Building your draft board position by position - week 8: S/STs

[Box_O_Rocks]

Time for another edition of Who the devil are we going to draft? Starring this week, the double whammy Safety and Special Teams (which can be anybody you think might help the team in that specialist role or someone who is so raw he can't make it at a position and so talented you can't say Devin Hester for your jaw on the table).

Safety comes in two sizes, lumberjack and fencer. Lumberjacks are the guys who tend to line up across from Tight Ends because they have a little more lead in their pencil for dealing with guys who (in some cases) wrestle with DL and LB between pass routes. Fencers are big CBs with great ball skills and slow feet, they tend to hang back in deep centerfield and watch for fly balls to catch. There may be more to it than that, but it's the meat of the matter.

Special Teams have specialists who kick the ball and usually one guy who hands it to them, more or less. They also apply to guys who may be listed as depth at one position or another, but just happen to be so good at specific "special" jobs that they are kept for those more finite talents. Examples are Gunners: really fast guys who race the punted ball downfield to see where it lands. They can often be found in the offseason working as spotters at rifle and archery ranges to improve their speed and dodging ability.
Wedge busters: these are human bowling balls who live to see pins flying everywhere, they can be found rolling around in gutters during the offseason.
Kick returners: Kind of like when you played fetch with your dog, you throw them the ball and they pick it up and make you chase them around to get it back.
Punt returners: Similar to kick returners, they're more of the suicidal types, they fetch the ball, but do so racing head on into a crowd of ill intentioned ruffians.

As always we have a look back in history:
Week One - OC/OG: http://www.patsfans.com/new-england-patriots/messageboard/showthread.php?t=51105
Week Two - DL: http://www.patsfans.com/new-england-patriots/messageboard/showthread.php?t=51395
Week Three - OT: http://www.patsfans.com/new-england-patriots/messageboard/showthread.php?t=51983
Week Four - CB: http://www.patsfans.com/new-england-patriots/messageboard/showthread.php?t=52730
Week Five - LB: http://www.patsfans.com/new-england-patriots/messageboard/showthread.php?t=53088
Week Six - TE: http://www.patsfans.com/new-england-patriots/messageboard/showthread.php?t=53310
Week Seven - RB/FB: http://www.patsfans.com/new-england-patriots/messageboard/showthread.php?t=53572

Kicker (K or sometimes PK): Stephen Gostkowski
Punter (P or in one recent case %&*%^$^BBF): Josh Miller, Danny Baugher, Tom Malone
Longsnapper (LS): Lonie Paxton

Safety:
Rodney Harrison 6-1 220
Eugene Wilson 5-10 195
James Sanders 5-10 210
Mel Mitchell 6-1 225
Artrell Hawkins 5-10 195
Rashad Baker 5-10 198
Willie Andrews 5-10 195

CB/S Tweeners:
Randall Gay 5-11 190
Eddie Jackson 6-0 200
Chad Scott 6-1 205
Antwain Spann 6-0 190
Gemara Williams 5-8 185

 

[sebman2112]

Their converting Willie Andrews to CB. He was a Safety in college, though.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

Their converting Willie Andrews to CB. He was a Safety in college, though.

He played a bit of both, but more Safety I believe. Either way, a former Safety playing CB for Bill Belichick will find himself back there pretty quickly when there is a need.

 

[Urgent]

Some notable ST candidates in the draft:

PR/KR
CB Leon Hall
CB Darelle Revis
CB Josh Wilson
CB Michael Coe
S Kevin Payne
WR Ted Ginn
WR Steve Breaston
WR Chris Davis
WR Ryne Robinson

ST coverage/tacklers
FB Deon Anderson
SS Leonard Peters
SS Michael Griffin - blocked 6 punts

 

[sebman2112]

Some notable ST candidates in the draft:

