Top Ten Free Safeties in the NFL??

[thunderkyss]

Well... The NFL Draft is coming. I see many people are getting pretty excited about the possibility of the Houston Texans drafting Laron Landry. Personally, I think that is high for a Safety.

Michael Huff, and Donte Whitner were two safeties drafted in the top ten of 2006, #7 & #8 overall. Anyone know how they did?? Were they "instant" impact??

Huff signed a 5 year deal, $15MM guaranteed. Whitner signed for something under $14MM guaranteed over 5 years.

My Question. Who were the top ten safeties in '06. & how much better were they than our safeties?? Let's say Laron can play at a top ten Safety level... is there that much difference in "production" from the safety position to justify using our #1 overall??

There's a CB that should be available around the #8... There's a RB that might be available at #8, There's a LT, a DE, and a DT who should be available around the #8 position. Maybe even a franchise QB...

[thunderkyss]

One more thing....

We gave up less passing TDs than Washington, Tampa Bay, New Orleans, Dallas, San Fran, Green Bay, Cincy, Tennessee, Seattle, Miami, Detroit, & Carolina.

We gave up less passing ypg than Minnesota, Cincy, Arizona, Atlanta, NYGiants, Tennessee, San Fran, Detroit, Dallas & Washington.

[Reddevil63]

Flipped around, that means we gave up more passing yards than 21 teams. FS is in definite need of an upgrade, whether that comes from Landry or a later pick, or someone in house. Of course the argument can be made that if we get another good DE and/or DT the pass rush will improve and the secondary will also look alot better.

I dont have any stats to answer your question with, Im just talking

[Ole Miss Texan]

I think oakland has the #3 overall defense in the league. how much of that is attributed to huff...i don't know and am not going to speculate...he is also a SS i believe.

our secondary is in desperate need. we HAVE to address either FS or CB on the 1st day of the draft. if faggins stays our #2 cb then we have to get a true FS. if cc is our fs then we have to get a shutdown CB to have opposite dunta.

I'm a big supporter for Landry. there are always pros and cons to any player. Quinn could be a great pick if there because he would be our next franchise QB lol. there are plenty of great players to have at 8...no need to move up.

one arguement for the drafting of Landry is this.

-Our secondary is pretty darn bad.
-Landry is the best FS in the draft. Is good in coverage, very fast, can really hit hard, tackles great, leader in the secondary, and a very smart football player.
-Landry is very fast..plays fast in pads...and blitzes very well. he can disguise his blitzes and get to the qb in a hurry, this would be great against peyton and vince.
-Teams can throw fairly easily against us because they have time to throw and their WR/TE/RB's can get open pretty easily.
-one way to stop that is tighter coverage which we would achieve. the other way is to get more pressure on the qb by the dline.
-this can be achieved and is typically called a coverage sack.
-with the help of landry patrolling the secondary, particularly helping faggins, the qb will have a harder time finding an open player and will have to hold onto the ball a little longer.
-this allows our d-line that extra second or two to put more pressure causing a sack/incompletion/interception. or in other words a bad decision by the qb...a hurry.

I think landry would be a great pick for those reasons. our defense really started coming together as the season progressed and thats a great sign. i think landry would help out a lot...great against the run, great at disguising blitzes to rush the QB, and good in coverage. This would allow each position to do their part and let Dunta finally have someone else good in the secondary. I think Defensive Coordinators dream of a player like this and Offensive Coordinators would have nightmares when gameplanning against us with Landry, Dunta, Demeco, and Mario.

[Maddict5]

i know what you're saying but most of the best pass defences have great coverage safeties (doesnt really matter about fs/ss..depends on how the teams play them)

ravens-reed
colts-sanders
raiders-huff
bills-whitner
jets-rhodes
eagles-dawkins
etc

[Mr teX]

Originally Posted by Maddict5

i know what you're saying but most of the best pass defences have great coverage safeties (doesnt really matter about fs/ss..depends on how the teams play them)

ravens-reed
colts-sanders
raiders-huff
bills-whitner
jets-rhodes
eagles-dawkins
etc

Adrian Wilson?
Sean Taylor?
Polamalu?

[AustinJB]

Originally Posted by thunderkyss

Michael Huff, and Donte Whitner were two safeties drafted in the top ten of 2006, #7 & #8 overall. Anyone know how they did?? Were they "instant" impact??

Originally Posted by thunderkyss

One more thing....

We gave up less passing TDs than Washington, Tampa Bay, New Orleans, Dallas, San Fran, Green Bay, Cincy, Tennessee, Seattle, Miami, Detroit, & Carolina.

