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05-28-2009, 02:25 PM
http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/vi ... p?t=553552 (http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=553552)
The salty veterans still lead this group, but there are some promising young players on the rise. Several have made the list while several others just missed. With the next generation emerging, this list could look a lot different a year from now. RealScouts, Sporting News' team of former NFL scouts, rank their top 20 safeties for '09:
1. Ed Reed, Ravens. Reed was the only unanimous selection for the 2008 All-Pro team and rightly so. He led the NFL with nine interceptions and returned two for touchdowns, and he tacked on another TD in the playoffs. The system won't change in Baltimore this year, and Reed is on his way to a Hall of Fame career if he can stay healthy.
2. Troy Polamalu, Steelers. Polamalu was healthy for all 16 games and the postseason for the first time since 2005 and turned in a career-high seven interceptions in 2008. He's a high-energy player who can do it all, from blitzing to tackling to playing in coverage. He can attack from anywhere on the field.
3. Adrian Wilson, Cardinals. Wilson is not quite as dominant as he was earlier in his career, but he can still excel in most aspects of the game. Wilson is at his best playing close to the line, but he also makes plays on the ball in coverage. He has great size and can deliver big hits with the best of them.
4. Bob Sanders, Colts. Sanders played in just six games in 2008, and there is a chance he might not be healthy for the start of 2009. He is a game-changing player who has great range and is a punishing tackler, but he has struggled to stay healthy throughout his career.
5. Chris Hope, Titans. Returning from a spinal injury in 2007, Hope earned Pro Bowl honors last season. He's not a flashy player, but he is extremely productive and consistently plays at a high level. He's willing in run support and shows good range and route recognition in coverage. He has missed just five games over the past six seasons.
6. Nick Collins, Packers. Collins is a four-year starter who burst onto the scene in 2008 with seven interceptions, including three returned for scores. He has excellent range as a center field-type safety and has the speed to cover a lot of ground and make plays with the ball in his hands. A Pro Bowler last season, he should excel in Green Bay's new zone schemes.
7. Brian Dawkins, Broncos. Though he still can play at a high level, Dawkins, 35, is closer to the end of his career than he would like to admit. He's a strong tackler who is excellent near the line. But blitzing and coverage aren't his strengths, and we're curious to see how he does in a non-Jim Johnson system.
8. Michael Griffin, Titans. His seven interceptions were tied for second in the NFL last season, and he earned a Pro Bowl spot as Ed Reed's replacement. He's emerging as one of the best young safeties in the league, with a combination of size, speed and athleticism that makes him excellent in deep coverage.
9. Donte Whitner, Bills. Pending legal issues aside, Whitner is an instinctive playmaker who can play in traffic or in space. He is a rising young player who has a physical style and is strong in run support.
10. Kerry Rhodes, Jets. He is a playmaker who can excel in coverage or make an impact near the line as a run defender or blitzer. He figures to benefit from Rex Ryan's aggressive scheme and will likely align all over the field in a Ed Reed type of role. Look for him to return to Pro Bowl form this season.
11. Ken Hamlin, Cowboys. He has great range and can track down a lot of balls playing center field. He is at his best jumping routes in zone coverage but can also match up with tight ends and wideouts in the slot.
12. Oshiomogho Atogwe, Rams. A ballhawking safety, Atogwe has intercepted 13 passes and recovered four fumbles over the past two seasons. He also has increased his tackles each year in the league and has 13 forced fumbles over the past three seasons. He's the best player in the Rams' secondary and will get even more opportunities to make plays in Steve Spagnuolo's defense.
13. Jermaine Phillips, Buccaneers. Injuries have affected Phillips' numbers in recent seasons, but he is a still a physical defender in the run game and has more ball skills than most safeties. He turns 30 this year, and the Bucs are looking to get the younger and rangier Sabby Piscitelli in the lineup, so this could be Phillips' last appearance on the list.
14. Sean Jones, Eagles. This former Pro Bowler is a ferocious tackler who had 14 interceptions over his last three seasons in Cleveland. Though he is coming off a knee injury, the good news is he can play either safety spot, and if healthy, can deliver 100 tackles and five picks every season.
15. Quintin Mikell, Eagles. Mikell is coming off the best year of his career. Though he is a physical player who likes contact and is at his best near the line, he has the instincts and speed to play a free safety role. It wouldn't be a surprise to see he and Jones play together, with youngster Quintin Demps playing a backup role for now.
