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2007 Rookie Profiles: Safeties
Posted:
5/7/07
Courtesy of the
TFY Draft Preview
Full Name: Duriel Adams School: Southeastern Louisiana Ht: 5-9 Wt: 202 40: 4.56 Year: 5Sr Bio: Three-year starter used at both cornerback and safety. Totaled 31 tackles and broke up three passes in six games as a senior. Suffered a separated shoulder last year which required surgery. Sophomore totals included career bests of 57/4/14. Pos: Fluid defensive back with good ball skills. Smooth moving to the sidelines, nicely redirects to the action and displays a burst of speed. Displays good hands for the pick and effective facing the action. Neg: Marginally strong at the point. Does not consistently play with a physical nature. Analysis: An athletic prospect with good defensive back skills, Adams has the abilities to be used as a dime back for a zone system.
Full Name: Gerald Alexander School: Boise State Ht: 6-0.5 Wt: 210 40: 4.58 Year: 5Sr Bio: Three-year starter who posted 32.5/2/4 as a senior after moving to safety. Career-best numbers of 53/5/8 came as a sophomore at cornerback. Pos: Competitive and instinctive defensive back who effectively patrols center field. Alert, works well with corners and is fluid moving about the field. Quickly breaks to the throw, nicely times his defenses and gets vertical to knock away the ball. Possesses a burst of closing speed, is quick up the field and defends the run. Neg: Struggles pedaling in reverse and minimally effective in man coverage. Marginal top-end speed. Does more hitting than wrap-up tackling. Analysis: A smart defensive back productive at several positions, Alexander is a solid late-round choice who could flourish in a zone system.
Full Name: Stephen Barrett School: McNeese State Ht: 5-11 Wt: 205 40: 4.62 Year: 5Sr Bio: Three-year starter who posted 72/2/4 as a senior after 49 tackles as a junior. Pos: Intelligent zone safety who is best facing the action. Diagnoses the action and gets to the sidelines helping out cornerbacks. Quickly locates the pass in the air and displays solid ball skills. Neg: Average playing speed, not fast to the flanks and usually a half-step late in coverage. Struggles in one-on-one situations. Gathers into tackles. Analysis: Productive the past three years, Barrett has the size/speed numbers to be a utility defensive back in the NFL.
Full Name: Tra Battle School: Georgia Ht: 5-10 Wt: 176 40: 4.49 Year: 4Sr Bio: Two-year starter and All-Conference selection as a senior after totaling 58/6/7. Junior numbers were 71/2/4. Pos: Competitive defensive back who gives effort in his all-around game. Remains disciplined with assignments, plays a physical brand of football and works to get involved. Fast to the sidelines, has a straight-line closing burst of speed and plays with a good degree of suddenness. Possesses better-than-average ball skills. Neg: Undersized, struggles with large opponents and has tackles broken. Analysis: Intelligent and competitive, Battle’s lack of size is a limiting factor. Could find a place on a roster as a dime back/special-teams player.
Full Name: Melvin Bullitt School: Texas A&M Ht: 6-1 Wt: 200 40: 4.61 Year: 4Sr Bio: Two-year starter and All-Conference selection as a senior after career-best numbers of 82/1/7. Junior totals included 59 tackles. Pos: Marginally sized safety with a special-teams mentality. Fast up the field in run support, works to get involved in the action and wraps up tackling. Adequate skills in pass coverage. Neg: Takes poor angles to the action, is inefficient and does more chasing than actual playmaking. Struggles when placed over the slot receiver. Analysis: A hard-working defender who gives effort, Bullitt is a backup zone safety who must earn his wage on special-teams.
Full Name: Joey Card School: Miami-Oh Ht: 6-0 Wt: 195 40: 4.55 Year: 5Sr Bio: Three-year starter and an All-Conference selection the past two years. Senior totals were 90/2/11 after 67/3/3 as a junior. Pos: Tough, hard-hitting defender with average size/speed numbers. Diagnoses the action. Takes good angles to the play and very aggressive against running or screen plays. Flashes cover skills in zone and has a nice break to the ball. Neg: Possesses just average playing speed. Does not display top sideline-to-sideline range. Analysis: A limited athlete who gives a lot of effort, Card has a special-teams mentality which will be his ticket to the next level.
