State Seminoles ~ 5106/198
I can no longer abide the application of the pathetically weak and flaccid term "Safety" to Gladiators.
It is struck from my Vocabulary.
The erstwhile "Free Safety" is truly the CenterFielder of the Defense. Honestly, I consider the term absolutely perfect.
And the erstwhile "Strong Safety", playing an increasingly hybrid Role and constantly improvising, is a RoverBack, I think.
When analyzing the Merits of a prospective CenterFielder, this is how I personally break things down:
Intangibles: Diagnostic Acuity, Field Vision, and, above all: Processing Speed. And of course: Motor. Motor Matters.
Agility: Acceleration, Fluidity, and Closing Speed. And of course: Verticity!! Turning & Burning in Direct Coverage.
Pass Prevention: Timing, Vertical Burst, WingSpan, and don't forget the Brutality!!
Run Support: Appetite, Tactical Discipline, and Combat Skills ~ working through Traffic & Tackling Mechanics.
Agility: Conditionally excellent: Tremendous Acceleration, Closing Speed, and Range, but mediocre Fluidity, Ricochet, and Verticity. CenterFielders are optimally effective Slot Corners, which allows them to stay on the Field on obvious Passing Downs and to disguise their Schemes. But Brooks projects far better as a CenterField than as a Slot Corner.
Pass Prevention: Excellent. Brooks displayed tremendous Timing and Instincts in Pass Coverage. He didn't come down with a lot of Balls, mind you, but that's why he's on Defense, right? His Combat Skills are raw, as is his Vertical Agility, however he flashes tremendous Potential in all Aspects of defending the CatchPoint.
Run Support: Very Effective. Combines exceptional Field Vision with solid Combat Skills, outstanding Closing Speed, and an enormous Appetite for Contact. He does need to reign it in a bit, mind you, but offers exceptional Potential.
Last Year, I managed to go against everyone and lay 6th Round Grades on 1st Rounders Matt Elam and Eric Reid, who both went on to enjoy successful Rookie Campaigns, while lavishing praise on the likes of Jon Cyprien, Dayario Swearinger, Josh Evans, Duke Williams, and James Wilcox, all of whom struggled as Rookies.
Mind you: Their Careers have only just begun, and I still believe unreservedly in all 5 of those guys, while Elam and Reid were 1st Rounders, after all...But as I shamelessly tout my Successes, Due Diligence calls for Full Disclosure, yes?
You've been warned.
I don't believe that Terrence Brooks offers the same dynamic Hybrid Capacity that his erstwhile Partner at Florida State, LaMarcus Joyner brings to the BattleField: I don't believe that Brooks has anywhere near the Potential as a Turn & Burn, Flip the Hips Nickel Corner who can drop down in Man Coverage on obvious Passing Downs as he has to excel as a roaming CenterFielder who blankets the Deep Middle and provides a genuine Impact in Run Support.
But I do believe that as a CenterFielder for a Team that swaps out the Rover on Passing Downs and brings in a dedicated NickelBack, his outstanding and rapidly improving Field Vision and Processing Speed, his exceptional Acceleration, Closing Speed, and Range, and his Ferocity in Run Support provide genuine Pro Bowl Potential.
Thanks, as always, to the extraordinary Work by the men of Draft BreakDown!!
Bargain!!
Consensus Market Value 2nd/3rd Round | Yankee Grade 1st/2nd Round |