The 2006 draft-- the Free Safeties. Who is on our radar screen?

[MichaelWinicki]

I've been reviewing the list of available free safeties for the upcoming draft...

Most of this is taken from the "Ourlads" 2006 Guide--

1. Michael Huff (Texas)- 6', 204, 4.37 forty. A great prospect. The total package vs the run & pass. He'll be gone in the first 10 picks.
2. Jason Allen (Tennessee)- 6', 209, 4.43. Another top prospect IF it weren't for the hip thing. He scares me to death because of that. Who knows where he'll go?
3. Ko Simpson (SC)- 6'1, 209, 4.46. Junior eligible. Seems to be very good in coverage with good deep range. Has a burst. Ourlads has him going at #45 to Philly. The trouble is that he doesn't rank high enough to justify our #18 but probably won't be there at #49.
4. Pat Watkins (Florida State)- 6'4", 211, 4.48. Had a very good combine. Very good vs. the pass. Adequate vs. the run. Better in zone than man to man. Ourlads has him going to us at #49. I would be happy with this pick.
5. Roman Harper (Alabama), 5'11, 198, 4.63. Good vs. the run. Just Ok vs. the pass. Next. Ourlads has him going in the 3-4 round.
6. Nate Salley (Ohio State), 6'1, 216, 4.64. Was a corner but projects to safety due to a lack of burst. Lacks speed to excel vs. the pass. A projected 5-6 rounder.
7. Anthony Smith (Syracuse), 6', 194, 4.72. Ran 4.53 on a fast track in the spring. Poor 40 time at the combine will hurt draft status. Has some tools and is instinctive. 3-6 rounder.
8. Calvin Lowry (Penn State), 5'11, 200, 4.58. Good vs. run and pass but not top notch. 5 or 6 rounder.
9. Antoine Howard (Howard), 5'11, 203, 4.39. 3 year starter. Good vs. run and pass with excellent speed. Productive with a nose for the ball. 5 or 6 rounder.


After Watkins it's clear the talent available drops off quickly... especially when it comes to finding a FS good vs the pass.

My gut feeling is that if we don't come away with one of the first 4 OR taking a top corner and moving Henry to FS then we aren't going to be improving the FS position an awful lot.

[Dayton Cowboy]

Michael,

Nate Salley didn't play corner at OSU.. Whitner played CB a little and Everett also played corner, but he's the one that projects more of a safety in the NFL

[AmishCowboy]

I read a better report on A Smith in PFW, he's a guy I would like in the 3rd round. They have him as a second round talent.

[MichaelWinicki]

Originally Posted by AmishCowboy

I read a better report on A Smith in PFW, he's a guy I would like in the 3rd round. They have him as a second round talent.

I dunno. I don't think he has enough speed.

[Woods]

I'd point out that there are also about 3 CBs who should transition very well to FS.

Specifically,

C Griffin, A Zemaitis, and D. Manning.

There's a shot all three of these guys will be available in the 3rd.

[JackMagist]

Originally Posted by Dayton_Cowboy

Michael,

Nate Salley didn't play corner at OSU.. Whitner played CB a little and Everett also played corner, but he's the one that projects more of a safety in the NFL

I read (I forget where) that Whitner was projected as a possible safety as well.

With teams seeing the value of Ed Reed at FS the position is getting more respect lately. Those guys will be getting bigger paydays so it will not be so hard to get a CB prospect to switch to the FS position. So drafting a top CB and moving Henry (who already has his big payday) to FS is not so far fetched. We might should be looking at the CB prospects as well as the FS prospects; especially given the comments made by Jerry about moving one of our CBs.

[Woods]

Originally Posted by JackMagist

I read (I forget where) that Whitner was projected as a possible safety as well.

With teams seeing the value of Ed Reed at FS the position is getting more respect lately. Those guys will be getting bigger paydays so it will not be so hard to get a CB prospect to switch to the FS position. So drafting a top CB and moving Henry (who already has his big payday) to FS is not so far fetched. We might should be looking at the CB prospects as well as the FS prospects; especially given the comments made by Jerry about moving one of our CBs.

