Drafting a Safety to replace Rodney?

[VJCPatriot]

Who looks like a good candidate? It might be worth it to take a good safety in round 2.

 

[BritPat]

Safety is a position I've not been looking at much beyond Messrs Mays, Rolle and Moore.

Looking at Walter Football, they have Kam Chancellor, Patrick Chung, Nic Harris, Michael Hamlin and Courtney Greene as round 2 SS candidates.

Might have to keep my eye on Chung. Chancellor sounds like a freak.

 

[BritPat]

Another name, Chris Clemons, SS, Clemson. 6" 1', 210 pounds, projected 40 time is 4.54, projected to go in round 4. Registered 102 tackles as a sophomore the other year.

One more as well - Chip Vaughn out of Wake Forest. 100 tackles and 14 pass breaks ups last year in his first year as a starter. Similar projected numbers to Clemons.

 

[KillEM]

Courtney Greene

Kevin Ellison

Chip Vaughn

Patrick Chung

Those are the 2nd-3rd rounders we might take a look at. I think Chung could even be a 1st rounder though.



I doubt we will use a 2nd rounder on a Safety unless James Sanders signs with another team (which is unlikely).

Probably a 3rd or 4th... but not a 2nd unless someone they really like falls to them.

 

[BradyManny]

Sanders has been playing a lot of snaps, the coaching staff must have a lot of faith in him. Meriweather has been playing very well so far this year. So I'd say the starters in the base D are set, so, its just a question of a 3rd safety or a nickel back in the sub packages. I guess I wouldn't use anything higher than a 3rd on SS then, even though there are some intriguing options early. Kam Chancellor, besides having a bad ass name, is quite tall for a safety, and looks quite athletic, and might provide some value based on how they could use that height.

 

[Taxed in Maine]

I like SS Kevin Ellison out of USC also, probably in the 2-3 round. Taylor Mays gets the hype, but Ellison is one of the true leaders of that defense.

Taxed

 

[VJCPatriot]

A really good safety would improve the middle of this D from being exposed by tight ends/slot receivers/RB's out of the backfield. That's been a problem over the past 2 seasons and I'm not sure yet it has been addressed. It is particularly important if none of our LBs develop into the coverage LB type. Mayo/Guyton are rookies and Bruschi has lost a step.

Imagine how good this D would look with Weddle in the mix, and he was only a second round pick. I'm just not sure if Sanders will be anymore than a JAG at the safety position. The only thing I've been worried about is lately the Pats have whiffed on their 2nd round picks.

 

[matt1073]

I dont think we need to draft a safety high in the draft unless belicheck sees undeniable talent. the pats need corners and O linemen

 

[Ochmed Jones]

I dont think we need to draft a safety high in the draft unless belicheck sees undeniable talent. the pats need corners and O linemen

There are quite a few safeties that have been found in the 5th and 6th round that are legitimate NFL starters in the last few years.

After the failure of picks like Reid and Scott maybe BB is a bit gun shy about taking gambles later in the draft on safeties.

Vanderbilt has a safety, Reshard Langford, I think, that plays a tough game in one of the two toughest conferences in the country. If he runs well, he might work out well for the Pats.

The two safeties for Clemson, Clemons and Hamlin came into the season rated highly, but have not had a stellar season thus far.

 

[FreeTedWilliams]

The kid from USC Taylor Mays will be a top ten pick, but he has the look of a Ronnie Lott type safety.

The Pats need pass rushers, and I'm hoping that they go up into the top ten to get one, but if they came out with Mays it would be great.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

The kid from USC Taylor Mays will be a top ten pick, but he has the look of a Ronnie Lott type safety.

The Pats need pass rushers, and I'm hoping that they go up into the top ten to get one, but if they came out with Mays it would be great.

If Cassdog keeps playing the way he has the last two weeks, that's not likely to happen.

 

[FreeTedWilliams]

If Cassdog keeps playing the way he has the last two weeks, that's not likely to happen.

I meant by trade, I fully expect the Pats to make the playoffs.

They should have a #1, 2 #2 (San Diego's), & 2 #3 (assuming a #3 for Assante)

so they should have the ammunition to move up.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

I meant by trade, I fully expect the Pats to make the playoffs.

They should have a #1, 2 #2 (San Diego's), & 2 #3 (assuming a #3 for Assante)

so they should have the ammunition to move up.

And let me extend my comment a bit--if Cassel keeps playing as he has, the Pats probably will be picking too low for them to make such a move practical.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

An alternative is to look outside of the Safety ranks, for example:

OLB Jonathan Casillas, Wisconsin, 6-1 226

Analysis

Positives: Runs to the ball very well and has excellent quickness for a linebacker. Literally a sideline-to-sideline player, as he can track down quick backs from the opposite side of the field. Safety-like in coverage, able to shadow tight ends and slot receivers. When running free, he is a strong wrap-up tackler. Also uses his long arms to trip up ballcarriers as they run by. Was a real force on special teams units early in his career because of his speed and tackling ability.

Negatives: Undersized, seen as a safety-linebacker 'tweener by some. Not strong enough to get off blocks from linemen or fullbacks, and inconsistent against receivers. Will run around blocks inside instead of taking them on. Has the tools to be a good blitzer, but does not get home often enough. Could be effective in a stack system in which the defensive linemen keep him clean.

 

[cstjohn17]

Jinx, I saw the same thing today, a little bored I looked at some possible OLB conversions. Somehow I think they sign a veteran, maybe Mike Brown from the Bears or the kid from St. Louis Oshiomogho Atogwe, he is more of a FS but has great ball skills. In the Pats system I think they play more sides than FS versus SS.

 

[cstjohn17]

Tell me if this is familiar, can't cover, too slow, big hitter....

No not Harrison circa 2003, what about Roy Williams from Dallas? He was so good in college, maybe a little BB magic could help him. Rumors are he is done in Dallas.

 

[dryheat44]

Tell me if this is familiar, can't cover, too slow, big hitter....

No not Harrison circa 2003, what about Roy Williams from Dallas? He was so good in college, maybe a little BB magic could help him. Rumors are he is done in Dallas.

I think he's done as a productive player in the NFL also. Honestly, I don't see any difference between he and John Lynch at this point....Williams still has better speed, but it's negated by his poor recognition skills.

I'd hate to rely on a guy coming off a serious injury, but the guy that makes the most sense is Tank Williams.

 

[BelizePats]

Yeah, we can't forget about Tank. Its obvious that BB loves the guy and if he can come back from that injury, he should be playing in the scheme BB had in mind for him during training camp. I like his aggressive style of play and hope that he can shake the injury bug in 2009.

 

[patsfan_cali25]

I don't think we need to draft a safety to replace Rodney. James Sanders is solid and if u guys haven't noticed, Brandon Meriweather is turning into a beast in that secondary. He has 3 ints this year and has laid some huge hits on opposers(Reggie Wayne last night). This guy is an all-pro safety in the making.

 

[DaBruinz]

I know we have a lot of people who follow BC so I wanted to ask about Kevin Akins and whether or not you believe he's got what it would take to make the move to SS.

He's 6'1.5 and 228lbs. Supposedly is a play-maker who has lined up at CB, LB and S. But I don't get to watch BC games down here in TX.

NFL Draft Scout Rankings, From Prep to Pro Coverage for Pros by Pros - Powered by the Sports Xchange