Safeties: The 2014 Draft Class Examined

So as I mentioned in one of my previous posts, I have a difficult time scouting safeties. I personally think evaluating safeties is the most difficult of all the position groups for armchair GMs. You really need access to “All-22” game tape to get an accurate read on a safety, because so much of their play happens in space and “against air” and not in a box against other players.

Great safeties need to have exceptional vision and instincts. They need to take exact angles to the ball and they need to understand coverage schemes. Those skills are almost impossible to pick up on by simply watching highlights or even watching a full game from the typical T.V. broadcast angle.

So all I can really do is look at the Combine measurables, read up on “experts” evaluations, and use whatever gut feeling I have about the prospect from whatever film I have seen of them.

With that in mind, here are my impeccable safety evaluations.

from tuscaloosanews.com

1. HaHa Clinton-Dix, Alabama (6’1”, 208 lbs.)

Hasean “HaHa” Clinton-Dix is a fairly prototypical “free safety” in terms of build and skill. He’s a bit lean for the position, but he makes up for that with above average length and range. He’s sort of built for today’s NFL. He’s not a slobberknocker style of safety who is going to have tight ends fearful of going across the middle, but he has good instincts to be at the right place at the right time and make pass-break ups.

He is likely a Day 1 starter and has pro-bowl potential, but I don’t really see him as a game-changing player. He looks like he will be an above-average, steady starter for a long time.

There’s a very, very slim chance that he’ll sneak into the top-10 somehow, but he is probably looking at being drafted between No. 13 and No. 25. He was No. 12 on my first pseudo-big-board but he will be lower on my complete and official big board.

from sportsweekly.qwriting.qc.cuny.edu

2. Calvin Pryor, Louisville (5’11”, 207 lbs.)

Pryor is a more physically intimidating safety than HaHa. That’s apparent. Pryor is an aggressive run defender and a big hitter. He’s also got good speed and range for a safety. He’s as aggressive in the pass game as he is against the run. He plays with speed, urgency and sometimes a bit out of control which leads to some mental mistakes.

Pryor is fairly close to HaHa as a prospect. I give HaHa the nod because from what tape I have seen suggests he has better instincts than Pryor and is more of an asset in the pass game.

Pryor has pretty much the exact same draft range as HaHa. Some teams will value one more than the other, but both are cemented as top-25 picks.

from tallahasse.com

3. Lamarcus Joyner, Florida St. (5’8”, 184 lbs.)

I don’t know where else to put Joyner. He isn’t really a safety. He also isn’t really a cornerback. He is a defensive back. He’ll have to be moved around the defense to mask his size deficiency, but he can play all three downs and be an impact player from Day 1. He’s a great short-area athlete so he should be one of the top nickelbacks to come out of this class. He’s fearless as a hitter and has incredible instincts. He will be drafted later than he should because of his size, but Joyner is a stud that some lucky team will swoop up.

Joyner should be drafted between picks Nos. 20-30, but he’ll likely last until Round 2.

from fansided.com

4. Deone Bucannon, Washington St. (6’1”, 211 lbs.)

Deone Bucannon is the most physically imposing of all the safeties in this class. He’s got the ideal size for the position, and was among the fastest safeties at the Combine, running a 4.49 official forty-time. He’s ideally suited athletically to play the position. He’s this low on my list because he has pretty terrible form when tackling, plays without discipline and I question his instincts in general. With the length and speed he has he should have been more effective in coverage than he was.

With proper coaching Bucannon can become a hard-hitting center field safety at the next level, but he’s much more of a developmental prospect than the previous three.

He may end up sneaking into the back end of Round 1, but he’s most likely coming off the board between picks Nos. 33-50.

from bleacherreport.com

5. Terrence Brooks, Florida St. (5’11”, 198 lbs.)

Brooks is a bit lean for the position, and he’s not a great tackler, but he does have good speed and coverage skills for the position. In today’s NFL those are valuable skills for any defensive back, so he gets a little push up my board.

He’s also a very good athlete, running a 4.42 and jumping 38 inches in the vertical. He is fluid and may even have the ability to function as a cornerback at the next level. His versatility is a real plus.

Brooks is a Day 2 pick, probably coming off the board between Nos. 40-80.

That’s it for my positional lead up stuff. Next I’ll put out a mock draft, and updated positional rankings, and my top-100 big board. Stay tuned.