Full Name: Zach Catanese School: Arizona State Ht: 6-2 Wt: 225 40: 4.66 Year: 4Sr Bio: Two-year starter who began his career in junior college. All-Conference selection after his senior and junior campaigns when he posted 59/2/1 and 107/1/4. Pos: King-sized defensive back with great physical skills. Hard-hitting run defender who quickly comes up the field and goes for the knockout blow. Effectively diagnoses the action, defeats blocks and gets to the ball carrier. Neg: Possesses marginal ball skills, lateral speed and footwork in reverse. Inefficient and takes incorrect angles to the action. Not a sure-handed tackler. Analysis: A physically imposing defender, Catanese does not consistently play to his size or speed numbers. Makes most of his plays in the box, which reduces his possibilities at the next level to either strong safety or outside linebacker.
Full Name: Greg Cooper School: Michigan State Ht: 5-10.5 Wt: 190 40: 4.55 Year: 4Sr Bio: Two-year starter at both safety and cornerback. Totaled 31 tackles and broke up two passes as a senior after 40 tackles the prior year. Pos: Undersized safety with marginal ball skills. Effective facing the action, displays a straight-line burst of speed and mixes it up in run defense. Neg: Does more chasing than actual covering, lacks defensive back fundamentals and bites on play-action passes. Analysis: Minimally productive in college, Cooper has the size/speed numbers to be an eighth defensive back/special-teams player if he elevates his game.
Full Name: Craig Dahl School: North Dakota State Ht: 6-1.5 Wt: 216 40: 4.63 Year: 4Sr Bio: Three-year starter and All-Conference selection as a senior after totals of 61/2/4. Posted a career-high 82 tackles as a sophomore. Pos: Hard-hitting, run-defending safety best in the box. Diagnoses the action, aggressive and displays a closing burst to the action. Takes good angles to the play, can get to the sidelines and always looks to mix it up. Remains disciplined and constantly keeps the action in front of him. Neg: Lacks top coverage and ball skills. Does not show great range in centerfield. Analysis: Very productive the past three seasons, Dahl possesses outstanding size/speed numbers. Could make a roster as a conventional strong safety or potentially play in a two-deep zone system.
Full Name: Jessie Daniels School: LSU Ht: 5-11 Wt: 216 40: 4.62 Year: 4Sr Bio: Three-year starter at strong safety. Senior totals were 47/0/2 after 39/1/4 as a junior. Pos: Hard-hitting run defender who plays with a physical nature. Fluid changing direction and quickly breaks to the action. Displays a burst of closing speed and plays with a large degree of suddenness. Always working to get involved in the action. Neg: Struggles in man-to-man situations over the slot receiver and has limitations in coverage. Takes incorrect angles to the action and over- pursues plays. Analysis: Tough and aggressive, Daniels is best making plays downhill. Offers potential as a backup in a zone system and has special-teams ability.
Ht: 5-11 Wt: 204 40: 4.68 Year: 5Sr Bio: Two-year starter awarded All-Conference honors as a senior after totaling 100/5/8. Junior numbers included 87/1/8. Pos: Athletic safety who has shown tremendous progress the past two years. Displays solid sideline-to-sideline range, flashes on the scene and is strong at the point of attack. Physical and possesses solid open-field tackling skills. Has a good head for the ball and displays skill in man coverage. Neg: Quick up the field and gets caught out of position on occasion. Displays more flashes in coverage rather than consistent ability. Analysis: Ever-improving, Frampton is a well-built defensive back who could be used in a variety of systems. Has a special teams make-up which is added value.