PR/KR
CB Leon Hall
CB Darelle Revis
CB Josh Wilson
CB Michael Coe
S Kevin Payne
WR Ted Ginn
WR Steve Breaston
WR Chris Davis
WR Ryne Robinson

ST coverage/tacklers
FB Deon Anderson
SS Leonard Peters
SS Michael Griffin - blocked 6 punts

Add:

KR/PR
CB Aaron Ross
WR Chansi Stuckey

ST coverage:
Jon Beason
Chris Houston

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

Add:

KR/PR
CB Aaron Ross
WR Chansi Stuckey

ST coverage:
Jon Beason
Chris Houston

And add DE/OLB Brian Robison who blocked a number of punts too.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

Time to bump this a bit:

LS/LB Zach DeOssie - good coverage man.
SS Craig Dahl - good coverage man.
S/RB/P/KR Kevin Payne - 40.6 yds/punt, 21 yds/KR as senior; 28.8/KR as junior.

 

[SamBamsFan]

Hey, don't forget that Figurs from K State is the best gunner in college football (I've seen it repeatedly so it must be true). Given his wt/ht. ratio, he must be "wii-rey" (sorry just saw "The Replacements).

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Wedge busters: these are human bowling balls who live to see pins flying everywhere, they can be found rolling around in gutters during the offseason.

Thank you, Box, for putting a really bizarre image of Mike Wright in my head.

Seriously, though, I could see BB taking DeOssie for his LB skills, and letting him LS too--although you do have to wonder why, despite BB's apparent disdain for having too many specialists, he reserves a roster spot for someone whose sole duty is LS. . . .

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

Thank you, Box, for putting a really bizarre image of Mike Wright in my head.

Seriously, though, I could see BB taking DeOssie for his LB skills, and letting him LS too--although you do have to wonder why, despite BB's apparent disdain for having too many specialists, he reserves a roster spot for someone whose sole duty is LS. . . .

Your welcome!

Perhaps some of the folks who attend Training Camp can fill us in on how much time Lonie spends working on his snaps with his two sidekicks (pun inadvertent and therefore allowed to stand and annoy others)? As I see it, there is a limited amount of time on the practice field, if Zach were drafted to be both LS and LB, how much time would he spend not working on LB material because he was longsnapping? That roster spot seems underutilized, but necessary to keep the exchange between snapper and holder, and snapper and punter, smooth and consistent (Dallas).

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

DT Paul Solaia, wedgebuster extraordinary, 6'4" 344.

 

[dryheat44]

Brannon Condren SS Troy 6-1 208 4.47

Fantastic gunner.

 

[captain stone]

Seriously, though, I could see BB taking DeOssie for his LB skills, and letting him LS too--although you do have to wonder why, despite BB's apparent disdain for having too many specialists, he reserves a roster spot for someone whose sole duty is LS. . . .

Wasn't BB quoted as saying that, in essense, if you can only perform one task, then you better be one of the best at it?
Paxton is one of the best, if not the very best, LS in football. However, I would also like to have my LS available as a backup C, FB, TE or LB. Didn't Garrett Mills and Dave Thomas long-snap in college?
If an ILB, FS and CB have been drafted on Saturday, then I would give DeOssie serious consideration on Sunday, if he's still available at 127.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

Wasn't BB quoted as saying that, in essense, if you can only perform one task, then you better be one of the best at it?
Paxton is one of the best, if not the very best, LS in football. However, I would also like to have my LS available as a backup C, FB, TE or LB. Didn't Garrett Mills and Dave Thomas long-snap in college?
If an ILB, FS and CB have been drafted on Saturday, then I would give DeOssie serious consideration on Sunday, if he's still available at 127.

How many reps/practice does Lonie need to keep the exchanges between himself and Josh perfect? Practices last 90 min - 2 hrs each from what I've read. Each practice is choreographed ahead of time with players and coaches moving between activities quickly.

