9/12/09 Good day to scout Safeties.

[mussop]

Three of the top Safety prospects will be on national tv today. If youre interested heres where.

UCLA at Tennessee 3:00 p.m. ESPN (HD)
Eric Berry, SS Tennessee (Jr.) Jersey #14
Eric Berry*, S, Tennessee - Scouting Report
Height: 6-0. Weight: 195.
Projected 40 Time: 4.36.
Projected Round (2010): Top 8 Pick.
3/13/09: One of the best safety prospects to come along in a very long time. Eric Berry, a first-team All-American, had 72 tackles, 8.5 TFL, six passes broken up, three sacks and a whopping seven interceptions (two for touchdowns) as a mere sophomore. Safeties seldom go in the top five, but Berry could be an exception.

8/6/08: If Eric Berry declares early, he'll most likely be the fastest safety at the combine. As a freshman, Berry started every game and was named SEC Defensive Freshman of the Year. He recorded 86 tackles and five interceptions

USC at Ohio State 7:00 p.m. ESPN (HD)
Taylor Mays, FS/SS, USC - Jersey #2
Height: 6-4. Weight: 225.
Projected 40 Time: 4.42.
Projected Round (2010): Top 10 Pick.
5/23/09: Raider fans, start buying your Taylor Mays jerseys right now.

12/14/08: With 49 tackles and eight tackles for loss, Taylor Mays was named a First-Team All-American. Mays' freakish athleticism makes him a likely top-10 candidate.

5/19/08: Taylor Mays' size and speed combination is sick, and what could ultimately allow him to be the first safety taken in April 2009.

2007: A 6-4, 225-pound safety who runs a 4.3? Pretty sick. As a freshman, Taylor Mays started 12 games, recorded 62 tackles and picked off three passes.


South Carolina at Georgia 6:00 p.m. ESPN2 (HD)
Reshad Jones*, FS/SS, Georgia Jersey #9
Height: 6-2. Weight: 207.
Projected 40 Time: 4.50.
Projected Round (2009): Top 20 Pick.
5/23/09: As a sophomore, Reshad Jones managed 76 tackles, five interceptions and three passes broken up.

[mussop]

Some other players to youre eyes on in these games.

DT Brian Price*, UCLA
Height: 6-2. Weight: 300.
Projected 40 Time: 5.05.
Projected Round (2010): 1-2.
5/19/09: Despite being a sophomore, Brian Price recorded 14.5 TFL and 4.5 sacks.

DT Geno Atkins, Georgia
Height: 6-1. Weight: 290.
Projected 40 Time: 4.89.
Projected Round (2010): 2.
11/23/08: It looks like Geno Atkins will be back for another year. Atkins has no sacks this year and just 6.5 TFL.

8/1/08: A terror for opposing quarterbacks, Geno Atkins notched 7.5 sacks and 15 tackles for loss as a sophomore. His 40 will have GMs and scouts salivating at the combine.

DT Dan Williams, Tennessee
Height: 6-3. Weight: 311.
Projected 40 Time: 5.20.
Projected Round (2009): 3-4.
2/14/09: Dan Williams registered 48 tackle, 8.5 TFL and 1.5 sacks in 2008.

8/1/08: Dan Williams started 10 games as a sophomore, and collected 40 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss and two sacks.

RB Joe McKnight*, USC
Height: 6-0. Weight: 200.
Projected 40 Time: 4.39.
Projected Round (2010): 2.
2/6/09: Joe McKnight did a good job putting on some bulk. However, he carried the ball just 89 times in 2008. He was impressive when he did get the rock, rushing for 659 yards (7.4 YPC) and two touchdowns. He also caught 21 balls for 193 yards.

7/25/08: Joe McKnight has a lot of carries where he loses yardage, but he has the speed to break long gains - at the college level. I don't know how that'll work in the NFL. However, he does have blazing speed, so he should make for a good return specialist and third-down back.