Full Name: Tony Franklin School: Virginia Ht: 5-10 Wt: 185 40: 4.45 Year: 5Sr Bio: Three-year starter who posted 35/1/3 as a senior after 55/2/2 the prior year. Posted career-best numbers of 78/1/5 as a sophomore. Used at both cornerback and safety in college. Has had off-the-field issues, including an arrest for marijuana possession during his junior campaign. Pos: Versatile defensive back coming off a poor senior season. Disciplined in centerfield, quickly breaks to the action and possesses a burst of speed. Plays with a good degree of suddenness and flashes on the scene. Aggressive and lays a lick on ball carriers. Excellent sideline-to-sideline range and is explosive in run defense. Neg: Does more hitting than wrap-up tackling. Better facing the action and struggles in man coverage situations with his back to the ball. Analysis: A talented prospect with solid size/speed numbers, Franklin will drop down draft boards due to his poor play last season. Offers a lot of potential and could be a very productive nickel back, if he gets back to prior playing form.
Full Name: C.J. Gaddis School: Clemson Ht: 5-11.5 Wt: 203 40: 4.54 Year: 4Jr Bio: Two-year starter who spent his junior campaign at cornerback after playing safety the prior year. Numbers last season were 37/2/2 after 59 tackles the prior year. Pos: Large, imposing defender who looks the part yet rarely plays to it. Strong, defeats blocks and has a physical nature to his game. Gets upfield defending run or screen plays. Hard hitter and aggressively lays his shoulders into opponents. Possesses a burst of closing speed. Neg: Stiff pedaling in reverse, struggles with assignments and loses his man in coverage. Lacks instincts, takes improper angles to the action and is slow locating the ball. Analysis: Best making plays up the field, Gaddis offers potential as a strong safety or as a backup in a zone system.
Full Name: John Gattis School: Wake Forest Ht: 6-1 Wt: 206 40: 4.61 Year: 5Sr Bio: Three-year starter and All-Conference selection the past two years. Senior totals were 82/5/8 after 72/5/7 as a junior, when he led the conference with 15 special-teams tackles. Pos: Productive safety with enticing measurables. Displays good recognition and quickly locates the ball. Possesses a burst of straight-line speed, takes good angles to the play and shows a nice sense of timing. Aggressive in run defense, yet disciplined with assignments. Neg: Not a sure-handed tackler. Lacks sideline-to-sideline range and is consistently a half-step late in coverage. Struggles in man-on-man situations. Analysis: A consistent player in college, Gattis is best suited as a zone system. Will have to earn his wage on special teams, an area where he excelled in college.
Full Name: Ryan Glasper School: Boston College Ht: 5-11.5 Wt: 204 40: 4.58 Year: 4Sr Bio: Three-year starter who totaled 20/1/1 as a senior when he played in seven games. Junior totals included 43 tackles and two interceptions. Pos: Hard-working, run-defending safety who works best in the box. Quick up the field, wraps up tackling and brings opponents down on initial contact. Diagnoses plays, keeps the action in front of him and has a burst of closing speed. Physical and likes to mix it up. Neg: Does not show top sideline-to-sideline range and is slow to the flanks. Inefficient and struggles in coverage. Analysis: Possessing solid size/speed numbers, Glasper offers potential in a zone system as a backup. Has a special-teams mentality, which will be his ticket at the next level.
Full Name: Dashon Goldson School: Washington Ht: 6-2 Wt: 205 40: 4.69 Year: 5Sr Bio: Junior college transfer who was a three-year starter at Washington. Defensive totals included 50/1/10 as a senior after 80/1/3 the prior year. Pos: Physical, well-built safety who excels defending the run. Disciplined, stays with assignments and is constantly around the ball. Diagnoses the action, squares into ball carriers and wraps up. Nicely times pass defenses, positioning himself against the opponent to make a play on the ball. Neg: Neither quick nor fluid changing direction. Hesitant in coverage and struggles in man situations. Analysis: Used at both corner and safety in college, Goldson is best facing the action in a zone system. Offers potential as a dime back/special teams player.
Full Name: Michael Griffin School: Texas Ht: 5-11.5 Wt: 202 40: 4.49 Year: 4Sr Bio: Two-year starter and All-Conference selection as a senior after totaling 126/4/10. Blocked four kicks as a junior and accumulated 124 tackles. Pos: Explosive safety who is an intimidating force in centerfield. Diagnoses the action, fires up the field in run defense and aggressively lays his shoulders into ball handlers. Displays outstanding sideline-to-sideline range and gets to the flanks to help cornerbacks. Shows a burst of speed and ability to recover. Wraps up tackling and punishes opponents. Terrific special-teams player. Neg: Has tackles broken. Occasionally shows some hesitation to his game. At times is too quick moving up the field. Analysis: A rangy centerfielder with a complete game, Griffin offers starting potential at safety and could be a dominant special-teams player.
