Jake0
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40 times usually are overrated but they seem to matter the most in the secondary. Makes sense since they have to react to what the offense is doing. We've really only had success drafting in the secondary with really fast guys. Everyone else gets torched both on the field and by the fans. The exception sort of is Mike Jenkins, who was a 4.38 guy, but it wasn't really cause of his coverage abilities.
Scandrick is the best DB we've drafted by a mile recently and he's a 4.32 guy that can still tackle. Terrence Newman was the best DB we drafted if you want to go back a little further and he's a 4.37. Byron Jones everyone seems to be on board with thus far and he's a 4.36. There were growing pains with Scandrick but it seems if you have the speed, the coaching will eventually get them to a point where they are reliable players.
Flops are the obvious Morris Claiborne at 4.5, J.J Wilcox 4.57 (but he should be a strong safety really and he does hit hard), Church at 4.69, and of course the much maligned Roy Williams. There's a lot more late round picks and whatnot out there but looking at week 1 starters over the past 10 years or so, generally the fast guys have been people that are reliable in the secondary.
We haven't had a speedy ballhawk at free safety really ever. There's a possibility now we can remedy that with Byron Jones playing there or in this draft.
There's a few candidates this draft that fit the bill.
Jalen Ramsey obviously,
William Jackson III and Eli Apple - Both probably out of reach of our 2nd rounder since they look like they are going late 1st.
T.J. Green FS from Clemson 4.34 - ~3rd Round
A lot more late round flyers out there plus there's also some that didn't get to run their 40 like Kendall Fuller that are unknowns.
If you follow this line of thought then someone like Vernon Hargreaves III would raise a red flag.
There are plenty successful DBs out there that aren't super fast, but they're probably in schemes that make them work. I think it'd be interesting to see what happens when we have a secondary full of nothing but speed and 1 thumper at SS. Would need to draft 1 more speedy CB and FS for that though. Scandrick in the slot, Byron either outside or FS, drafted person outside or FS, and 1 more guy for the other outside position.
Scandrick is the best DB we've drafted by a mile recently and he's a 4.32 guy that can still tackle. Terrence Newman was the best DB we drafted if you want to go back a little further and he's a 4.37. Byron Jones everyone seems to be on board with thus far and he's a 4.36. There were growing pains with Scandrick but it seems if you have the speed, the coaching will eventually get them to a point where they are reliable players.
Flops are the obvious Morris Claiborne at 4.5, J.J Wilcox 4.57 (but he should be a strong safety really and he does hit hard), Church at 4.69, and of course the much maligned Roy Williams. There's a lot more late round picks and whatnot out there but looking at week 1 starters over the past 10 years or so, generally the fast guys have been people that are reliable in the secondary.
We haven't had a speedy ballhawk at free safety really ever. There's a possibility now we can remedy that with Byron Jones playing there or in this draft.
There's a few candidates this draft that fit the bill.
Jalen Ramsey obviously,
William Jackson III and Eli Apple - Both probably out of reach of our 2nd rounder since they look like they are going late 1st.
T.J. Green FS from Clemson 4.34 - ~3rd Round
A lot more late round flyers out there plus there's also some that didn't get to run their 40 like Kendall Fuller that are unknowns.
If you follow this line of thought then someone like Vernon Hargreaves III would raise a red flag.
There are plenty successful DBs out there that aren't super fast, but they're probably in schemes that make them work. I think it'd be interesting to see what happens when we have a secondary full of nothing but speed and 1 thumper at SS. Would need to draft 1 more speedy CB and FS for that though. Scandrick in the slot, Byron either outside or FS, drafted person outside or FS, and 1 more guy for the other outside position.