Safeties to watch (merged)

[Snake Eyes]

I've become obsessed with drafting Bacarri Rambo, I don't know a thing about him, aside from his name, which is BEYOND A DOUBT the COOLEST name EVER!

Think about hearing "Sanchez throws, PICKED OFF BY RAMBO"

"Fitzpatrick drops back, SACKED BY RAMBO"!

 

[DaBruinz]

I've become obsessed with drafting Bacarri Rambo, I don't know a thing about him, aside from his name, which is BEYOND A DOUBT the COOLEST name EVER!

Think about hearing "Sanchez throws, PICKED OFF BY RAMBO"

"Fitzpatrick drops back, SACKED BY RAMBO"!

He's a junior. He's just under 6' and weighs 218 lbs. He had 7 interceptions this year and was named to the 1st team All-SEC by the AP. He stands to be one of the top safeties in 2013.. Not sure if he'll come out early or not.

 

[WaterfallJumper]

I know! I want to draft Rambo, too, as well as Whitney Mercilus and Derek Wolfe. Add them to Brandon Spikes, and you have the start of an awesome group of names.

 

[rdf63]

Some information about safeties in the 2012 draft with help from the Walkerfootball.com site.

T.J. McDonald, S, USC Height: 6-2. Weight: 205 Projected 40 Time: 4.49 Projected Round (2012): 1-2. McDonald has put together a strong season. He has 57 tackles with two interceptions, one pass broken up and a blocked kick. McDonald's two interceptions came against Arizona quarterback Nick Foles. McDonald is a hard-hitter who has drawn some penalties for his physical play.

Mark Barron, SS, Alabama Height: 6-2. Weight: 215. Projected 40 Time: 4.61 Projected Round (2012): 2. Barron has played well this season. He has totaled 65 tackles with four tackles for a loss, five passes broken up and two interceptions. He is in the discussion with McDonald as the hardest hitting safety in the draft.

Robert Lester, S, Alabama Height: 6-2. Weight: 210. Projected 40 Time: 4.51Projected Round (2012): 2. Lester hasn't been as rock solid in coverage this season with less splash plays so his stock has fallen.

Markelle Martin, S, Oklahoma State Height: 6-1. Weight: 202. Projected 40 Time: 4.58. Projected Round (2012): 2-3. Martin has 62 tackles with four tackles for a loss, 10 passes broken up and two forced fumbles. Martin is a natural free safety who patrols the deep part of the field well.

Ray Ray Armstrong, SS, Miami Height: 6-4. Weight: 220. Projected 40 Time: 4.57. Projected Round (2012): 2-3. Armstrong was suspended for the first four games of the season with off the field problems.

Winston Guy Jr., S, Kentucky Height: 6-1. Weight: 210 Projected 40 Time: 4.49. Projected Round (2012): 3. Guy Jr. started out the season with a huge game against Western Kentucky. He recorded 10 tackles with 2.5 tackles for a loss and two interceptions in the season opener and has stayed consistent and his stock is on the rise.

Trumaine Johnson, FS/CB, Montana Height: 6-2. Weight: 197. Projected 40 Time: 4.54. Projected Round (2012): 3-4. Johnson held his own against Tennessee in the first game of the season with seven tackles, a pass broken up and a forced fumble. Johnson killed his climb up draft boards by getting arrested in October.

Brandon Taylor, FS, LSU Height: 6-0. Weight: 191. Projected 40 Time: 4.51. Projected Round (2012): 3-4. Taylor has played well this season and his stock is on the rise. Taylor has 61 tackles with two interceptions, five passes broken up and 5.5 tackles for a loss. He had strong games against West Virginia and Florida.

Delano Howell, SS, Stanford Height: 5-11. Weight: 198. Projected 40 Time: 4.53. Projected Round (2012): 3-4. He hasn't been bad, but has not been great.

Trenton Robinson, FS, Michigan State Height: 6-2. Weight: 210. Projected 40 Time: 4.53. Projected Round (2012): 4. Robinson has 54 tackles with four interceptions this season and a quality run defender.

