Safeties on the roster

[Ochmed Jones]

Safety play is becoming more and more important in the NFL. Teams that lack a strong presence at this position tend to struggle in pass coverage. Most teams are scouring the college landscape looking for the next Ed Reed. Oakland overdrafted Huff a few years ago on the hope that he becomes the next Ed Reed.

Now that Wilson has excaped BB's doghouse and IF Merriweather is indeed moving to CB, that leaves us very thin at the safety position.

SS Rodney Harrison is not the player he was 3 years ago and is in steady decline. The jump ball he lost to the Giants WR still haunts me to this day. Three years ago, he lays out the Giants WR and we win.

FS Sanders is much better suited as a SS where he can get closer to the LOS.

SS tank Williams is JAG, and acts as insurance in case Rodney goes down.

I know BB likes to think of the safties as splitting the field instead of the traditional Free and Strong, but an analysis of the Pats season shows Sanders playing centerfield and acting like a FS for much of the season. And he really didn't get his hands on that many balls.

So what do we need, a thumper to replace Rodney after this season, or does Sanders move up to SS and we draft a ball hawking FS.

The best thumper of the SS class is Z-bit from Notre Dame. But he is under sized for the NFL and might break down fairly quickly.

The best ball hawking FS might be Phillips of Miami, but he is also the most likely to freelance and blow a coverage. Not to mention that in my opinion, he'll need at least a year and a half to learn the playbook.

Maybe we could package the #7 pick with a third rounder and send them to Oakland for Nnamdi and Huff. But somehow I can't see BB doing that even there was no salary cap.

I think we can pick up a quality ball hawking FS with a wart or two on day 2 and give him a year in the system to learn the playbook while contributing on special teams.

 

[ALP]

meriweather isnt moving to CB...it would be too stupid of a move....

rodney's time this year sees a big decline

sanders plays his natural SS role

and we have the next ed reed in an FS named meriweather

why weaken the safety play a lot, to improve the cb play a little?

 

[dryheat44]

Safety play is becoming more and more important in the NFL. Teams that lack a strong presence at this position tend to struggle in pass coverage. Most teams are scouring the college landscape looking for the next Ed Reed. Oakland overdrafted Huff a few years ago on the hope that he becomes the next Ed Reed.

Now that Wilson has excaped BB's doghouse and IF Merriweather is indeed moving to CB, that leaves us very thin at the safety position.

SS Rodney Harrison is not the player he was 3 years ago and is in steady decline. The jump ball he lost to the Giants WR still haunts me to this day. Three years ago, he lays out the Giants WR and we win.

FS Sanders is much better suited as a SS where he can get closer to the LOS.

SS tank Williams is JAG, and acts as insurance in case Rodney goes down.

I know BB likes to think of the safties as splitting the field instead of the traditional Free and Strong, but an analysis of the Pats season shows Sanders playing centerfield and acting like a FS for much of the season. And he really didn't get his hands on that many balls.

So what do we need, a thumper to replace Rodney after this season, or does Sanders move up to SS and we draft a ball hawking FS.

The best thumper of the SS class is Z-bit from Notre Dame. But he is under sized for the NFL and might break down fairly quickly.

The best ball hawking FS might be Phillips of Miami, but he is also the most likely to freelance and blow a coverage. Not to mention that in my opinion, he'll need at least a year and a half to learn the playbook.

Maybe we could package the #7 pick with a third rounder and send them to Oakland for Nnamdi and Huff. But somehow I can't see BB doing that even there was no salary cap.

I think we can pick up a quality ball hawking FS with a wart or two on day 2 and give him a year in the system to learn the playbook while contributing on special teams.

What's that....that's....that's.....that's Patrick Lee music. I think he's in over his head at CB, but he seems to be an ideal FS for this team.

I'm also sure you've noticed I've been driving the Quentin Demps train.

 

[BradyManny]

Meriweather can't be moving to CB. It doesn't make sense on any level, least of all the fact that he is currently the ONLY free safety on the roster. He started at FS in the Super Bowl, and I expect the season will begin with him in the same situation.

So, IMO, the safety position is filled save for a backup FS.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Now that Wilson has excaped BB's doghouse and IF Merriweather is indeed moving to CB, that leaves us very thin at the safety position.

For the record, Bubba says hi.

Seriously, though, from PFW:

“He’s a football player,” Talley said. “He has all the tools. He’s extremely smart and he plays with great enthusiasm. He’s a 200-pounder who hits like he’s 240 pounds. He can do a lot of things for an NFL team. Once they put him in the game - at the very least - he will change the face of special teams by flying all over the place and making plays. He just needs a chance to show what he can do. Once he gets on the field, his size won’t be an issue.”

 

[Jimke]

Somewhere in the draft the Patriots will have to draft a safety

because Rodney Harrison, James Sanders, and Tank Williams become

free agents next year.

