Most Bucs fans agree that our defense would benefit from an upgraded safety (at least one). Although I don't traditionally prioritize the position, I feel it's the area where we have the least amount of talent and is holding our defense back. I believe that speed and coverage skills are essential for a safety in the modern NFL; furthermore, the Bucs' safeties benefit in run support from a strong front 7, thereby allowing us to further emphasize coverage skills.
Longtime fans are sure to remember Sabby Piscatelli… a member of the all-world underwear team. Reaction time and decision making are very important for a safety, but hard to measure. Physical metrics aren't everything. Nevertheless, you can't cover sideline or deep routes if you're too slow to get there. You may also get dominated if you're too small.
By my calculations (factoring in projected 10 yard & 20 yard splits):
* a 4.45 forty yard dash safety can cover ~29.6 feet in 1.5 seconds
* a 4.45 forty yard dash safety can cover ~58.6 feet in 2.5 seconds
* a 4.6 forty yard dash safety can cover ~28.0 feet in 1.5 seconds
* a 4.6 forty yard dash safety can cover ~56.4 feet in 2.5 seconds
In the NFL, 1.5-2 feet is a big deal and I believe we are consistently conceding that space with our current safeties.
I believe the Bucs would GREATLY benefit with a safety who can run 4.5 or better and have adequate bulk/strength. Following are the combine results of our current safety options:
Player. . . . . . . . . 40 yd . 10 yd . 20 yd . Bench . Vertical
J. Whitehead . . . . . .4.59 . .1.61 . .2.66 . .21 . . .34
A. Adams . . . . . . . .4.54 . .1.54 . .2.6 . . 24 . . .33
M. Edwards . . . . . . .4.5 . . 1.58 . .2.59 . . . . . .37
Darian Stewart . . . . .4.53 . .1.59 . .2.57 . .12 . . .37
Justin Evans . . . . . .4.6 . . 1.57 . .2.67 . .14 . . .41.5
D'Cota Dixon . . . . . .4.69 . .1.6 . . 2.65 . .20 . . .33.5
Deiondre Hall . . . . . 4.54 . .1.62 . .2.68 . .10 . . .37
MJ Stewart . . . . . . .4.54 . .1.59 . .2.66 . .18 . . .35
I like J. Whitehead and think he's was a good 4th round pick. I do not like the fact that he's our best safety. He doesn't have the speed needed to optimize our pass defense. None of our guys ran a sub 4.5 at their combines. Reports say Evans ran an unofficial 4.45 at his pro day, but some scouts disputed that claim and timed him closer to 4.6... besides, we have no idea how he'll run after the last 2 years. Our safeties look slow to me. I don't see anyone on the roster who has the raw physical skills to elevate our safety position. I also haven't found an affordable FA safety that brings the speed we need (i.e. Jefferson is slow).
Looking at the draft, the following players have been measured to be faster than all our safeties and have intriguing free safety traits:
Tier 1
Delpit (LSU)
Winfield (Minnesota)
Tier 2
Davis (Cal) (Needs to add strength)
Chinn (S Illinois)
Duggar (Lenoir-Rhyne)
Burgess (Utah) (not as athletic, but looks to have good instincts and mental makeup)
Tier 3
Sneed (La Tech) (if he can bulk up without slowing much)
Muse (Clemson)
Robinson II (Tulsa) (may be able to convert from CB)
