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Strong Safties in the 2007 Draft

this is a discussion within the Saints Community Forum; 1. Eric Weddle - 6-0, 200, 4.48, Utah (SS/CB) A playmaker at both safety and cornerback, he was also used on the offensive side of the ball and on special teams. He plays the game with great intensity and excellent ...

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Old 04-23-2007, 11:46 AM   #1
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Strong Safties in the 2007 Draft

1. Eric Weddle - 6-0, 200, 4.48, Utah (SS/CB)

A playmaker at both safety and cornerback, he was also used on the offensive side of the ball and on special teams. He plays the game with great intensity and excellent natural instincts; always seems to be around the ball; and has a knack for breaking up passes at the last minute. He's very intelligent, can read the quarterback's eyes and then react without getting caught on his heels. Has great instincts. A playmaker with excellent ball skills. He allows a few catches in front of him, but is strong enough to wrap players up in the open field. Tough, aggressive and a good tackler. Versatile with experience at both safety and cornerback with the potential to play either position at the pro level. Will be a great special teamer and also returned punts for the Utes. Smart and a hard worker with a great motor
A high character player who will be an asset on and off the field.

A CB / S 'tweener who might not have a true position. As a safety he won't be a great fit in coverage or in the box. An overachiever who gets the most out of his ability but isn't particularly big or fast. In one-on-one coverage he is a little tight in the hips and would fare better in a zone coverage scheme if asked to play cornerback. He could do very well if put in the middle of the field, but might need to get a little stronger in order to make an impact as a tackler. Probably won't contribute as a return man in the pros.

This guy really does not have a position, he can play safety, cornerback, or even quarterback. He is an athlete, plain and simple. He is just a player who loves to play. He will be the guy who wants to play on special teams. He had an unbelievable 18 interceptions in his career. This guy is just flat out exciting to watch. He is the type of guy who finds a way to make a play during the game to help his team win – a trait that is too rare to pass up.

2. Aaron Rouse - 6040, 223, 4.53, Virginia Tech (SS/LB)

Began his career as a linebacker and only moved to the secondary in 2005 and is pound -for-pound, one of the best in the draft. He is a combination safety/linebacker who has played more of a “Rover" position in college. Has great size and a very solid build. Physical and does a great job in the box versus the run. His range is adequate and he is able to make plays sideline-to-sideline. Decent tackler with a burst who can really close in a hurry. In coverage he is athletic, has good hands and is a good leaper. Nasty and an intimidator who plays with an attitude. Versatile and is still improving. A lot of potential.

Raw and is still learning a new position, a safety / linebacker 'tweener who may not have a true pro position. Does not play as fast as he times and is not exceedingly quick. He is more of a straight-line speed guy that can jump out of the building, but is not a great wrap-up tackler. Change of direction skills and agility are lacking. He gets too upright in his back pedal and can get caught flat-footed at times in coverage. Just too stiff-hipped and not a great run defender for his size.Is not very instinctive in coverage and doesn't have very good ball skills. Has trouble controlling his emotions. He is a better athlete than instinctive football player, which is too bad because he is a great kid with very good intangibles off the field

He bounced around and was never able to master a single position. Could project to either strong safety or outside linebacker in the pros depending on the scheme of the team that picks him. He just might end up being a classic workout warrior who amazes scouts with his triangle numbers in the months leading up to the draft and sees his stock soar. Extremely intriguing prospect to say the least.


3. Sabby Piscitelli - 6026, 224, 4.43, Oregon St (SS/LB)

Sabby is a very big, athletic safety that has good smarts and preparation for the game. Solid speed and range that will allow him to hold his own in short to intermediate coverage for the most part. Great instincts. Good hands and ball skills. He is very intelligent and knows how to use good angles to his advantage and can play off the hash with good leverage. Aggressive and plays with a nasty attitude. Is very smart with a nice motor and top intangibles. Tons of experience.

