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Draft Watch: Safeties
By Dan Pompei
Sporting News
An analytical look at the top safeties in the 2006 draft:
1. Jason Allen, Tennessee, 6-1, 209. A safety/corner tweener whose draft stock is tied to the condition of his hip, which was dislocated in the fifth game of the season. Has played both positions in college pretty well. Could be a safety on first and second down and then play cornerback on passing downs. Has outstanding ability. Is smooth and athletic. Can run and jump. Physical player who likes to tackle. Closes well. Is comfortable in zone or man. Has size to match up with taller receivers. Has worked out very well. Bites on play action at times. Could be more aggressive.
2. Donte Whitner, Ohio State, 5-10, 204. Box safety who knows how to hit. Junior plays really hard. Is straight line fast, and can close. Doesn't get caught out of position much. Reads the play well and gets a good jump on the ball carrier. Is not great in coverage because he doesn't have ideal quickness and change of direction. Has good intangibles. Is a little smaller than you'd like.
3. Daniel Bullocks, Nebraska, 6-0, 212. One of the best safeties in the draft at covering the tight end. Gets his hands on a lot of balls. Has a hard, strong body, and is willing to come down hill in run support. Doesn't tackle real well, and misses some tackles. Had a nice Senior Bowl and ran well at the combine. Stock is up.
4. Bernard Pollard, Purdue, 6-1, 224. Physical strong safety prospect with good size. Big hitter who runs very well. Is put together well. Doesn't make a lot of plays on the ball. Instincts in coverage are questionable. Finds the ball carrier and tackles well. Scouts are concerned about his attitude, and it could cost him on draft day. Is a very good special teams player. There has been some talk of moving him to linebacker.
5. Darnell Bing, Southern Cal, 6-2, 227. Box player who has explosive tackling ability. Misses some tackles going for the kill shot. Can run well in a straight line. Measurables are very good. Has good hands, but isn't real instinctive in coverage. Change of direction isn't great. Has been somewhat of an underachiever and could have benefited from returning for his senior season.
6. Ko Simpson, South Carolina, 6-1, 209. Has good upside, but could have been a higher pick if he stayed in school for his senior year. Shows a lot of range. Can play off man pretty well. Willing tackler and pretty sure tackler. Tall, long armed, lanky player who can improve his strength. Gets blocked too much, and needs to read blocking schemes better. Could take better angles and be more aggressive.
7. Anthony Smith, Syracuse, 6-0, 194. Is at his best close to the line, where he can be aggressive and doesn't have to think as much. Is capable of the big hit. Doesn't wrap up well. Effective edge blitzer. Makes a lot of plays on the ball. Instincts are questionable. Lacks elite athleticism and speed.
8. Roman Harper, Alabama, 6-0, 198. Big hitter with a burst to the ball. Fills the inside run lanes well. Can play strong or free. Pretty good tackler, but doesn't always wrap up. Coach's son who understands the game. Can call the signals. Is a little slow to read and react. Will squat on some routes and let receivers get behind him.
9. Pat Watkins, Florida State, 6-5, 211. Tall safety with long arms and speed who can cover a lot of territory. A true centerfielder. Played better in 2004 than in 2005, and has not been a big producer. Lacks strength. Does not communicate well on the field. Has trouble with smaller, quicker receivers. Has some special teams capabilities.
10. Jahmile Addae, West Virginia, 5-10, 214. Willing hitter with good foot quickness. Plays with intensity and aggressiveness. Is explosive -- had a 40 1/2 inch vertical. Has produced over a long period of time. Has leadership qualities. Lacks top instincts. Average quickness is exposed in coverage. Helped himself in the Senior Bowl.
11. Scott Ware, Southern Cal, 6-1, 218. Physical, well-built player who is good in support. Can deliver a blow, and is a decent tackler. Is aware on the field. Plays consistently. Is speed-deficient.
12. Dwayne Slay, Texas Tech, 6-3, 216. Tall player who is a knockout hitter but poor tackler. Has long arms and good ball skills. Tracks the ball well. Has a burst and comes downhill hard against the run, but doesn't have catch up speed. Hard worker who gives you everything he has. Takes bad angles.
13. Jarrad Page, UCLA, 6-0, 239. Big player with some athleticism. Also a baseball player for UCLA. Proven college performer. Could be tried at linebacker. Is a bit slow for a safety, but has good speed for a linebacker. Has been compared with Cato June of the Colts.
14. Charlie Peprah, Alabama, 5-11, 206. Smart safety with some athleticism. Also could be a cornerback. Isn't a great hitter. Tackles low. Doesn't have a lot of upside. Didn't help himself much at the East-West Shrine game or in postseason workouts.
15. Reed Doughty, Northern Colorado, 6-0, 209. Really good player with top instincts who just isn't fast enough. Has good ball skills. Plays with toughness and is a solid tackler. Would be best at free safety.
