Mike's Take ...
What's desired at safety is more and more starting to resemble what's required at inside linebacker, and vice-versa. There's still a lot to be said for the true centerfielder-type player, the one who can play deep and keep the offense from tearing the top off the defense because of his range and ability to go get the football. But in sub-packages or base defenses, there's an increasing premium on cover guys who can also hold up against the run. As a wise man once observed, "The more you can do … "
Sleeper - Divine Deablo, Virginia Tech (6-3, 229 lbs.) - More old school than new breed, but a hitter with a specific skill set to bring to the table. "You don't want him being parked on the half, asked to drop 18 to 20 yards, have two receivers flying up the hash on him and asking him to range out of the middle of the field where you could expose him," ESPN analyst Louis Riddick maintained during Senior Bowl week. "He's a guy that needs to be coming downhill, a guy who's an intermediate to front-line player." In other words, a big guy who needs to play big, covering intermediate zones or at the line of scrimmage blitzing and otherwise using his physicality. Andrew Siciliano of the NFL Network reported the name "Divine" was chosen to balance out "Deablo" ("Diablo" translates to "Devil" in Spanish). Deablo played in parts of five seasons at Virginia Tech and leaves with six career interceptions, including four in nine games in 2020.
#5 - Damar Hamlin, Pitt (6-0, 196 lbs.) - ESPN analyst Todd McShay envisions Hamlin as a third- or fourth-round pick who will achieve longevity in the NFL because of his smarts, instincts and football intelligence, and because he can cover, play the run and even come off the edge. "I absolutely love him," McShay gushed during Senior Bowl week. "All season long they relied on him to be the guy." Dolphins head coach Brian Flores had this to say about Hamlin at the Senior Bowl: "He's smart, he's tough. The safety position, it's about communication, you're really the quarterback of the defense. He showed a lot of that. He can take in a lot of information and take it from the board to the field. We're impressed with him." Hamlin had a tip-pick in the Senior Bowl after collecting six INTs at Pitt (two in 10 games in 2020).
#4 - Andre Cisco, Syracuse (6-0, 209 lbs.) - In the interest of transparency, Cisco kid was a friend of mine. But in the event you don't know much about him, know this: He had two forced fumbles, 13 interceptions and 14 passes defensed in 24 career games for the Orange. Cisco reportedly suffered an ACL injury in a collision with a teammate during pregame warmups before Syracuse played Georgia Tech and was lost for the 2020 season after just two games, so the medical questions will have to be resolved. Questions about Cisco's ball skills have already been answered.
#3 - Richie Grant, Central Florida (5-11 1/2, 199 lbs.) - NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah offered up a glowing review during Senior Bowl week: "You see him play as the free safety, he can drop down in the nickel, he did a great job in those roles and also split outside to corner and held up well. Got his hands on a lot of footballs and I think very much in the conversation to be a Top-50 pick." Grant had six interceptions in 2018 and 10 in his career at UCF, and two more in one practice at the Senior Bowl, where he also worked some at cornerback.
#2 - Jevon Holland, Oregon (6-1, 208 lbs.) - His opt-out in 2020 prevented scouts from seeing if Holland could build on the success he had in his first two seasons at Oregon. Still, there was plenty on display in 2018 and 2019. Holland intercepted five passes in 2018 even tough he only started two games. And in 2019 he made splash plays on both sides of the line of scrimmage (four more interceptions and four-and-a-half tackles for loss), and on special teams (a 15.3-yard average on 16 punt returns). Holland can play safety or slot cornerback, so he possesses the desired versatility as well as the required play-making ability.
#1 - Trevon Moehrig, TCU (6-2, 208 lbs.) - Moehrig's seven interceptions in three seasons attest to his ball skills well enough, but they're not nearly as impressive as his ability to track the ball and position himself down the field in coverage. He can also be aggressive with receivers in one-on-one coverage without drawing flags, and he's a sure and physical tackler. Whether breaking on the ball in coverage or coming up to attack a sweep or a play in the flat, Moehrig hits the gas and gets there in a hurry. And he does it all seemingly with ease, with an athleticism that suggests he's not even breaking a sweat. And that he knew how the play was going to end all along.
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March 24, 2021 at 07:16PM
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The Triple Take: Safeties - Steelers.com - Steelers.com
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