The importance of versatile safeties

[TexansSeminole]

Len Pasquarelli writes about the importance of versatile safeties to NFL defenses in this article: http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/draft07/columns/story?columnist=pasquarelli_len&id=2780030.

"If you're going to [defend] against tight ends lined up in the slot, backs in motion, and do it from your base defense, you better have good safeties," allowed Baltimore Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome. "It's almost impossible to play these days without at least one safety who has cornerback[-level] coverage skills."


Newsome and the Ravens possess such a player, of course, in the splendid Ed Reed, a natural ball hawk with a well-documented big-play mentality. And the Ravens last year added a second playmaking safety in Dawan Landry, the older brother of the LSU star who is so well-regarded in this draft, a fifth-round pick who won a starting job in training camp and who collected five interceptions in his rookie campaign.


"He's been a big influence on me," said LaRon Landry of his brother. "He's kind of pushed me to be better. Seeing what he did as a rookie, the way he carried himself on and off of the field, that's been a big deal. I'm anxious to do the same kinds of things."


Scouts rate LaRon Landry much higher than they did his brother a year ago, and he clearly has superior, all-around physical skills. At 6-foot, 213 pounds, and with projected speed in the mid-4.5s, Landry could be one of the top two or three defenders, at any position, to go off the board on draft day. The player to whom he most likens himself, with apologies to his brother, is Ronnie Lott, and he is an explosive hitter in the mold of the Hall of Fame safety.


"I play," Landry said, "like a wild bull."

This is just a snippet that I thought was interesting. We have no safety like Ozzie Newsome talks about. I agree with him...it's obvious at times that we are bitter need of a player like that. I personally believe Landry could give us that and that alone warrants the #8 pick.

See how people were projecting him around 4.5...That 4.35 time is really going to push him up the board.

 

[run-david-run]

Im starting to come around on Landry, but Im trying not to get sucked in based on the hype of an event I consider to be overrated. I would not be upset with Landry if he can be that guy, but I have my doubts as to what impact a rookie safties would have in a secondary already plagued by individual mistakes. We shall see.

 

[threetoedpete]

And that is the problem I have selecting him in the eight slot. He should be a fearfull wild boar, not a harmless pig in the middle of the table with an apple in his mouth. The high end numbers do not translate into football plays on the feild. Like the houchies-couchie dancer, you know it's there, but you never get to see the goods. I think we've been teased enough with Peek.

 

[David's Busted Carr]

So you guys mean to tell me Landry isn't worth the 8th pick if he's the 2nd coming of Ed Reed? Maybe that's a stretch, but the point is a dominant safety can absolutley have an EXTREME impact on a game. And rather than focus on a particular position, look at what he brings to the team. Kubiak wants PLAYMAKERS, I think Landry fits the bill alot better than Branch or Okoye.

 

[The Pencil Neck]

So you guys mean to tell me Landry isn't worth the 8th pick if he's the 2nd coming of Ed Reed? Maybe that's a stretch, but the point is a dominant safety can absolutley have an EXTREME impact on a game. And rather than focus on a particular position, look at what he brings to the team. Kubiak wants PLAYMAKERS, I think Landry fits the bill alot better than Branch or Okoye.

I took a look at a few of the "LaRon Landry's Greatest Hits" video clips on YouTube and... one thing bothered me... a lot of his hits seem to be on QB's, which is good, but the hits are AFTER the QB has released the ball, which is bad. There are a couple of sacks in there but an alarming number are "near" sacks.

Coming into the Combine, I'd heard good things about this guy. Then his performance in the Combine and he looks like a true Beast. But those video clips aren't really convincing me that he's 2nd Coming of Ed Reed.

I'm not going to be upset if we pick him but I'm going to be sitting on pins and needles until the season starts waiting to see if he can deliver the goods.

 

[YoungTexanFan]

I'm still hesitant about Landry. I haven't posted much on him yet, but I'm just hesitant. He has a great leadership mentality similar to Ryans, but Ryans made more things happen. I rarely saw Landy take charge of a game on anything but a blitz. I haven't really seen any spectacular, "game-changing" plays that only an upper echelon FS would attempt to make and then pull it off.

He had a good showing, but I'm not on board with him, even after his good numbers.

 

[keyfro]

before the combine even started i wrote on this message board that if laron landry ran anywhere near a 4.45 40 he would be a top 10 pick...now that he ran a sub-4.4 40 that's it he's solidified his stock...not to mention if you were able to watch on nfl network the change in direction this kid is capable of you would have thought he was a veteran corner...fluid hips...no hesitation in going up for the ball or delivering the bit hit...so yeah if adrain peterson does not fall to the 8th pick then landry is my guy hands down