PACKERDRAFT 2010 SAFETIES

Jerry Gilbert
After all pro performer Nick Collins, the Green Bay Packer roster at safety is filled with special team players who, while they try hard, are not players who should be starters in the NFL. If healthy, Atari Bigby may be an exception, but the team has waited long enough for him to regain his form. One question is the type of safety they are seeking. In the man-to-man pass defense of the past, the Packers were looking for a safety with the coverage skills of a corner back. Under Dom Capers, the defense plays more zone, and the team may be looking for a bigger safety. Regardless of type, General Manager Ted Thompson will be looking for at least one safety in the 2010 college draft.

This is a good year for safeties. One well-known safety is Taylor Mays 6-3 230 USC. Mays has unusual physical skills. At that size, he ran a 4.31 forty and leaped to a 41 inch vertical and added 24 bench reps. If his on field play matched his numbers, Mays would be the number one overall selection. As matters stand, he may even drop to Green Bay at 23. If the Packers think he can learn how to be a pro safety, Mays might be a Packer. Some team will use a first round choice for this physical phenom.

One, and on some draft boards, two safeties are rated above Mays. The highest rated player is thought by many to be a future star in the league. Eric Berry 6-0 195 Tennessee is coming off an All American season, which included 72 tackles, 3 sacks and 7 interceptions, 2 of which were returned for touchdowns. He is a game changer. Though smaller, Berry had combine numbers close to Mays, and he excelled on the playing field. He will be long gone by the time the Packers announce what they will do at pick 23.

The other safety likely to be gone is Earl Thomas 5-10 208 Texas. Some scouts project Thomas as a corner back even though he was strictly a safety in college. If available to Green Bay, Thomas could play safety in the base defense, and he could remain on the field against a spread offense. He could fill more than one need. Thomas is only a red shirt sophomore, but he has produced two outstanding seasons at Texas. He runs the 40 in the 4.4 range.

At least one from a number of skilled prospects should be available to the Packers in the second round. Two players from Florida stand out. Nate Allen 6-1 207 South Florida runs a 4.5 forty. As a senior, Allen registered 85 tackles 4 passes broken up and 4 interceptions. As a sophomore, when teams challenged him, his statistics were even better. Allen is player who is always around the ball and who also is good at hitting people.

The other Florida player has some skills and three years experience. Major Wright 6-0 206 Florida runs a 4.44 forty and his other combine numbers are fairly similar to the other top free safeties. His three-year totals are 165 tackles, 10 passes broken up and 8 interceptions. He is also a hard hitter, and this produced four forced fumbles. He has made visits to several teams.

Up the road in Georgia is Morgan Burnett 6-2 209 Georgia Tech. Burnett impressed scouts at his pro day with a 4.42 forty and 39.5 on the vertical. He has the size and speed to cover the pass catching tight ends in the league. In two seasons as a starter, Burnett registered 178 tackles and 11 interceptions. On film, he accelerates to the ball and makes the play. He could contribute both in the box and in deep coverage.

A bigger player who is more of the classic strong safety is Chad Jones 6-2 225 LSU. Jones ran a 4.57 forty at both the Combine and his pro day. On the plus side, he was a free safety in college and broke up and intercepted passes. As a negative, he managed only 9 bench presses at the Combine. Jones could be available in round 3.

Another strong safety in the 3-4 round range is Darrell Stuckey 6-0 205 Kansas. Stuckey was a tackling machine with 98 as a junior and 93 as a senior. In his junior season, he added 5 interceptions and d 7 breakups. Stuckey also returned kicks with some success.

A later round prospect who is definitely worth consideration is Myron Rolle 6-2 215 Florida State. Rolle started as a freshman and started every game in his sophomore junior years. He also earned a degree by the end of his third year. He spent last year as a Rhodes scholar. Rolle was not exceptional at the Senior Bowl, but that was his first organized football in a long time. Myron Rolle was a very good player for a good team for three seasons. He could be a steal in round 5 or 6. It is a fair conclusion that he is pretty smart.

The selection of Taylor Mays in round one would not be a shock. He is a rare athlete. More likely is the addition of a safety in rounds 2-5. Darrell Stuckey is a good possibility.