2008 NFL Draft Prospects |Top 5 at Free Safety

This class of free safeties is much different from other classes. After the one true blue chip prospect, you are left with 4 or 5 guys who will be serviceable NFL talent with significant upside.

1) Kenny Phillips, Miami

Despite a disappointing combine, Phillips remains the class of the bunch. However, he may not go in the top half of the first round as many predicted (myself included). His ball skills are premium and good football instincts are there. I have heard many say about Phillips that “he is a good safety but he is not Ed Reed”. While that may be true, it is not fair to Phillips to have Reed as his measuring stick. Phillips will make an excellent free safety for the team that lands him.

2) DaJuan Morgan, NC State

Morgan is Mike Mayock’s top ranked safety although I don’t know what Morgan did to earn that praise. He is a quality talent no doubt but his combine was pedestrian. He did improve his tackling this season by racking up 117 but I still fail to see him as a better prospect than Phillips. Carolina is rumored to be targeting Morgan in the second round to pair up with Chris Harris.

3) Thomas DeCoud, California

Unlike the previous two, DeCoud bettered his stock with a good combine, running 4.5 and leaping 35.5 inches high. I like this guy because he is always looking for the highlight reel hit. He never plays soft. His coverage is good enough to play at the NFL level but is far from elite. His closing speed is excellent and he shows good awareness and reflexes in tipping and intercepting the ball. DeCoud is very close to beng second on this list but he needs more experience at the position.

4) Quentin Demps, UTEP

Demps had one of the better combines for defensive backs. His 4.4 forty time should do wonders for his draft stock. Demps brings four years of starting experience at the position paired with excellent football instincts. He needs to bulk up a bit to be more effective.

5) Marcus Griffin, Texas

Living in the shadow of his twin brother Michael, Marcus has developed into a quality defensive back for the Longhorns. Griffin’s combine was weak but his stats speak a different tune of 97 tackles, 5 Pass Ds and 3 INTs. Marcus plays like a strong safety at the free safety position, his tackling is his strong suit. But he continues to work on his coverage and ball abilities and should make a fine pro.

tag: NFL, Draft, Prospects, Combine, Free Safety, Defensive backs, Marcus Griffen, Quentin Demps, Thomas DeCoud, DaJuan Morgan, Kenny Phillips

NFL Draft Prospects | Top 5 Strong Safeties

2008 has no LaRon Landry, Mike Griffin or Brandon Meriweather to boast first round grades. But this year’s strong safety class has many prospects who could develop into everyday starters.

1) Josh Barrett, Arizona State

This kid will be a monster for someone. 6′2″ 220 lbs and he runs a 4.35 forty. His rare combination for size and speed allow him to both press cover and zone cover with equal effectiveness. He is extremely aggressive and will blow up plays at the line of scrimmage frequently. He tends to be burned by seam routes and deep balls but it should not affect his draft stock too much. A comparison frequently used to describe Barrett is that of Roy Williams of the Cowboys.

2) Craig Steltz, LSU

LaRon Landry’s former backup stepped up to deliver a huge season in 2007, tying him for the team lead in tackles. Steltz has a presence of the field that is felt on a game-in game-out basis. He makes plays everywhere on the field. The only downside to Steltz is a perception that he is lacking athleticism. Perceived as a slower safety with little recovery speed, his lack of participation at the combine may have purveyed this notion. However, I look for Steltz to become an impact player in the NFL. I believe he has a shot of start in the early years of his career.

3) Jamar Adams, Michigan

Adams’ calling card is his coverage ability; he is one of the better strong safeties of the class in that department. His closing speed and and hands are above average and will not be a liability in zone schemes. He does need to get bigger to compete in the NFL but his experience and intangibles are some of the best in class.

4) Tyrell Johnson, Arkansas State

Could make a case for Johnson being third on this list but I feel that he didn’t do enough at the combine to warrant #3. 4.47 forty, 32 inch vert and a 27 rep bench is impressive but being from a small school, you have to blow the doors off the place to make a significant move. Johnson is likely NFL talent but I will remain a skeptic until I see him read NFL offenses and cover NFL receivers.

5) Tom Zbikowski, Notre Dame

Probably one of the better players at using the talents given to him and using effort and grit to make up the difference, Zbikowski was not blessed with an NFL dose of talent or athleticism. He does however, bring the work hat everyday and uses his head to prevent his shortcomings from costing him. His draft stock lies in how scout juge the mental aspect of his game as oppose to the physical. Zbikowski is fast enough to chase down some runningbacks and tight ends in pursuit and tackles well. But he is not fast enough nor agile enough to deal with an NFL wide receiver. The team that draft Zbikowski should be wise to his faults.

tag: NFL, Draft, Prospects, rankings, saftey, football, football jabber, sports, combine, position

2008 NFL Draft Prospects | Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie

Name: Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie
Position: Cornerback
School: Tennessee State
Year: Senior
2007 Stats: 6 INT
Ht: 6-1
Wt: 183
40: 4.35 (est)
Bench: N/A
Expected draft position: CB 3-7 1st round
YouTube Linkage

Strengths: Lightning quick for a corner his size. Good ball instincts and excellent coverage. Big playmaker on defense

Concerns: Sometimes gets fooled by double moves. Level of competition may be questioned.

Comments: DRC had an excellent Senior Bowl and likely made himself a fair amount of cash by moving up many scouts charts. His speed and size will allow him to be an excellent corner in the NFL but his pedigree may cause a drop in his positioning for the draft.

