Sporting News: AFC Safeties

[Crazy_Chris]

1. Colts

Bob Sanders and Antoine Bethea were Pro Bowl picks in '07. Sanders is the ultimate enforcer, but his reckless style makes him injury-prone. Bethea has good range and instincts. Matt Giordano is an adequate backup.

2. Ravens

Ed Reed has great range and can cover one-on-one like a corner. Dawan Landry is effective in the box but struggles in deep coverage. Rookie Tom Zbikowski is a hard hitter who must improve his coverage skills.

3. Titans

Chris Hope closes well on the ball and is strong against the run. Michael Griffin is solid in run support and should make more plays in coverage in his second year. Vincent Fuller is a solid cover guy but a so-so tackler.

4. Steelers

Injuries brought this group down in 2007. The team needs Troy Polamalu to be at his disruptive best again. Losing speedy Ryan Clark for 10 games last season hurt because Anthony Smith didn't step up.

5. Jets

Kerry Rhodes is a ballhawk in coverage, a jarring tackler in run support and a superb blitzer. Abram Elam delivers big hits but needs to work on his coverage skills. Eric Smith is a solid backup with the ability to start.

6. Patriots

Rodney Harrison, 35, has lost a step but not an ounce of toughness. James Sanders is a solid starter but doesn't make many jaw-dropping plays. Brandon Meriweather is very fast but needs to play with more discipline

7. Browns

Sean Jones is tough and smart but must do a better job covering quicker tight ends. Brodney Pool is an excellent athlete but needs to be more consistent covering deep balls. Mike Adams is a solid No. 3.

8. Bills

Donte Whitner plays the run like a linebacker and has the speed to turn and run with receivers. Look for Ko Simpson to develop into a smart, rangy center _ elder. Bryan Scott and George Wilson are capable reserves.

9. Chargers

New starter Eric Weddle was always around the ball and flashed playmaking ability as a rookie. Clinton Hart's play against the run was a pleasant surprise in 2007. Steve Gregory is a smart, tenacious backup.

10. Raiders

Signing Gibril Wilson to play strong safety allows the team to move Michael Huff to free safety, a better fit for him. Wilson will add a physical presence. Rookie Tyvon Branch is also a big hitter.

11. Chiefs

Jarrad Page has good ball skills and solid coverage instincts but must improve his tackling. Bernard Pollard is a hard hitter but lacks ideal speed. Rookie DaJuan Morgan will challenge No. 3 safety Jon McGraw.

12. Broncos

There will be a lot of competition. Hamza Abdullah, who is fast but must take better angles, is a favorite to win one job. John Lynch will be challenged by Marlon McCree and Marquand Manuel.

13. Texans

This unit lacks playmakers, though C.C. Brown emerged as a solid allaround safety last year. Will Demps, a physical hitter, will try to stave off Glenn Earl, who missed all of last season with a foot injury.

14. Jaguars

Reggie Nelson and Gerald Sensabaugh appear to be the starters, but the team could shuffle the secondary by moving corner Brian Williams to safety. Nelson is aggressive; Sensabaugh is athletic but injury-prone.

15. Bengals

Dexter Jackson is a hard hitter, but his overaggressiveness gets him in trouble. Second-year pro Marvin White needs to do a better job of playing the ball in the air. Chinedum Ndukwe flashed potential as a rookie.

16. Dolphins

Aside from Yeremiah Bell, who is an injury risk because of his hard-hitting style, the Dolphins lack playmakers. Renaldo Hill and newcomer Keith Davis will compete for the other job.

http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=412092

[art vandelay]

Pretty good list. I personally think the Pats are way overrated there, but not bad overall. You would also think that the Raiders would be much higher with Gibril and Huff.

[LonghornsLegend]

I like the top 3, that's probably how I would rank it.

[CashmoneyDrew]

Finally some respect for the Titans after that atrocious 27 ranking someone on here gave them.

[The Great Jonathan Vilma]

love the writeup on Kerry Rhodes, makes him sound badass.
Id maybe switch the Raiders and Pats

[RaiderNation]

If Huff plays to his potenial, we could be a top 5 S team

[Mr.Regular]

I think the Jags should be higher on this list.

[TheGreatEscape]

I think the Jags should be higher on this list.

I concur with this man. Nelson had a poor season but he'll learn and bounce back this year. Sensabough had injury issues, if healthy he'll be good. If not Brian Williams would be a quality quick pick.

[themaninblack]

We're about where we should be right now but a move up that list will be occurring very soon.

[Wyndham]

I guess KC is about right, for now, but the write-up is completely awful (Morgan was a steal and will compete for the starting FS spot, probably winning it if you ask me). They've got two pretty good second-year guys heading into their third year and then Morgan, a rookie, who could be a pretty good player.

[TitanHope]

I guess KC is about right, for now, but the write-up is completely awful (Morgan was a steal and will compete for the starting FS spot, probably winning it if you ask me). They've got two pretty good second-year guys heading into their third year and then Morgan, a rookie, who could be a pretty good player.

Isn't Jarrad Page the starting FS? I thought KC fans were pretty high on him...

[draftguru151]

This just in, Dolphin's DBs are BAD.

[megansett56BC]

love the writeup on Kerry Rhodes, makes him sound badass.
Id maybe switch the Raiders and Pats

I'd agree with the switch.

[doingthisinsteadofwork]

Oakland should be higher.

[Yung Flippa]

Yay! Ravens #2 and Texans aren't last! Yay!

[thetedginnshow]

Damn. We need to bring in a stud safety so Kerry Rhodes isn't brought down.