He is a height/weight/speed guy with nice potential and good production over his college career but he is not ready to start as a pro. A 'tweener who lacks the ability to play safety and is not big enough to be a linebacker. His speed is more straight line and he can break down poorly in the open field when asked to redirect to make a stop. He struggles much more in the deep routes, showing marginal ability to track and make a play on the pass. In pass coverage, he has tight hips that limit in man coverage and he has succeeded more in zone responsibilities than man situations. He is not very physical and will struggles to disengage from blocks. He plays more of a finesse game and for a guy of his dimensions that is not what is expected. Only an average tackler.


Could be looked at as a potential outside linebacker prospect by some teams. He has the makeup to be one of the better special teams defenders this year and could be a top-rated gunner. He could compete for the nickel backer role early and could see time there as a rookie. Certainly has the physical tools you look for but does not play to them and may be a bit overrated.

Former Oregon State safety Sabby Piscitelli was the only prospect to run a sub 4.0 in the short shuttle (20 yard shuttle) at the most recent N.F.L. Combine,

4. Michael Johnson - 6026,207, 4.53 Arizona

Michael Johnson is a nice looking safety prospect with a lot of upside. He is a big athlete with a strong frame and long arms plus good speed and coverage skills. He is a solid all around safety, with the ability to make plays all over the field. That will allow him to play either safety spot. A playmaker with good hands, instincts, ball skills and a nose for the ball. Johnson displays good awareness, especially in zone coverage. He breaks nicely on the ball with the leaping ability and the reach to make plays in the deep game. Tough and physical. Reads and reacts well. Solid in run support and is willing to attack the line of scrimmage. He has the fine range needed to cover the field and shows nice agility and is a good tackler. Strong with a good motor. He has the frame to carry additional weight, resulting in his projection as a strong safety. Still improving and has a lot of upside.

Johnson is still a work in progress. Only two years of experience against top competition. He doesn’t always impact the game the way his talent says he should. He needs to be more consistent on a down to down basis, and become more disciplined on the field. Makes too many mental mistakes. He is too aggressive at times and takes himself out of plays. Will miss some tackles. Does not have great timed speed. He lacks the suddenness in his explosion and fills the hole like a linebacker. He is not ready to be a tough, in-the-box safety as he lacks strong hitting skills, good hand technique and has suspect tackling skills. A little inconsistent and doesn't always play up to his talent. Has some trouble disengaging from blocks. He is also on the lean side, and could use a few more pounds. Johnson has questionable recovery speed for the next level and needs the zone scheme to utilize his fine athleticism. Has some minor durability concerns

He has the size/speed ratio to be an ideal specimen for either pro safety spot. Johnson is a good athlete who will continue to improve. Fine special teams skills will help him win a starting gunner spot. Johnson is a probable NFL starter in time. Nice late first-day pick, but must make improvementsAn all-around player whose stock is on the rise and definitely has starting potential in the pros.

5. Eric Frampton - 5110, 205, 4.53, Washington State

Frampton lacks the prototype measureables, but he proved to be a consistent playmaker at Washington State. Real tough and plays the game with a nasty demeanor. Aggressive hitter who flies to the line of scrimmage to get involved. He loves to hit. Plays as an in-the-box strong safety. Improved his route recognition and breaking on the ball. Legitimate big-play artist. Playmaker with a knack for making things happen. Has a great motor. Instinctive. Versatile. A hard worker. Great special teams potential.
Lacks the prototypical size for an in-the-box safety. Led team in tackles, but is more of a hitter than a tackler. Sometimes goes for the knockout blow and whiffs, allowing the runner to gain extra yardage. Frampton lacks the footwork and pure speed for coverage. He does not have a lot of range and his hips are not fluid. Too aggressive at times and will bite on double-moves. Not very quick and lacks a burst. Can be a liability in coverage. His upside may be limited.

A good football player who just doesn't have the ideal physical tools and measurables...In-the-box type. Should be a nice backup and special teamer. He'll need to smooth out some rough edges at the next level, but he has uncoachable instincts and ability to make big plays.

