The NFL seems to become more pass happy every year. With that comes an ever-growing need for play-making pass defenders. The safety position is one that has seen its importance skyrocket over the past decade. The role of safeties can vary from team to team but they are all equally important. Here is a comparison of the top safety prospects in the 2014 NFL Draft:
Lamarcus Joyner, Florida State
Lamarcus Joyner is more of a hybrid safety and corner. He spent a lot of his time last year playing up on receivers and going toe-to-toe with them. He has fluid movement skills and confidently plays the ball. He is well versed in man or zone coverage and comfortable doing it from anywhere in the secondary. The only real knock on him is that he is 5’8″ and may struggle with size in the NFL. It’s plausible he will be able to handle himself though because he displayed such skill in coverage at Florida State. None the less, he will probably slip in the draft as a result of his size. Some team will have a steal in the second or third round.
Jimmie Ward, Northern Illinois
Coming from one of the smaller schools in the FBS, Jimmie Ward does not get the recognition he deserves. At Northern Illinois he was used in many ways: playing center field, deep half, in the box, or in the slot. He showed great vision with the ability to break and quickly close in to make a play on the ball. His motor always runs hot and he even blocks hard on special teams and turnovers (which is always nice to see). He will be able to translate his game to the NFL and can fit in with many teams. The only thing he may struggle to translate is playing in the box, where is size will be a problem.
Ha’Sean Clinton-Dix, Alabama
Probably the most highly touted safety in the class, Ha’Sean Clinton-Dix has played hard to earn his reputation. He is a hard-nosed box safety who aggressively plays the run and tackles well. His experience in coverage shows on film because he is always in the right place. The only big knock on him is that he lacks elite speed. As a result it’s tough to see him having the range to play deep center in the NFL against speedy deep threats like DeSean Jackson and Calvin Johnson. His best fit would be more of a role similar to Seattle’s Kam Chancellor than Earl Thomas. With that in mind, it’s hard to see why he is talked about as a first round pick since box safeties are valued far less than those with the range to cover deep.
Calvin Pryor, Louisville
The other safety that is often talked about as a first round pick is Calvin Pryor. Like Clinton-Dix, his best asset is that he is so aggressive in supporting the run defense. Unlike Ha’Sean, Pryor has explosive speed but is not a very good wrap up tackler, preferring to go for the big hit with his shoulder. While he has the speed to be an effective center fielder, his development is not where it needs to be. He is too often caught out of place or unaware of what is behind him in zone coverage. With proper coaching he could develop into a better and more well-rounded safety than Clinton-Dix but for now he is more of a liability than the Alabama product.
Deone Bucannon, Washington State
With a solidly built frame at 6’1″ and 211 pounds, Deone Bucannon definitely passes the look test. He also uses that size well as a tackler, wrapping up and overpowering ball carriers. He shows nice straight line speed for a guy his size and plays best when the ball is in front of him. As a result, his best fit would be in a scheme that heavily favors cover 2 shells. That would allow him to take a deep half and keep everyone in front of him. His hips are a little stiff so it would be better if he can avoid locking up with tight ends and slot receivers. However, he really does shine when he can rally to stop the run of defend a pass in front of his zone.
Craig Loston, LSU
At 5’11” and 217 pounds, Craig Loston is built very solid. He plays like a linebacker against the run, aggressively coming up to lay the wood on the ball carrier. Loston has a high football IQ and is a leader on the field. His ability in coverage is more a product of his hard work and polished technique than his athleticism. He may struggle with speed in the NFL since he shows some hip stiffness and is not very explosive in terms of straight line speed. He will fit in best as a box safety who excels at stopping the run and jamming tight ends and receivers off course while playing a short zone.
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