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Safety
- Thread starter powda
- Start date
TimeKiller
Guest
I've definitely said as much. I proposed Eric Reid in the 1st, I think he'd fit right in and boost the 2ndary.
WolverineFan
Hall of Fame
Give me Matt Elam from Florida. One of the few big hitting ball hawks out there.
TimeKiller
Guest
I'd be good with a Muschamp product. That D played with some huevos.
A little something on Cooper Taylor from the Bengals Board
He originally played at Georgia Tech.In 2009 he was sent to the hospital where he was diagnosed with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome. Immediate surgery fixed the problem, but he sat out the remainder of the season with a medical red shirt status.By the next year GT's secondary had plenty of talent so he transferred to Richmond.
Taking over the strong safety job, Taylor once again shined. In eight starts, he recorded 63 tackles, a forced fumble and an interception. His intelligence and ability to make hard open field tackles earned him some extra playing time in the defense's bandit hybrid safety/linebacker.
This season, Taylor established himself as one of the CAA's premier players, and as one of the top strong safeties in the NFL Draft. He's a two-time CAA Player of the Week, and he's putting together his best performance lately, collecting 13 tackles, a forced fumble and two QB hurries in a 39-0 route of Rhode Island last week.
Through eight starts, Taylor's racked up 63 total tackles, three tackles for loss and two forced fumbles. In coverage he's having his finest overall season, totalling five pass break-ups and three interceptions-one returned or a touchdown.
Draft Report
Taylor isn't built like a prototypical coverage NFL safety. He's long and strong (6'4", 228 lbs) and lacks the fluidity and body control to be an every down defensive back in the pros.
Despite his size, he has explosive speed, running 40-yard dashes as low at 4.47. He's stiff in the hips, but his nose for the ball and ability to read the play makes him effective in zone coverage. Taylor also moves well laterally, overcoming his height by maintaining a low center of gravity close to the line. He's an aggressive tackler, with the feet and technique to cover shiftier running backs and speedier slot receivers.
Where Cooper makes his money is his combination of size, speed and football acumen. He's a fierce hitter with a fearless playing style. A monster in the box, he loves to blow up running backs, and his above average wheels make him a top-shelf blitzer. Blessed with great hands, his motor and extra length helps him shed blockers and get to the ball.
More update for the whole 10-game season:
http://www.fieldgulls.com/nfl-draft/2013/1/15/3879586/draft-spotlight-cooper-taylor-and-david-bass
Some video cut ups:
He wears #22 at Ga Tech (Yellow Jackets)
This game was against Florida ST. I think.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=keDMX76oW1Q
He wears #1 for the Richmond Spiders
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3S8NeuLknM
He originally played at Georgia Tech.In 2009 he was sent to the hospital where he was diagnosed with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome. Immediate surgery fixed the problem, but he sat out the remainder of the season with a medical red shirt status.By the next year GT's secondary had plenty of talent so he transferred to Richmond.
Taking over the strong safety job, Taylor once again shined. In eight starts, he recorded 63 tackles, a forced fumble and an interception. His intelligence and ability to make hard open field tackles earned him some extra playing time in the defense's bandit hybrid safety/linebacker.
This season, Taylor established himself as one of the CAA's premier players, and as one of the top strong safeties in the NFL Draft. He's a two-time CAA Player of the Week, and he's putting together his best performance lately, collecting 13 tackles, a forced fumble and two QB hurries in a 39-0 route of Rhode Island last week.
Through eight starts, Taylor's racked up 63 total tackles, three tackles for loss and two forced fumbles. In coverage he's having his finest overall season, totalling five pass break-ups and three interceptions-one returned or a touchdown.
Draft Report
Taylor isn't built like a prototypical coverage NFL safety. He's long and strong (6'4", 228 lbs) and lacks the fluidity and body control to be an every down defensive back in the pros.