16. LaRon Landry, Redskins. Landry is another versatile player has the pop to handle run support and the agility and speed to play in deep coverage. He has proved he can close quickly on the ball in the run game. He was slowed by injury last year, but he should become one of the top young safeties in the league this season.
17. Brandon Meriweather, Patriots. He came on strong late in 2008 as the injury replacement for Rodney Harrison. Meriweather is a tough, hard-working run defender who eventually will excel as a deep safety, where his explosive speed and ball skills will be highlighted.
18. Darren Sharper, Saints. Sharper's skills have declined sharply as he heads towards 34. The Saints will use more blitz packages under new coordinator Gregg Williams, which means Sharper should have a chance to make plays on the ball as a deep cover player. He will get a chance to show he still has playmaking skills that made him one of the top safeties in the NFL.
19. Tanard Jackson, Buccaneers. A former cornerback, Jackson has excellent ball skills and the burst and speed to make plays on the ball. He's a willing run defender as well, and though he hasn't excelled in any one area, he is gaining valuable experience as a starter. He's a player to keep an eye on.
20. Roy Williams, Bengals. We're banking on coordinator Mike Zimmer as much as we are on Williams. The two worked together for many years in Dallas, and Zimmer knows Williams' strengths and weaknesses like the back of his hand. That, combined with Williams' eagerness to prove he can still play at a high level, will make him a player to watch.
RealScouts analyze NFL and college players, coaches and teams exclusively for Sporting News.
My thoughts:
Troy brings more versatility than Reed and makes the big plays as well as the routine plays that Reed doesn't make. Troy is #1. I'm not even sure Reed should be #2. Top 5 for sure though.
Adrian Wilson is a bit high on the list.
Interesting that we had their #2 and #5 in our secondary at the same time once.
Brandon Merriweather hasn't yet done enough to be on this list.
Roy Williams??? For reals???
The exclusion of Ryan Clark has me scratching my head. He may not be a "splash" player, but he rarely makes a mistake and intimidates with his big hits. I'd certainly put him ahead of Roy Williams. Roy Williams??? For reals???
The salty veterans still lead this group, but there are some promising young players on the rise. Several have made the list while several others just missed. With the next generation emerging, this list could look a lot different a year from now. RealScouts, Sporting News' team of former NFL scouts, rank their top 20 safeties for '09:
1. Ed Reed, Ravens. Reed was the only unanimous selection for the 2008 All-Pro team and rightly so. He led the NFL with nine interceptions and returned two for touchdowns, and he tacked on another TD in the playoffs. The system won't change in Baltimore this year, and Reed is on his way to a Hall of Fame career if he can stay healthy.
2. Troy Polamalu, Steelers. Polamalu was healthy for all 16 games and the postseason for the first time since 2005 and turned in a career-high seven interceptions in 2008. He's a high-energy player who can do it all, from blitzing to tackling to playing in coverage. He can attack from anywhere on the field.
3. Adrian Wilson, Cardinals. Wilson is not quite as dominant as he was earlier in his career, but he can still excel in most aspects of the game. Wilson is at his best playing close to the line, but he also makes plays on the ball in coverage. He has great size and can deliver big hits with the best of them.
4. Bob Sanders, Colts. Sanders played in just six games in 2008, and there is a chance he might not be healthy for the start of 2009. He is a game-changing player who has great range and is a punishing tackler, but he has struggled to stay healthy throughout his career.
5. Chris Hope, Titans. Returning from a spinal injury in 2007, Hope earned Pro Bowl honors last season. He's not a flashy player, but he is extremely productive and consistently plays at a high level. He's willing in run support and shows good range and route recognition in coverage. He has missed just five games over the past six seasons.
6. Nick Collins, Packers. Collins is a four-year starter who burst onto the scene in 2008 with seven interceptions, including three returned for scores. He has excellent range as a center field-type safety and has the speed to cover a lot of ground and make plays with the ball in his hands. A Pro Bowler last season, he should excel in Green Bay's new zone schemes.
7. Brian Dawkins, Broncos. Though he still can play at a high level, Dawkins, 35, is closer to the end of his career than he would like to admit. He's a strong tackler who is excellent near the line. But blitzing and coverage aren't his strengths, and we're curious to see how he does in a non-Jim Johnson system.
