives total effort until the
whistle...Self-starter type that pushes others in the training
room...Will compete throughout the play |
|
Resembles |
Sean Taylor |
|
|
Rk |
Name/School |
Ht |
Wt |
40 |
BP |
20 |
20 |
VJ |
BJ |
20S |
60S |
3C |
WU |
|
2 |
Tyrell
Johnson, Arkansas St., FS |
5-11
|
202 |
4.40 |
27 |
1.48 |
2.54 |
39 |
10-4 |
4.42 |
-- |
7.16 |
-- |
|
BRS
(Gollin) - More of a SS thumper than center fielder, but does have
4.40 speed.
The
Sporting News War Room - Fits best on a team that needs a run
stuffing safety and is projected as a backup.
Surefire
Scouting - Intelligent, hard working in-the-box safety who is a
force against the run. To break into a starting role at the next
level, Johnson will need to continue improving his skills as a pass
defender.
PFW -
Relatively unknown talent who jumps out on film. Has very good size,
functional speed and is a terrific tackler. Looked like a superstar
vs. Texas making plays all over the field.
|
Physical |
Has a muscular, cut up upper and lower body physique with good
arm length, large hands, lean waist, muscular legs and room on
his frame to add more bulk without it affecting his overall
timed speed |
|
Range |
Has the athletic agility to run laterally and clear trash to
make tackles along the sidelines |
|
Speed |
Has good top end speed to close on plays in front... |
|
Quicks/COD |
Despite his quickness, he struggles at times to get a clean
break out of his backpedal...Has the agility, balance and
acceleration to close on plays in front of him...Too choppy in
his backpedal, taking false steps in transition and shows some
hip tightness on his breaks |
|
Cover Skills |
Has
marginal man coverage skills...Struggles
to flip his hips and get back on the route in man
coverage...Smooth in his pass drops, but must open his hips
quicker when turning...will usually catch any ball that he gets
his hands on...Can pluck and extend for the ball away from his
frame and has very good balance and in-stride moves to
accelerate past the opponent on his interception returns. |
|
Deep Protection |
Does not have the second gear to recover when a receiver gets
behind him...Appears more comfortable playing vs. the ball
downhill than covering the man on deep routes |
|
Aggressiveness |
Has outstanding awareness, leaping ability and timing to high
point the ball, come down with the interception and then elude
opponents for a big return...Plays with reckless abandon, but
considering he lacks great redirection or plant-and-drive
skills, when he over-pursues he is taken out of the pla |
|
Ball Skills |
When he sees the ball in flight, he gets a quick break on it to
get under and make the interception |
|
Tackling |
Strong tackler who comes to balance well, when he doesn't duck
his head before delivering the hit....Has the size and strength
to dominate vs. the outside run, but must improve his
wrap-tackle technique...Impact tackler who knows how to attack
the ballcarrier's outside leg to stop forward progress...ets a
handful of forced fumbles with his ability to collide, stun and
wrap up ballcarriers with good explosion behind his hits |
|
Nose for Ball |
Frequently around the ball...Not as quick as you would like
reading and reacting to the play, but will show good urgency to
close once he locates the ball |
|
Blitz Skills |
Would like to see him blitz more often...Not used as a blitzer,
but will come up and support along the line vs. the run |
|
Shedding Blockers |
Comes up with key plays in the clutch and has a knack for
slipping blocks and making plays in the box... His weight room
strength does not always translate to the field, as he struggles
to shed, especially after leaving his body exposed for bigger
blockers to latch on and control him |
|
Smarts |
Quick
to handle the short area switch-off and keeps good relationship
with tight ends and backs in the underneath passing game...Needs
to make better decisions working in space |
|
Intangibles |
The most productive player on the team's defense, as offenses
need to game plan for him...Plays hard every down and takes care
of business on and off the field...Will play hurt and is very
accountable...doesn't have that strong safety mentality...Might
be a better fit at free safety, where he can roam the field and
attack the ball. |
|
Resembles |
Antoine Bethea |
|
|
Rk |
Name/School |
Ht |
Wt |
40 |
BP |
20 |
20 |
VJ |
BJ |
20S |
60S |
3C |
WU |
|
3 |
Thomas
DeCloud, California FS |
6-1
|
204 |
4.52 |
9 |
1.53 |
2.58 |
34
|
10-3 |
4.28 |
-- |
6.85 |
-- |
|
Pro Day
- Had a 34½-inch vertical jump, 10-foot, 3-inch long jump, 9 reps in
the bench press, ran position drills and kept all his other numbers
from the combine
Senior Bowl: DeCoud
covered receivers effectively in man-to-man coverage, which showed a
lot of people that he has the hips, foot quickness and coverage skills
to be a versatile safety.
