2011 NFL Draft Safety Preview

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Safeties

In a nutshell: Best known for be-ing a ballhawk that led the nation with 10 interceptions in 2009. His interception numbers dropped off precipitously his junior season, however, when he grabbed only one. Healthy and reliable player that started all 37 games from 2008-2010. Very good at reading the quarterback and attacking the ball in the air. Uses his height and leverage to his advantage when go-ing after the ball in the air as if he's the intended receiver. Not a knock-out tackler, but he's good in space, wraps up well and takes good angles. Could add a few pounds.

Rivalry game: Moore was cred-ited with eight tackles against rival USC in UCLA's final game of the 2010 season, although the safety was largely a non-factor. With USC running back Allen Bradford run-ning to the tune of 212 yards on the ground, the Trojans didn't have the need to go to the air all that much, which is where Moore makes his biggest impact. It turned out to be the first time since 1999 neither UCLA nor USC would be going to a bowl game. The Bruins ended the season with six losses in their final seven games.

Honors: First-team All-American by The Sporting News, Thorpe Award semifinalist, first-team All-Pac 10 in 2009 and 2010.

Best game: Moore tallied three interceptions in a season-opening victory over San Diego State as a sophomore in 2009. That mark tied the school record for the most interceptions in a single game. For his efforts, Moore was named the Walter Camp Foundation National Defensive Player of the Week. Also had one tackle and a pass breakup. He followed that up with a two-interception game the following week at Tennessee and had a third interception wiped out by penalty.

Stats: 71 tackles, 3 TFL, 1 INT

DeAndre McDaniel - Clemson

In a nutshell: Equally aggressive both against the run and the pass, McDaniel can play in the box, defend the slot and excel in deep coverage as well. Plays like a line-backer in a safety’s body, but seems to have the necessary fluidity to be effective in pass coverage at the next level. Was originally recruited to play safety at Clemson. Was the only college football player in 2009 to record at least eight intercep-tions and 100 tackles. There’s some characters concerns stemming from a 2008 arrest for “assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature.”

Postseason Game: Recorded a team-high and a career-high 15 tackles in a 21-13 victory over Ken-tucky in the 2009 Music City Bowl. For Clemson, the victory put a posi-

tive spin on the season for a team that was looking to qualify for a BCS bowl game but lost to Georgia Tech in the ACC Title game. According to Travis Sawchik of the Post and Cou-rier of South Carolina, “Kentucky offensive coordinator Joker Phillips told [Clemson head coach Dabo] Swinney it looked like there were two No. 2s on the field.”

Honors: First-team All-ACC 2009 and 2010, first-team All-American by the Football Writer’s Association as a junior.

All-Star game: There were mixed reports on McDaniel coming out of the Senior Bowl practices. On the positive side, several accounts said he looked very fluid in coverage and that he looked good match-ing up with tight ends. One of the more biting criticisms came from Tony Pauline of Sports Illustrated and DraftInsider.net who wrote,

#2: DeAndre McDanielSchool: Clemson, Sr.Height: 6’ 0”Weight: 21740-Yard dash: 4.65

#1: Rahim MooreSchool: UCLA, Jr.Height: 6” 0”Weight: 20240-Yard dash: 4.62

Author: Brian Carriveau

http://cheeseheadtv.com


“We were a bit surprised by Mc-Daniel. Much of the ability to make plays outside the numbers we saw on film was missing as McDaniel looked like a limited, straight line safety.”

Stats: 75 tackles, 4 INT

In a nutshell: A big hitter that can time his knockout blows just when the ball is arriving to its intended target. He’s had a few helmet-to-helmet hits, which he must be aware of at the next level. Being able to play both free and strong safety should increase his value. Carter is better at playing in the box, but he’s a capable cen-ter fielder as well. Has experience defending the slot and jumping out on receivers. He’s grabbed four interceptions each of the past two seasons.

Rivalry game: Carter grabbed two interceptions and had four tack-les in Oklahoma’s 47-41 win over in-state rival Oklahoma State in the game known as “Bedlam.” The victory allowed Oklahoma to capture the Big XII South title and eventually defeat Nebraska in the conference championship game while qualifying for the Fiesta Bowl. Oklahoma did a lot of man-blitz schemes for the first time in Carter’s career this particular game.