8. Michael Griffin, Titans. His seven interceptions were tied for second in the NFL last season, and he earned a Pro Bowl spot as Ed Reed's replacement. He's emerging as one of the best young safeties in the league, with a combination of size, speed and athleticism that makes him excellent in deep coverage.
9. Donte Whitner, Bills. Pending legal issues aside, Whitner is an instinctive playmaker who can play in traffic or in space. He is a rising young player who has a physical style and is strong in run support.
10. Kerry Rhodes, Jets. He is a playmaker who can excel in coverage or make an impact near the line as a run defender or blitzer. He figures to benefit from Rex Ryan's aggressive scheme and will likely align all over the field in a Ed Reed type of role. Look for him to return to Pro Bowl form this season.
11. Ken Hamlin, Cowboys. He has great range and can track down a lot of balls playing center field. He is at his best jumping routes in zone coverage but can also match up with tight ends and wideouts in the slot.
12. Oshiomogho Atogwe, Rams. A ballhawking safety, Atogwe has intercepted 13 passes and recovered four fumbles over the past two seasons. He also has increased his tackles each year in the league and has 13 forced fumbles over the past three seasons. He's the best player in the Rams' secondary and will get even more opportunities to make plays in Steve Spagnuolo's defense.
13. Jermaine Phillips, Buccaneers. Injuries have affected Phillips' numbers in recent seasons, but he is a still a physical defender in the run game and has more ball skills than most safeties. He turns 30 this year, and the Bucs are looking to get the younger and rangier Sabby Piscitelli in the lineup, so this could be Phillips' last appearance on the list.
14. Sean Jones, Eagles. This former Pro Bowler is a ferocious tackler who had 14 interceptions over his last three seasons in Cleveland. Though he is coming off a knee injury, the good news is he can play either safety spot, and if healthy, can deliver 100 tackles and five picks every season.
15. Quintin Mikell, Eagles. Mikell is coming off the best year of his career. Though he is a physical player who likes contact and is at his best near the line, he has the instincts and speed to play a free safety role. It wouldn't be a surprise to see he and Jones play together, with youngster Quintin Demps playing a backup role for now.
16. LaRon Landry, Redskins. Landry is another versatile player has the pop to handle run support and the agility and speed to play in deep coverage. He has proved he can close quickly on the ball in the run game. He was slowed by injury last year, but he should become one of the top young safeties in the league this season.
17. Brandon Meriweather, Patriots. He came on strong late in 2008 as the injury replacement for Rodney Harrison. Meriweather is a tough, hard-working run defender who eventually will excel as a deep safety, where his explosive speed and ball skills will be highlighted.
18. Darren Sharper, Saints. Sharper's skills have declined sharply as he heads towards 34. The Saints will use more blitz packages under new coordinator Gregg Williams, which means Sharper should have a chance to make plays on the ball as a deep cover player. He will get a chance to show he still has playmaking skills that made him one of the top safeties in the NFL.
19. Tanard Jackson, Buccaneers. A former cornerback, Jackson has excellent ball skills and the burst and speed to make plays on the ball. He's a willing run defender as well, and though he hasn't excelled in any one area, he is gaining valuable experience as a starter. He's a player to keep an eye on.
20. Roy Williams, Bengals. We're banking on coordinator Mike Zimmer as much as we are on Williams. The two worked together for many years in Dallas, and Zimmer knows Williams' strengths and weaknesses like the back of his hand. That, combined with Williams' eagerness to prove he can still play at a high level, will make him a player to watch.
RealScouts analyze NFL and college players, coaches and teams exclusively for Sporting News.
My thoughts:
Troy brings more versatility than Reed and makes the big plays as well as the routine plays that Reed doesn't make. Troy is #1. I'm not even sure Reed should be #2. Top 5 for sure though.
Adrian Wilson is a bit high on the list.
Interesting that we had their #2 and #5 in our secondary at the same time once.
Brandon Merriweather hasn't yet done enough to be on this list.
Roy Williams??? For reals???
The exclusion of Ryan Clark has me scratching my head. He may not be a "splash" player, but he rarely makes a mistake and intimidates with his big hits. I'd certainly put him ahead of Roy Williams. Roy Williams??? For reals???