CenterFielder ~ Vonn Bell ~ Ohio State BuckEyes
5109/198
For that reason, and in order to offer NomenClature that speaks not to archaic, obsolete "Positions", but rather to Skill Sets that accurately reflect the dynamic Changes of the 21st Century Game and the Roles they have spawned, I have undertaken to craft Terminology that is designed to break Skill Sets down as they really are.
Defensive Coordinators have, since Time Immemorial, employed highly creative terminology in devising Defenses and in designating Assignments. In that Spirit, I have admittedly indulged myself considerably in devising the following NomenClature. It is undeniably colorful, but I like to think that there's an underlying Logic, as well:
CenterFielders ~ This is my term for "Free Safeties", as I find the application of the term "Safety" ~ a limp, lame term, to put it kindly ~ to be an Asinine Appellation for a Gladiator. The Prototype would be about 6000/200 or so.
CenterFielders are indeed the Last Line of Defense. But I sense that with the increasing Hybridization of Skill Sets in the Years to come, it will be advantageous for Teams to seek CenterFielders who can not only act as a Reserve Defender in Support of their CornerBacks, but who can ~ at a moment's notice, if need be ~ flip into Direct Coverage.
As such, I have discovered a natural Synergy between the Skill Sets of CenterFielders...and NickleBacks.
CenterFielders, like RoverBacks and Gryphons, are Hybrids, tasked both with Pass Coverage and Run Defense. Unlike Rovers and Gryphons, however, CenterFielders are expected to prioritize Pass Defense. As such, I'll be breaking my Evaluations down along the same lines as with the others, but with a decidedly divergent Emphasis:
Agility: Acceleration, Ricochet, Fluidity, and Verticity ~ that's Turn & Burn Acuity, to you Earthlings!!
Processing Speed: How quickly and effectively one Reads & Reacts to the developing Play.
Run Defense: Power, Agility, Combat Skills, and Processing Speed.
Pass Coverage: Agility and Processing Speed.
Broken down into SubCategories, it'd go something like this:
Agility
* Fluidity, above all things: Core Agility & Flexibility makes everything possible.
* Ricochet ~ How crisply and how rapidly one breaks in a new direction.
* Acceleration ~ Short Speed or Quickness. Closing Speed.
* Verticity ~ The Ability ~ or lack thereof ~ to Flips Hips and Turn & Burn in Pass Coverage.
Processing Speed
* How quickly and effectively one Reads & Reacts to the developing Play.
Run Defense
* Power
* Agility
* Combat Skills
* Processing Speed
Pass Coverage
* Agility
* Processing Speed
Processing Speed: Outstanding, both in Run Defense and Pass Coverage.
Run Defense: Impressive. His amazing combination of Fluidity, Speed, and Field Vision translates to incredible Range. But his lack of Power and his shorter WingSpan translate to mediocre Combat Skills in navigating Traffic, and his Tackling is marginal. As the literal Last Line of Defense, he'll need to beef up and develop better Tackling Form.
Pass Coverage: Magnificent. Bell has the Verticity to cover virtually any Flex End, HalfBack, or SlotBack in Man Coverage, and the Fluidity, Speed, and Field Vision in Zone Coverage to cover half the Planet!!
He'll miss some Tackles, that's certain. But his Range in Run Defense is just amazing, and for every Tackle he misses, he'll probably make two or three ~ or create two or three ~ that other CenterFielders never would've got to!!
And because he combines outstanding Field Vision with awesome Fluidity and Speed, his Potential in both Zone Coverage and Man Coverage is simply phenomenal, which allows his Team extraordinary schematic Flexibility.
There is clear All Pro Potential, here. I believe that the Saints got themselves a terrific Bargain.
Grateful Thanks, as always, for the invaluable Work done by the folks at Draft BreakDown!!
Bargain!!
Market Value #61 | Yankee Grade 1st Round |
None of this is even remotely a Complaint, mind you, but rather a Warning!! Caveat Emptor!!