BRS
(Gollin) - A playmaker who's a deluxe hitter, but also can cover.
He he lasts til #50, he'd be an intriguing pickup.
The
Sporting News War Room - Scouts can be fooled about DeCoud unless
they spend more time in the film room. Will need time and coaching to
reach his potential but with dedication, could become a versatile
starter.
Surefire Scouting - Former CB. Blocked 6 kicks at Cal. Lacks ball
skills (one career pick). Shows fluid hips and natural pass coverage
skills, but at this point must be considered a one-dimensional
run-stopper. But he does have the quickness and athletic ability to
improve as a pass defender.
PFW
- Could be best in the box because of his toughness and physical
play supporting the run; but can run, cover and tackle in space well
enough to play deep.
|
Physical |
Has the thick frame you look for in a safety, but he shows lean
muscle tone and an athletic build and, while he is high-cut, he
has long limbs, using his reach effectively to block kicks...Is
tough and durable, but minor injuries have set back his
progress...Must bulk up to play at the next level (he dropped
eight pounds from the end of the season before arriving at the
Senior Bowl) |
|
Range |
Has the speed to make plays off the hash, but has just adequate
range,...Has very good range and closing speed vs. running
plays, but he needs to make more plays on the ball in flight |
|
Speed |
Flashes good closing speed...n. |
|
Quicks/COD |
Not
really a sudden mover...too tall in his backpedal to generate an
explosive break...Has good timed speed, but fails to close in a
hurry and must develop a second gear to get back on the receiver |
|
Cover Skills |
Has good hand placement to press or mirror the receiver, as he
keeps his feet well coming out of his backpedal (is high in his
stance, but has the ability to recover)...Has enough flexibility
to get more than a few snaps at cornerback, but could be more
disciplined in transition.. |
|
Deep Protection |
No info |
|
Aggressiveness |
Comes up fast from the secondary to fill gaps in run support,
keeping his hands active and striking with force to defeat
blocks |
|
Ball Skills |
Has a smooth running stride and shows the body control and
hand-eye coordination to track the ball in flight (needs to time
his leaps better on jump balls)...Has very good leaping ability
to block kicks, but his timing appears off when trying to
compete for jump balls |
|
Tackling |
Not a blow-up type of tackler, but he has enough explosion on
contact to get the ballcarrier down...Face-up type of tackler
who does a good job of attacking the runner's outside leg....it
is rare to see him miss when he gets into position to make the
play...Will not hesitate to sacrifice his body in attempts to
fill and come up to support vs. the run...Is a good
contact-seeker with the functional strength to drive the
ballcarrier to the ground |
|
Nose for Ball |
Quick to find the ball vs. plays in front of him, but will bite
on play-action and get out of position when he is caught peeking
into the backfield...will generally read indicators well...lays
much better vs. the run than he does in zone coverage, as he
will often bite on play-action |
|
Blitz Skills |
No info |
|
Shedding Blockers |
Has good leg drive to push the lead blocker back into rush
lanes... |
|
Smarts |
Very mature player whose intelligence and grasp of the playbook
allow him to shift to any position in the secondary during game
action (shifted to cornerback to handle a big receiver)...Has a
good concept for taking angles |
|
Intangibles |
Hard worker and leader by example type...Has a good grasp of the
playbook and does a good job of recognizing schemes and making
the calls in the secondary |
|
Resembles |
Reggie Nelson. |
|
|
Rk |
Name/School |
Ht |
Wt |
40 |
BP |
20 |
20 |
VJ |
BJ |
20S |
60S |
3C |
WU |
|
4 |
Tom Zbikowski, Notre Dame |
5-11 |
211 |
4.45 |
25 |
1.50 |
2.56 |
32
|
9-1 |
4.04 |
-- |
6.78 |
-- |
|
Pro Day
- Had a 32 ½-inch vertical jump, 9-foot, 1-inch long jump, 4.04 short
shuttle, 6.78 cone drill. He ran position drills and kept the rest of
his numbers from the combine.
