Chuck 54
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The idea that every safety needs to support against the run and cover guys is obvious...so do the lb's in today's game. However, there is still a huge difference between a FS and a SS and teams do NOT play them equally or interchangeably which is a stupid idea we've failed at before.
Once or twice a generation you find a true SS (tough, sure tackler with the size for TE's and aggressive) who can also get the job done regularly at FS in the deep patrol (think Lott or Woodson).
All one has to do is look around the league today...you aren't going to see Reid of Baltimore playing SS and his counterpart in the deep patrol except as a blitz changeup for a particular offensive formation.
The FS does not have to be as big and you want him to be very intelligent, a sure tackler, a very good coverage guy against WRs, and hopefully an instinctive ball hawk. The SS is NOT as valueable and should not be paid as much...the SS is a bigger guy who can take on RBs at the line, drive TE's backwards, but is not expected to play the ball that well 40 yards downfield.
Hamlin is a decent but not great FS. Roy Williams is an above average SS that we let get caught running downfield too often and should not have been covering man to man in the red zone.
I think we'll see Hamlin at FS with Watkins as his backup. I believe we'll see Roy starting at SS and replaced in certain passing situations by someone else....we'll try to draft a SS type this year, but he's likely to be a project type....still, you never know when you're going to find a guy like the Skins did in round 4 who comes in and makes huge plays for you.
Once or twice a generation you find a true SS (tough, sure tackler with the size for TE's and aggressive) who can also get the job done regularly at FS in the deep patrol (think Lott or Woodson).
All one has to do is look around the league today...you aren't going to see Reid of Baltimore playing SS and his counterpart in the deep patrol except as a blitz changeup for a particular offensive formation.
The FS does not have to be as big and you want him to be very intelligent, a sure tackler, a very good coverage guy against WRs, and hopefully an instinctive ball hawk. The SS is NOT as valueable and should not be paid as much...the SS is a bigger guy who can take on RBs at the line, drive TE's backwards, but is not expected to play the ball that well 40 yards downfield.
Hamlin is a decent but not great FS. Roy Williams is an above average SS that we let get caught running downfield too often and should not have been covering man to man in the red zone.
I think we'll see Hamlin at FS with Watkins as his backup. I believe we'll see Roy starting at SS and replaced in certain passing situations by someone else....we'll try to draft a SS type this year, but he's likely to be a project type....still, you never know when you're going to find a guy like the Skins did in round 4 who comes in and makes huge plays for you.