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2008 NFL Draft Prospects | Leodis McKelvin

Name: Leodis McKelvin
Position: Cornerback
School: Troy
Year: Senior
2007 Stats: 25 PR 436 PR yds 3 TD 33 KR 765 KR yds 60 tackles 2 INT 3 Fumbles forced 8 passes defensed
Ht: 5-11
Wt: 187
40: 4.36 (est)
Bench: N/A
Expected draft position: CB 1-3 1st round
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Strengths: Elite kick return abilities paried with excellent defensive abilities. Excellent burst and recovery speed. Good reactionary abilities and hands to disrupt the play. Hands are good enough to play a bit of wide receiver. Great football knowledge and instincts will allow him to play complex defenses in the NFL.

Concerns: May suffer against physical receivers.

Comments: Quite possibly the most talented corner available in the draft, McKelvin can do it all. Incorrectly labelled by some as a kick return specialist, McKelvin plays a mean cornerback as well. I liken him to Terrence McGee. There is a good chance that in a few years, he will be the best returner and the best corner on his team.

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2008 NFL Draft Prospects | Antoine Cason

Name: Antoine Cason
Position: Cornerback
School: Arizona
Year: Senior
2007 Stats: 71 total tackles, 1 Sack, 5 INT (2 for TD), 14 pass defenses, 2 Fumbles Forced
Ht: 6-0
Wt: 185
40: 4.39 (est)
Bench: N/A
Expected draft position: CB 3-6 1st round
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Strengths: A defensive playmaker in the purest sense, thinking of taking it to the house every time he gets the ball. Excellent footwork, good positioning and great recovery speed allows Cason to play man-to-man effectively as evidenced in Arizona’s defensive scheme.

Concerns: Likely will suffer on run defense as his small frame will not allow him to shed blocks from bigger wide receivers.
Comments: Cason could have been in the same breath as Leon Hall and Darelle Revis last year but opted to return to school. The fact that he is considered first round talent despite playing in the offense heavy Pac 10 says alot about his abilities. Cason was invited to and declined to participate in the Senior Bowl, a move that may likely see Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie leapfrog him as the third CB chosen. However, I feel that there are few corners as tested and proven as Cason who defended against some of the better offensive players in the country over the past few years.

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2008 NFL Draft Prospects | Aqib Talib

Name: Aqib Talib
Position: Cornerback
School: Kansas
Year: Junior
2007 Stats: 66 total tackles, 5 INT (2 for TD), 13 pass defenses
Ht: 6-2
Wt: 205
40: 4.47 (est)
Bench: N/A
Expected draft position: CB 1-4 1st round
YouTube Linkage

Strengths: A tall yet fast corner, Talib exhibits all of the qualities of an excellent cover corner. Good enough hands to run routes as a receiver. Excellent ball instincts, when he gets the ball, he is always thinking six.

Concerns: His timed 40 is weak but game tape says that he is faster than 4.47.

Comments: Talib is in the category of top cover corners in the draft. A surefire top 10 pick in last year’s draft which was weak in cornerbacks, Talib encounters three or four CBs that may challenge him for first, second or third CB taken. Talib is an excellent corner and should easily make the jump to the NFL.

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NFL Draft Prospects: Mike Jenkins

Name: Mike Jenkins
Position: Cornerback
School: South Florida
Year: Senior
2007 Stats: 41 total tackles, 3 INT, 11 pass defenses
Ht: 6-0
Wt: 200
40: 4.43 (est)
Bench: N/A
Expected draft position: CB 1 Top 15
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Strengths: Excellent recovery speed, always in good position. Coverage abilities are unmatched by any other corner in the draft. Big enough to jam smaller receivers at the line and fast enough to stay with them. Good kick return abilities as well.

Concerns: Character issues are the main concern with Jenkins. Was charged with disorderly conduct and resisting arrest without violence in March ‘07 outside of a bar. Suspended for the infraction. With personal conduct being closer to the forefront of many coaches and GMs thoughts, this could hurt Jenkins in the draft.

Comments: Considered the nation’s top cover corner after Malcolm Jenkins opted to return to school, Mike Jenkins is the closest thing to an NFL shutdown corner in this year’s draft. His opportunities in game are very infrequent as teams respect his ability to take away opportunity and shadow a team’s top receiver. Personal conduct may hurt him slightly but Jenkins is a top 15 talent and will not fall far.

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NFL Draft Prospects: Kenny Phillips

Name: Kenny Phillips
Position: Free Safety
School: Miami
Year: Junior
2007 Stats: 95 total tackles, 2 INT, 3 Forced fumbles, 6 pass defenses
Ht: 6-2
Wt: 208
40: 4.40 (est)
Bench: N/A
Expected draft position: S 1 Top 15
YouTube Linkage

Strengths: Blazing speed and outstanding coverage abilities. Premium ball-hawking skills. Good football instincts makes him rarely get into a situation in which he cannot recover from.

Concerns: Injuries have plagued him this year. Ankle injuries slowed him down for a number of games and a thumb injury late in the year sidelined him for three games.

Comments: Far and away, the best safety prospect in the draft, Phillips has the speed and coverage abilities to play corner but also has the size and big play ability of a top safety. The team that drafts Phillips will be getting a leader and play-maker for their secondary and a future pro-bowler in my opinion.

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