Xavier Adibi - Strong Safety?

Number19 · #1 04-29-2008, 06:07 PM

Over at the Houston Texans board there was a thread started by the equipment manager for Virginia Tech. He seems to think that perhaps X-man's best position might be Strong Safety. His measurables are close to NFL optimum for the position and Sporting News has him rated as the top LB for coverage skills.

Here are some of his comments:

...thought you might want to hear some inside information on the 2 guys you selected from VT. I know both players very well. I was an equipment manager with VT for 4 years and i worked specifically with the Linebackers for my final 3 seasons....What (Xavier) lacks in size, he makes up for in speed and technique. He broke the VT speed record for speed in the 40 at around 4.6. I can't remember the number exactly, but I recorded the time before spring practice started 2 years ago. He is a great guy and after working with the linebackers for 3 years, he had the best technique out of all of our LB's. He is smart, he can hit, hes great in coverage from sideline to sideline, and he has great hands....I wouldn't be surprised if they moved him to strong safety because of his size....X's brother Nathaniel who played for the Jags for a bit said X would most likely play Strong Safety in the NFL....

I hope the coaching staff are at least aware of this possibility.

Vinny · #2 04-29-2008, 11:57 PM

I've seen him compared to.....Michael Boulware in some predraft stuff. Not sure I'd like that if I were him.

Mike · #3 04-30-2008, 09:02 AM

I agree with Vinny, being compared to Boulware is not a good thing.

He is going to play "Will" for us. The team was not going to draft someone in the 4th round to move him to a new position.

Number19 · #4 04-30-2008, 04:42 PM

John McCain, in an e-mail, said the same. He said the Texans have no intentions of a position change, believing X-man has everything the Texans want for LB.

papabear · #5 04-30-2008, 04:48 PM

I think between Demps, Brown, Earl, the Brandons, Simmons, and Barber. I think they feel there's plenty of competition at safety.....although I'm curious as to why Earl is listed as a "SS" while everyone else is listed as just "S" on the official site.

Frankly the idea of a LB who has good enough coverage skills to be considered as a safety excites me.

nero THE zero · #6 04-30-2008, 05:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by papabear

I think between Demps, Brown, Earl, the Brandons, Simmons, and Barber. I think they feel there's plenty of competition at safety.....although I'm curious as to why Earl is listed as a "SS" while everyone else is listed as just "S" on the official site.

Frankly the idea of a LB who has good enough coverage skills to be considered as a safety excites me.

There's really no distinction between free and strong safety on the Texans.

At least, not that I can tell.

Roy P · #7 04-30-2008, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by papabear

Frankly the idea of a LB who has good enough coverage skills to be considered as a safety excites me.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=vGR4tSHxKz0&feature=related

http://youtube.com/watch?v=Ujv_-6EpgIs&feature=related

A LB who doesn't get lost in Zone Coverage and actually has hands to grab an INT, is something to get excited about. I wish he were a little faster and a better tackler, but then again, we got him in the 4th round.

Mike · #8 05-01-2008, 08:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Number19

John McCain, in an e-mail, said the same. He said the Texans have no intentions of a position change, believing X-man has everything the Texans want for LB.

Wow, then it must be true if Johnny Mc said it. All we need now is for Dr. Ron to "write it down."