I'm sure Russ Hochstein gets in a few practice snaps for punting and kicking/week, but as one of the alternate longsnappers, he also needs to work on his QB/OC exchanges under Center and from the shotgun as back-up Center. He also needs a few reps at OG to keep current there. If the game plan calls for him to take reps at TE as a blocker I imagine that takes some of his time. Not to mention if he was to also take FB reps again. And the times he's been a part of the wedge on KR.

I don't doubt Dave Thomas and Garrett Mills take a few practice longsnaps on occasion to keep their hand in. But both would be involved in other Special Teams drills, not to mention TE & H-back, and if Mills is being groomed as a FB he'll need to work on the RB drills.

Zac DeOssie would have a great deal to learn about LB, especially as you would expect him to be learning all four LB slots in time, plus the three 4-3 slots for those occasions when he's plugged in from that perspective. Not to mention KO coverage, KR, etc.

We know BB prizes versatility and looks for players who can do more than one job on the field. We know he has longsnapping experience on the roster behind Lonie. Sometimes we scratch our heads and think Joe Football who was just cut would have been a valuable back-up on the roster and why does that one-note longsnapper remain around when others could also do his job? The only reason that comes to mind is LS/P exchange on punts and place kicks, BB must want those two to be in such harmony that they can make a smooth exchange in the foulest conditions. Odd duck that man, maybe he had a bad longsnap experience as a child?

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

I've grouped the Safety prospects into three groupings, players are listed in no particular order.

2nd round Safeties
Justin Durant, ILB, Hampton 6'1" 230
Eric Weddle, SS, Utah 5'11" 203

Middle round Safeties
Josh Gattis, FS, Wake Forest 6'1" 206
Sabby Piscitelli, SS, Oregon State 6'3" 224
Kevin Payne, FS, Louisiana-Monroe 6' 220
John Wendling, FS, Wyoming 6'1" 222
Michael Johnson, SS, Arizona 6'3" 205
Gerald Alexander, FS, Boise State 6' 210
Andrew Shanle, FS, Nebraska 6'1" 212
Fred Bennett, CB, South Carolina 6'1" 196
Aaron Rouse, SS, Virginia Tech 6'4" 223

Late round/UDFA Safeties
Zach Catanese, FS, Arizona State 6'2" 225
Chad Nkang, SS, Elon 6' 220
Ryan Glasper, SS, Boston College 6' 212
Jay Staggs, SS, UNLV 5'11" 214
C.J. Wilson, CB, Baylor 6'1" 195
David Lofton, FS, Stanford 6'4" 212
Willis Barringer, FS, Michigan 5'11" 208
Will Gulley, FS, Houston 6'3" 222
Leonard Peters, FS, Hawaii 6'1" 210
Jessie Daniels, SS, LSU 5'11" 216
Melvin Bullitt, SS, Texas A&M 6'1" 201
Craig Dahl, SS, North Dakota State 6'2" 216
Brannon Condren, SS, Troy 6'1" 208
Rashad Barksdale, SS, Albany (NY) 6' 208
Andre Kirkland, SS, Kent State 6' 204
Patrick Ghee, SS, Wake Forest 6'2" 210
Tristan Burge, SS, Eastern Illinois 5'11" 209
Jon Corto, SS, Sacred Heart 6' 208
Geoff Bean, SS, Colgate 5'11" 210
Adam Hayward, OLB, Portland State 6' 235
Matt Muncy, ILB, Ohio 6'1" 242
Daren Stone, SS, Maine 6'3" 218

-------------------------------------------Special Teams---------------------------------------

Long Snapper
Jared Retkofsky, LS, TCU 6'5" 265
Nick Leeson, LS, Virginia Tech 6'2" 255
Aaron King, LS, Texas-El Paso 6'1" 239
Brett Goode, LS, Arkansas 6'1" 232
Reserve Long Snapper
Greg Olsen, TE, Miami 6'6" 254
Zak DeOssie, ILB, Brown 6'5" 250