Eddie Whitley, FS, Virginia Tech Height: 6-1. Weight: 190. Projected 40 Time: 4.42. Projected Round (2012): 4-5. Whitley has 73 tackles with two interceptions and three passes broken up. His run defense looked weak against Miami, among others. Whitley projects as a free safety in the NFL.

Aaron Henry, FS, Wisconsin Height: 6-0. Weight: 205. Projected 40 Time: 4.48. Projected Round (2012): 4-5.Henry has 51 tackles with three tackles for a loss, three interceptions and three passes broken up. Aaron Henry is a strong run defender who shows good instincts.

Tavon Wilson, SS, Illinois Height: 6-0. Weight: 205. Projected 40 Time: 4.51. Projected Round (2012): 4-5. Wilson is a good athlete and could be a quality sleeper/developmental prospect. Tavon Wilson is an experienced starter who has been a solid player for Illinois.

Kenny Tate, SS, Maryland Height: 6-4. Weight: 220 Projected 40 Time: 4.64. Projected Round (2012): 4-5. Tate is a safety/linebacker tweener who should probably trim down and play safety as a pro.

Neiko Thorpe, FS, Auburn Height: 6-3. Weight: 191. Projected 40 Time: 4.52. Projected Round (2012): 4-5. Thorpe has been very active and while he played corner, his height may make a better safety, especially at the NFL level where he can run with speed receivers at corner.

Tony Dye, SS, UCLA Height: 5-11. Weight: 204. Projected 40 Time: 4.50. Projected Round (2012): 4-5. He missed seven games with a neck injury and that hurt his draft stock significantly.

Blake Gideon, FS, Texas Height: 6-1. Weight: 200. Projected 40 Time: 4.54. Projected Round (2012): 4-5. Gideon has 52 tackles with four passes defended, one sack and one interception. He has consistently been around the ball for the Longhorns and is in his fourth season as a starter for Texas.

Rashard Hall, FS, Clemson Height: 6-2. Weight: 195. Projected 40 Time: 4.48. Projected Round (2012): 5-6. Hall has been quiet and inconsistent at times.

Lance Mitchell, S, Oregon State Height: 6-2. Weight: 205. Projected 40 Time: 4.60. Projected Round (2012): 5-6. Lance Mitchell is a decent run defender.

George Iloka, S, Boise State Height: 6-3. Weight: 207. Projected 40 Time: 4.58. Projected Round (2012): 5-6. Iloka leads Boise State in tackles with 53.Iloka is an experienced player who is a good athlete.

Jerrell Young, FS, South Florida Height: 6-1. Weight: 205. Projected 40 Time: 4.53. Projected Round (2012): 5-6. In the first game of the season, Young had a massive game in the Bulls' road win over Notre Damen but in other games has not come close to that level of impact.

Harrison Smith, S, Notre Dame Height: 6-2. Weight: 215. Projected 40 Time: 4.61. Projected Round (2012): 5-7. Smith has run hot and cold for Notre Dame this season.

 

[Peachhead]

Rashard Hall, Clemson is a guy who has caught my eye a few times this season. And of course Markelle Martin, Ok St has impressed.

 

[DaBruinz]

Kenny Tate is an interesting on and I think that his current size is great for a SS. The problem is whether or not he can cover. The Pats like to play their safeties in a L/R pattern instead of FS/SS.. The other problem is that the Pats have Chung at safety and a combo of Tate/Chung seems like a giant liability against the pass.

William Guy rated as a 3rd rounder? EEK.. NFLDraftScout has him as a 7th/FA and NFL Draft Countdown has him ranked 28th of 30 safeties..

I think that a LOT will be determined by which Junior Safeties declare..

 

[Ochmed Jones]

I think that a LOT will be determined by which Junior Safeties declare..

Would it be a surprise if Lester came back for his senior season at Alabama?

In my mind I would be surprised if he came back.

