DC.com: Undrafted Safeties Are Out There

[CCBoy]

Undrafted Safeties Are Out There
Posted by nickeatman at 6/28/2011 4:09 PM CDT on truebluefanclub.com


http://www.dallascowboys.com/news/n...&plckScript=blogScript&plckElementId=blogDest


Even though it’s a huge position of need, the Cowboys made it clear on draft day they wouldn’t reach for any safety.

So the Cowboys didn’t trade up into the 30’s to get Texas’ Aaron Williams, who was projected as both corner and safety. So UCLA’s Rahim Moore was not an option at No. 40, and the Cowboys didn’t take any other safety the rest of the weekend.

But typically, if you go through an entire draft without addressing a position, especially one that has two starting spots unsettled, then you can bet it will be addressed in rookie free agency. And good thing for the Cowboys there are a few to consider.

Rutgers’ Joe Lefeged and Clemson’s DeAndre McDaniel both went to the scouting combine and were once projected as mid-round picks. North Carolina’s Deunta Williams and Jeron Johnson of Boise State are also surprising to be on this undrafted list. Virginia Tech’s Davon Morgan and Kent State’s Brian Lainhart are two more feasible options in rookie free agency....

 

[Hostile]

Give me Deandre McDaniel and Deunta Williams and watch me smile.

 

[CowboysFaninHouston]

Undrafted Safeties Are Out There
Posted by nickeatman at 6/28/2011 4:09 PM CDT on truebluefanclub.com


http://www.dallascowboys.com/news/n...&plckScript=blogScript&plckElementId=blogDest


Even though it’s a huge position of need, the Cowboys made it clear on draft day they wouldn’t reach for any safety.

So the Cowboys didn’t trade up into the 30’s to get Texas’ Aaron Williams, who was projected as both corner and safety. So UCLA’s Rahim Moore was not an option at No. 40, and the Cowboys didn’t take any other safety the rest of the weekend.

But typically, if you go through an entire draft without addressing a position, especially one that has two starting spots unsettled, then you can bet it will be addressed in rookie free agency. And good thing for the Cowboys there are a few to consider.

Rutgers’ Joe Lefeged and Clemson’s DeAndre McDaniel both went to the scouting combine and were once projected as mid-round picks. North Carolina’s Deunta Williams and Jeron Johnson of Boise State are also surprising to be on this undrafted list. Virginia Tech’s Davon Morgan and Kent State’s Brian Lainhart are two more feasible options in rookie free agency....

there is a reason they went undrafted. chances of them turning into something is low. also, has there ever been an UDFA that came in the league and made any impact? start? be the first sub?

it takes several years for these guys, if ever, to do develop.

they are not immediate answers.

and don't we already have two of them signed last year...

 

[Hostile]

there is a reason they went undrafted. chances of them turning into something is low. also, has there ever been an UDFA that came in the league and made any impact? start? be the first sub?

it takes several years for these guys, if ever, to do develop.

they are not immediate answers.

and don't we already have two of them signed last year...

Cliff Harris says hello.

 

[CoCo]

there is a reason they went undrafted. chances of them turning into something is low. also, has there ever been an UDFA that came in the league and made any impact? start? be the first sub?

it takes several years for these guys, if ever, to do develop.

they are not immediate answers.

and don't we already have two of them signed last year...

Not initially a safety, but Everson Walls comes to mind.

 

[CowboysFaninHouston]

Not initially a safety, but Everson Walls comes to mind.

so your approach is to try and hit the lottery, than a planned and proven one? walls is from a generation ago. and how many football players since then, and I thought he was a 12th round pick and not an UDFA.

and plus, scouting then was quite different than now. very very different.

now, I am not saying UDFA are no good, but normally takes them several years to learn. Austin, Romo, Bowen, players on own team are good examples.

like I said, don't expect an impact player from UDFA group. we should look at other avenues.

frankly I think Elam is a very good possibility. Huff is also, but he may ask for too much. Elam is better than what we have. Sensi, might, get a one year offer. this year there is a lot of average safties in FA and sensi probably won't get the type of contract he expects

 

[DFWJC]

Give me Deandre McDaniel and Deunta Williams and watch me smile.

Same here.

I'm a bit curious about Will Hill too.

 

[Hoofbite]

I'm good with bringing in someone to see if they can develop but this team had better not assume that an undrafted guy is the answer.

Get a veteran. Get a UDFA and if the UDFA makes it out of camp, all the better.

