Jene Bramel
Footballguy
SAFETIES
The safety group this year looks pretty interesting, similar to last season when there were plenty of late round picks who had (Bethea, Landry, Harper) or are about to have (Page, Pollard) an IDP impact behind a couple top notch prospects. Plenty of the “new tweener” breed of cover safeties that can support the run as well. The comparisons are tough here because many of these guys have very similar skill sets to my marginally trained eye.
Laron Landry, LSU (6’1”, 215)
The total package. Can run, hit and cover. Maybe the most instinctive defender in the draft. IDP stud in the making in the right scheme with 80 solo/6 interception per season potential.
Comparison: Rod Woodson
Reggie Nelson, Miami (5’11”, 200)
Solid cover safety with decent run support skills. Could cover most slot receivers and has above average big play instincts.
Comparison: Greg Wesley
Michael Griffin, Texas (6’0”, 200)
Inconsistent all-around skills. Ball instincts, run support angles, and tackling are suspect at times but his measurables suggest he could be a top player. Could be a solid in-the-box player despite his size.
Comparison: A slighter, but better covering Roy Williams.
Brandon Meriweather, Miami (5’11”, 195)
If not for his off-field silliness (and some shoulder issues), Meriweather would probably be getting pimped all over the place. He could be the best cover corner in the draft and he hits bigger than his size might indicate. Seems likely to be a FS in the NFL. Coyle compares him to Troy Vincent, but his scouting report suggests he could be a better all-around player at both safety and corner. I’m thinking he’s a mix of the best qualities of Ed Reed, Troy Vincent and Bob Sanders.
Comparison: Ed Reed
Aaron Rouse, Virginia Tech (6’4”, 220)
Big, athletic, in-the-box safety that can handle some coverage but will struggle against stud TEs and slot WRs. Could improve and become a real force as an all-around player in the mold of a young Sammy Knight. In the right system, could give Landry a run as the top IDP value at safety.
Comparison: Adrian Wilson
Tanard Jackson, Syracuse (6’0”, 200)
Played a lot of corner in college but projects as a solid NFL safety in the new breed of guys who can cover all over the field and still hit.
Comparison: Donte Whitner
Eric Weddle, Utah (5’11”, 200)
Instinctive, jack-of-all-trades kind of guy. May not have one elite skill though. Works hard in run support and has solid cover skills, though he may not project well to corner in the NFL. No easy comp here either. Some say a less explosive, better covering Bob Sanders. I think he sounds a little like Renaldo Hill, but more athletic.
Comparison: Renaldo Hill
Josh Gattis, Wake Forest (6’1”, 210)
Most reports suggest Gattis is above average in run support and zone coverage but struggles to match up in man coverage. This class is deep with new breed cover safeties, but Gattis will be available later and could be a very nice player. He could have big IDP upside in the right system.
Comparison: Gibril Wilson or Marcus Pollard
Other guys like Michael Johnson (Arizona State), Sabby Piscatelli (Oregon State), and John Wendling (Wyoming) all have some coverage blemishes that will push them to the back of the draft but have the size/skill set that fill up boxscores. They could compare favorably to a Michael Lewis or Adam Archuleta type player. All are worth watching closely and any could have nice value in a good situation.
CORNERBACKS
Lot of interesting prospects coming in this year’s draft for those in CB specific leagues. Like last year with Cedric Griffin, Alan Zemaitis and Ashton Youboty, there are also a handful of Cover-2 types who will be taken in the middle rounds who could have solid IDP value down the road in deeper dynasty leagues.
Leon Hall, Michigan (5’11”, 195)
Big, physical corner who could succeed in any scheme but gets downgraded in some scouting circles for his inconsistency on deep routes and gambling nature.
Comparison: DeAngelo Hall
Chris Houston, Arkansas (5’10”, 185)
Instinctive cover corner with better run support skills than his size might indicate. Gets to plenty of balls but has questionable hands.
Comparison: Dunta Robinson
Darrelle Revis, Pittsburgh (5’11”, 200) // possible return specialist
Scouting report reads like the total package. Has the size, speed, instincts, ball skills, and willingness to support the run that can make an IDP stud in any league. Also may contribute in the return game.
Comparison: Ty Law
Marcus McCauley, Fresno State (6’1”, 200)
Big, athletic cover corner with suspect instincts and a history of inconsistent play in coverage and run support. Questionable whether athleticism and recovery skills will make up for poor instincts in the NFL. If he puts it together, his career could mirror Rashean Mathis.
Comparison: Shawntae Spencer
Aaron Ross, Texas (6’0”, 195)
Playmaking corner with developing man skills. Willing hitter in run support. Could develop into a top corner in any scheme but could become an IDP stud in a Cover-2 scheme with his zone cover and ball skills.
Comparison: Charles Tillman
Others to watch in the right situation:
Eric Wright (UNLV) could prove to be better than some of the above guys over time. Travarous Bain (Hampton), Daymeion Hughes (Cal) and a whole host of other guys with size but some man coverage blemishes (e.g. Michael Coe) could fit well in one of the many Cover-2 schemes around the league. Hughes is probably the best bet right now.
The safety group this year looks pretty interesting, similar to last season when there were plenty of late round picks who had (Bethea, Landry, Harper) or are about to have (Page, Pollard) an IDP impact behind a couple top notch prospects. Plenty of the “new tweener” breed of cover safeties that can support the run as well. The comparisons are tough here because many of these guys have very similar skill sets to my marginally trained eye.
