By (Kip Earlywine)
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 215
Combine 40 time: 4.54
Positives:
- Great in run support
- Good in pursuit
- Hard hitter
- Good tackling technique and results
- High Jumper
- Mostly good ball skills
- Productive (nice stats)
- Very experienced
- Stayed mostly healthy
- Very well rounded for a strong safety
- Body catcher, sometimes drops easy picks
- Inexperienced in cover 2
- Not slow, but probably isn't fast enough to be elite
Safety is easily the toughest position to scout from broadcast tape, in my opinion. So naturally, what few insights I can gain from youtube video is far less than even that. So with the safety POTD's I'll be doing over the next week, I'm going to be borrowing from several scouting reports to hopefully present as accurate of a player preview as I can.
Reshad Jones is a player that can step in immediately as a starter, having 3 years starting experience at Georgia. He had a very nice and productive college career, but some scouts actually think he could be an even better pro. Jones reminds me of Ken Hamlin without the mistakes in coverage that Hamlin made. You may recall that Hamlin made an immediate difference for Seattle's defense in 2003 and 2004. If Seattle drafts Jones, I expect the same kind of difference maker right away.
Hamlin wasn't really a very well rounded player though, which is where Jones separates himself. Jones doesn't really have a single glaring weakness, other than perhaps his top speed vs. speedster WR. However, for a SS that is playing up in the box vs. TE's all the time, this drawback shouldn't be a major issue. In all honesty, it kind of amazes me that some mock drafts have Jones reaching the 3rd round. Jones looks like the 3rd best safety in the draft to me (after Berry and Thomas). If Seattle takes Jones at #60, I'd consider it a great pick.
Expect him to be drafted in... rounds 2-3
3 comments:
I agree he would have great value at #60. Although I think that pick might be included in some type of trade for Marshall pretty soon so hopefully we can trade back somewhere in the first to get another second for Jones.
Jesus, that youtube video makes him look like Ronnie freakin Lott. I really wish there was a way to access real game film. Love the physicality and even though most of the picks in that video were just awful throws right at him, at least we know he can catch and make a play when an opportunity presents itself. I'd love to see a comparison to Chad Jones of LSU who seems similar but maybe less physical and better in coverage (converted from corner), but again who can tell without seeing some real film. Interesting prospect that I hadn't really thought too much about til now.
Great write-up. I'd love Reshad Jones or Morgan Burnett at safety (if either should make it to #60).
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