Some ways I would actually prefer a CB who can play FS. It just gives the team so much more versatility in case of injuries. Of course, we're talking about CBs who have the necessary size, tackling ability, and physical play.

[Bluefin]

Originally Posted by MichaelWinicki

I dunno. I don't think he has enough speed.

I haven't seen anything to indicate Anthony Smith is some kind of plodder back there.

I have read that he possesses great instincts, which should more than make up for not having top end speed, IMO.

I actually value having a smart, instinctive free safety over a speed demon.

I'd like Longhorn Cedric Griffin in the third, that would be a good value to me.

[AdamJT13]

Originally Posted by Dayton_Cowboy

Nate Salley didn't play corner at OSU.

Salley was a cornerback as a freshman, although he didn't play much on defense.

[MichaelWinicki]

Originally Posted by Bluefin

I haven't seen anything to indicate Anthony Smith is some kind of plodder back there.

I have read that he possesses great instincts, which should more than make up for not having top end speed, IMO.

I actually value having a smart, instinctive free safety over a speed demon.

I'd like Longhorn Cedric Griffin in the third, that would be a good value to me.

Hey, I wouldn't kick if we drafted Smith... He'd be an improvement over what we currently have at FS. I just would rather have one of the faster guys if I had my druthers.

I like Griffin also. He's a tad bigger and faster than Smith. If he was there in the 3rd I'd take him.

[Bluefin]

Originally Posted by MichaelWinicki

Hey, I wouldn't kick if we drafted Smith... He'd be an improvement over what we currently have at FS. I just would rather have one of the faster guys if I had my druthers.

I like Griffin also. He's a tad bigger and faster than Smith. If he was there in the 3rd I'd take him.

As long as we get an honest to gawd free safety I expect I'll be happy.

I've long been tired of carrying 4 strong safeties on the roster due to Zim's run paranoi.

And I'd also like a fast player in center field if at all possible, speed never hurts.

But more than anything, I want a prospect who comes out of college with the reputation of being a playmaker.

If a player knows his keys and gets to the right spot, he'll be in position for big play opportunities whether he has plus speed or not, IMO.

[MichaelWinicki]

Originally Posted by Bluefin

As long as we get an honest to gawd free safety I expect I'll be happy.

I've long been tired of carrying 4 strong safeties on the roster due to Zim's run paranoi.

And I'd also like a fast player in center field if at all possible, speed never hurts.

But more than anything, I want a prospect who comes out of college with the reputation of being a playmaker.

If a player knows his keys and gets to the right spot, he'll be in position for big play opportunities whether he has plus speed or not, IMO.

I agree with you 100%.

With Woodson and Marion back there we had guys that were very, very good against the pass. Granted Woodson was "freak". A SS with FS skills. And Marion was a converterd corner.

[ddh33]

You know, the irony in all of this is that I actually believe that a true FS (someone who is better in pass coverage, maybe not a huge hitter, great tackler, or exceptional in the box) would actually make the run defense better.

I think Roy's skills are drastcially underrated by many. Our run defense suffers when Roy is forced to play deep all of the time. Let him roam more, with less coverage responsibility, and not only do you have a better SS who can still cover most TEs and backs, but you've practically got another run-stopping LB.

[MichaelWinicki]

Originally Posted by ddh33

You know, the irony in all of this is that I actually believe that a true FS (someone who is better in pass coverage, maybe not a huge hitter, great tackler, or exceptional in the box) would actually make the run defense better.

I think Roy's skills are drastcially underrated by many. Our run defense suffers when Roy is forced to play deep all of the time. Let him roam more, with less coverage responsibility, and not only do you have a better SS who can still cover most TEs and backs, but you've practically got another run-stopping LB.

You're right.

Hell I'd rather have Roy and 3 corners honestly.

[AbeBeta]

FS for us is going to be all about value. If we can get a guy a round lower than he was projected then great. But I don't see us spending our 1 or 2 on this need. Even an average guy will get it done here for us -- plus, Marcus Coleman will be done with his alcohol rehab right around the draft if we don't find our FS