Vela on Safeties

[lostinomiya]

Really enjoy reading what he says in his blog..he may know even more than Hostile.......!

Size Doesn't Matter -- The Case for Coverage Safeties
by Rafael Vela on Mar 21, 2009 1:00 AM CDT in General 44 comments
I think that the safety position has become more and more of a corner position in the National Football League. There were times when some of the safeties, particularly the strong safeties, fit more almost like linebackers than they did as defensive backs.

I think that’s changed gradually, but now to the point where your [safeties] a lot of times have to cover wide receivers or they have to cover tight ends who are very, very good in the passing game. It’s not guys running 5-yard hook routes, and stuff like that. The tight ends in the league, and it seems like just about every team in the league has one, can get down the field and make athletic and acrobatic catches … I think the demand for that position has changed and I think that’s changed the evaluation a little bit.

-- Bill Belichick

Belichick has a point. Lets take a look at the safety tandems for all the 2008 playoff teams:



AFC

Strong Safeties (all weights from NFL.com)

Jim Leonhard -- Baltimore -- 186 lbs.
Bob Sanders - Indy -- 206 lbs.
Yeremiah Bell -- Miami -- 205 lbs.
Ryan Clark - Pittsburgh -- 205 lbs.
Clinton Hart, San Diego -- 207 lbs.
Chris Hope - Tennessee -- 208 lbs.
Average -- 203 lbs.
Free Safeties

Ed Reed -- Baltimore -- 200 lbs.
Antoine Bethea - Indy -- 202 lbs.
Renaldo Hill -- Miami -- 202 lbs.
Troy Polamalu - Pittsburgh -- 207 lbs.
Eric Weddle -- San Diego -- 200 lbs.
Michael Griffin - Tennessee - 202 lbs.
Average -- 202 lbs.
Notice there's practically no difference in overall size between the strong safeties and the frees. Jim Leonhard, a darling of the blogging crowd here, played at a minuscule 186, dripping wet, with no Creatine to pump him up, and nobody accused the Ravens of being weak up the middle.

NFC

Strong Safeties

Adrian Wilson -- Arizona -- 230 lbs.
Lawyer Milloy -- Atlanta -- 216 lbs.
Chris Harris -- Carolina -- 205 lbs
Darren Sharper -- Minnesota -- 210 lbs.
James Butler -- N.Y. Giants -- 215 lbs.
Quentin Mikel -- Philadelphia -- 206 lbs.
Average -- 214 lbs.
Free Safeties

Antrell Rolle -- Arizona -- 208 lbs.
Erik Coleman --Atlanta -- 206 lbs.
Charles Godfrey -- Carolina -- 205 lbs.
Madieu Williams -- Minnesota -- 202 lbs
Michael Johnson -- N.Y. Giants -- 207 lbs.
Brian Dawkins -- Philadelphia -- 210 lbs.
Average -- 206 lbs.
As these numbers demonstrate, the king-sized, Roy Williams-type strong safety is almost extinct. There are only three safeties on this entire list over 210 lbs. and only Adrian Wilson qualifies as a big-time, big-thumper safety. (Lawyer Milloy did, at one time, but Atlanta is trying to replace him with all deliberate speed.)

More and more teams are going to two quick. all-around types, who can cover and fill on run plays. Look at Pittsburgh, with the 205 lb. Clark and the 207 lb. Polamalu, or Philadelphia, which moved the 206 lb. Quentin Mikel from corner to SS and reaped the benefits of two safeties with outstanding range. Mikel and Brian Dawkins let Jim Johnson blitz freely, with full confidence that his backstops would cover up most mistakes up front.

Belichick? He has the 200 lb. Brandon Meriweather paired with 210 lb. James Sanders. He just signed the 207 lb. Shawn Springs to provide corner and safety depth.

How does this relate to Dallas? They have the 208 lb. Ken Hamlin holding down one safety spot. They have 204 lb. Gerald Sensabaugh, for the moment anyway, penciled in as the other safety. The Cowboys appear to be adopting the interchangeable-safety model.

When it comes to college safety prospects, don't stereotype a player according to size. The days of the mini-linebacker strong safety and slighter, center-field type free are done. That does not mean you should eliminate bigger guys like William Moore and Patrick Chung simply because they're big. I am saying you should not automatically elevate them according to a SS template that's no longer followed by most teams. Dallas may draft one of these two, but they'll do so because they're confident he can cover as well as hit.

It's an open field. Judge the prospects by performance over time and their overall skills. The team will.

 

[ethiostar]

Great read, thanks for posting.

 

[tomson75]

The writing has been on the wall for some time now. Williams knew it. The coaches knew it. We knew it. Obviously Vela knows it.

It's been three or four years since "box" safeties have been effective in the NFL. Williams couldn't adapt here...and now he's gone. I'm not sure there really is a place for those guys in this league anymore...except as a mini linebacker.

William Moore doesn't like this report.

 

[Apollo Creed]

Emanuel Cook in the 3rd, book it.

 

[Alexander]

Emanuel Cook in the 3rd, book it.

He is one of the players on Deion Sanders' show, so this could be possible. Same thing for Sherrod Martin. We all know how Jerry Jones values the "expert" opinion of Deion Sanders.

 

[tomson75]

Emanuel Cook in the 3rd, book it.

That would pretty much go against the grain of Vela's write up here. Sure, he's as small as most of the guys above....but I think we're trying to find MORE range. Not less.

 

[Apollo Creed]

He is one of the players on Deion Sanders' show, so this could be possible. Same thing for Sherrod Martin. We all know how Jerry Jones values the "expert" opinion of Deion Sanders.

Well I know of one potential character risk because he likes to smoke a lot, but thats the norm in this league.

