Safeties to watch (merged)
 

Much has been speculated this week about Merriweather. Is he in the Patriots plans? Tough to tell. BB definitely sent him a message in practice this past week by starting Brown over him. Is Merriweather smart enough to receive the message? Well that is another story altogether.

Regardless however you dice it or slice it, safety is a position of need for next year.

Fortunately for BB the two best safeties in the country are currently playing BB's defense in college. Lester and Baron of Alabama. Lester is better in coverage and Baron is the better thumper.

I would not be upset if BB used pick #32 to secure either one, provided they both run well.

PS: With New Orleans first, I would love to see us take the 6'6" DE from South Carolina. I think he is going to be amazing this year, if he is healthy.

Re: Safety Position
 

You must mean Devin Taylor.

Re: Safety Position
 

Delano Howell is flying way, way under the radar for next year, but he fits the profile of safeties we've drafted over the years. He's roughly the same size and speed as Meriweather (5'11, 195, 4.5), and I think he shows a promising mix of skills. Fills very well against the run. Strong blitzer. Could improve in man to man coverage, but that's generally not a strong point for most safeties, anyway. His deep zone coverage is . . . solid, not spectacular. He's a reliable centerfielder, and although he's very clearly not a finished project yet, I think he'll improve considerably as a senior.

He will have started around 35 games by the end of the year, and should have over 200 tackles and double digit interceptions to show for it--and this is after transitioning from running back, so that's a nice career. He's productive and instinctive, and I like him as a late second/early fourth sort of guy right now. I'm curious to see how he does with another year of seasoning.

Early games last year:

Delano Howell vs Notre Dame and USC - YouTube

Watch the red zone defense on a couple straight plays, including a good read and open field tackle against a pretty darn good tight end about two minutes in. Nice work. He sheds blocks pretty well, too. He's undersized, but he's violent with his hands and does a good job keeping plays in front of him.

A few great hits against USC, but also a few mistakes. Not exactly mental flubs, usually, although he has a few; rather, he's a split second late on some of his reads. I chalk that up to inexperience, and I want to see if he improves this year.

Later in the year:

Delano Howell vs VT,Oregon,Arizona - YouTube


To sum up, I don't think he's as talented as Meriweather. I also don't think he's as prone to mistakes. He had five picks on the year, so he can make plays on the ball, but he seems to be more of the steady performer you can win with if the overall team talent is there.

Re: Safety Position
 

Love Kenny Tate. He's going to OLB this year for Maryland, but he's a stud. Speed, tackling, and play making.

Re: Safety Position
 

That's the guy. He could be something special if he stays healthy.

Re: Safety Position
 

It's several years away, but it would be crazy if they got that freshman DE on South Carolina (Clowney). He's also 6'6" and easily has the frame/build to play 3-4 DE, and he would thrive at it. I can't remember a D-line prospect coming out of HS as talented and dominant as Clowney is.

Re: Safety Position
 

Thread topic: safeties.

Majority of posts in the thread: OLB, DE, etc. :D

One guy we haven't mentioned yet is Micah Hyde. He played corner for Iowa (a football team I respect a lot), but is being moved to safety this year. Micah Hyde - YouTube

Good player.

Re: Safety Position
 

Nice to see im not the only delano howell fan. I definately want him more than any other safety so far. On another note. There seems to be an unusual amount of good inside linebacker candidates and wide recievers.

Re: Safety Position
 

This team right now is one dependable, sure-tackling, smart, tough FS away
(i.e.: everything Stomper is not) from having a very, very intriguing defense.

Re: Safety Position
 

lol good point

As mentioned already, I think Robert Lester is the obvious 1st choice but might require a 1st rounder if he improves off of what was already a great season last year. Plays in the college system most like BB's defense, has the height we currently lack at safety, and is the coverage specialist we need complimenting Chung.

2nd choices would probably by Tate or Ray Ray Armstrong, but Robert Lester seems like by far the best choice as it stands.