"He's gotten a lot more physical," Cougars coach Bill Doba said in a phone interview. "Sweet kid, but he's a headhunter, a tough kid, and the pro scouts say that, too." Frampton will be tested in the 40-yard dash today. "He's bigger, faster and stronger than Coleman," WSU defensive backs coach Ken Greene said in a phone interview. "He could be a dominant player in a few years." - Chris Sprow, Seattle Times. Perhaps the best safety no one seems to be talking about.

Last edited by pakowitz; 04-23-2007 at 11:49 AM..
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Old 04-23-2007, 11:48 AM   #2
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6. Kevin Payne - 6013, 220, 4.53, Louisiana-Monroe

Payne is a former running back, who blossomed into a top-flight strong safety prospect. He is a big athlete with a strong frame and long arms plus good speed and coverage skills. That will allow him to play either safety spot. Excellent natural athlete who is more quick than fast. Johnson displays good awareness, especially in zone coverage. He has good instincts and breaks nicely on the ball with the leaping ability and the reach to make plays in the deep game. He has the fine range needed to cover the field and shows nice agility. Good hands and ball skills. Kevin is a tough, very aggressive player, who developed into quite a physical presence out on the field. Does a very nice job versus the run. He has the frame to carry additional weight. Has special teams potential. Top intangibles. Still improving and has a lot of upside.

He made nice strides but still needs some development to compete for extensive playing time. Still very raw. Needs to work on his technique and the fundamentals. He lacks the suddenness in his explosion and fills the hole like a linebacker – he needs weight training to get up to NFL standards. He can cover ground and outrun some mistakes but does not match up well with fast receivers. Johnson has questionable recovery speed for the next level and needs the zone scheme to utilize his fine athleticism. He is not ready to be a tough, in-the-box safety as he lacks strong hitting skills, good hand technique and has suspect tackling skills. Really struggles in coverage.

He has the size/speed ratio to be an ideal specimen for either pro safety spot. Johnson is a good athlete who will continue to improve. Fine special teams skills will help him win a starting gunner spot. Johnson is a probable NFL starter in time. Nice late first-day pick, but must make improvements if he expects to earn a starting spot. A project and long-term developmental guy.



7. Daren Stone - 6032, 218, 4.48, Maine

Daren Stone may be the best pro prospect in the A-10 available for the 2007 NFL draft. Heady, explosive player with great measurables for the position. Has excellent size and a big, solid frame. Classic run-stuffing, blitzing strong safety, who moves around well in coverage. A very athletic player with outstanding leaper and decent ball skills. Strong and physical.Intense and plays with a nasty demeanor. An excellent tackler. Has lots of special teams potential. Tons of "upside" with this cat.

Did not play against elite competition and is not yet a great pass defender. Must be paired with a great pass-defending FS if he is to ever start at the next level. Does not have great instincts. Needs to add strength, but certainly has the frame to do so. He might be a bit of a 'tweener. A workout warrior who does not always play up to his physical tools. Has some minor character concerns

May also project to linebacker depending on the team and scheme. Served one game suspensions twice during his college career. Sleeper and intriguing developmental guy. Nice measurables and definitely looks the part.

Daren Stone, a 6'3.3" safety for the Black Bears wowed the assembled pro scouts at the UMaine Pro Day on Monday (3-19) by running a 4.48 and a 4.53 on the rubberized surface in Maine's ancient field house. He weighed in at 220 pounds, a tad heavier than at the NFL Combine, but still did a 39.5" vertical jump and a very impressive 11'5" broad jump (5" better than his best-in-show 11'0" at the Combine.) He stood on his 4.28 short shuttle and 7.08 3-cone from Indy, but looked good in the agility drills. The Bear's scout told CDS's Steve Martin after the murmur from Daren's broad jump died down that he had never personally witnessed a better broad jump than that one. Most people are saying that Daren has a shot to be the highest Black Bear drafted in recent memory. (Daren is the handsome one on the left, and we haven't a clue who the other guy is...lol...)
With a great E-W Shrine Game week of practice,a solid Combine and even better pro day, Daren should go anywhere from round 4 to round 6.