FS/SS

#4: Robert SandsSchool: West Virginia, Jr.Height: 6-4Weight: 217 pounds40-Yard Dash: 4.57

In a nutshell: Tall safey with long limbs. Uses his body size to his advantage, both in putting big hits on opponents and going up high for balls in the air. Plays with a pas-sion for the game. From a Packers-standpoint, reminds of Aaron Rouse as a tall safety that failed, but Rouse did not play with the aggression of a Sands.

Rivalry game: Named the Big East’s Defensive Player of the Week in West Virginia’s 2009 19-16 upset over ninth-ranked Pittsburgh in the Backyard Brawl. Had seven tack-les, three passes defensed and an

interception in the fourth quarter on a pass intended for probable first-round draft choice Jonathan Baldwin.

Honors: First-team All-American by the Sporting News in 2010, first-team All-Big East in both 2009 and 2010.

Stats: 46 tackles, 2 sacks, 1 INT

#5: Jaiquawn JarrettSchool: TempleHeight: 6-0Weight: 198 pounds40-Yard Dash: 4.57

In a nutshell: His technique is as good as any safety in the draft. Temple head coach Al Golden called him the best tackler he’s ever been around. Shows good straight-line speed, but struggles a little bit horizontally chasing guys down. Used occasionally on blitzes from the safety position. Smart player. Nine interceptions while playing in every game of his college career.

All-Star game: Showed good aggressiveness during the Senior Bowl, but few playmaking skills. Gave up a touchdown to Jeremy Kerley in the fourth quarter when he gave too big a cushion and took a poor angle trying make the tackle. Tony Pauline wrote, “He did not show the quickness or explosion he displayed during the season.”

Honors: First-team All-MAC in both 2009 and 2010


#3: Quinton CarterSchool: Oklahoma, Sr.Height: 6’ 1”Weight: 208 pounds40-Yard Dash: 4.62

Postseason game: Carter and the Sooners had a hard time stopping Stanford running back Toby Ger-hart in the 2009 Sun Bowl, but they managed to come up with the win. Gerhart ran for 135 yards and two touchdowns, but Carter helped shut down the passing game of the Cardinal. Stanford quarterback Tavita Pritchard completed only 8 of 19 passes for 118 yards and had two interceptions, one of them by Carter. Oklahoma entered the game unranked but was able to pull of the 31-27 upset.

Honors: First-team All-American by AFCA, AP and Sports Illustrated. First-team All-Big XII by the coaches in 2010 and second-team in 2009.

Stats: 96 tackles, 2.5 TFL, 4 INT

“knockout blows”



FS/SS

#6: Deunta WilliamsSchool: N. Carolina, Sr.Height: 6-2Weight: 20540-Yard dash: 4.53

Deunta Williams - North Carolina

In a nutshell: At 6-2, Williams has the ideal size you look for in a safety. Appears to have good instincts. He’s not afraid to go after the ball and challenge receivers with his height, but he’ll also make interceptions just by being in the right place at the right time. Some may consider that luck, but being the right place is half the battle. Didn’t record a single interception his senior season after having six as a junior.

Postseason game: Williams will probably fall down draft boards

#7: Will HillSchool: Florida, Jr.Height: 6’ 1”Weight: 202 pounds40-Yard Dash: 4.65

In a nutshell: Hill is a good athlete, but never had it all click for him while at Florida. Just a part-time starter prior to 2010, he was sus-pended for the first two games of his junior season for “disciplinary reasons.” Had a good but far from great season, which makes it some-what of a surprise he’d leave school early. Good special teams player.

Rivalry game: Had arguably his best game ever in in the World’s Largest Cocktail Party against Geor-gia in 2010. He had six tackles and two interceptions, including one

because he broke his right fibula in the first quarter of the Music City Bowl against Tennessee and won’t be able to perform workouts for teams during the offseason. Williams had two tackles on the evening before exiting.

Honors: First-team All-ACC as a junior. Nagurski and Thorpe Award candidate in 2010.

Best game: Williams was one of four candidates for the AT&T Na-tional Player of the Week when North Carolina beat Boston College 31-13 during his junior year. He recorded three interceptions and returned them for 103 yards with a long of 48. Also recorded two tack-les on the afternoon.


returned for 89 yards in overtime that prevented the Bulldogs from winning. His other interception pre-vented a two-point conversion.

