The Secondary

[Real fan 02]

Cosell sees Woodson as a strong safety playing closer to the line - a downhill hitter and also good in quarters (which I suspect we will see a lot of):



Someone else compared him to Chung.

He appears bigger and more rangier than chung.. what's Woodson 6"2??... from him college tape I see him as a FS..

 

[Real fan 02]

That flows both ways, I remember the Broncos trying to cover Jules with Aqub Talib. He was an All Pro CB, but too big and not mobile enough to cover Edelman… they wished they had another uber athletic small CB. There’s a tool for every job.

Marcus is an excellent slot CB.. when he as cover on the outside he struggles. He has great awareness, speed and agility. Aquib "hamstring " talib was never having big games while here is why bill couldn't sign him.. he didn't trust his availability.

 

[signbabybrady]

He appears bigger and more rangier than chung.. what's Woodson 6"2??... from him college tape I see him as a FS..

6 feet even.

 

[Real fan 02]

6 feet even.

Ok not sure what I was thinking 6'2.. Chung is 5"10.. he was playing out of position his first go round.. 2nd rounder out of Oregon.. when he returned he was borderline all pro for us.

 

[Real fan 02]

6 feet even.

Ok not sure what I was thinking 6'2.. Chung is 5"10.. he was playing out of position his first go round.. 2nd rounder out of Oregon.. when he returned he was borderline all pro

 

[Real fan 02]

I don’t know. I thought it might be a weakness holding the edge, but the only knocks I found on him were technical, which can easily be cleaned up with good coaching. And he’s a great fit for what the Patriots will likely be using him, which is as a situational pass rusher.

*Edit: the article above gave the relevant information,

Vrabel and Williams aren't drafting, singing or even playing anyone who can't hold and set the edge.. we have two of the leagues top edge players in Jennings and landry already on the roster.. swinson will be learning from them as rookies.

 

[SlowGettingUp]

He appears bigger and more rangier than chung.. what's Woodson 6"2??... from him college tape I see him as a FS..

Certainly his measurables profile as FS. Who knows if his brain does too.

Perhaps, like Chung, he can switch back and forth, which is valuable.

Woodson is taller, faster and more explosive, but lighter than Chung:



If we compare to Devin McCourty, Woodson is taller, heavier, and bit faster but also a bit less agile:

 

[Real fan 02]

Certainly his measurables profile as FS. Who knows if his brain does too.

Woodson is taller, faster and more explosive, but lighter than Chung:



If we compare to Devin McCourty, Woodson is taller, heavier, and bit faster but also a bit less agile:

Great graphic! Yes, he projects more of a FS.. people tend to forget McCourty was drafted # 32 overall as a CB and had an all pro rookie season. I cannot explain to this day why he regressed in year 2.

But I remember him saying that it took him time to understand the FS position. He said he had the speed and abilities but he needed to add some muscle to be able to tackle in the open field. Chung became an excellent SS his second go round here. I like what Woodson presents as a player.. if he can play up to the level of his last name of others with similar..we have struck gold!

 

[captain stone]

Vrabel hasn't really gone in that other direction. Is there any competition for Jones at nickel?

Not really competition, but DJ James has experience in the slot and among the CBs currently in the building is the one best-suited for that role... I hope he takes full advantage of this opportunity and bumps a Non-CB like Isaiah Bolden Off the team.... Also disappointed that Drake Maye's teammate at UNC, Alijah that shameless Huzzie, wasn't signed here as a UDFA to compete with James as Marcus the Midget's backup.

 

[captain stone]

I think Bolden, Dial, and Austin are competing for the last 2 or 3 CB spots. I don't see the problem there I like all 3 as depth guys.

Surely you can't be serious.

 

[signbabybrady]

Surely you can't be serious.

 

[captain stone]

Vrabel and Williams aren't drafting, singing or even playing anyone who can't hold and set the edge.. we have two of the leagues top edge players in Jennings and landry already on the roster.. swinson will be learning from them as rookies.

Landry's a top edge-setter? News to me.

 

[Real fan 02]

Landry's a top edge-setter? News to me.

7th out of 211 edge players...

 

[captain stone]

7th out of 211 edge players...

Well there I go... He definitely didn't have that rep coming out of BC...

 

[JohnJH]

Vrabel hasn't really gone in that other direction. Is there any competition for Jones at nickel?

My impression from what Vrabel's been saying (and not saying), is that outside of a few players, starting positions in all 3 phases of the team will be earned in camp and the preseason.

 

[upstater1]

I don't think that's good enough. Austin to me is a #4, tops, preferably a #5.




That's why I voted for the group that included DJ James, a generally more highly-regarded prospect at his position from the '24 draft (Slot) than Dial was at his Outside position: I hope he sees the opportunity before him as Marcus Jones' backup, and seizes it.

Besides Austin, Marcus & James, I also voted for Epps - I don't know why he's lumped with Minkins, who should be in the bottom group and James removed from it and given his own appearance; Jaylinn Hawkins - though I won"t be shocked if the 5th Safety is Dell Heavy Pettus, especially if Marty McPoo, for whom I did Not vote because he's a Weak-side LB and Not a Safety, does indeed begin to play more up-close as he Should Be Doing; and Miles Battle, who has both the physical & athletic gifts one desires in an Outside CB... I also hope that he puts it all together this TC like James and relegates Both Dial & especially Bolden to the PS because I don't believe that Either of the latter two have Any future in the NFL as CBs.

As a rookie, Austin looked like he was going to be another huge find. The kid is pretty athletic.

Injury last year set him back

 

[mgteich]

As a rookie, Austin looked like he was going to be another huge find. The kid is pretty athletic.

Injury last year set him back

You make a good case that Austin is the #4 CB backing up the oft-injured Jones and both the outside cornerbacks.

Don't we need a solid #5 and the normal #6/STer?

 

[Real fan 02]

Well there I go... He definitely didn't have that rep coming out of BC...

No.. he was ignored.. just like flowers out of BC was ignored too..

 

[Real fan 02]

You make a good case that Austin is the #4 CB backing up the oft-injured Jones and both the outside cornerbacks.

Don't we need a solid #5 and the normal #6/STer?

Austin I've always been high on.. he's the top guy off the bench and proverbial starter if Davis gets hurt.. the only knock on Davis has been injuries.. otherwise he's a lock down corner.