Despite his size, he has explosive speed, running 40-yard dashes as low at 4.47. He's stiff in the hips, but his nose for the ball and ability to read the play makes him effective in zone coverage. Taylor also moves well laterally, overcoming his height by maintaining a low center of gravity close to the line. He's an aggressive tackler, with the feet and technique to cover shiftier running backs and speedier slot receivers.
Where Cooper makes his money is his combination of size, speed and football acumen. He's a fierce hitter with a fearless playing style. A monster in the box, he loves to blow up running backs, and his above average wheels make him a top-shelf blitzer. Blessed with great hands, his motor and extra length helps him shed blockers and get to the ball.
More update for the whole 10-game season:
http://www.fieldgulls.com/nfl-draft/2013/1/15/3879586/draft-spotlight-cooper-taylor-and-david-bass
Some video cut ups:
He wears #22 at Ga Tech (Yellow Jackets)
This game was against Florida ST. I think.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=keDMX76oW1Q
He wears #1 for the Richmond Spiders
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3S8NeuLknM
Last edited:
Ive been thinking about that a bit myself. I think you keep Quin and invest a high pick on the position. I said in another thread that in Wades defense that 3rd safety is very important .... Looks like Im not the only one who believes that to be the case.
I dont have any particular players targeted at the position yet .... but in my next round of evaluations , the S spot will be one of the top priorities.
Bingo.... I don't like the idea of going Safety early, but if we do it had better be someone with coverage skills and both of these CB's will probably become a FS in the NFL.
Scooter
Funky
we play the 3rd safety because we dont have any options at linebacker. fix the problem of not having a linebacker with any coverage skills and it frees up our secondary. it also eliminates most of the ugly run blitz we see all game from players waiting to react to what their assignment does - since another linebacker taking keys frees up the line to attack without having to protect the secondary from spread runs.
That's the reason I wanted to take a look at big guys like Cooper.
He's as close to a hybrid safety/LB as you can get.
I really considered Amerson in my last mock as a CB. I think he'd be the ideal guy in this draft to play that 3rd safety spot with Quinn and Manning.
He might last to the second round , but I seriously doubt he falls all the way to the tail end of the round. Might have to move up to get him .... and Im not sure I'd be willing to give up picks to do that as there are so many needs to fill. Maybe after FA I'd be more willing to make a move up.
Not necessarily true , even when Cushing was healthy they went with only one LBer as Barwin and Reed were essentially DE's and the ILB opposite Cushing was replaced by a DB.
That's when I want the big safety to come in, when we go to our dime package.
Let Quin go back to play safety; this big guy can play the run better and he can cover a back better than the normal LB, and he also matches up with a second TE better than a small safety.
Last year, I suggested Andrew Rich as a late rounder (6th or 7th).
He was 6'3-220 and played safety at BYU where they often put him on the TE and bring in another safety just like we do.
He went undrafted but was called by 3 different teams.
I read that he was seriously considered for a roster spot on the Cardinals team; he was constantly running with the second team even though his leg injury wasn't quite healed yet.
But finally he decided not to play football to devote more time to his family (he's a Mormon.)
His newborn son was diagnosed with a heart disease.
He was 6'3-220 and played safety at BYU where they often put him on the TE and bring in another safety just like we do.
He went undrafted but was called by 3 different teams.
I read that he was seriously considered for a roster spot on the Cardinals team; he was constantly running with the second team even though his leg injury wasn't quite healed yet.
But finally he decided not to play football to devote more time to his family (he's a Mormon.)
His newborn son was diagnosed with a heart disease.
I thought the same as well, but after thinking about it, with TEs like Gronk, Hernandez, Grahams, Finely, Gresham.. I like having a biggish safety covering. I'd actually like to make Routte a safety if we resign him.
How is Amerson in the tackling department?
Is he physical ? Does he deliver big hits ?
But if we resign Quin, taking a safety in the first two rounds may not be ideal when he doesn't play much and we still have other holes to fill ???
Unless a really good one is available that we simply can't resist, that is.