Laron Landry, LSU (6’1”, 215)
The total package. Can run, hit and cover. Maybe the most instinctive defender in the draft. IDP stud in the making in the right scheme with 80 solo/6 interception per season potential.
Comparison: Rod Woodson
Reggie Nelson, Miami (5’11”, 200)
Solid cover safety with decent run support skills. Could cover most slot receivers and has above average big play instincts.
Comparison: Greg Wesley
Michael Griffin, Texas (6’0”, 200)
Inconsistent all-around skills. Ball instincts, run support angles, and tackling are suspect at times but his measurables suggest he could be a top player. Could be a solid in-the-box player despite his size.
Comparison: A slighter, but better covering Roy Williams.
Brandon Meriweather, Miami (5’11”, 195)
If not for his off-field silliness (and some shoulder issues), Meriweather would probably be getting pimped all over the place. He could be the best cover corner in the draft and he hits bigger than his size might indicate. Seems likely to be a FS in the NFL. Coyle compares him to Troy Vincent, but his scouting report suggests he could be a better all-around player at both safety and corner. I’m thinking he’s a mix of the best qualities of Ed Reed, Troy Vincent and Bob Sanders.
Comparison: Ed Reed
Aaron Rouse, Virginia Tech (6’4”, 220)
Big, athletic, in-the-box safety that can handle some coverage but will struggle against stud TEs and slot WRs. Could improve and become a real force as an all-around player in the mold of a young Sammy Knight. In the right system, could give Landry a run as the top IDP value at safety.
Comparison: Adrian Wilson
Tanard Jackson, Syracuse (6’0”, 200)
Played a lot of corner in college but projects as a solid NFL safety in the new breed of guys who can cover all over the field and still hit.
Comparison: Donte Whitner
Eric Weddle, Utah (5’11”, 200)
Instinctive, jack-of-all-trades kind of guy. May not have one elite skill though. Works hard in run support and has solid cover skills, though he may not project well to corner in the NFL. No easy comp here either. Some say a less explosive, better covering Bob Sanders. I think he sounds a little like Renaldo Hill, but more athletic.
Comparison: Renaldo Hill
Josh Gattis, Wake Forest (6’1”, 210)
Most reports suggest Gattis is above average in run support and zone coverage but struggles to match up in man coverage. This class is deep with new breed cover safeties, but Gattis will be available later and could be a very nice player. He could have big IDP upside in the right system.
Comparison: Gibril Wilson or Marcus Pollard
Other guys like Michael Johnson (Arizona State), Sabby Piscatelli (Oregon State), and John Wendling (Wyoming) all have some coverage blemishes that will push them to the back of the draft but have the size/skill set that fill up boxscores. They could compare favorably to a Michael Lewis or Adam Archuleta type player. All are worth watching closely and any could have nice value in a good situation.
CORNERBACKS
Lot of interesting prospects coming in this year’s draft for those in CB specific leagues. Like last year with Cedric Griffin, Alan Zemaitis and Ashton Youboty, there are also a handful of Cover-2 types who will be taken in the middle rounds who could have solid IDP value down the road in deeper dynasty leagues.
Leon Hall, Michigan (5’11”, 195)
Big, physical corner who could succeed in any scheme but gets downgraded in some scouting circles for his inconsistency on deep routes and gambling nature.
Comparison: DeAngelo Hall
Chris Houston, Arkansas (5’10”, 185)
Instinctive cover corner with better run support skills than his size might indicate. Gets to plenty of balls but has questionable hands.
Comparison: Dunta Robinson
Darrelle Revis, Pittsburgh (5’11”, 200) // possible return specialist
Scouting report reads like the total package. Has the size, speed, instincts, ball skills, and willingness to support the run that can make an IDP stud in any league. Also may contribute in the return game.
Comparison: Ty Law
Marcus McCauley, Fresno State (6’1”, 200)
Big, athletic cover corner with suspect instincts and a history of inconsistent play in coverage and run support. Questionable whether athleticism and recovery skills will make up for poor instincts in the NFL. If he puts it together, his career could mirror Rashean Mathis.
Comparison: Shawntae Spencer
Aaron Ross, Texas (6’0”, 195)
Playmaking corner with developing man skills. Willing hitter in run support. Could develop into a top corner in any scheme but could become an IDP stud in a Cover-2 scheme with his zone cover and ball skills.
Comparison: Charles Tillman
Others to watch in the right situation:
Eric Wright (UNLV) could prove to be better than some of the above guys over time. Travarous Bain (Hampton), Daymeion Hughes (Cal) and a whole host of other guys with size but some man coverage blemishes (e.g. Michael Coe) could fit well in one of the many Cover-2 schemes around the league. Hughes is probably the best bet right now.
It's just a jumping off point for discussion. I'm not comfortable ranking them from a NFL or IDP value standpoint yet. Bloom will probably do both at NFLDraftGuys before the draft.
Thanks Jene.On Eric Weddle - he seems to be a player I'd love to have on my NFL team, but do you see him producing in FF, even in the "right" situation? (he seems to be a Patriots type player)
Thanks Jene.On Eric Weddle - he seems to be a player I'd love to have on my NFL team, but do you see him producing in FF, even in the "right" situation? (he seems to be a Patriots type player)