8. Ryan Glasper - 5115, 202, 4.66, Boston College

Ryan Glasper is a solid safety prospect for Boston College that has the ability to play physical but also hang with the quick offensive players as well. Glasper has a good head on his shoulders and often anticipates the play very well. Solid tackler that usually elects to wrap up as opposed to going for the knock out hit. Has a lot of game experience having played in every single game since his freshman season. Helps out on special teams as well.

Glasper lacks elite coverage skills and doesn't quite have the mentality and ability to be a run stuffing strong safety. He can easily be beat by speedy receivers that run crisp routes and his lack of height puts him at a big disadvantage against tall receivers.

Glasper doesn't quite have the ability to start at the next level but he could serve as a serviceable backup safety that contributes on special teams. Right now Glasper projects to a late selection in the 2007 NFL Draft.

Former Boston College strong safety Ryan Glasper should've probably redshirted the 2006 season after sustaining a serious hip injury last April, but he decided to help out his team and play through the pain. While the injury kept him from making the impact he did in 2004 and 2005 on B.C.'s talent laden defense, he did eventually work his way back into the lineup and was key contributor down the stretch for Tom O'Brien's defensive unit.
While he was not fully healed in January, he played and made an impact in the Meineke Car Care Bowl against Navy. Also, despite missing significant action as a senior, his body of work during his career at B.C. was so solid, he got an invite to the Hula Bowl and played well in front of eager N.F.L. scouts.
Glasper fell off the draft radar a bit during the 2006 season due to the injury, but it appears he's close to 100 percent healthy. This hard-hitting, athletic safety is definitely a player that N.F.L. scouts should keep a close eye on as the draft process goes forward.


9. Jessie Daniels - 5109, 216, 4.58, LSU

Daniels has good speed and the range to play the in-the-box safety spot where his strong tackling skills will give him a chance to start as a pro. Strong, tough and physical. Excels at coming up to help out in run support. He has a good nose for the ball, showing quick read-and-react skills with the foot speed to come up, fill the alley and wallop ball carriers. Hard worker with a great motor and aggressive. He has the athleticism to become an NFL starter and is especially tough in run support. Has lots of experience versus top competition.

He has improved in pass coverage, though much of his coverage responsibilities have been in a zone scheme. He needs development in that area, especially in man coverage situations where he is vulnerable against fast slot receivers. Not very fluid or athletic. He also needs better play recognition skills to avoid being faked with play-action and leaving himself exposed. Instincts and awareness leave something to be desired. Somewhat of a liability in coverage and gets fooled. Is not a great tackler. Has durability concerns


A three-year starter who was overshadowed throughout his career by LaRon Landry. He has the mental and physical toughness to be a huge surprise if he settles into a system that does not ask him to face up with fast receivers in man coverage. He will probably have to try and make his mark as a backup / special teamer if anything

10. Chad Nkang - 5114, 220, 4.41, Elon (LB/S)

With the NFL searching , Nkang's physical ability, quickness and field vision is an ideal fit for quality Cover-2 linebackers. Some teams might look at Nkang as a safety prospect, but he has minimal reps in pass coverage and will need time to develop there.

Safety Craig Dahl from North Dakota State had just an average 40 time of 4.61 seconds, but his agility drills were impressive. At 6’ 1.5” 216 pounds he recorded 6.69 second 3-cone drill (4th in group 10), a 4.26 second 20 yard shuttle run, and a 10.03 second 60 yard shuttle. He also had a 35” vertical jump, and a 10’ 2” broad jump.

11. Brandon Harrison - 6019, 227, 4.65, Stanford

Harrison is a solid tackling strong safety. Very durable playin in 44 of 45 possible games in his career, starting 33 of them. Extremely experienced player who led Stanford's defense last season. Brandon has great size and a very high football IQ. Good in coverage, and very strong in run support. Very athletic, versatile and has played multiple positions. Technically sound. Aggressive with a good motor. Good special teams potential.