BRS
(Gollin) - We don't need another starting SS, but we could use a
little depth there, and Zbikowski really fits the mold - runs a 4.45
too. Worth a 3rd - 5th round pick if other priorities don't need
addressing.
The
Sporting News War Room - Well built and aggressive but does
not always play under control and must improve his tackling to be
trusted.
Surefire
Scouting - Tough blue collar type player with above average
athletic ability. He brings added value as a punt returner and special
teams player. In time he should work his way into a starting lineup.
PFW -
Has hardened toughness that will resonate with some old-school
coaches. Does not have the athleticism desired on the back half but
could be functional in the box.
|
Physical |
Has a lean but muscular frame with good shoulder width, thick
chest, tight midsection, muscular arms and thick thighs and
calves |
|
Range |
Gets a little too reckless in pursuit, but when he plays at an
even tempo, he is good to sniff out plays along the
sideline...Has adequate range to the sideline (poor when making
backside plays), but gives good effort in pursuit... |
|
Speed |
Has just adequate speed and is a liability covering in the deep
third of the secondary |
|
Quicks/COD |
Looks slower than timed speed indicates, especially when he has
to turn, come out of his backpedal and trail the receivers on
long routes...gets his feet caught from under him trying to come
out of his backpedal, showing too much hip stiffness to maintain
mirror on the receiver, as he will generally lose a step or two
in transition...Gets taken out of his backpedal too early when
he bites on running plays rather than stay on his zone
assignment...Has a noticeable hitch and hesitation when he has
to turn sharply. |
|
Cover Skills |
Best when covering tight ends and backs in the short area...
|
|
Deep Protection |
Too tight in his hips to be relied upon covering on deep
routes...will struggle to shadow and trail speedy receivers on
long patterns... liability playing in the deep zone (too stiff
and lacks a burst out of his turns on long routes)...Does not
have the acceleration to recover when receivers get behind
him..... |
|
Aggressiveness |
Gets a good break on the ball in front of him once he locates
it...When he sees the play develop, he is quick to come up and
plug gaps in run support...Closes with good urgency, but does
take bad angles in pursuit, making him late to the ball |
|
Ball Skills |
Has good hands, but fails to show the leaping ability or timing
to get to the throws at their high point (just eight pass
deflections in 48 games)...Struggles to get his body turned and
look the ball in when trying to compete for jump balls... |
|
Tackling |
Good contact seeker who hits with good pop on contact, but is
more of a collision-type that needs to improve his wrap-up
technique...Tries to come up with the big play rather than
playing in containment. |
|
Nose for Ball |
Lacks ideal field instincts, as he often bites on play-action,
pump fakes and misdirection |
|
Blitz Skills |
A marginal blitzer who is too slow in his pursuit to generate
backside pressure |
|
Shedding Blockers |
Has enough agility to get around slower blockers (will get
absorbed if he tries to overpower them) in run force...Will get
engulfed by bigger blockers, as he does not do a good job of
using his hands to protect his body, especially from low
blocks...offensive linemen have good success attacking his body |
|
Smarts |
Plays smart in the short third of the field...Has a good feel
for QB indicators and ball flow when he plays within the team
concept...tries to make a big splash too often and gets burned |
|
Intangibles |
Plays with a good motor, showing good urgency closing on the
ball...Hard worker in the training room and takes well to hard
coaching |
|
Resembles |
Adam Archuleta |
|
|
Rk |
Name/School |
Ht |
Wt |
40 |
BP |
20 |
20 |
VJ |
BJ |
20S |
60S |
3C |
WU |
|
5 |
DaJuan Morgan*, NC State FS |
6-0
|
203 |
4.57 |
21 |
1.55 |
2.63 |
37
|
10-0 |
4.42 |
-- |
7.13 |
-- |
|
Pro Day
- Had a 37 1/2-inch vertical jump, 10-foot long jump, ran position
workout and kept combine numbers.
