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I love this pick so much. I am floating.
Can't give someone who hasn't played a down in the NFL an A.
What a great athlete: power, agility, a nose for the ball, coverage skills. However, all the potential day-1 starters at ILB are going off the board. So, I'm mixed. I'm happy the Texans got such a football player, yet I'm still scared to death over how soft we'll be in the middle next to Cush, when have to play the Pats again to get to the SB.
One can only hope that Wade invents more ways to get Swearinger on the field.
No freaking way!
AJ Klien , Kevin Reddick & Nico Johnson are still on the board and should be there when the Texans pick in the 3rd and possibly 4th.
Not to mention Khaseem Greene , Chase Thomas , Zaviar Gooden & Sean Porter who may make a move inside in the NFL.
That 2nd ILB isnt likely to see the field anymore often than Swearinger.
No freaking way!
AJ Klien , Kevin Reddick & Nico Johnson are still on the board and should be there when the Texans pick in the 3rd and possibly 4th.
Not to mention Khaseem Greene , Chase Thomas , Zaviar Gooden & Sean Porter who may make a move inside in the NFL.
That 2nd ILB isnt likely to see the field anymore often than Swearinger.
I'm tired of the name Manti .
A lot of serviceable LBs...but is it too much to ask for a Willis & Bowman combo for the Texans?
A lot of serviceable LBs...but is it too much to ask for a Willis & Bowman combo for the Texans?
Think about something here - That second ILB is not going to be on the field on passing downs. We already have Cushing who will be on the field in those situations - this team played its nickle/ dime package more than any other team in the league last year.
I talked about a hybrid LBer / Safety several times in the draft discussions but didnt think they would look for that guy so early - they got a hell of a player here who fills a huge need with Quin walking.
Why pay Willis & Bowman when one of them is on the bench 60% of the time ?!
I'm very ehhhhh on this pick. I think he's short to be covering TE in the NFL and we need a guy with coverage skill not hitting ability. There were better prospects available.
With that in mind, my two favorite safeties to watch on film were Jonathan Cyprien of Florida International, and South Carolinas DJ Swearinger. They likely wont be the first two safeties drafted (although you never know), but thats not my point. And by the way, they both will be NFL starters and quality players, maybe even as rookies.
I could see Cyprien becoming the best safety in this draft class three or four years down the road. If not, how about Swearinger? Forget about the 40 time. Those who focus on his timed speed miss the overall package. This kid played fast and decisively. There was a snap to his movement. He trusted his eyes, and he attacked aggressively. He showed excellent balance and body control breaking down to tackle in space. He competed with an edge. I loved his playing personality. He was clearly the tempo-setter for the South Carolina defense.
Heres why I believe Swearinger transitions very well to the NFL. He played every position in the Gamecocks secondary. He has significant experience at safety, both deep and in the box, slot corner and outside corner. He played man-to-man against Tennessee wide receiver Justin Hunter both outside and in the slot, and he ran with Hunter. You know what really stood out when he played man, especially over the slot; he understood how to play to his safety help over the top. He undercut routes, taking away the throwing lane for the quarterback. Thats great awareness. I do not often see that with college defensive backs.
Swearingers position versatility fits the NFL game. You dont have to project. Its all there on tape. With the myriad responsibilities that safeties now must perform, and that coordinators need them to execute to game plan a fully dimensional defense, the adaptability of a player like Swearinger is critical in the constantly changing world of NFL offense.
Type DJ Swearinger's name into Google, and the first page will be littered with examples of why he's become a college football fan favorite over the last three years - big hits and big plays. While young phenom defensive lineman Jadeveon Clowney is the most prominent Gamecock defender, Swearinger is the leader and Captain of the South Carolina defense, and it's easy to see why. The unit as a whole took on Swearinger's personality, playing with equal part's cockiness and violent reckless abandonment.
That's not to say that Swearinger is just a freelancing goon enforcer. One of the things that immediately jumps out about Swearinger is how versatile he is and how many roles he excels in for South Carolina. In South Carolina's base 4-2-5 defense, he's listed as a Free Safety. Over the course of a game, however, you'll see him line up all over the field. He's played as a center-fielder, can go down in the box as a Strong Safety, and even got a healthy amount of snaps at Cornerback for the Gamecocks this year after injuries took their toll on that position...
[IMGwidthsize=600]http://img832.imageshack.us/img832/3585/djhunter2.jpg[/IMG]
Greg Cosell was very high on DJ:
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And Rotoworld did a nice piece on him, too:
Punisher: S D.J. Swearinger