Place Kicker
Brian Wingert K Northern Iowa - Career 60-of-79 field goals (75.9 percent) while also making 151-of-157 PATs (96.2 percent). Good production over 40 yds.
Darren McCaleb K Southern Mississippi - 11/30/06 - All-Conference USA Third Team: Senior kicker Darren McCaleb, the school's all-time field goals made, percentage and points leader, hit 14-of-21 field goals this season and all 36 extra point attempts, scoring 78 points to lead the team. He hit a career long of 50 yards against Southeastern Louisiana and hit as many as six in a row during the season.
Brandon Pace K Virginia Tech - 11/29/06 - All-ACC Conference Second Team: Brandon Pace led the league in field goal accuracy and scored 86 points. The senior from Virginia Beach, Va., is 17-of-18 on field goals and 35-of-37 on extra points this season.
John Deraney K NC State - Ranks seventh in school history with a 40.9 yard career punting average, sixth in career punting yards (5,398), tied for seventh with 132 punts ... As a placekicker, ranks 11th in scoring with 146 points, seventh with 28 field goals made, ninth with a .667 connection mark, tied for sixth with 62 PATs and tied for first in PAT percentage (1.000) ... 85 of his 181 career kickoffs have been touchbacks, including 26 of 54 last season.
Mike Barrow K Idaho - Injured for 2006. 1st team All-WAC w/21-23 XP, 16-19 FG, 7-8 40+, long 53; P 43-1811-42.1, 13 in 20-2 TB, 4 FC, 1 blocked in 2005.

Punter
Daniel Sepulveda, P, Baylor 6'3" 229, Career 45.24 avg
Adam Podlesh, P, Maryland 5'11" 202, Career 43.1 avg
Adam Graessle, P, Pittsburgh 6'5" 215, Career 42.55 avg
Brandon Fields, P, Michigan State 6'5" 239, 2006 43.3 avg.
Kody Bliss, P, Auburn 5'11" 179, Career 43.87 avg.
Ryan Dougherty, P, East Carolina 6'1" 230, 2006 43.65 avg.
Reserve Punters
Kevin Payne, FS, Louisiana-Monroe 6' 220, 2006 40.6 avg.
John Deraney K NC State, Career 40.9 avg.
Mike Barrow K Idaho 2005 42.1 avg.