RB Caleb King**, Georgia
Height: 5-11. Weight: 210.
Projected 40 Time: 4.40.
Projected Round (2010): 3-4.
2/6/09: Perhaps a bit of a disappointment in his freshman year, Caleb King rushed for a meager 4.1 YPC average, gaining 247 yards and a score. He'll get much more work with Knowshon Moreno gone.

7/25/08: One of the highest-recruited running backs a year ago, Caleb King has all the talent in the world, and it showed in the spring game, when he ran for 31 yards on just six carries. He won't steal many of Knowshon Moreno's carries, so look for him to shine in 2009, once Moreno moves on to the NFL.

RB Stafon Johnson, USC
Height: 6-0. Weight: 213.
Projected 40 Time: 4.43.
Projected Round (2010): 3-4.
2/6/09: Stafon Johnson rushed for 705 yards and nine touchdowns as a junior. He only received 138 carries because of the crowded backfield. Maybe some of these running backs should go to, I don't know, other schools?

7/25/08: Of all the 500 running backs USC has, Stafon Johnson looks to be the most promising. Backing up Chauncey Washington, Johnson totaled 673 yards and five touchdowns on a 6.9 rushing clip. He caught only four passes, but his excellent 40 may make some teams (cough, Titans) forget about that.

OLB Michael Morgan*, USC
Height: 6-4. Weight: 220.
Projected 40 Time: 4.58.
Projected Round (2010): 1-2.
5/20/09: Had just 24 tackles, five TFL and a sack in 2008, but he moves to the head of the depth chart with Brian Cushing, Clay Matthews, Rey Maualuga and Kaluka Maiava all gone.

OLB Rico McCoy, Tennessee
Height: 6-1. Weight: 222.
Projected 40 Time: 4.56.
Projected Round (2010): 2.
2/16/09: Rico McCoy hasn't filled out yet. He'll need to if he wants to be drafted on Day 1. McCoy had 87 tackles, 3.5 TFL, one sack and three passes broken up as a junior.

8/2/08: Like Gerald McRath, Rico McCoy needs to put on about 10 more pounds of bulk, which he should be able to do in two years. McCoy, a member of the All-SEC second team, started 13 games as a sophomore and recorded 106 tackles (4.5 for loss).

OLB Rennie Curran*, Georgia
Height: 5-11. Weight: 220.
Projected 40 Time: 4.53.
Projected Round (2010): 2-3.
2/16/09: Although he was just a sophomore in 2008, Rennie Curran was one of the few bright spots for the Bulldogs; the 220-pound linebacker garnered 115 tackles, 10 TFL and three sacks. Like all of the other sophomore linebackers on this list, Curran will need to add about 10 pounds of bulk.

8/2/08: Despite being a true freshman last year, Rennie Curran started five games. He had 53 tackles (nine for loss). He was a member of the Freshman All-America first team.

OLB Reggie Carter, UCLA
Height: 6-1. Weight: 224.
Projected 40 Time: 4.61.
Projected Round (2010): 4-5.
2/16/09: Stayed healthy in 2008 and recorded 84 tackles, 4.5 TFL and three forced fumbles.

5/16/08: Reggie Carter missed some time with a knee injury in 2007, but still managed to record 62 tackes and 12 tackles for loss.

2007: A freshman All-American in 2006, Reggie Carter made 48 tackles and is currently starting for the Bruins. He had 10 tackles against Stanford.


OLB Luthur Brown, USC
Height: 6-2. Weight: 234.
Projected 40 Time: 4.63.
Projected Round (2010): 5-6.
2/16/09: It's tough to get playing time at linebacker when Brian Cushing, Rey Maualuga and Clay Matthews are on the roster. Luthur Brown will have only one chance to prove himself.

8/2/08: Luthur Brown didn't start as a sophomore, but that's understandable, as Keith Rivers and Brian Cushing were ahead of him on the depth chart. In limited action, Brown notched 25 tackles.