BRS
(Gollin) - Not real fast and not all that good in coverage. Unless
we can draft someone who can start right away or maybe with a year's
worth of seasoning, they're not worth expending a draft pick. Morgan
doesn't fit that description.
The
Sporting News War Room -Fits the new profile of being
interchangeable in the strong and free safety roles.
Surefire
Scouting - Possesses good size and speed but will need to improve
his coverage skills to compete for a starting role.
PFW -
Has the size/speed ratio, athleticism, toughness and upside to earn a
starting job.
|
Physical |
Has a lean frame with good body structure, long limbs, solid
thighs and calves and room to carry at least another 15 pounds
of bulk |
|
Range |
Shows functional range in the short area of the zone... |
|
Speed |
Has
enough foot speed to chase down plays in front of him |
|
Quicks/COD |
Has adequate quickness and balance closing on plays in front of
him...Long strider who might be slow-footed coming out of his
backpedal, but does a good job of keeping the action in front of
him....ong strider, but has a solid short-area burst...Has good
timed speed, but looks sluggish in his turn and recovery burst
coming out of his backpedal...does not show the loose hips or
suddenness to change direction and get back on the receiver when
the opponent gets behind him |
|
Cover Skills |
Uses his leaping ability and long arms efficiently to reach
around and deflect the pass away from the receiver...etter
playing vs. the ball in the zone than in man coverage (marginal
hip snap) |
|
Deep Protection |
No info |
|
Aggressiveness |
When he gets physical on the field, he has the ability to
dominate (when he gets soft, he plays poorly)...Needs to show
more urgency closing on running plays along the perimeter |
|
Ball Skills |
Springs into his hits and shows good balance and body control
combating for the ball in a crowd... |
|
Tackling |
More of a collision-type tackler than one who will wrap up with
consistency, but has the hand strength to contain the
ballcarrier until help arrives...Gets too confident in his
athletic ability to make the play and will revert to diving or
taking a side rather than facing up to wrap and secure as a
tackler...High tackler in the open, but is a low striker in the
alley |
|
Nose for Ball |
Prone
to biting on play-action |
|
Blitz Skills |
Needs to time his leaps and extend for the ball at its high
point better and while he has made six interceptions in his
career, he lacks natural hands and traps the ball too often. |
|
Shedding Blockers |
When he stays low in his pads, he has good success slipping past
blocks...gets washed out often by bigger blockers, as he tends
to get too high in his stance, leaving his chest exposed for the
opponent to lock on, jerk and pull him to the ground |
|
Smarts |
Handles the switch-off well in the zone...Does a good job
reacting to screens |
|
Intangibles |
Versatile athlete who has experience at rover, free and strong
safet, but never the same for an entire season...Needs to mature
on the field, as he can be taken out of his element after a bad
play and does too much talking without backing up his boasts
(seems enamored by his athletic ability and is too outspoken,
drawing a fair amount of penalties for unsportsmanlike
play)...Plays too much with reckless abandon and gambles more
often than he should. |
|
Resembles |
Brodney Pool |
|
|
Rk |
Name/School |
Ht |
Wt |
40 |
BP |
20 |
20 |
VJ |
BJ |
20S |
60S |
3C |
WU |
|
6 |
Quintin
Demps, UTEP FS |
5-11
|
207 |
4.41 |
17 |
1.52 |
2.55 |
32 |
9-1 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
|
Pro Day
- Had a 34 ½-inch vertical jump, 9-foot long jump, 4.14 short shuttle,
6.90 cone drill, ran position drills and kept everything else from the
combine.
