The Shadow Predicts.....

[HarveyWallbangers]

I was studying the safety prospects in the draft and came away a bit unimpressed by them. Then, I looked up Sean Richardson's combine results.

Richardson: 4.52 in 40, 22 reps on bench, 38.5" vertical, 10'8" broad jump, 7.01 in 3 cone
Clinton-Dix: 4.58 in 40, 11 reps on bench, 33" vertical, 9'11" broad jump, 7.16 in 3 cone
Pryor: 4.58 in 40, 18 reps on bench, 34.5" vertical, 9'6" broad jump

Dude has outstanding measurables. The bio on him was fascinating.

Richardson has elite size and speed, and to be entirely frank, this is about all he is bringing to an NFL team as he enters the NFL draft. Fortunately for him, those two traits are highly regarded for the safety position, especially for rookies who will likely serve as backups and on special teams early on. The name of the game for Richardson will be his ability to learn an NFL defense and develop his skills across the board.

STRENGTHS Richardson runs extremely smooth and fast, although he doesn't get to full speed often. When he does, he could compete with the fastest in the league at his position. He has strong ball skills, and when he puts these two traits together, Richardson is an impressive safety. He has the natural ability to start in the NFL if he can shore up different technical weaknesses he has.

WEAKNESSES Sean is, remarkably, mostly a box safety who rarely was given the opportunity to cut it loose on the back end at Vanderbilt. Although he runs around blocks often and is a drag-down tackler, he should be able to play early on in the box in the NFL. He has some serious issues in man coverage, as he was undisciplined in the few exposures he had in college, which could have been a major reason why such an athletic frame was playing so sheltered in the box. He struggled when put in zone coverage, as well, and has a long way to go before his alignments and all-around skill sets are up to par with his athleticism.

[Pugger]

I was studying the safety prospects in the draft and came away a bit unimpressed by them. Then, I looked up Sean Richardson's combine results.

Richardson: 4.52 in 40, 22 reps on bench, 38.5" vertical, 10'8" broad jump, 7.01 in 3 cone
Clinton-Dix: 4.58 in 40, 11 reps on bench, 33" vertical, 9'11" broad jump, 7.16 in 3 cone
Pryor: 4.58 in 40, 18 reps on bench, 34.5" vertical, 9'6" broad jump

Dude has outstanding measurables. The bio on him was fascinating.

If Ted and the coaches like Richardson's measurables this could be the reason we didn't pursue a S in FA and why they might not trade up for Dix or Pryor?

[Patler]

If Ted and the coaches like Richardson's measurables this could be the reason we didn't pursue a S in FA and why they might not trade up for Dix or Pryor?

It's likely more than just his measurables, at least as far as signing a FA. In the last 7 games of 2013, Richardson played 150 snaps on defense. Jennings started the games, but played just 165 snaps. The coaches should have a good feel for how Richardson performed in comparison to Jennings in the same games against the same players. They should have a feel for how much better Richardson might be than Jennings, and whether it was worth a substantial cap investment in another safety.

I do expect (and hope) they draft a safety relatively high.

[red]

It's likely more than just his measurables, at least as far as signing a FA. In the last 7 games of 2013, Richardson played 150 snaps on defense. Jennings started the games, but played just 165 snaps. The coaches should have a good feel for how Richardson performed in comparison to Jennings in the same games against the same players. They should have a feel for how much better Richardson might be than Jennings, and whether it was worth a substantial cap investment in another safety.

I do expect (and hope) they draft a safety relatively high.

then i look at this and ask the same question i have about sherrod. if the coaches liked what they saw from richarson, then why wasn't he starting, or getting more reps, not just splitting them 50/50

jennings had no future with the team at the end of last season, if coaches thought richardson was the future, then why wasn't he getting even more snaps?

jennings had set a pretty low bar to jump over

[bobblehead]

then i look at this and ask the same question i have about sherrod. if the coaches liked what they saw from richarson, then why wasn't he starting, or getting more reps, not just splitting them 50/50

jennings had no future with the team at the end of last season, if coaches thought richardson was the future, then why wasn't he getting even more snaps?

jennings had set a pretty low bar to jump over

Asked and answered. MM absolutely hates (his history shows) taking a guy who has had little practice time and isn't an experienced veteran and inserting him midway through the season. He doesn't believe that such a player can be in position/know his role well enough. The only reason Richardson saw the field at all is due to Jennings et all doing their Richard Pryor on sunset avenue imitation every game.

[HarveyWallbangers]

then i look at this and ask the same question i have about sherrod. if the coaches liked what they saw from richarson, then why wasn't he starting, or getting more reps, not just splitting them 50/50

Richardson got cleared on November 13th. He had not practiced in a year, wasn't a part of the defensive installations, etc. It's surprising he even split time down the stretch, but that was more because Jennings was so awful.

[run pMc]

If Ted and the coaches like Richardson's measurables this could be the reason we didn't pursue a S in FA and why they might not trade up for Dix or Pryor?

I don't think they'll trade up to take a safety in R1 unless it was for an absolute stud. I don't see that from HaHa or Prior. Then again, I'm no scout.

I look at it this way: if they traded up to 15 and HaHa, Prior and Ebron were there, I'd prefer they take Ebron. I do think they will draft a safety, maybe two, but I think it will be someone more like Jimmie Ward in R2 or Reynolds/Johnson/Boston in mid-late rounds. If your punter is awful, you don't take one in R1 because it's a pressing need...TT isn't gonna chase a safety unless it's a no-brainer.

If Richardson's measurables are comparable and they think he will get better they'll look at other spots instead in R1. No idea if Banjo will bring anything either. There's too much depth in this draft to give up picks, I don't think TT will give up swings at the plate if the pitches in the late rounds look good. 4 picks in the top 100 or whatever will get them somebody to push Hawk/Jones, the WRs, and Quarless, and sort out the S situation, while still giving TT a chance to shore up the depth on DL and OL. BPA all the way.

[Pugger]

I don't think they'll trade up to take a safety in R1 unless it was for an absolute stud. I don't see that from HaHa or Prior. Then again, I'm no scout.

I look at it this way: if they traded up to 15 and HaHa, Prior and Ebron were there, I'd prefer they take Ebron. I do think they will draft a safety, maybe two, but I think it will be someone more like Jimmie Ward in R2 or Reynolds/Johnson/Boston in mid-late rounds. If your punter is awful, you don't take one in R1 because it's a pressing need...TT isn't gonna chase a safety unless it's a no-brainer.

If Richardson's measurables are comparable and they think he will get better they'll look at other spots instead in R1. No idea if Banjo will bring anything either. There's too much depth in this draft to give up picks, I don't think TT will give up swings at the plate if the pitches in the late rounds look good. 4 picks in the top 100 or whatever will get them somebody to push Hawk/Jones, the WRs, and Quarless, and sort out the S situation, while still giving TT a chance to shore up the depth on DL and OL. BPA all the way.

If safety is the top priority for TT and Ha-Ha and Pryor are gone early Ted might trade down so he can nab Jimmie Ward early in the 2nd. If he stands pat and waits for pick #53 Ward most likely will be long gone.