We gave up less passing ypg than Minnesota, Cincy, Arizona, Atlanta, NYGiants, Tennessee, San Fran, Detroit, Dallas & Washington.

This should give you somewhat of an answer to your question, "Were they 'instant' impact?"

The respective teams for Huff & Whitner, Raiders & Bills, considered pass defense enough of a problem to use a top 10 pick on a FS. They were obviously impact enought to not be in your list of the worst pass defense teams. I'm not saying they turned it around themselves, but they were definitely a major component...w/in one year.

[jerek]

Originally Posted by thunderkyss

One more thing....

We gave up less passing TDs than Washington, Tampa Bay, New Orleans, Dallas, San Fran, Green Bay, Cincy, Tennessee, Seattle, Miami, Detroit, & Carolina.

We gave up less passing ypg than Minnesota, Cincy, Arizona, Atlanta, NYGiants, Tennessee, San Fran, Detroit, Dallas & Washington.

Not to mention that we were trailing in many games and thus on defense against a run-oriented offense for much of the time. Doesn't negate your point but it's worth consideration.

[Please_Evolve]

http://www.nfl.com/teams/depthcharts/OAK

It has Huff listed at a SS and Schweigert as the FS. I have a friend who is a HUGE raiders fan here. Kind of opened my eyes to the way Schweigert plays and he's really one of the more underated FS in the NFL. Reminds me of the way Kerry Rhodes is. I think Huff was also injured a few games as well. I'd also like to say in that defense they've been stock piling talent there especially at the corner position and it's paying off. Aside from Warren Sapp that is a YOUNG defense. IMO if they can get their offense together that will be a scary team.

http://www.nfl.com/teams/depthcharts/BUF

Whitner notched 107 tackles and 1 pick. Ko simpson did pretty well too it seems getting 76 tackles a sack and two picks.


In comparison : http://www.nfl.com/teams/depthcharts/HOU

Our starting Corner Dunta Robinson had more tackles then both safety starters.

Ed Reed and Landry: http://www.nfl.com/teams/depthcharts/BAL

Keep in mind in a 3-4 defense the linebackers keep things ahead of the Safeties with those stats.

Dawkins and Constadine : http://www.nfl.com/teams/depthcharts/PHI

While the tackle numbers aren't as high when the Defense needed a boost or the team a big play Dawkins seemed to make it.

[thunderkyss]

Originally Posted by jerek

Not to mention that we were trailing in many games and thus on defense against a run-oriented offense for much of the time. Doesn't negate your point but it's worth consideration.

Good Point.

Please_Evolve. Personally, I think a safety with crazy tackle stats means that particular team isn't very good at stopping the run, without a lot of support from the safeties. I don't have a problem with safeties helping in run support, but when 107 tackles on the 28th ranked run defense doesn't translate to "good" for me.

It's pretty danged impressive from a rookie nontheless, but really, a safety shouldn't have that many tackles.

Austin JB..... Good point. Mr. Tex... the guys you have listed have produced comparable tackles, sacks, FF & INTs as our Safeties. Nobody is saying those guys need to be replaced. If the guys you mentioned were playing on our team, and produced the numbers they produced, would we be wanting to replace them as well??

How much of our safeties production is dependant on Scheme?? How much of Reeds success is due to McAllister & Ray Lewis??

Roy Williams has 5 INTs, but he is not very good in coverage.

Originally Posted by thunderkyss

Good Point.

Please_Evolve. Personally, I think a safety with crazy tackle stats means that particular team isn't very good at stopping the run, without a lot of support from the safeties. I don't have a problem with safeties helping in run support, but when 107 tackles on the 28th ranked run defense doesn't translate to "good" for me.

It's pretty danged impressive from a rookie nontheless, but really, a safety shouldn't have that many tackles.

Austin JB..... Good point. Mr. Tex... the guys you have listed have produced comparable tackles, sacks, FF & INTs as our Safeties. Nobody is saying those guys need to be replaced. If the guys you mentioned were playing on our team, and produced the numbers they produced, would we be wanting to replace them as well??

How much of our safeties production is dependant on Scheme?? How much of Reeds success is due to McAllister & Ray Lewis??

Roy Williams has 5 INTs, but he is not very good in coverage.

C.C Brown doesn't have instincts like those other guys...not even Roy Williams...

I've seen those other safeties arrive at the reciever at the same time as the ball plenty of times either making the INT, or the tackle...

It seems C.C is always late to get into the picture...always trailing...

Sure those others are helped by talent around them, but it's not like C.C was playing with a bunch of scrubs...He wasn't good enough last year and we could definitely use an upgrade there...

Do I think C.C was the weak spot? No...IMHO, WLB and WDE are where we need the biggest upgrade...