BRS
(Gollin) - More of a center-fielding FS except for one thing: His
tackling is suspect so forget about it.
The
Sporting News War Room - Has the talent to become a good starting
safety if he becomes consistently aggressive.
Surefire
Scouting - Instinctive ballhawking safety who does not play with
great speed. Relies too heavily on instincts and will give up some big
plays in order to make big plays. His skill set is best suited for
zone coverage.
PFW -
A pure free safety with intriguing ball skills and solid instincts.
However his ability to tackle is very suspect and could keep him from
ever earning a starting job in the pros.
|
Physical |
NNeeds
to add more bulk, but his frame can carry the additional weight
without having it affect his timed speed...His frame is built
more in the lines of a cornerback - lean with adequate playing
strength |
|
Range |
Best as a downhill player, as he does not show suddenness or
great range to chase down ballcarriers in long pursuit....While
he has great timed speed, it fails to translate to the football
field |
|
Speed |
Has very good timed speed |
|
Quicks/COD |
Lacks ideal recovery ability, as he dies not show the second
gear to recover when beaten...Shows
the change of direction to get to the ball in time playing in
space...Stays low in his backpedal and is smooth to turn coming
out of his breaks...Keeps the action in front of him well when
playing in the zone as he shows the body control and leaping
ability to disrupt the pass before it gets to the target (has 17
interceptions and 24 pass break-ups in 47 games) |
|
Cover Skills |
Best when playing in the centerfield area, as he is much better
closing on plays in front of him than chasing the ball from
behind...Can match up and cover tight ends, running backs or
wide receivers when working underneath. |
|
Deep Protection |
Has enough lateral movement to play in the short area, but needs
to stay tighter on the receiver in deep routes, as he struggles
to trail once his man gets behind him |
|
Aggressiveness |
Plays with better urgency attacking the ball than the man...His
loose hips allow him to close on the ball in a hurry vs. plays
in front of him...Flies to the ball in a hurry when he locates
it...Very good at getting his hand into the ballcarrier in
attempts to dislodge the ball from his opponent (four forced
fumbles and five fumble recoveries during his career)...Some
teams are eyeing him as a cornerback, but in his final six games
there, he played the man too cautiously |
|
Ball Skills |
Has natural hands and ball skills, timing his leaps and
elevating well to consistently get to the ball at its high
point...Has the soft hands, good ball skills and timing to
compete for jump balls and won't hesitate to go vertical for the
pass in a crowd. |
|
Tackling |
More of an ankle biter as a tackler...Despite being a low
striker, he shows good body control when tackling (needs to face
up and wrap better, though)...Has limited run support skills, as
he shies away from lead blockers |
|
Nose for Ball |
Won't bite on pump fakes or play-action, doing a nice job of
reading the quarterback before jumping the route (plays in
control and won't gamble) |
|
Blitz Skills |
No info |
|
Shedding Blockers |
No info |
|
Smarts |
Has good eyes and above average route awareness, making quick
reads to get a jump on the ball...has a good feel for the
route's progression...His ability to anticipate the pass and
read the quarterback generally has him in the right position to
make plays on the ball in flight |
|
Intangibles |
Plays until the whistle...Has improved his work ethic, but
needed to be pushed by the staff during his first two
seasons...Has adequate academic ability and will need more than
a few reps to digest the playbook |
|
Resembles |
OJ Atogwe |
|
|
Rk |
Name/School |
Ht |
Wt |
40 |
BP |
20 |
20 |
VJ |
BJ |
20S |
60S |
3C |
WU |
|
7 |
Simeon
Castille, Alabama FS |
6-0
|
193 |
4.58 |
8 |
1.58 |
2.66 |
36 |
9-10 |
4.37 |
-- |
7.06 |
-- |
|
Pro Day
- Ran the 40 in 4.56 and 4.58, had a 36-inch vertical jump, 9-foot,
10-inch long jump, 8 reps in the bench press, kept his numbers from
the combine for everything else but did not run position drills. Note
-- his dad played five seasons in the NFL
BRS
(Gollin) - Former CB who doesn't possess lights-out speed. Doesn't
fit the job description.