 

[DW Toys]

Safety play is becoming more and more important in the NFL. Teams that lack a strong presence at this position tend to struggle in pass coverage. Most teams are scouring the college landscape looking for the next Ed Reed. Oakland overdrafted Huff a few years ago on the hope that he becomes the next Ed Reed.

Now that Wilson has excaped BB's doghouse and IF Merriweather is indeed moving to CB, that leaves us very thin at the safety position.

SS Rodney Harrison is not the player he was 3 years ago and is in steady decline. The jump ball he lost to the Giants WR still haunts me to this day. Three years ago, he lays out the Giants WR and we win.

FS Sanders is much better suited as a SS where he can get closer to the LOS.

SS tank Williams is JAG, and acts as insurance in case Rodney goes down.

I know BB likes to think of the safties as splitting the field instead of the traditional Free and Strong, but an analysis of the Pats season shows Sanders playing centerfield and acting like a FS for much of the season. And he really didn't get his hands on that many balls.

So what do we need, a thumper to replace Rodney after this season, or does Sanders move up to SS and we draft a ball hawking FS.

The best thumper of the SS class is Z-bit from Notre Dame. But he is under sized for the NFL and might break down fairly quickly.

The best ball hawking FS might be Phillips of Miami, but he is also the most likely to freelance and blow a coverage. Not to mention that in my opinion, he'll need at least a year and a half to learn the playbook.

Maybe we could package the #7 pick with a third rounder and send them to Oakland for Nnamdi and Huff. But somehow I can't see BB doing that even there was no salary cap.

I think we can pick up a quality ball hawking FS with a wart or two on day 2 and give him a year in the system to learn the playbook while contributing on special teams.

Sanders is awful. He cannot cover or tackle. We need a Rodney replacement in the wings and keep Merriweather back at FS. So at least go for a Tom Z or Josh Barrett who has 4.39 speed and is 224 lbs.
Love your idea of Aso and Huff. Do that swap and give them young James to boot. Look at Huffs' production. Like 87 tackles? What did Sanders? Half of that? Sanders is slow as well. Our biggest plays given up were passing over the middle.
DW Toys

 

[DaBruinz]

Sanders is awful. He cannot cover or tackle. We need a Rodney replacement in the wings and keep Merriweather back at FS. So at least go for a Tom Z or Josh Barrett who has 4.39 speed and is 224 lbs.
Love your idea of Aso and Huff. Do that swap and give them young James to boot. Look at Huffs' production. Like 87 tackles? What did Sanders? Half of that? Sanders is slow as well. Our biggest plays given up were passing over the middle.
DW Toys

Would you just STOP with your hatred of Sanders? He's FASTER than Harrison (who ran a 4.8-40). He's a SOLID, but not spectacular tackler who is BETTER than Wilson and Samuel.

You might also want to go back the tapes and see that HARRISON was the one on the field for many of those big plays you are talking about.

 

[VJCPatriot]

This year's safety crop is pretty awful. I wouldn't spend earlier than a 3rd or 4th round pick on one.

 

[mgteich]

The issue is value. Are you saying that their are no safeties who are values in the first two rounds, and that there are safeties who are values in the 3rd.

My suspicion is that there is no value at all.

This year's safety crop is pretty awful. I wouldn't spend earlier than a 3rd or 4th round pick on one.

 

[DaBruinz]

The issue is value. Are you saying that their are no safeties who are values in the first two rounds, and that there are safeties who are values in the 3rd.

My suspicion is that there is no value at all.

There are some safeties of limited value through-out the draft. Including players like Quentin Demps and Tom Zbikowski. The problem is that there is a lack of quality in the draft as an entirety at the safety position.

Though there are some players like Reggie Smith and possibly Patrick Lee who are listed out as CBs who might be better at Free Safety.

 

[Seneschal2]

There are some safeties of limited value through-out the draft. Including players like Quentin Demps and Tom Zbikowski. The problem is that there is a lack of quality in the draft as an entirety at the safety position.

Though there are some players like Reggie Smith and possibly Patrick Lee who are listed out as CBs who might be better at Free Safety.

I agree, there are some CBs who are being projected to the Safety position. BB may opt for the solid tackling w/ good ball skills CBs who may be a bit slow for the position, rather than the traditional SS and FS types. I really don't think he cares who plays which position; he'll just select the right player and plug him in somewhere.

 

[sebman2112]

I agree, there are some CBs who are being projected to the Safety position. BB may opt for the solid tackling w/ good ball skills CBs who may be a bit slow for the position, rather than the traditional SS and FS types. I really don't think he cares who plays which position; he'll just select the right player and plug him in somewhere.

I think Chevis Jackson will be a good CB in the NFL (he's one of my top 3-4 fits at CB for NE), but he can also play FS, and has good size (6' 192lbs). So, there are a number of CB's in this class who have some FS ability.