Great prospect,
I've got him ranked in the early/mid 3rd. You?
What time/channel is the game on?
aussie_texan
Veteran
swearinger from south carolina i mocked him in the 5th. great open field tackler and well above average in coverage, his one of my sleepers this year
Rhodes is bigger and tackles better than Amerson.
If I had to pick a safety early it'd be Elam. Then Vaccaro, Rhodes, Amerson in that order.
Actually, it won't be until Sat, 3 P.M. on the NFL network.
Also, keep an eye on the OT from Arkansas Pine Bluff.
Don't know if he's going to play LT or RT, but was really dominating at the lower level.
Name is Terron Armstead #70 at Pine Bluff.
I haven't ranked the safeties yet, I'm just starting to watch them.
There seems to be some pretty good ones, not great but quite good.
TJ McDonald (USC) and Robert Lester (alabama) play everywhere; they were put on TEs, RBs, even on WRs at times. Both can blitz, too.
Lester looks to have good ball skills. He had had quite a few INTs over the years and I've seen quite a few close ones, too.
OK, thanks. I'll spend sometimes on all the names y'all listed here.
I read that Armstead is tearing it up in the East/West practices.
This appears to be the deepest S class in a while. I look forward to your wrie ups on the S.
Looks like Vaccaro is playing nickel at UT, you think he can make the transition to safety smoothly?
I've only watched a couple of games and he wasn't on any TE.
Neither Lester nor McD looks like they can man centerfield.
Both are pretty weak in tackling, especially Lester.
He has the ball skill while TJ is a more physical player and a little more instinctive.
I think they can play cover 2, but would that be even worth a second round pick?
Maybe for another team, but I'm not sure about the Texans.
WolverineFan
Hall of Fame
He will see his share of fines for sure. That said, he makes plays in coverage. Definitely the biggest "playmaker" at S in this draft IMO. Probably the only back seven defender on UF that didn't play horrible against Louisville.
Swearinger is who I'd target. I love his game actually more than some of the tip safety prospects.
He's a better player than vaccaro IMO. Not really close.
htownfan32
Hall of Fame
What do you guys think of Bacarri Rambo? And where would you see the Texans taking him if at all?
badboy
Hall of Fame
Here is a good article mentioning social media that has drawn Amerson's focus from his play. I think at that age it is quite easy to get caught up in what others say both con & pro. http://collegefootball.ap.org/starnewsonline/content/wolfpacks-amerson-having-rough-year-secondary
Some scouts will have concerns about his speed and athleticism but if he's lacking in this area it clearly didn't hinder his ability to produce in 2011. He simply needs to regain his old form and worry about any physical or off-field concerns that scouts may have once the draft process begins in January.
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1365342-nfl-draft-stock-report-whats-wrong-with-david-amerson
As a run defender, Amerson willingly sticks his face in the meat grinder and is an overall sound tackler for a corner having registered at least 50 stops in each of his 3 seasons.
With NC State playing a heavily zone based defensive scheme, Amerson was almost never asked to take his vision away from the quarterback or to go and eliminate a wide receiver at the line of scrimmage. He would be stripped of his instincts if he couldnt face and read the quarterback. Press-man coverage puts your direct vision on the wide receiver and is much more demanding physically, trust me. Hell likely be coveted by zone principled defenses where his skills are a premium.
He and his former head coach Tom OBrien both agreed that Amerson abandoned areas of technique in his game in order to make every play out there. 2012 showed us that Amerson does indeed have that unique quality found in every great defensive back, amnesia.
Much more here: http://www.optimumscouting.com/draft/articles/2013-nfl-draft-don-t-give-up-on-david-amerson.html
Personally I get more from Darrius Slay in late third than Amerson in high to mid second round.
I've watched a few of his games. He looks pretty good; but he's a problem child off the field though.
I like to watch more of him and Amerson (and others).
But I do think Rambo is a good player.
