Rating the safeties
The safety position had often been overlooked in recent NFL drafts aside from the occasional high selection of playmakers like Roy Williams and Sean Taylor. However, last year brought the position back to the limelight with Michael Huff (Oakland Raiders) and Donte' Whitner (Buffalo Bills) selected in the top 10.
Today's game has changed the way evaluators look at this position. Bigger safeties from the past such as David Fulcher or Darren Woodson would likely get moved to outside linebacker in many schemes. Prospects need to have the physical strength to play the run, but the wheels to provide either one-on-one coverage on slot receivers or the swiftness to get to their spots in zone coverage.
If a defense plays man coverage on outside receivers, the free safety will be freed up to play more of a center field position. Subsequently, he must have the instincts to read the quarterback or routes being run and then the foot speed to jump on the right route. If not, he'll be caught out of position on vertical routes.
This year's draft will provide teams an array of potential playmakers at safety. Three prospects are projected to go in the first round while five or six more defenders could come off the board before the middle of the third round.
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THE TOP FIVE
1. LaRon Landry, LSU: A top-notch two-way defender who brings a lot of confidence, experience and the ability to play at a high level against the run and pass, Landry allowed the Tigers' front seven to blitz from a variety of packages and situations.
He is a solid open-field tackler with true playmaking ability, but will sometimes attempt the big hit rather than wrapping up. He is a very flexible defender with the hips to turn and run with most tight ends or slot receivers and is also very adept at blitzing from the slot.
Landry's stock rose as he showed off rare physical tools at the NFL scouting combine. He ran 4.35 in the 40-yard dash though some watches had him as fast as 4.29. He then showed very good balls skills, while impressing everyone with his smarts, competitiveness and attitude during interviews.
Landry's impressive all-around workout numbers likely have vaulted him into top-10 consideration with teams like the Houston Texans, Atlanta Falcons and Carolina Panthers being potential destinations.
2. Reggie Nelson, Florida: While possessing the abilities of a Cover 2 cornerback, most evaluators feel Nelson – who thinks of himself as a fearsome hitter in the mold of John Lynch – will be most successful as a free safety.
Nelson's combination of speed, instincts, range and study skills make him so dangerous. He's not afraid to come up and cover a wide receiver, but is just as fast to go hit a runner in the mouth. He takes proper angles to the ball, keeps his eyes focused on the quarterback and then shows an extra burst of speed to the ball. He also has the hands to force turnovers and then the vision and speed to make opposing offenses pay for their mistakes.
His pro day workout – which featured times in the 4.33 range in the 40; 4.09 short shuttle; and 6.68 3-cone – impressed evaluators. However, the thing that most jumps out about him is that he carries himself with both maturity and a great deal of youthful energy. He's dedicated to being successful and keeping to the path that his mother, who died last fall, set for him.
His attitude, playmaking skills and potential to make an immediate impact on a defensive unit as a rookie will make him this year's version of Donte' Whitner, who rose into the top 10 after his combine and pro day workouts.
3. Brandon Meriweather, Miami (Fla.): His image was tainted as a result of his involvement in the brawl against Florida International, but he has convinced teams that he's closer to being a top-rated safety than over-hyped troublemaker.
Thanks to his all-around skill level, he has the ability to be evaluated outside at cornerback, but most scouts see him as an over-the-top safety who can also come up to cover the slot receiver one-on-one. He plays with the same flair as several former top-rated Hurricanes' defenders, showing both the ability to attack the ball carrier and being in proper position in pass coverage.
Meriweather hits with good authority, but can get caught flat-footed at times against the run. However, he rarely takes false steps against misdirection or play-action plays. He has a great natural feel for the game, gets to proper depth when asked to play deep coverage and also has the savvy feel to his game that lets him break up passes at the last moment.
He is not a workout warrior like Landry or Nelson, but running in the 4.5 range with a 35.5-inch vertical made enough of a statement when combined with his impressive game films. Has the chance to be taken in the mid-to-late portions of the first round.
4. Michael Griffin, Texas: A versatile defender who has shown the ability to make plays in-the-box and in pass coverage, Griffin is also a special teams standout with eight career blocked kicks.
Griffin is a well-built defender with good upper-body strength who can come up and wreak havoc on opposing backfields. However, he does not always wrap up when making the tackle; is guilty of taking a few false steps at times; can misjudge the play at the line of scrimmage; and get caught out of position on passing downs. He flashed better-than-advertised speed in the 40 (4.45) at the combine, but he needs to react to pass plays faster. He can also be more of a hit-and-run type defender at times where he can jump or flash into the play, but get taken out or be a step slow to the ball.
He provided good leadership and intangibles to the Longhorns as a senior, which has helped drive up his stock. Overall, his speed can be a little deceiving as it is more straight line, but he showed better flexibility and hips during his combine workouts. If there is an early run on safeties, he could find a spot late in the first round. If not, he will likely come off the board within the top 40-45 picks.
5. Eric Weddle, Utah: A playmaker at both safety and cornerback, he was also used on the offensive side of the ball and on special teams.
He plays the game with great intensity and excellent natural instincts; always seems to be around the ball; and has a knack for breaking up passes at the last minute. He garnered attention when, lined up at cornerback, he shut down Georgia Tech wide receiver Calvin Johnson in Utah's Emerald Bowl win in 2005.
He's very intelligent, can read the quarterback's eyes and then react without getting caught on his heels. He allows a few catches in front of him, but is strong enough to wrap players up in the open field. His workout numbers (4.45/4.48 40, 4.10 short shuttle, 6.76 3-cone and 33.5” vertical) suggest that he has the athletic ability to stick most receivers. However, he is a little tight in the hips and would fare better in a zone coverage scheme if asked to play cornerback. He had a few bad plays during one-on-one coverage at the Senior Bowl, but his size and competitiveness are matched only by his football IQ/on-field instincts.
He could do very well if put in the middle of the field, but might need to get a little stronger in order to make an impact as a tackler. Ultimately though, this is the type of guy who finds a way to make a play during the game to help his team win – a trait that is too rare to pass up and should result in a third-round draft selection.