Gunner/Coverage: Defensive players are not listed, the offensive players have at least one solo tackle or blocked kick to get listed.
Jason Hill, WR, Washington State 6'1" 204
Sidney Rice, WR, South Carolina 6'4" 200
Johnnie Lee Higgins, WR, Texas-El Paso 6' 186
Aundrae Allison, WR, East Carolina 6' 198
Mike Walker, WR, Central Florida 6'2" 209
Jacoby Jones, WR, Lane (TN) 6'3" 210
Paul Williams, WR, Fresno State 6'1" 205
Courtney Taylor, WR, Auburn 6'2" 204
Chris Davis, WR, Florida State 5'10" 181
Robert Meachem, WR, Tennessee 6'2" 214
Yamon Figurs, WR, Kansas State 5'11" 174
Laurent Robinson, WR, Illinois State 6'2" 199
Dallas Baker, WR, Florida 6'3" 208
Rhema McKnight, WR, Notre Dame 6'1" 211
Chansi Stuckey, WR, Clemson 5'11" 197
James Jones, WR, San Jose State 6'1" 207
Jemalle Cornelius, WR, Florida 5'11" 184
Joel Filani, WR, Texas Tech 6'2" 211
Legedu Naanee, WR, Boise State 6'2" 225
David Ball, WR, New Hampshire 6'1" 196
Matt Trannon, WR, Michigan State 6'6" 216
Syvelle Newton, WR, South Carolina 6'1" 218
Aaron Fairooz, WR, Central Arkansas 6'6" 209
Roy Hall, WR, Ohio State 6'2" 229
Jerard Rabb, WR, Boise State 6'3" 201
D'Juan Woods, WR, Oklahoma State 6'1" 208
Jarrett Hicks, WR, Texas Tech 6'3" 210
Brian Leonard, RB, Rutgers 6'2" 226
Antonio Pittman, RB, Ohio State 5'11" 207
Tony Hunt, RB, Penn State 6'2" 233
Lorenzo Booker, RB, Florida State 5'11" 191
Michael Bush, RB, Louisville 6'2" 243
Kolby Smith, RB, Louisville 5'11" 220
Jackie Battle, RB, Houston 6'2" 235
Kenneth Darby, RB, Alabama 5'11" 211
Ronnie McGill, RB, North Carolina 5'11" 213
Jon Cornish, RB, Kansas 6' 206
Nate Ilaoa, RB, Hawaii 5'9" 245
Jason Snelling, FB, Virginia 5'11" 230
Le'Ron McClain, FB, Alabama 6' 256
Dane Todd, FB, Nebraska 6' 235
Greg Olsen, TE, Miami 6'6" 254
Zach Miller, TE, Arizona State 6'5" 256
Ben Patrick, TE, Delaware 6'3" 252
Kevin Boss, TE, Western Oregon 6'7" 252
Matt Spaeth, TE, Minnesota 6'7" 270
Michael Allan, TE, Whitworth 6'6"255
Clark Harris, TE, Rutgers 6'6" 261
Jonny Harline, TE, BYU 6'4" 248
Dante Rosario, TE, Oregon 6'3" 244
Brent Celek, TE, Cincinnati 6'4" 255
Daniel Coats, TE, BYU 6'3" 257
Anthony Pudewell, TE, Nevada 6'4" 250
Dan Murray, TE, Connecticut 6'5" 256

Kick Returner: Listed players have at least one KR in college.
David Clowney, WR, Virginia Tech 6' 188
Anthony Gonzalez, WR, Ohio State 6' 193
Johnnie Lee Higgins, WR, Texas-El Paso 6' 186
Jacoby Jones, WR, Lane (TN) 6'3" 210
Paul Williams, WR, Fresno State 6'1" 205
Robert Meachem, WR, Tennessee 6'2" 214
Yamon Figurs, WR, Kansas State 5'11" 174
Chansi Stuckey, WR, Clemson 5'11" 197
Brandon Myles, WR, West Virginia 6'1" 189
Steve Breaston, WR, Michigan 6'1" 193
Ryne Robinson, WR, Miami (OH) 5'9" 179
Jemalle Cornelius, WR, Florida 5'11" 184
Syvelle Newton, WR, South Carolina 6'1" 218
Syndric Steptoe, WR, Arizona 5'9" 194
Drisan James, WR, Boise State 6' 193
Tony Hunt, RB, Penn State 6'2" 233
Kenny Irons, RB, Auburn 5'11" 203
Lorenzo Booker, RB, Florida State 5'11" 191
Michael Bush, RB, Louisville 6'2" 243
Brandon Jackson, RB, Nebraska 5'10" 210
Garrett Wolfe, RB, Northern Illinois 5'8" 186
Jackie Battle, RB, Houston 6'2" 235
Selvin Young, RB, Texas 5'11" 207
Jon Cornish, RB, Kansas 6' 206
Clifton Dawson, RB, Harvard 5'10" 214
Matt Spaeth, TE, Minnesota 6'7" 270
Dante Rosario, TE, Oregon 6'3" 244
Brent Celek, TE, Cincinnati 6'4" 255
Daniel Coats, TE, BYU 6'3" 257
Julius McClellan, TE, North Carolina Central 6'4" 246
Jonathan Wade, CB, Tennessee 5'10" 195
Josh Wilson, CB, Maryland 5'9" 189
Daymeion Hughes, CB, California 5'10" 190
A.J. Davis, CB, North Carolina State 5'10" 193
Travarous Bain, CB, Hampton 6' 182
Corey Graham, CB, New Hampshire 6' 195
DeAndre Jackson, CB, Iowa State 6' 193
Kevin Payne, FS, Louisiana-Monroe 6' 220
John Wendling, FS, Wyoming 6'1" 222
Zach Catanese, FS, Arizona State 6'2" 225
Chad Nkang, SS, Elon 6' 220
Geoff Bean, SS, Colgate 5'11" 210
Tuff Harris, CB, Montana 6' 195