He is however, one hell of a big hitter for his size - and has played in a pretty complex flex defense in Carolina (pretty solid unit in a tough conference). He was all SEC last year, and possibly won the Jim Thorp award one of the three years he was nominated.

He can play special teams, and would be an immediate starter.

He is a first round talent that came out a year early, because school wasn't his thing - evident with him being suspended for their bowl game for refusing to attend class. Ever.

So, I like the player - don't like the person. So he'll probably be a Dallas Cowboy next year.

 

[tomson75]

Well I know of one potential character risk because he likes to smoke a lot, but thats the norm in this league.

He is however, one hell of a big hitter for his size - and has played in a pretty complex flex defense in Carolina (pretty solid unit in a tough conference). He was all SEC last year, and possibly won the Jim Thorp award one of the three years he was nominated.

He can play special teams, and would be an immediate starter.

He is a first round talent that came out a year early, because school wasn't his thing - evident with him being suspended for their bowl game for refusing to attend class. Ever.

So, I like the player - don't like the person. So he'll probably be a Dallas Cowboy next year.

Do you also like his 4.6 speed and his inability to remain academically eligible for bowl games?

No thanks. IMO, of course.

 

[Apollo Creed]

Do you also like his 4.6 speed and his inability to remain academically eligible for bowl games?

No thanks. IMO, of course.

Did I not just say that?

 

[tomson75]

Did I not just say that?

I had not read that post. I was still replying to your other post, but highlighted that one on accident. My bad.

 

[Apollo Creed]

I had not read that post. I was still replying to your other post, but highlighted that one on accident. My bad.

Tis all good. His 40 was closer to a 4.7 too.

I liked him a lot more before I saw him run. I just really wish we wouldn't have made our bed with Hamlin so fast, he seemed like he cashed his check last year and was just chillin. Need to keep some pressure on him.

So I'm really hoping we go safety with one of our first two picks.

 

[tomson75]

Tis all good. His 40 was closer to a 4.7 too.

I liked him a lot more before I saw him run. I just really wish we wouldn't have made our bed with Hamlin so fast, he seemed like he cashed his check last year and was just chillin. Need to keep some pressure on him.

So I'm really hoping we go safety with one of our first two picks.

I hear ya. I feel the same way about Hamlin. Seems like he mailed it in last year.

I like two or three guys at safety in the draft this year, but I don't see any of them making it to our spot in the second. If one of them drops and we don't pull the trigger I'll be bummed. I'm not terribly excited about the safety class as a whole this year.

 

[KingintheNorth]

That does not mean you should eliminate bigger guys like William Moore and Patrick Chung simply because they're big..

Chung is 5'11" 210 lbs. I don't necessarily put him in the "big safety" category. Of all the strong safeties in the draft he is the one player I think has enough speed and athleticism to not be a liability in coverage. I'd still prefer Sean Smith or Louis Delmas.

 

[TheCount]

Hmm, well if that's the case then most of the top SS this year are eliminated from contention and we may end up replacing Roy with a FS-type. But obviously the article is a gross simplification.

I think what the NFL is moving more towards is the active safety, not just the smaller ones. You want guys with range, but you still need them to be able to tackle.

 

[SLATEmosphere]

I enjoy Vela's blogs too. He's honest and he preaches 99% of the time..He also claims to be an insider, but he never gives out info!

 

[sonnyboy]

Hmm, well if that's the case then most of the top SS this year are eliminated from contention and we may end up replacing Roy with a FS-type. But obviously the article is a gross simplification.

I think what the NFL is moving more towards is the active safety, not just the smaller ones. You want guys with range, but you still need them to be able to tackle.

But the point is that size is of little importance when it comes to open field tackling.

In fact a larger safety is at a disadvantage when it comes to open field tackling.

A larger safety's size is only useful when he plays up in the box. That's when he's more likely to encounter a blocker he'll have to defeat. On a pass play he may use his size/strength while in the box to jam the TE trying to get out in a pattern.

 

[Apollo Creed]

I enjoy Vela's blogs too. He's honest and he preaches 99% of the time..He also claims to be an insider, but he never gives out info!

The good ones don't.

 

[SLATEmosphere]

The good ones don't.

Ya, but it's so annoying! HA..he claims he knows who the Cowboys have a heavy eye on and who's on top of their list but that's it!

 

[CF74]

The writing has been on the wall for some time now. Williams knew it. The coaches knew it. We knew it. Obviously Vela knows it.

It's been three or four years since "box" safeties have been effective in the NFL. Williams couldn't adapt here...and now he's gone. I'm not sure there really is a place for those guys in this league anymore...except as a mini linebacker.

William Moore doesn't like this report.

Maybe these guys can become the new Nickle and Dime LB's. Somebody between the size and speed of Burnett and RW38 might fit the bill of a new prototype position, maybe. These bodies can still excel in special teams.

 

[AMERICAS_FAN]

Three things have happened since the days of Darren Woodson's prime that have required NFL teams to carry two cover safeties (where before it was one cover guy as th FS and LB type as the SS). Thse threethings are...:

(1) TEs are better receivers now-a-days. Before, if you could catch a football in college, you were groomed to play WR. Today, if you can catch but also have some size, and potentially can also block, colleges now mold you into a TE. So TEs come into the league more athletic and better equipped

(2) Teams have adopted more sophisticated WR packages involving 3 and 4 WR sets. Simply put, you need more coverage type of safeties to control this.

(3) Finally, the rules have changed to favor WRs, and so teams therefore have incentive to create nad use this multiple WR sets, that by rules are at an advantage. So the best defense is more athletic safeties to guard against it, because the "hitting type" of safeties, like Roy Willimas, are now by rule not allowed to be as physical before the point of the catch as they once could be