Quote:
Originally Posted by CRedskinsRule
i know it's a qb thread, but what college safeties are out there? Still want that to be our first round pick, assuming we end up in the 6 - 16 grouping.
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As I’m deliberately avoiding the ’Colt McCoy to start against Indy’ thread, I figured I’d stop by this one instead.
It’s an underwhelming draft for safeties tbh. Collins looks the top prospect right now, but like Earthquake says you could be in trouble if you’re overly reliant on him in coverage. That said, he has fantastic athleticism and
can play back there, it’s just not as natural as allowing him to play closer to the LOS. It all depends on if Haslett goes I guess. He likes his safeties to be interchangeable after all, but in a league where true ball-hawks with the range and speed of say Earl Thomas are difference makers, it’d be preferable to maybe look for someone in that mould.
One such player could be Gerod Holliman out of Louisville. 13 interceptions this year and he’s being compared to Ed Reed due to his off the charts instincts and closing speed. Some of his picks have to be seen to be believed as it’s just a pure feel for the game as opposed to a gamblers mentality. Real nice size for the position too at 6’1 & 206lbs. However, the big concern for me is that he looks an absolute liability when tackling. I’ve seen guys get a first down out of him when they have absolutely no right to, and from what I see it’s a combination of awful technique and dare I say it, reluctance of contact. Now, he did have a shoulder injury not so long ago, so maybe he’s mindful of that but you’d have to feel absolutely sure his shortcomings are correctable before taking him high. Again though, there is so much to like about his game.
Personally speaking then, I like Derron Smith from Fresno. He’s got the measurements of Earl Thomas at 5’11 & 197 (should note btw I'm not expecting another version of him at all), and likes to hit. He also has 14 interceptions throughout his career (7 of which were last year I believe) and as much as our own Phillip Thomas put up similar numbers himself, Smith just looks more of a natural free safety. He’s been moved up closer to the LOS this season due to necessity, and from what I understand has been one of the few bright spots on their D, which is always a nice versatility and willingness to see coming out of college. His stats being down may also work in our favour as someone who could be has in the late 2nd or early 3rd, pre-combine of course.
Didn’t John Keim say the other day though that he imagines they’ll look to FA for safety help? If so then I’m still on board for a hard-nosed interior lineman like Brandon Scherff (no way he stays at tackle IMO) to further bolster the offensive line. I also wouldn’t be against a trade down either if possible as for me, there are no JJ Watt type prospects who you could look back on with regret for missing out on. Plenty of very, very good talent, but nothing elite from what I can see, at least not where we’ll likely end up picking (Winston and Mariota will likely be gone tbh). A lot could change however. Oh, and as for Brett Hundley, if you thought RG3 has flaws going through progressions and staring down receivers, then this guy will take you to the fair!......and not in a good way!