Heck, Brandon Flowers patterns his physicality after Rodney Harrison (his own words), but at 5'9" I doubt many teams are looking at him as a Safety. I would sure love his physicality at CB though, especially with another hard hitter (Meriweather) playing next to him at FS.

 

[jeffbiologist]

The Safety position is definately changing the defenses. This is likely Rodney's last year, and I dont like Sanders as a long term replacement because to me he is neither a thumper nor a ball hawk. Merriweather can get on the field by putting magnets in his gloves and he should definately stick to FS not CB. Right now we have Tank and Sanders on the roster, why not take on a project with a lower pick to modify the player to fit OUR SS position. Dryheat has his Demps(CB/FS) and I have my Woodyard(OLB/SS).
Now Woodyard is a GREAT tackler, LB by trade, has the speed to get in on blitzes(when was the last time Rodney did that?)and the size to cover TEs. He could be a THUMPER EXTRODINAIR or he could be just a ST guy...It would take him a year to learn anyways, and if he doesnt pan out we resign one of the other SSs. But this guy is going to make a team, and as the classic tweener, he would need superior coaching to bring his talents to the new position at the next level. We have a GREAT DB coach this year(Capers), so I think this the best time to take on a project like Woodyard or Demps. The difference is Demps might do what we WANT Merriweather to do this year.....I really think if Woodyard can get the chance he can take someones head off going over the middle.....damn Tyree....

 

[dryheat44]

The Safety position is definately changing the defenses. This is likely Rodney's last year, and I dont like Sanders as a long term replacement because to me he is neither a thumper nor a ball hawk. Merriweather can get on the field by putting magnets in his gloves and he should definately stick to FS not CB. Right now we have Tank and Sanders on the roster, why not take on a project with a lower pick to modify the player to fit OUR SS position. Dryheat has his Demps(CB/FS) and I have my Woodyard(OLB/SS).
Now Woodyard is a GREAT tackler, LB by trade, has the speed to get in on blitzes(when was the last time Rodney did that?)and the size to cover TEs. He could be a THUMPER EXTRODINAIR or he could be just a ST guy...It would take him a year to learn anyways, and if he doesnt pan out we resign one of the other SSs. But this guy is going to make a team, and as the classic tweener, he would need superior coaching to bring his talents to the new position at the next level. We have a GREAT DB coach this year(Capers), so I think this the best time to take on a project like Woodyard or Demps. The difference is Demps might do what we WANT Merriweather to do this year.....I really think if Woodyard can get the chance he can take someones head off going over the middle.....damn Tyree....

You know, I must admit I've been looking at Woodyard a little more, and I'm coming around on your idea. Another guy whom I think could make the same OLB to SS move and excel is Derrick Doggett out of Oregon State. Near as I can tell, he and Woodyard are the same guy.

 

[Ochmed Jones]

You know, I must admit I've been looking at Woodyard a little more, and I'm coming around on your idea. Another guy whom I think could make the same OLB to SS move and excel is Derrick Doggett out of Oregon State. Near as I can tell, he and Woodyard are the same guy.

I watched Woodyard in the Kentucky-LSU game and he looks really stiff to me. Not a lot of lateral movement. However he has above average form as a wrap up tackler and he can bring the wood.

 

[BradyManny]

If we're talking SS, what are everyones thoughts on Jamar Adams?

 

[sebman2112]

At Strong Safety I'm interested in Josh Barrett.

Reliable tackler, brings the pop, very good against the run, high football IQ, tough, good size (6'1.6" 223lbs), great timed speed (4.35 forty at the Combine), good burst (1.50 ten split), team leader and hard worker, good range for a SS candidate.

 

[captain stone]

For the record, Bubba says hi.

Seriously, though, from PFW:

Could you provide a link, please? 'Cause I know we're talking Ventrone here, but I don't know if PFW is Pro Football Weekly or, as I suspect, Patriots Football Weekly. And who's Talley?

 

[DocE]

Looking for safeties who could possibly play for the Patriots, I found a guy recently who seems too good to be true. I've never seen him play, so if anyone has I'd like to hear your thoughts.

Rocky Schwartz SS Houston

This guy played LB and safety and just tore it up at his pro day. 5'10 204lbs, 4.42 in his 40, 25 reps of 225lbs, 41.5 inch vertical, 10'02 broad jump, 4.09 shuttle, and 6.52 3cone

All of these numbers are outstanding and the guy sounds like he was a good player on a bad defense. I especially like that he forced 3 fumbles and broke up 8 passes (a high number for a safety) this year.

NFL draft scout has him as undrafted guy and only the 31st best SS in the draft. I think he'd be worth a shot at as UDFA at the very least on the basis of his workout alone.