[thunderkyss]

Of the guys playing in our secondary, I like Glenn & CC the best.

Faggins, then Sanders...

Dunta would probably make a good safety, but his small frame scares me to put him there....... but, he plays like a safety anyway... plays much bigger than he is. I just watched the New England game again, & he owned big 'ol Corey Dillion several times.

But I don't think he's a very good corner.

In this draft, I think if I had to chose between Nelson & Landry... I'd go with Nelson.

If I think I can get Houston in the second, I'd take Peterson for sure, and role the dice on the safety.

[TexanRoadrunner]

Just remember the Colts were a horrible D in the regular season.

Bob Sanders makes an amazing difference to that team. Not only with his play but the way he can inspire the defense.

Year before the Steelers...Troy Polamalu was there to be the inspiration.

To me it is imperative to have a playmaking safety.

[Clash_Fan3605]

Originally Posted by Mr teX

Adrian Wilson?
Sean Taylor?
Polamalu?

I think Wilson & Polamalu are SS... I agree on Taylor being a top 10 FS though, somewhere like 8-10.

[Ole Miss Texan]

Originally Posted by Clash_Fan3605

I think Wilson & Polamalu are SS... I agree on Taylor being a top 10 FS though, somewhere like 8-10.

sean taylor is a SS too, right?

point is a big time S can change the whole atmosphere of the Defense, I think the relation to the colts defense in the playoffs is a good one.

[AlbinoRat]

Neither of those safeties were considered to be in the same league as sean taylor when they were coming out as opposed to when he was. Like him or not, S.T. was an immediate impact and still is a bad a. Who else lays the wood in the pro bowl? Riddle me that. Landry and taylor both play tough hard hitting football, which allows them to be impact players on what ever team they play on.

[YoungTexanFan]

Whitner played SS, because the most talented FS in the entire draft last year was snagged in the 4th. Ko Simpson is the best S on that Bills team. Huff is a bit of a hybrid, and I believe he played a little nickle in Oak. as well. He is a middle of the road FS, and an above average SS at this point but is improving as he should. Ko Simpson was my top rated FS last year, and I would still take him over OD regardless, because Simpson is better at his position that OD IMHO.

[HJam72]

Originally Posted by YoungTexanFan

Whitner played SS, because the most talented FS in the entire draft last year was snagged in the 4th. Ko Simpson is the best S on that Bills team. Huff is a bit of a hybrid, and I believe he played a little nickle in Oak. as well. He is a middle of the road FS, and an above average SS at this point but is improving as he should. Ko Simpson was my top rated FS last year, and I would still take him over OD regardless, because Simpson is better at his position that OD IMHO.

I don't know how Simpson played his rookie year, but I did want him in the 4th really bad. I do remember that. At least OD did turn out well.

[Please_Evolve]

Originally Posted by thunderkyss

Good Point.

Please_Evolve. Personally, I think a safety with crazy tackle stats means that particular team isn't very good at stopping the run, without a lot of support from the safeties. I don't have a problem with safeties helping in run support, but when 107 tackles on the 28th ranked run defense doesn't translate to "good" for me.

It's pretty danged impressive from a rookie nontheless, but really, a safety shouldn't have that many tackles.

Austin JB..... Good point. Mr. Tex... the guys you have listed have produced comparable tackles, sacks, FF & INTs as our Safeties. Nobody is saying those guys need to be replaced. If the guys you mentioned were playing on our team, and produced the numbers they produced, would we be wanting to replace them as well??

How much of our safeties production is dependant on Scheme?? How much of Reeds success is due to McAllister & Ray Lewis??

Roy Williams has 5 INTs, but he is not very good in coverage.

Good point As well. I didn't watch many buffalo games...in fact i watched one too many.

I got the impression the offense spurtered quite a bit and the defense was on the field more as far as buffalo goes with inflated numbers for both safeties there.

I thought Huff was a fast SS out of UT, agreed YTF and yeah he played nickle a bit in Oakland. I thought for a while he had an ankle sprain that kept in in limited action for a game or two.

Agreed TK on Roy Williams. Good SS but a liability in coverage. If griffin or Merriweather fell to them in the scond i would not be suprised at all that they pick one of those two up. FS is that D's weak link right now.

As far as Ed Reed goes ithought he solidfied that secondary when they chose him. My memory fails me when it comes to who played opposite of McAllister when they drafted Reed. But yeah when you have Ray Lewis anchoring the middle of the field you will look pretty good.

Originally Posted by thunderkyss

In this draft, I think if I had to chose between Nelson & Landry... I'd go with Nelson.

I 100% agree...

If we want to improve our pass defense Nelson is the way to go...