The
Sporting News War Room - His mental toughness, aggressiveness and
willingness to be physical in coverage and run support are impressive
Surefire
Scouting - A durable, productive player who relies on his
instincts to make plays. His lack of speed and explosiveness will
force him to move to safety where he should continue to be productive.
PFW -
A good-sized physical zone corner who lacks the long speed
desired to carry receivers vertically and may be limited to being
strictly a nickel defender early in his career. He will need to make
considerable strength gains before he can throw his body around (as a
safety).
|
Physical |
Has a tall, linear and athletic build, with long limbs,
well-developed muscles, good chest thickness and minimal body
fat... Bit high-cut and despite showing loose hips |
|
Range |
No info |
|
Speed |
He has just adequate foot speed to cover the ball when it is in
the air, but does a good job of stepping in front of the ball to
knock it down |
|
Quicks/COD |
Lacks
suddenness to recover when beaten...Not the type that can
suddenly close on the play, but when he stays in control, he is
capable of taking on receivers in the short-to-intermediate
passing lanes...Not explosive in his breaks, but is fluid
enough...not a quick-twitch athlete who will come up and
surprise a receiver or blocker...Even with his loose hips, he
gets too tall and stiff in transition and needs to gather some
before changing direction, losing mirror on the receiver in the
process |
|
Cover Skills |
Does
not have the sudden burst to close in a hurry |
|
Deep Protection |
He fails to generate the explosive burst needed to stay with the
receivers in deep coverag |
|
Aggressiveness |
Stays tight with the receivers in short areas, turning and
coming out of his backpedal smoothly...Gives good effort and,
while you can't call his play aggressive or his hits punishing,
he will challenge receivers in coverage and shows a willingness
to assist in run support |
|
Ball Skills |
Has the leaping ability and arm to adjust to make plays on balls
outside of his frame, but needs to do it with more
consistency...Not a natural hands catcher and several of his
pass deflections could have been interceptions if he would have
only extending for the ball outside his fram |
|
Tackling |
Looks like Tarzan, but he fails to generate much pop on contact
and will sometimes revert to taking a side rather than wrap
tackling...Functional
tackler who can get guys on the ground, both inside and
outside...Throws his body at ballcarriers...Lacks strength to be
an explosive hitter, but will collide with the slot receivers to
break up the play...Not the type that will hang around the
fringes in run support, as he shows willingness to stick his hat
into the action...Adequate open-field tackler, but not one that
will blow up a ballcarrier. |
|
Nose for Ball |
Is
best when making plays in front of him, as he is quick to locate
the ball on the move...Has a good feel for the ball, but is
better diagnosing vs. underneath stuff than in the deep
secondary (gets locked on the QB too often when playing
deep)...Quick to diagnose running plays |
|
Blitz Skills |
Decent
edge rushing skills to avoid a bigger blocker and pressure the
pocket. |
|
Shedding Blockers |
Susceptible to cut blocks, as he doesn't use his hands
consistently in attempts to ward off the blocker...Does not use
his weight-room strength much in his hand placement to play off
blocks |
|
Smarts |
Instinctive player with good awareness and feel for the
game...Has an instinctive feel for route progression, but might
be a better fit at free safety...Has good awareness and feel in
pass coverage, possessing the route recognition and anticipation
to make plays on the ball |
|
Intangibles |
He
likes to freelance too much and this leads to problems, as he
gets reckless in his pursuit and lacks the second gear to
recover when receivers get behind him...Does go through
stretches of concentration lapses on the field, especially when
he eyeballs the quarterback too long...struggles in the
classroom from a lack of effort |
|
Resembles |
Tanard Jackson |
|
|
Rk |
Name/School |
Ht |
Wt |
40 |
BP |
20 |
20 |
VJ |
BJ |
20S |
60S |
3C |
WU |
|
8 |
Jamie Silva, Boston Coll. |
5-11
|
211 |
4.79 |
-- |
1.58 |
2.71 |
32 |
| |