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Bench Warmer
By Vic Carucci
National Editor, NFL.com
(March 29, 2007) -- One man's ranking of the top five safeties in the NFL draft:
1. LaRon Landry, LSU
Positives: Size (6-foot-plus, 213 pounds), speed, and athleticism. ... Excellent instincts. ... Able to cover tight ends one-on-one. ... Hard hitter. ... Shows superb anticipation and isn't easily fooled by play fakes or misdirection plays. ... Toughness. ... Competitiveness.
Negatives: Very few, although he will sometimes get too carried away with launching himself at an opponent and fail to make contact.
2. Reggie Nelson, Florida (Underclassman)
Positives: Size (5-11-plus, 198 pounds), speed, and athleticism. ... Can cover tight ends and slot receivers one-on-one. ... Hard hitter. ... Plays with aggressiveness, especially in run support. ... Shows excellent discipline; doesn't bite on play fakes. ... Does a nice job of reading the quarterback. ... Outstanding hands and often comes up with the tough interception.
Negatives: Not many, although he occasionally gets a bit too aggressive when attacking the line of scrimmage against the run.
3. Brandon Meriweather, Miami (Fla.)
Positives: Speed, athleticism. ... Able to cover receivers man-to-man. ... Tremendous instincts. ... Avoids biting on play fakes. ... Excellent hands; can make difficult interceptions. ... Plays with aggressiveness and does a nice job of attacking the line in run support.
Negatives: Doesn't have a great deal of bulk or strength, which limits the impact of his hits and can make him vulnerable against larger ball-carriers. ... Character questions.
4. Aaron Rouse, Virginia Tech
Positives: Size (6-4, 223 pounds), speed, and athleticism. ... Outstanding instincts. ... Avoids being fooled by play fakes. ... Reads quarterbacks well. ... Superb hands. ... Uses height to his advantage in out-jumping receivers and knocking down passes. ...
Negatives: Sometimes his long legs cause him to take a misstep and he finds himself at a disadvantage in coverage.
5. Eric Weddle, Utah
Positives: Outstanding athlete. ... Intelligence. ... Shows excellent instincts and natural playmaking skills. ... Versatility; played cornerback as well as safety in college. ... Should make an immediate impact on special teams.
Negatives: Doesn't have ideal speed. ... Isn't a particularly hard hitter.
National Editor, NFL.com
(March 29, 2007) -- One man's ranking of the top five safeties in the NFL draft:
1. LaRon Landry, LSU
Positives: Size (6-foot-plus, 213 pounds), speed, and athleticism. ... Excellent instincts. ... Able to cover tight ends one-on-one. ... Hard hitter. ... Shows superb anticipation and isn't easily fooled by play fakes or misdirection plays. ... Toughness. ... Competitiveness.
Negatives: Very few, although he will sometimes get too carried away with launching himself at an opponent and fail to make contact.
2. Reggie Nelson, Florida (Underclassman)
Positives: Size (5-11-plus, 198 pounds), speed, and athleticism. ... Can cover tight ends and slot receivers one-on-one. ... Hard hitter. ... Plays with aggressiveness, especially in run support. ... Shows excellent discipline; doesn't bite on play fakes. ... Does a nice job of reading the quarterback. ... Outstanding hands and often comes up with the tough interception.
Negatives: Not many, although he occasionally gets a bit too aggressive when attacking the line of scrimmage against the run.
3. Brandon Meriweather, Miami (Fla.)
Positives: Speed, athleticism. ... Able to cover receivers man-to-man. ... Tremendous instincts. ... Avoids biting on play fakes. ... Excellent hands; can make difficult interceptions. ... Plays with aggressiveness and does a nice job of attacking the line in run support.
Negatives: Doesn't have a great deal of bulk or strength, which limits the impact of his hits and can make him vulnerable against larger ball-carriers. ... Character questions.
4. Aaron Rouse, Virginia Tech
Positives: Size (6-4, 223 pounds), speed, and athleticism. ... Outstanding instincts. ... Avoids being fooled by play fakes. ... Reads quarterbacks well. ... Superb hands. ... Uses height to his advantage in out-jumping receivers and knocking down passes. ...
Negatives: Sometimes his long legs cause him to take a misstep and he finds himself at a disadvantage in coverage.
5. Eric Weddle, Utah
Positives: Outstanding athlete. ... Intelligence. ... Shows excellent instincts and natural playmaking skills. ... Versatility; played cornerback as well as safety in college. ... Should make an immediate impact on special teams.
Negatives: Doesn't have ideal speed. ... Isn't a particularly hard hitter.