Timed speed is below average. Is not as physical as a guy his size should be and not a great tackler. Can be too aggressive at times and get fooled. Sub par ball skills. Struggles with deep routes. Could use some more bulk in the NFL. Underachiever?

A very smart and experienced player, Brandon should be drafted. However, he is not a playmking safety and really does struggle against speedy wide receivers. At worst a backup and special teamer.
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Old 04-23-2007, 11:50 AM   #3
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12. Melvin Bullitt - 6013, 201, 4.50, Texas A&M

Despite flashing at the East-West Shrine Game, Bullitt wasn't invited to the Combine. He has decent size and a solid frame. Melvin brings the speed of a free safety and the hard-hitting style of an in-the-box defender. Very athletic and possesses better than average timed speed. He moves well in space and can track down the ball while it is in the air. He's instinctive and smart. He will deliver the big hit and is a reliable tackler. He's not a hammer-type like Roy Williams, but does not shy away from contact and showed very good instincts. Hard worker, great motor and leader with top intangibles.

Does not play as fast as he times and is somewhat limited in coverage. Range is just average. He isn't real fluid and doesn't change directions well. Needs to lay the lumber more often. Marginal hands and ball skills. May not have a lot of upside.

A solid player who probably profiles as more of a backup and should fit well into today's game that calls for safeties to be versatile and play a number of roles. He should be a great special teams player early in his career

He showed with a noteworthy performance at Texas A&M's March 3 workout that he should have been. After weighing in at 6-1, 201 pounds, Bullitt, viewed as a physical in-the-box safety, showed surprising overall athleticism. He was timed at a 4.48 in the 40-yard dash and his 40'6" vertical jump and 3.97 second shuttle, designed to show explosiveness and quickness, are among the elite results of the early Pro Day sessions.
rising


13. Craig Dahl - 6016, 216, 4.53, North Dakota ST.

Great size to bulk ratio with smarts and a great instincts for the game. A good athlete. He is intense, active and aggressive. Solid versus the run and a reliable tackler. Tough, durable and loves football. Has a lot of special teams potential.

Did not play against top competition. Timed speed is only average and lacks quickness or a burst. Range is limited. Has some trouble in coverage and does not have a lot of experience dropping back. Does not have fluid hips. Upside is limited.

Really good Division I-AA player with okay measurables but stands out because of his intangibles. Probably won't be much more than a backup and special teams ace but he may excel in that role.



14. Brannon Condren - 6009, 208, 4.47, Troy

Tough, run defending safety with marginal ball skills.

Condren (6-0 7/8, 208) ran his 40s in 4.49 and 4.47 seconds, the short shuttle in 4.10 and the three-cone drill in 6.94. He had a 43-inch vertical jump, an 11-foot-3 broad jump and 24 bench presses. The contingents from Jacksonville and Miami put him through defensive-back drills. rising

15. Tra Battle SS Georgia 5110, 173, 4.50

Tra Battle is an experienced and talented rover (SS) for the Georgia Bulldogs. He started every game as a junior and senior and had very good production playing against top competition week-in week-out. Battle is a battler. He plays every down hard and all out. He showed a real penchant for making big plays, especially during his senior year with six interceptions--three coming in one big game against Auburn. He has a good understanding of the game and generally puts himself in position to make plays.

The biggest problem with Tra Battle is that he is a bit undersized by NFL standards. Physically, he's better suited to free safety than he is to strong safety, but his game is that of a strong safety. Battle appears to struggle against the run at times because of his size. He gets blocked too easily and can disappear for long stretches of the game.

Battle is a borderline draftable player at this point. He could get a call late on the second day based purely on his production at a major school.
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Old 04-23-2007, 11:51 AM   #4
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Antwan Stewart - 6009, 195, 4.63, Tennessee

Antwan Stewart settled in at strong safety for the Vols in his junior and senior seasons, but he has the skills and potential to play free safety or nickel back as well. He missed the entire 2004 season with a knee injury.