Punt Returner: Listed players have at least one PR in college.
Anthony Gonzalez, WR, Ohio State 6' 193
Johnnie Lee Higgins, WR, Texas-El Paso 6' 186
Aundrae Allison, WR, East Carolina 6' 198
Jacoby Jones, WR, Lane (TN) 6'3" 210
Paul Williams, WR, Fresno State 6'1" 205
Chris Davis, WR, Florida State 5'10" 181
Robert Meachem, WR, Tennessee 6'2" 214
Yamon Figurs, WR, Kansas State 5'11" 174
Rhema McKnight, WR, Notre Dame 6'1" 211
Chansi Stuckey, WR, Clemson 5'11" 197
James Jones, WR, San Jose State 6'1" 207
Steve Breaston, WR, Michigan 6'1" 193
Ryne Robinson, WR, Miami (OH) 5'9" 179
Jemalle Cornelius, WR, Florida 5'11" 184
Syndric Steptoe, WR, Arizona 5'9" 194
Drisan James, WR, Boise State 6' 193
Kenny Irons, RB, Auburn 5'11" 203
Lorenzo Booker, RB, Florida State 5'11" 191
Selvin Young, RB, Texas 5'11" 207
Ronnie McGill, RB, North Carolina 5'11" 213
Kevin Boss, TE, Western Oregon 6'7" 252
Leon Hall, CB, Michigan 5'11" 193
Darrelle Revis, CB, Pittsburgh 6' 204
Michael Coe, CB, Alabama State 6'1" 190
Ryan Smith, CB, Florida 5'10" 174
Brandon McDonald, CB, Memphis 5'11" 181
Corey Graham, CB, New Hampshire 6' 195
Tim Mixon, CB, California 5'9" 188
Marquice Cole, CB, NorthWestern 5'9" 191
Kevin Payne, FS, Louisiana-Monroe 6' 220
Eric Weddle, SS, Utah 5'11" 203
Rashad Barksdale, SS, Albany (NY) 6' 208
Geoff Bean, SS, Colgate 5'11" 210
Tuff Harris, CB, Montana 6' 195

PK Holder
Brad Ekwerekwu, WR, Missouri 6'4" 209

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Box: Thanks for the list.

Obviously I realize you put the Ks there just for completeness' sake, but, seriously--if the Pats draft a K this year, I will almost certainly start breaking expensive objects.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

Box: Thanks for the list.

Obviously I realize you put the Ks there just for completeness' sake, but, seriously--if the Pats draft a K this year, I will almost certainly start breaking expensive objects.

I ignored the Ks projected by NFLDraftScout.com to go before round 7/FA, and then only Wingate of those I listed was given a shot at being drafted in round 7. Basically, these are all kids with big legs (good percentages over 40 yds), one of whom I would expect to be invited to work with Brad Seeley and Gostkowski over the summer to improve his chance of landing in the Pros and give Gostkowski a rest.

 

[captain stone]

Mr. Box: I noticed that Auburn's Will Herring was not listed with the Safeties.
Are you stacking him as an OLB?

 

[sebman2112]

CJ Gaddis will likely transition to FS/SS in the NFL. I think he could make a very good FS, actually.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

Mr. Box: I noticed that Auburn's Will Herring was not listed with the Safeties.
Are you stacking him as an OLB?

No, let this be a cautionary tale of the dangers of late night draftnikking!