16. Greg Blue, Georgia, 6-2, 216. Big, physical safety who will hit hard if he can line up a target. Runs fairly well. Can read and diagnose. Has poor ball skills. Doesn't take good angles. Is a little stiff athletically. Has some special teams value. Some think he could be converted to linebacker.
17. Nate Salley, Ohio State, 6-2, 216. Hard hitter with good size. A box safety who lacks athleticism and change of direction for coverage. Doesn't make a lot of plays. Doesn't play fast or instinctively. Smart player who coaches love.
18. Calvin Lowry, Penn State, 5-10, 200. Understands the game and puts himself in position to take away routes and make plays. Smart player. Lacks size. Willing hitter, but is tight-hipped and it sometimes shows up in his tackling.
19. Darrell Brooks, Arizona, 6-0, 198. Smart player who doesn't get out of position. Takes away routes well. Leader in the defensive backfield. Is aggressive and plays with high energy. Has average athleticism. Lacks catch up speed. Has not been real productive.
20. Vickiel Vaughn, Arkansas, 6-0, 208. Former linebacker has good ball skills. Moves like a linebacker. Willing hitter. Has some versatility to play in the box or as a free safety.
21. Antwan Marsh, Pikeville, 6-3, 225. Big, powerful player who can close in a hurry. Has good hands. Can run. Is very raw and has a huge transition to make to lpay in the NFL. Stock is up.
22. Dawan Landry, Georgia Tech, 6-1, 220. Has the body for the position. Has some athleticism. Solid tackler who can hit hard. Has not been overly productive. Lacks a special trait. Should be a good special teams contributor.
23. Willie Andrews, Baylor, 5-9, 193. Short player has some speed and skills. Reads pretty well. Puts himself in position to make the play but sometimes fails to finish it. Tries to be physical but isn't big enough. Also is considered at cornerback. Can be a special teams contributor.
24. Tyrone Culver, Fresno State, 6-1, 195. Quick safety who goes all-out. Has instincts and understands the game. Showed improvement as the season went on. Wasn't overly productive.
25. Eric Smith, Michigan State, 6-1, 209. Smart, high-motor player with a good build for the position. Plays strong. Finds the ball well. Has average athleticism. Has been injured, and staying healthy is an issue.
Senior writer Dan Pompei covers the NFL for Sporting News. E-mail him at pompei@sportingnews.com.
By Dan Pompei
Sporting News
An analytical look at the top safeties in the 2006 draft:
1. Jason Allen, Tennessee, 6-1, 209. A safety/corner tweener whose draft stock is tied to the condition of his hip, which was dislocated in the fifth game of the season. Has played both positions in college pretty well. Could be a safety on first and second down and then play cornerback on passing downs. Has outstanding ability. Is smooth and athletic. Can run and jump. Physical player who likes to tackle. Closes well. Is comfortable in zone or man. Has size to match up with taller receivers. Has worked out very well. Bites on play action at times. Could be more aggressive.
2. Donte Whitner, Ohio State, 5-10, 204. Box safety who knows how to hit. Junior plays really hard. Is straight line fast, and can close. Doesn't get caught out of position much. Reads the play well and gets a good jump on the ball carrier. Is not great in coverage because he doesn't have ideal quickness and change of direction. Has good intangibles. Is a little smaller than you'd like.
3. Daniel Bullocks, Nebraska, 6-0, 212. One of the best safeties in the draft at covering the tight end. Gets his hands on a lot of balls. Has a hard, strong body, and is willing to come down hill in run support. Doesn't tackle real well, and misses some tackles. Had a nice Senior Bowl and ran well at the combine. Stock is up.
4. Bernard Pollard, Purdue, 6-1, 224. Physical strong safety prospect with good size. Big hitter who runs very well. Is put together well. Doesn't make a lot of plays on the ball. Instincts in coverage are questionable. Finds the ball carrier and tackles well. Scouts are concerned about his attitude, and it could cost him on draft day. Is a very good special teams player. There has been some talk of moving him to linebacker.
5. Darnell Bing, Southern Cal, 6-2, 227. Box player who has explosive tackling ability. Misses some tackles going for the kill shot. Can run well in a straight line. Measurables are very good. Has good hands, but isn't real instinctive in coverage. Change of direction isn't great. Has been somewhat of an underachiever and could have benefited from returning for his senior season.
6. Ko Simpson, South Carolina, 6-1, 209. Has good upside, but could have been a higher pick if he stayed in school for his senior year. Shows a lot of range. Can play off man pretty well. Willing tackler and pretty sure tackler. Tall, long armed, lanky player who can improve his strength. Gets blocked too much, and needs to read blocking schemes better. Could take better angles and be more aggressive.