CB Alterraun Verner, UCLA
Height: 5-11. Weight: 179.
Projected 40 Time: 4.45.
Projected Round (2010): 4-5.
3/7/09: Alterraun Verner had an amazing 18 passes broken up, earning him a spot on the All-Pac 10 Second Team. He also notched 73 tackles, 2.5 TFL and two picks.

8/5/08: Alterraun Verner started 10 games as a sophomore after just one start in 2006. He had 75 tackles, 15 pass break-ups and four picks last year.

CB Kurt Coleman, Ohio State
Height: 5-11. Weight: 190.
Projected 40 Time: 4.43.
Projected Round (2010): 5-6.
3/7/09: A member of the All-Big Ten Second Team, Kurt Coleman garnered 78 tackles, 4.5 TFL, four picks and five passes broken up in 2008.

8/6/08: Plays strong safety at Ohio State, but will probably move to corner in the NFL. He had 64 tackles and four pass break-ups as a sophomore.

[NBT]

Didn't Taylor Mays get a little dinged up in that Ohio State game?

[Roy P]

Originally Posted by NBT

Didn't Taylor Mays get a little dinged up in that Ohio State game?

Yes, he hurt his knee, but I saw him back on the field later in the game.


Did anybody see LSU's Chad Jones? Talk about a big play-making Safety! He looked like Ed Reed this weekend running back a kick/punt. I'm not saying he's LaRon Landry, but somebody to keep an eye on to develop.

[mussop]

UCLA at Tennessee 3:00 p.m. ESPN (HD)
Eric Berry, SS Tennessee (Jr.) Jersey #14
Eric Berry*, S, Tennessee - Scouting Report
Height: 6-0. Weight: 195.
Projected 40 Time: 4.36.
Projected Round (2010): Top 8 Pick.
3/13/09: One of the best safety prospects to come along in a very long time. Eric Berry, a first-team All-American, had 72 tackles, 8.5 TFL, six passes broken up, three sacks and a whopping seven interceptions (two for touchdowns) as a mere sophomore. Safeties seldom go in the top five, but Berry could be an exception.

10/3/09: I had my doubts about Berry being as good as advertised but no more. The guy is special. You cant watch Tennessees D for more than a few plays without seeing Berry making a play.

[Roy P]

Interesting analysis on Berry. Watching him tonight against Auburn, I've noticed that he prefers to launch his body toward the offensive player (RB/WR/TE) instead of wrapping up. Perhaps it's because he is under-sized and is afraid of taking on players who are bigger. I think he may prove to be a good NFL player, but I'm not overly impressed. In fact, I saw him overrun a play to the right only to have it cut back left where he should have been (sound familiar?).

Okay, let the protests begin......

[mussop]

Originally Posted by Roy P

Interesting analysis on Berry. Watching him tonight against Auburn, I've noticed that he prefers to launch his body toward the offensive player (RB/WR/TE) instead of wrapping up. Perhaps it's because he is under-sized and is afraid of taking on players who are bigger. I think he may prove to be a good NFL player, but I'm not overly impressed. In fact, I saw him overrun a play to the right only to have it cut back left where he should have been (sound familiar?).

Okay, let the protests begin......

He does occasionally overrun a tackle or get burned deep but he more than makes up for his rare mistakes with a lot of good plays. He has exceptional closing speed and always seems to be around the ball. He is a good tackler but tonight he has (as you said) launched his body at Auburns RB more than once tonight. I think that is a result of Tate running very physical tonight. Hes been a load for anyone on Tennessee's D to bring down.

He has decent size for a safety, he has plenty of speed, very good read reaction skill, is a willing tackler, great ball skills and anytime he gets the ball in his hands he is capable of scoring. He is the closest thing I have seen to Ed Reed at U Miami. While he isn't perfect in any one area, he is a very versatile player who covers a lot of ground.

That last sentence is a quote made about Reed while at Miami by Scout.com. It fit Berry to good not to use it.