Honors: 2008 SEC All-freshman team, CollegeFootballNews.com second-team freshman All-Ameri-can


#8: Tyler SashSchool: Iowa, Jr.Height: 6’ 0”Weight: 211 pounds40-Yard Dash: 4.62

In a nutshell: Limited athletically, but more than makes up for it with instincts and big-play ability. Has 13 career interceptions in only three years of play. Shows good lateral agility by stringing out plays to the sideline. Not the best form tackler, but manages to get guys down.

Postseason game: Recorded four solo tackles in Iowa’s 31-10 victory over South Carolina in the 2009 Outback Bowl. Also had two inter-ceptions returned for a total of 74 yards. His first interception led to an Iowa touchdown that allowed them to build a 14-0 lead in the first quarter.

Honors: Third-team All-American by Phil Steele, First-team All-Big Ten by both coaches and media, semifi-nalist for Jim Thorpe Award in 2010.

Stats: 79 tackles, 3.5 TFL, 2 INT

“big-play ability”



FS/SS#9: Shiloh KeoSchool: IdahoHeight: 5’ 11”Weight: 219 pounds40-Yard Dash: 4.62

In a nutshell: In-the-box type of safety that’s better as a thumper than he is in pass coverage. Seems tight in the hips when he has to turn and cover. But he’s quick in his run-pass recognition and gets downhill in a hurry. Very thickly built. Registered 109 tackles as a junior.

All-star game: Impressed scouts at the East-West Shrine game. Rob Rang of NFLDraftScout.com wrote, “The strong safety filled the hole aggressively against the run, showed better than expected agil-ity in coverage, covered punts and kicks on special teams and returned both. That type of versatility will make him tough to cut.” Blocked an extra point in the game.

Honors: Second-team All-WAC in 2010, first-team All-WAC in 2009

Stats: 61 tackles, 1 sack, 3 INT

#10: Tejay JohnsonSchool: TCUHeight: 6’ 1”Weight: 212 pounds40-Yard Dash: 4.56

In a nutshell: Well regarded as a leader. Started his sophomore through senior seasons at TCU, and for those three consecutive years, TCU led the nation in total defense. Isn’t a ballhawk like Rahim Moore

or a thumper like Robert Sands, but is almost equally adept at playing both the run and the pass.

Postseason game: Johnson helped cap off an undefeated TCU season by defeating third-ranked Wiscon-sin in the Rose Bowl. Had a game-high 10 tackles and a pass breakup. Held a Wisconsin team that entered the game averaging over 40 points per game to only 19.

Honors: First-team All-American by the Associated Press and Walter Camp Foundation, First-team All-Mountain West, Jim Thorpe Award finalist in 2010


#11: Ahmad BlackSchool: FloridaHeight: 5’ 10”Weight: 184 pounds40-Yard Dash: 4.51

In a nutshell: Downgraded be-cause of his size. The Packers simply pass on defensive backs who aren’t at least 5-11. Despite his lack of size, everything else about him screams, “ballplayer.” Does an excellent job reading the quarterback. Not afraid to mix it up despite his stature.

Postseason game: Was named MVP of the 2011 Outback Bowl in Florida’s 37-24 win over Penn State. Registered six tackles, two passes defensed and one interception. His second of two interceptions, which he returned for a touchdown, came in the fourth quarter with Florida nursing a six-point lead. It would end up being the final play of his

collegiate career.

Honors: First-team All-American by Rivals.com, consensus first-team All-SEC by both the coaches and the AP in 2010.


The Field

12. Jeron Johnson, Boise St.

13. Joe Lefeged, Rutgers

14. Chris Conte, Cal

15. Jerrad Tarrant, Georgia Tech

16. Da’Norris Searcy, N. Carolina

17. Eric Hagg, Nebraska

18. Jermale Hines, Ohio State

19. Nate Williams, Washington

20. Chris Culliver, South Carolina

21. DeJon Gomes, Nebraska

22. Brian Lainhart, Kent State

23. Dom DeCicco, Pittsburgh

24. Mark LeGree, App. State

25. Davonte Shannon, Buffalo

About the Author

Brian Carriveau is the editor of the Cheesehead TV 2011 NFL Draft Guide as well as the Maple Street Press Packers and Brewers Annuals. His daily writing on the Packers and Brewers appears at CheeseheadTV.com and PocketDoppler.com re-spectively. Brian attended both the NFL Combine and the University of Wisconsin pro day in preparation of this NFL Draft Guide. He played safety for the University of Technol-ogy, Sydney in Australia.


2011 NFL Draft Safety Preview

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