 

[DFWJC]

there is a reason they went undrafted. chances of them turning into something is low. also, has there ever been an UDFA that came in the league and made any impact? start? be the first sub?

it takes several years for these guys, if ever, to do develop.

they are not immediate answers.

and don't we already have two of them signed last year...

Just last year, Sam Shields took it a step further and played a huge role as an undrafted CB.

The guy has future Pro Bowler written all over him.

 

[UnoDallas]

these here are my guys


Deunta Williams, FS, North Carolina 6-2 #200
Jordan Brown, FS, Weber St 6 – 1 #200

Jeron Johnson SS Boise State 5-10 #212
Mana Silva SS Hawaii 6-1 #205

 

[ShiningStar]

Just last year, Sam Shields took it a step further and played a huge role as an undrafted CB.

The guy has future Pro Bowler written all over him.

what hes trying to say or what i gathered is was Sam Shields a lock to be that good? how many are out there, can he do it repeatedly? Its hard to gauge and harder to take a chance on a young unproven guy, which is why FA is important to teams and their way of thinking.

everything is a guess for Dallas right now because everything will be new under Ryan. We'll see which way he leans over the years because 1 year wont be the norm every year.

 

[DFWJC]

what hes trying to say or what i gathered is was Sam Shields a lock to be that good? how many are out there, can he do it repeatedly? Its hard to gauge and harder to take a chance on a young unproven guy, which is why FA is important to teams and their way of thinking.

everything is a guess for Dallas right now because everything will be new under Ryan. We'll see which way he leans over the years because 1 year wont be the norm every year.

I hear you.
If that's what he meant, well, that would be stating the obvious.
Not even an early rounder is guaranteed to make an impact, let alone an UDFA.

I read it as though he was saying it cannot be done. So I presented exhibit A on how you can find a gem of a secondary player in the UDFA market. Of course, nobody knew that until the kid was in training camp and GB found out they really got lucky.

The problem with some of the available safties is that teams, more than ever, want these guys to be able to cover really well. And most of the ones available are not real fast. I do think you can get away with that more at saftey though, but it's nice to have that closing speed.

 

[ShiningStar]

I hear you.
If that's what he meant, well, that would be stating the obvious.
Not even an early rounder is guaranteed to make an impact, let alone an UDFA.

I read it as though he was saying it cannot be done. So I presented exhibit A on how you can find a gem of a secondary player in the UDFA market. Of course, nobody knew that until the kid was in training camp and GB found out they really got lucky.

The problem with some of the available safties is that teams, more than ever, want these guys to be able to cover really well. And most of the ones available are not real fast. I do think you can get away with that more at saftey though, but it's nice to have that closing speed.

i hope he wasnt saying that, if he was than your answer was good in my opinion. i just figured someone was off and interject my opinion. gotta love having some time to kill.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

It would be interesting to find out how Williams is coming with his injury. I really liked him prior to that.

 

[Plankton]

Not initially a safety, but Everson Walls comes to mind.

How about Michael Downs?

 

[jobberone]

Give me Deandre McDaniel and Deunta Williams and watch me smile.

McDaniel was a huge disappointment this last year. I'm not certain what happened with him. I'll ask my Clemson guys.

 

[UnoDallas]

It would be interesting to find out how Williams is coming with his injury. I really liked him prior to that.

and you can bet JG an Jerry know because of B Davis

heres a video of him at the combine

http://www.houstontexans.com/tv-med...Williams/e6840830-8b84-4b36-872a-af449767b007

http://nfldraftgeek.com/deunta.html

 

[UnoDallas]

McDaniel was a huge disappointment this last year. I'm not certain what happened with him. I'll ask my Clemson guys.

I saw him chasing Hickerson into the endzone trailing hin by five yards
not once but twice

 

[realtick]

DeAndre McDaniel is a stiff, and I called that back during the college season. I thought he was way overrated, but I did think he would get drafted. I guess evaluators saw him as a worse prospect then I even initially thought. He's a limited athlete with short range you don't want playing center field. He has mediocre size for strong safety.

I'd much rather give Deunta Williams a shot on injured reserve and develop him. Although, even when healthy I thought Deunta was a bit overhyped as well. He reminds me dead-on of Chad Jones in size, playing style and ability, who was drafted (3rd round/NY Giants) right about where I thought Deunta would have gone if healthy.

All in all, I'd much rather pick up a free agent veteran and see what we have in AOA and hope that either he,McCray or Church can develop into something serviceable.

 

[DFWJC]

Excuse the tangent, but I didn't realize Chris O'Dowd (C, USC) did not get drafted. I'm not sure we have the space for him unless he can also play guard, but I think he may stick somewhere.