Amerson, I'm stil trying to figure out if he can make the conversion to safety.
He probably can, but it's still early.
There's time to look at all of them deeper.
Swearinger looks like a football player.
He has very good closing speed and a good instinct for the game.
Not quite sure about his coverage ability yet, but I've seen him get burned a couple times already. I still need to watch more of him though.
But he might get flagged some like Elam for going in high with his tackle (what with offensive players in the NFL taking advantage of the rules.)
powda
The bridge between stupid and useless is short.
Gimme a ball hawk with a nose for ints and speed. Seems we got far fewer turnovers this year then last...dont know if thats statistically accurate, but it appeared that way over the last half of the season at least.
1 safety
2 quarterback
3 nosetackle
3 inside linebacker
4 tackle/ guard
Plus a legit wr in free agency...
It's time to find out if earl mitchell can start at nose.
1 safety
2 quarterback
3 nosetackle
3 inside linebacker
4 tackle/ guard
Plus a legit wr in free agency...
It's time to find out if earl mitchell can start at nose.
I'm really torn about the safety situation.
It looks like the Texans will bring back Quin.
(Quin seems to be really upbeat about the prospect.)
If that's the case, should we find a great safety with a high draft pick?
There isn't one sure thing in this class to begin with.
There are some pretty good ones, but none I think can take over Manning spot in a few years.
It might be better to find a big one that can play in the box but also can cover the big TE and RB so we can move Quin back in the dime package.
We can find another safety next year or the year after next???
For all we know, the Texans might not even draft a safety next year and just go with Eddie Pleasant.
Pleasant isn't a bad player but I am concerned about his coverage skills.
Even though Reid had a bad Sr. yr, he's still my top rated S. He has all of the talent the great ones have. I remember the 1st LSUAla game 2 yrs ago. he was all over the field and literally saved the game by making an amazing pass breakup in the end zone that saved the game. Very few S have the ability to make that play.
I also love Rhodes, but see him as a CB in the Charles Woodson mold that can move to S later in his career. He is a former WR who moved to CB so he's a bit raw but his talent is undeniable.
My S ratings look like this before the combine.
1. Reid
2.Swearinger
3. Jefferson
4.Rambo
5.Phillp Thomas.
The reason I dont have Elam/Viccaro rated is Elam isn't all that great in coverage/will be penalty prone and I dont feel comfortable with Viccaro as my last line of defense.
My 2 sleeper picks that I would look at in the supp 3rd/4th rd who would be perfect for the Texans defense are
1. Duke Williams, he has the speed to play the slot WR or the single high S. He also is great as the last line of defense as a tackler.
2.Cooper Taylor, dude is 6'4 230lbs, he can play Quins spot in the box or has the speed to play deep. This guy is a player. Reminds me of a young David Fulcher.
powda
The bridge between stupid and useless is short.
I'm really torn about the safety situation.
It looks like the Texans will bring back Quin.
(Quin seems to be really upbeat about the prospect.)
If that's the case, should we find a great safety with a high draft pick?
There isn't one sure thing in this class to begin with.
There are some pretty good ones, but none I think can take over Manning spot in a few years.
It might be better to find a big one that can play in the box but also can cover the big TE and RB so we can move Quin back in the dime package.
We can find another safety next year or the year after next???
For all we know, the Texans might not even draft a safety next year and just go with Eddie Pleasant.
Pleasant isn't a bad player but I am concerned about his coverage skills.
I dont think its what we WILL do, I think its what we SHOULD do. People pick out all 3 defensive needs (ilb, safety, nose) and say, "it's a waste because they'll only be on the field x amount of time." So lets get 1 guy for the base defense and 1 guy for the nickle early. I want a new talent on the back end (safety) and one in the front 7 (nt) early along with a qb to unseat schaub in 2014. We have young talent at wr and ol which should get better so I dont address those needs till the middle rounds or with a 2nd tier free agent. If we have 1 "splash free agent" gimme a wr who will actually help now. Ilb is kinda the afterthought for me. Sure we need depth but we have cush comming back and james/dobbin did ok in his absence. Nothing great, not an atrocity.