Full Name: Troy Grosfield School: Indiana Ht: 5-10.5 Wt: 181 40: 4.55 Year: 5Sr Bio: Two-year starter who posted 63/1/1 as a senior. Pos: Hard-working defensive back always willing to get involved in the action. Instinctive, locates the action and flies around the football. Terrific special-teams player who is very active on coverage units. Neg: Displays tightness in his backpedal and struggles in one-on-one coverage situations. Does not always play under control or take correct angles to the action. Analysis: Offering solid size/speed numbers, Grosfield is a marginal defensive back yet an outstanding special-teams player, which will be his ticket at the next level.
Full Name: Will Gulley School: Houston Ht: 6-4 Wt: 222 40: 4.72 Year: 5Sr Bio: Three-year starter who returned to the field last season and posted 86/5/5, winning All-Conference honors. Sat out the ’05 campaign with a knee injury. Junior totals included 71/4/9 after 102/4/10 as a sophomore. Pos: King-sized safety who forces the action up the field. Instinctive, takes good angles to the action and physically strong. Defeats blocks, flashes on the scene in run defense and wins out in battles against receivers. Throws his body around the field trying to make the tackle. Neg: Lacks sideline-to-sideline range and speed to the flanks. Does not display a good closing burst. Analysis: Successfully returning from his knee injury, Gulley is a forceful safety who makes most of his plays downhill. Best defending the run, he’ll have an opportunity in a scheme which specifically uses him in the box.
Full Name: Brandon Harrison School: Stanford Ht: 6-2 Wt: 227 40: 4.63 Year: 4Sr Bio: Three-year starter awarded All-Conference honors as a senior after totaling 68/1/5. Junior numbers were 67/3/4. Pos: Versatile defensive back who works best facing the action. Displays a solid move to the throw, quickly closes to the action and has a nice burst of closing speed. Displays a sense of timing and shows coverage skills in zone. Neg: Gets turned in man situations and blows assignments. Does not play to his size/speed numbers on a consistent basis. Analysis: A physically intimidating specimen, Harrison has been productive at cornerback and safety. Does not consistently play to a high level and shows flashes rather than reliability on the field. Has a ways to go to improve as a football player.
Full Name: Will Herring School: Auburn Ht: 6-3 Wt: 216 40: 4.69 Year: 5Sr Bio: Four-year starter awarded All-Conference honors last season. Led the team in tackles as a senior totaling 72/9.5/1.5 when he also intercepted two passes. Totaled 69 tackles as a junior, again leading the team. Played both linebacker and safety at Auburn. Pos: Intelligent defender who plays heads-up football. Efficient, diagnoses the action and makes a lot of smart plays on the field. Moves well laterally, keeps the action in front of him and displays coverage skills in a small area. Wraps up tackling. Neg: Not strong, easily blocked from the action and has tackles broken. Does not show top recovery or closing speed. Analysis: A productive player on the college level, Herring looks best suited as a conventional strong safety or a backup in a zone system. Will never be starting material and must produce on special teams.
Full Name: Keldrick Holman School: Stephen F. Austin Ht: 5-11 Wt: 202 40: 4.69 Year: 5Sr Bio: Former cornerback who started the past three seasons. All-Conference selection the past two years, posting 86/3/4 numbers as a senior after 82/6/9 the prior season. Pos: Intelligent, disciplined defensive back who plays with an aggressive style. Takes good angles to the action, efficient and very active in run defense. Reads the action, has a burst of speed and constantly around the football. Effective facing the action and quickly locates the pass in the air. Neg: Does more hitting than wrap-up tackling. Struggles in man coverage situations with his back to the ball. Analysis: A hard-working and versatile defensive back, Holman could easily make an NFL roster as an eighth defensive back/special teams player.
Full Name: Trevor Hooper School: | ||||||||||||||