 

[Sciz]

Kenny Tate is an interesting on and I think that his current size is great for a SS. The problem is whether or not he can cover. The Pats like to play their safeties in a L/R pattern instead of FS/SS.. The other problem is that the Pats have Chung at safety and a combo of Tate/Chung seems like a giant liability against the pass.

William Guy rated as a 3rd rounder? EEK.. NFLDraftScout has him as a 7th/FA and NFL Draft Countdown has him ranked 28th of 30 safeties..

I think that a LOT will be determined by which Junior Safeties declare..

Tate's going back to school with a medical redshirt, I believe. I really like him in 2012 as a big nickel safety.

 

[PatriotReign]

He's a junior. He's just under 6' and weighs 218 lbs. He had 7 interceptions this year and was named to the 1st team All-SEC by the AP. He stands to be one of the top safeties in 2013.. Not sure if he'll come out early or not.

I hope he does come out early and would love if the Pats got him. Problem is he's a really high safety prospect.

 

[manxman2601]

There's a chance he won't come out, but what about Stephon Gilmore as a conversion project? Has the nice rounded game that I like to see from a safety.

What about other conversion projects? Trumaine Johnson, Dre Kirkpatrick and Leonard Johnson seem the most likely candidates.

 

[WaterfallJumper]

Gilmore I like a lot at safety. At corner, I think he's very average as a prospect, but his size, ball skills, excellent work in zone coverage, and (generally) secure tackling bode well for a position change. He's a good player, no doubt, but he simply lacks the quickness to remain as a man to man corner. I think he has better straight line speed than short area quickness, and at safety that works out okay.

 

[mrscruff]

@NEPatriotsDraft

Quite bummed that Kenny Vaccaro (Safety, Texas) will be returning for his senior year.

https://twitter.com/#!/NEPatriotsDraft/status/152360825347252224

 

[borisman]

Kenny Tate is definately someone to keep an eye on. This is not an impressive Safety class. He played LB this past season out of necessity. If he runs under 4.6 then he can be a Steve Atwater type. Great athlete, can takle, not sure of his coverage skills but look him up from the 2010 season. I think he CAN play along side Chung, even though they are similar.

 

[Sciz]

Kenny Tate is definately someone to keep an eye on. This is not an impressive Safety class. He played LB this past season out of necessity. If he runs under 4.6 then he can be a Steve Atwater type. Great athlete, can takle, not sure of his coverage skills but look him up from the 2010 season. I think he CAN play along side Chung, even though they are similar.

Going back to school with a medical redshirt.

 

[borisman]

I saw he received a medical redshirt but didn't see where he said he will be back for another year. He should really come out if he's healthy enough to perform at the combine.

 

[mrscruff]

Bulldogs balancing work with fun at Outback Bowl  | ajc.com

Baccari Rambo is still 50-50 on whether to declare for the draft despite receiving a 3rd round grade from the NFL Draft Advisory Panel.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Bulldogs balancing work with fun at Outback Bowl *| ajc.com

Baccari Rambo is still 50-50 on whether to declare for the draft, likely because he got a 3rd round grade from the NFL Draft Advisory Panel.

My fix is probably closer to the truth.

 

[D-Money]

Alot of these junior safeties staying in school surprise me.There is a lack of safeties in this class.Why not entered the draft.T.J Mcdonald surprised me alot by staying in school.All these guys are risking injury.

 

[borisman]

I'm not surprised to see USC players returning. They will have the best team in their conference and probably go undefeated throughout the season therefore will play for the national championship. They only get the Irish at home as a tough non-conference game. If Nick Perry comes back they will ice skate through the regular season. Book them for the NC game in Miami.

 

[Ochmed Jones]

Alot of these junior safeties staying in school surprise me.There is a lack of safeties in this class.Why not entered the draft.T.J Mcdonald surprised me alot by staying in school.All these guys are risking injury.

Last year was also a thin draft year for safeties, so there is a lot of pent of demand for good young safeties. Just about every team in football needs at least one.