I want a safety who can move because a slower run stopping safety is easier to find...in fact keo may be that guy as long as you use him to his strengths and dont give him to much field to cover.
A legit bruiser at nose keeps the inside backers clean and makes them more effective which is why I prioritize that position over ilb. Plus just maybe he makes watts job a lil easier.
I dont know enough yet about actual players in the upcoming draft which is why i'm only looking at it from a positional standpoint.
Both James and Dobbins are FA's.
As for "position X being a waste because its only on the firld Y%" .... its a legit arguement. But I think you have to look at which position is going to do more to limit the opposition and with this becoming more and more a passing league , I think a 3rd safety would be a bigger benefit in the grand scheme than a NT or ILB.
Yep,
It's a passing league, so you better have pass rushers 2-3 atleast.
3-4 CB's, atleast 3 S that are interchangable and 1-2 LB's that can both rush and are atleast in coverage.
How many of these holes are currently filled on the Texans defense? And that's not even taking into acct the current state of the Texans offense. Keeping the defense off the field is the best defense. This is why I hope the Texans quit neglecting the offense and put the pieces in place for them to be successful.
Watching Julio Jones light it up today only confirms my thought process. Looks like the Falcons are going to the SB and 2 yrs ago the Falcons were supposedly mortgaging their future trading 2 first rd picks and 5 total picks for Jones. 6-120-2TD's in the 1st half is making Dimitroffs risk taking look like a genius move. Wish BoB/Rick/Gary and Wade would take chances like this. (Not going to happen)
It's a passing league, so you better have pass rushers 2-3 atleast.
3-4 CB's, atleast 3 S that are interchangable and 1-2 LB's that can both rush and are atleast in coverage.
How many of these holes are currently filled on the Texans defense? And that's not even taking into acct the current state of the Texans offense. Keeping the defense off the field is the best defense. This is why I hope the Texans quit neglecting the offense and put the pieces in place for them to be successful.
Watching Julio Jones light it up today only confirms my thought process. Looks like the Falcons are going to the SB and 2 yrs ago the Falcons were supposedly mortgaging their future trading 2 first rd picks and 5 total picks for Jones. 6-120-2TD's in the 1st half is making Dimitroffs risk taking look like a genius move. Wish BoB/Rick/Gary and Wade would take chances like this. (Not going to happen)
If Bradie James comes back, then Wade's just as bad as Kubiak & Walter.
Bradie James can kick rocks, but I don't think it's the end if the world if he's brought back as depth and has to earn a roster spot.
Similar for Walter...have no issue with him on the team as a niche player. Walter should mainly be used in the slot or as a flanker or wing used to block and make short possession type catches.
Similar for Walter...have no issue with him on the team as a niche player. Walter should mainly be used in the slot or as a flanker or wing used to block and make short possession type catches.
Add another name to the list, Jonathan Cyprien from little known Florida Intl'.
There are 3 games out there on youtube: Louisville, W. Kent, and FAU.
He showed well during the Senior Bowl week and is currently rated by CBS Sports to be a mid round prospect.
I have a couple more games I think I will try to watch.
Look to have good range and flex hips; I think he has potential.
There are 3 games out there on youtube: Louisville, W. Kent, and FAU.
He showed well during the Senior Bowl week and is currently rated by CBS Sports to be a mid round prospect.
I have a couple more games I think I will try to watch.
Look to have good range and flex hips; I think he has potential.
WolverineFan
Hall of Fame
Cyprien is flying up draft boards. Probably a late 2nd-early 3rd prospect at this point.
Yep he can cover the TE or slot and is fearless against the run. Everybody is talking Cyprien up (Rightfully so) but Williams was the best S on the field during the Sr.Bowl. He'exactly what the Texans need to replace Demps/Keo.