Stewart is a very good athlete who plays faster than his 40 time would indicate. He reacts well to plays and has the speed to close on the ball-carrier. Stewart is a solid tackler who can also provide a nice pop when he's able to line a guy up. He plays best near the line of scrimmage and is good at avoiding/shedding blockers.

Despite his versatility, Stewart doesn't excel in any one area. While he reacts well to plays, he is not instinctual and doesn't anticipate the action effectively. He doesn't show great ball skills in the secondary, often struggling to locate and haul in passes.

Stewart doesn't have the cache teams look for in a defensive back. He's sort of a utility player who will have to develop better work habits to succeed. Look for him to slide out of the draft and wind up in someone's camp trying to make a living on special teams.

C.J. Wallace SS Washington 6-0 212 4.83

CJ is a very experienced and reliable safety. He has started over 20 games for the Huskies. CJ is a very strong tackler, very good in run support. Solid at wrapping up and stays low to the ground which helps him maintain balance. Doesn't often fall for any type of juke and can tackle even the electrifying players with ease(DeSean Jackson, Reggie Bush). A good leader on the field, leading both by example and with exceptional leadership qualities. CJ should make an immediate impact on special teams in the NFL.

Not the greatest in coverage and definitely not a ball hawk. Only 2 career interceptions, and only 1 career fumble recovery. Not a big play safety at all. Also, not a good blitzing safety, as he cannot get to the outside quick enough to pass rush effectively.

CJ is a solid safety, but lacks the necessary qualities to put him into that upper echelon of safety prospects. Look for him to immediately play special teams and eventually develop into a decent starting safety or a very reliable backup. A very good choice in the middle rounds of day 2.


Keldrick Holman - 5113, 205, 4.66, Stephen F. Austin (CB/SS)

Holman is a quality athlete with definite upside as a pro prospect and could also be looked at on the corner after showing good man cover skills in some situations. His instinctive play should help him make up for his lack of speed, but he tends to struggle when matched up with fast receivers.He moves well with the quick feet and good instincts to compensate for marginal recovery speed. He makes a smooth transition to ride a receivers’ hip down the field despite only 4.6 speed.

Undersized but versatile.

He has improved in pass coverage nicely in recent seasons to be ready to be an every down NFL defender, though much of his coverage responsibilities have been in a zone scheme. He shows good cornerback traits and his play should translate well in a cover-2 scheme. Holman has good instincts and gets the most out of his athleticism. He could be one of the real surprises at this position. He has good speed, fine tackling skills and a tough demeanor which should get him a job on special teams coverage units early in his career. In time, he could earn a spot in a base defense. A player with fine upside who will be a good late pick.


David Overstreet - 5112, 206, 4.64, Missouri

Overstreet is more interested in delivering monster hits than intercepting passes. He plays fearless and shows good instincts against the run, but will throw his body around with reckless abandon and will miss some tackles. He doesn't have the speed to stay with NFL receivers in man coverage but he is a hard worker with top intangibles and can contribute in the NFL.


Jay Staggs - 6-0, 214, 4.54, UNLV

Came to UNLV as a WR prospect and was slowly converted to a SS. A team leader that helps set the manner of the defense. Good height, speed, weight, and strength, has recorded a 39-inch vertical. Breaks to the ball nicely. Playmaker with WR hands. Heavy-hitter. Contains plays by taking good leverage on the ball-carriers and chasing them down with his athleticism.

Lacks great awareness in coverage. Sometimes his motor runs too fast and is prone to mistakes. Hasn't developed great instincts yet and doesn't arrive to the ball-carrier as fast as he could.

The kind of guy you pull for to have success in the NFL because of his passion for the team.2006 All-MWC Honorable Mention. Voted by his teammates as the Defensive MVP, also named the winner of the Most Inspirational Player, Rebel Spirit Award, and Senior Award.