7. Anthony Smith, Syracuse, 6-0, 194. Is at his best close to the line, where he can be aggressive and doesn't have to think as much. Is capable of the big hit. Doesn't wrap up well. Effective edge blitzer. Makes a lot of plays on the ball. Instincts are questionable. Lacks elite athleticism and speed.
8. Roman Harper, Alabama, 6-0, 198. Big hitter with a burst to the ball. Fills the inside run lanes well. Can play strong or free. Pretty good tackler, but doesn't always wrap up. Coach's son who understands the game. Can call the signals. Is a little slow to read and react. Will squat on some routes and let receivers get behind him.
9. Pat Watkins, Florida State, 6-5, 211. Tall safety with long arms and speed who can cover a lot of territory. A true centerfielder. Played better in 2004 than in 2005, and has not been a big producer. Lacks strength. Does not communicate well on the field. Has trouble with smaller, quicker receivers. Has some special teams capabilities.
10. Jahmile Addae, West Virginia, 5-10, 214. Willing hitter with good foot quickness. Plays with intensity and aggressiveness. Is explosive -- had a 40 1/2 inch vertical. Has produced over a long period of time. Has leadership qualities. Lacks top instincts. Average quickness is exposed in coverage. Helped himself in the Senior Bowl.
11. Scott Ware, Southern Cal, 6-1, 218. Physical, well-built player who is good in support. Can deliver a blow, and is a decent tackler. Is aware on the field. Plays consistently. Is speed-deficient.
12. Dwayne Slay, Texas Tech, 6-3, 216. Tall player who is a knockout hitter but poor tackler. Has long arms and good ball skills. Tracks the ball well. Has a burst and comes downhill hard against the run, but doesn't have catch up speed. Hard worker who gives you everything he has. Takes bad angles.
13. Jarrad Page, UCLA, 6-0, 239. Big player with some athleticism. Also a baseball player for UCLA. Proven college performer. Could be tried at linebacker. Is a bit slow for a safety, but has good speed for a linebacker. Has been compared with Cato June of the Colts.
14. Charlie Peprah, Alabama, 5-11, 206. Smart safety with some athleticism. Also could be a cornerback. Isn't a great hitter. Tackles low. Doesn't have a lot of upside. Didn't help himself much at the East-West Shrine game or in postseason workouts.
15. Reed Doughty, Northern Colorado, 6-0, 209. Really good player with top instincts who just isn't fast enough. Has good ball skills. Plays with toughness and is a solid tackler. Would be best at free safety.
16. Greg Blue, Georgia, 6-2, 216. Big, physical safety who will hit hard if he can line up a target. Runs fairly well. Can read and diagnose. Has poor ball skills. Doesn't take good angles. Is a little stiff athletically. Has some special teams value. Some think he could be converted to linebacker.
17. Nate Salley, Ohio State, 6-2, 216. Hard hitter with good size. A box safety who lacks athleticism and change of direction for coverage. Doesn't make a lot of plays. Doesn't play fast or instinctively. Smart player who coaches love.
18. Calvin Lowry, Penn State, 5-10, 200. Understands the game and puts himself in position to take away routes and make plays. Smart player. Lacks size. Willing hitter, but is tight-hipped and it sometimes shows up in his tackling.
19. Darrell Brooks, Arizona, 6-0, 198. Smart player who doesn't get out of position. Takes away routes well. Leader in the defensive backfield. Is aggressive and plays with high energy. Has average athleticism. Lacks catch up speed. Has not been real productive.
20. Vickiel Vaughn, Arkansas, 6-0, 208. Former linebacker has good ball skills. Moves like a linebacker. Willing hitter. Has some versatility to play in the box or as a free safety.
21. Antwan Marsh, Pikeville, 6-3, 225. Big, powerful player who can close in a hurry. Has good hands. Can run. Is very raw and has a huge transition to make to lpay in the NFL. Stock is up.
22. Dawan Landry, Georgia Tech, 6-1, 220. Has the body for the position. Has some athleticism. Solid tackler who can hit hard. Has not been overly productive. Lacks a special trait. Should be a good special teams contributor.
23. Willie Andrews, Baylor, 5-9, 193. Short player has some speed and skills. Reads pretty well. Puts himself in position to make the play but sometimes fails to finish it. Tries to be physical but isn't big enough. Also is considered at cornerback. Can be a special teams contributor.
24. Tyrone Culver, Fresno State, 6-1, 195. Quick safety who goes all-out. Has instincts and understands the game. Showed improvement as the season went on. Wasn't overly productive.
25. Eric Smith, Michigan State, 6-1, 209. Smart, high-motor player with a good build for the position. Plays strong. Finds the ball well. Has average athleticism. Has been injured, and staying healthy is an issue.
Senior writer Dan Pompei covers the NFL for Sporting News. E-mail him at pompei@sportingnews.com.