stelfans
Third String But Playing on Special Teams
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prewitt and Harvey-clemons are along with Collins from Alabama my top safeties for next year. Im sure a lot more will rise during the year but thats the ideal type of player i would like to see next to mccourty
"You will get to the point where you're playing with four cornerbacks out there," [Mike] Pettine said. "The day of the true safety is about over because of the speed of the game. When we're looking at safeties in the draft, once you get past the no-brainer guys -- like Eric Berry -- we're looking at slower college cornerbacks. Because right now, safeties are becoming like fullbacks on offense. They're becoming extinct."
Shawn Oakman gave a sample of what he could achieve as a full-time starter in 2014 with two of the Bears’ five sacks. The 6-foot-9, 275-pound defensive end racked up 12.5 tackles for loss in a part-time role last season and is poised to take his game to the next level as a junior, on a defensive line that coach Art Briles believes can be good as any in the country. “We can’t block him,” Briles said, “and I don’t think anyone else will, either.”
It's interesting that the Chadiha article which I listed - only 2 years old - spoke of the safety position like it was becoming extinct:
Interestingly, both safeties and fullbacks seem to be evolving rather than becoming extinct. Guys like Trey Millard and Gator Hoskins are Swiss Army Knife offensive weapons, and the big safety is evolving to a hybrid role rather than disappearing as well. Note that with McCourty and Logan Ryan at Safetry and Revis, Browner and Denanrd at CB the Pats would effectively have 5 cornerbacks on the field - or 5 guys with CB capability and coverage ability. But the big safety isn't going away, either.
1. OT Spencer Drango, RS Junior (6-5 | 315 | 5.10 | #58)
One of the top offensive linemen in college football, Drango has an impressive NFL skill-set as the game appears to come very easily to him, showing similarities to Dallas Cowboys' 2014 first rounder Zach Martin in some areas. The Bears starting left tackle the last two seasons, he has an easy kickslide with a wide base and the fluid lower body movements to properly protect the pocket from speed or power rushers. Drango is always alert and rarely caught off guard with a high football IQ and overall awareness to process situations quickly. He has the stone hands to jolt with little resistance, displaying the balance to handle defenders and stay off the ground. Drango has very few holes to his game, but Nov. 2013 back surgery is a bright red flag and definitely something to monitor. If healthy and there are no long-term concerns, he has the overall ability to compete to be the top tackle drafted when he goes pro.
2. DE Shawn Oakman, RS Junior (6-8 | 285 | 4.92 | #2)
A freakish specimen on the hoof, Oakman is just scratching the surface of who he can be as a football player. He started his collegiate career at Penn State, but several off-field issues and poor academics led to his dismissal by then head coach Bill O'Brien. Tabbed as angry and troubled, but not a bad kid, Oakman transferred to Baylor, sitting out the 2012 season, and played a part-time role in 2013, finishing among the Big 12 leaders in tackles for loss (12.5). While leverage will always be an issue due to his height, he plays much lighter than he looks with burst off the ball to rush the pocket and the coordination to drop and play comfortably on his feet in space. According to Briles, Oakman has a “chance to be dominant” and if he takes the next step in his development in 2014, he has legitimate talent to be considered an early first round pick, projecting best as a five-technique in a 3-4 scheme.
I mainly watched the Big 10 last year. I know boring. But, I'm a PSU fan/alum. Shawn Oakman would have really helped us the last couple of years. He got booted from PSU. Can't find the link but have read that he's really cleaned his act up since going to Baylor. Our best senior pro prospect is probably Adrian Amos. He might actually fit what NFL defenses are trying to do. He played cb as frosh and soph. Got moved to safety and struggled. Switched back to cb. I never thought we had good db coaches and it held our pass defense back. Franklin's staff is moving him back to safety and he's got pretty good coverage skills. Could be a mid-round prospect 3-5 who fills a hole. Another kid who might fill a hole is Mike Hull - LB 6'2 220LB. He ran a 4.55 and benches over 400lb. Animal in the weight room. Hurt his knee in the first game and never got a chance to show what he can do. Was very highly touted coming out of high school. 5* recruit. Another position where he seems to fit what we can use.
A couple of guys who impressed me playing against PSU last year were;
1. Randy Gregory - 6'6" 240lb(last year) - DE - Nebraska - Very highly touted JUCO
Some think he's the top senior de. Oakman is a red-shirt soph.
2. Frank Clark - DT - Michigan could be a very good 3-tech dt if he puts some weight on. 6'2" 277lb. Originally recuited as a safety, John Randle type quickness.
I think Braxton Miller can play rb in the NFL. Funchess is a good flex-te.
Shaq Thompson if he declares. Would be a fantastic safety opposite McCourty. My favorite college player bar none. Probably a little biased since I've known him from when he was a kid and my daughter went to the same elementary and jr high school. Even came to a pool party at my home once.
Shaq Thompson if he declares. Would be a fantastic safety opposite McCourty. My favorite college player bar none.
For all the Jadeveon Clowney accolades, I expect Shawn Oakman to have a huge year:
2014 Big 12 spr - Big 12 Blog - ESPN
I doubt the Pats will get within 20 picks of him, whenever he does come out.
It would be nice to be able to dream of having a top 10 pick but not at the price of being ****ty. Hopefully the Pats knocked it out of the park with Easley and it will be just like having a top 10 pick. Very good possibility imo.