Marcus Bacon - 6015, 220, 4.70, Missouri (LB/SS)

Pretty fast, fluid and agile. Good hips. Gets back in coverage and covers well for a smallish LB. Could possibly be tried as SS down the road, but would need a TON of coaching up.

A tweener who is too small for FT duty as an NFL linebacker, and too untrained (and true speed is an unkown quantity at this point) to be drafted as a SS project. Will have to make his living on teams, until a staff decides what to do with him.


KeiAndre Hepburn - 5110, 210, Delaware (LB/SS)

Undersized rocket who made a great IAA linebacker. Plays all out. Hustles all the time. Makes a ton of tackles. Does not spy. Shoots gaps and makes the hit. Great energy and motor level. Deadly blitzer.

A classic tweener who may have to be looked at as a strong safety at the next level. Shows enough quickness to be drafted late as an athlete.


Damaja Jones - 6005, 208, 4.55, San Jose St.

Highly productive OLB who has the wheels to be looked at as a SS at the next level. Closes very quickly on the ball carrier. Very disruptive when rushing the QB. Makes lots of plays in the backfield.

A classic "tweener" who will need lots of reps and coaching up to switch to safety. has the speed for OLB but will take a long time in the weight room to ever be big enough.

Tyler Knight - 6000, 212, 4.54, Mississippi Valley State

A highly active instinctive player productive and tough was an All-American, 1st team All-SWAC. Great around the line of scrimmage, a natural blitzer and though raw in coverage he reacts will enough to break up 12 passes, and did pick off one pass.

A total tweener too small to even be a 'Will' backer and very, very raw in coverage, if he can't be an in the "box" SS then he will be able to contribute only on special teams.

If he can make the transition to SS he will be a valuable reserve and special teamer with possible starter upside.
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Old 04-23-2007, 11:52 AM   #5
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Andrew Shanle - 6010, 212, 4.40, Nebraska

Shanle has the good size and athleticism to make a roster next summer and his fine workout at a pro day may earn him a late draft selection. He shows good instincts and is rarely out of position, showing the ability to bring strong tackling skills to his club. He played mainly zone coverage and rarely was matched up in man situations. He has a strong frame and will hit and is probably more effective in the box.

His lack of good change of direction skills have led him to play soft in coverage and break down poorly in the open field. His range is good and he can play in the cover-2 scheme but must show better initial reads to make plays on the ball. He has fairly good measureables for the safety position, though his basic technique from backpedal to plant and drive technique will need extensive work.

Shanle is an adequate performer who we give a make-it grade. His instincts are only adequate, and he will have to find a niche to survive a training camp. He has the measureables to be a fine gunner on coverage units, and shows the toughness and consistent tackling to compete for that role. His triangle numbers were strong, but his football skills need to improve to make a roster.

Randy Kelly - 6-0, 190, 4.48, Arkansas

Sparking some interests

Patrick Ghee - 6022, 210, 4.52, Wake Forest

Flashes ability at safety and has potential as a Dime back

Garland Heath - 6009, 225 4.90, North Carolina State
Joe Stellmacher - 6-1, 222, 4.73, Wisconsin
Zachariah Babington-Johnson - 6015, 207, North Dakota (LB/S)
Curtis Keyes - 6-1, 205, 4.55, Marshall
Eric McNeal - 6-2, 210, 4.65, UCLA
Joe Sturdivant - 6-2, 216, 4.65, Southern Methodist
Andre Kirkland - 60030 204, 4.54, Kent State
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Old 04-23-2007, 12:42 PM   #6
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Man I remember having Weddle rated as a third round steal earlier in the year and how much his stock has risen. He's going to make a solid pick for someone.

I remember we talked about Shanle before... he definately looks like he'll be a contributor on special teams. Good late round investment.
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Old 04-23-2007, 01:10 PM   #7
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I do not see us going this route till late on the first day at the earliest.
Day 2 I am hoping for

7. Daren Stone - 6032, 218, 4.48, Maine
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