[MetSox17]

I agree that the Raiders should be higher than they are. Michael Huff was under-utilized playing strong safety. He's gonna excel at free, and Gibril Wilson is a very good player. Easily, top 6.

[kmartin575]

Isn't Jarrad Page the starting FS? I thought KC fans were pretty high on him...

Yeah, Page has been good in KC, especially for a 7th round pick. He has pretty much won several games on his own for us already. In 2006 the Raiders were driving and were in our redzone and he intercepted a pass intended for Randy Moss to end the game. Also counting the playoffs he has already intercepted Peyton Manning twice in his short career.

Bernard Pollard is the one who's job could be at risk. I'm not as down on Pollard as some Chiefs fans considering last year was his first year starting and some "rookie" mistakes are to be expected but he is definitely the one who will have Dajuan Morgan looking over his shoulders. Even if Pollard loses his starting job he is still a huge asset to the team with his special teams ability. He blocked 3 punts as a rookie and I believe he may have blocked one this year but I'm not sure.

[kmartin575]

I agree that the Raiders should be higher than they are. Michael Huff was under-utilized playing strong safety. He's gonna excel at free, and Gibril Wilson is a very good player. Easily, top 6.

The fact still stands that Huff only has 1 interception in 2 years in the league. He hasn't exactly lived up to his top 10 draft pick status.

[Dam8610]

The fact still stands that Huff only has 1 interception in 2 years in the league. He hasn't exactly lived up to his top 10 draft pick status.

Bob Sanders has 4 career regular season INTs, and he just won DPOY.

[RaiderFan]

Bob Sanders has 4 career regular season INTs, and he just won DPOY.
Just ignore him, he is a chief fan. He rather Hate on Oakland than praise his own team. Funny how he didn't mention how Huff shutdown Tony Gonzalez 2 times last year. In the 2 games Gonzalez had 7 Catches for 114 0td's in 2 games. Sounds good to me.

[LonghornsLegend]

The fact still stands that Huff only has 1 interception in 2 years in the league. He hasn't exactly lived up to his top 10 draft pick status.

That fact still stands that he has been in no postion to get many INT's playing up on the LOS in the box, he is completely out of position, but yea unless that doesn't mean anything to you then he hasn't lived up to his hype...As Dam pointed out Sanders has 4 career, he does most of his damage around the LOS as well, he doesn't even have many chances for interceptions as it is...Huff was covering TE's majorily, wait until he gets a chance to free lance in the secondary and play centerfielder.

[doingthisinsteadofwork]

The fact still stands that Huff only has 1 interception in 2 years in the league. He hasn't exactly lived up to his top 10 draft pick status.Kinda hard to intercept the ball when nobody bothers throwing the ball your way. Asomugha had 1 int last year so I guess he also underperformed.

[kmartin575]

Kinda hard to intercept the ball when nobody bothers throwing the ball your way. Asomugha had 1 int last year so I guess he also underperformed.

The stats say he had 11 passes defensed, meaning he was getting his hands on the ball but he couldn't come up with the interception.

[terribletowel39]

The stats say he had 11 passes defensed, meaning he was getting his hands on the ball but he couldn't come up with the interception.
Would you rather him allow completions?? I'm confused.
Yea he didn't get the INT, but he isn't allowing positive yard.

[tom]

Oakland should be nr. 2 on this list. Nr. 1 should be the Steelers.

I don't think I even have to explain this, c'mon, Troy Polomalu is like a super beast on steroids! There's a reason why they call him the Tazmanian devil. I mean, I know that he was born in Tazmania, but he's a real devil, STEELING balls from opposing QB's!

And Ryan Grant and Anthony Smith remind me of Ulysses Grant and John Smith, because they founded the steelers FS position the same way they founded the USA, with blood, sweat and tears.

Expect the steelers to go to the superbowl this year. Because with Polomalu, Grant and Smith, we've got the best safeties in the nfl, to go along with the best QB, RBs, WR, Olinemen, Dlinemen, LBs and CBs. Oh, and great FBs and TE, P, K, LS, Coach and terrible towels that are so money!

[JT Jag]

The Jaguars deserve the ranking they have at the moment, but our defensive backfield has a lot of upside.

[doingthisinsteadofwork]

The stats say he had 11 passes defensed, meaning he was getting his hands on the ball but he couldn't come up with the interception.
or maybe he was busy knocking it out of the recievers hands.Just because he isnt catching it doesnt mean hes dropping the ball.

[Wyndham]

Just ignore him, he is a chief fan. He rather Hate on Oakland than praise his own team. Funny how he didn't mention how Huff shutdown Tony Gonzalez 2 times last year. In the 2 games Gonzalez had 7 Catches for 114 0td's in 2 games. Sounds good to me.

Brodie Croyle/Damon Huard/Herm Edwards "shut down" Tony Gonzalez.

However you want to spin it, Huff has been a major disappointment.

[RaiderFan]

Brodie Croyle/Damon Huard/Herm Edwards "shut down" Tony Gonzalez.

However you want to spin it, Huff has been a major disappointment.

to who?????? He is a 2nd year player.
In his first year the Pass defense was Ranked NUMBER #1 in the entire NFL.

[Pb&j]

Why pass on a team when you can just run down their throat all day long?

[Wyndham]

to who??????

To everyone that expected him to perform like the seventh player chosen in the draft.

[terribletowel39]

Oakland should be nr. 2 on this list. Nr. 1 should be the Steelers.

I don't think I even have to explain this, c'mon, Troy Polomalu is like a super beast on steroids! There's a reason why they call him the Tazmanian devil. I mean, I know that he was born in Tazmania, but he's a real devil, STEELING balls from opposing QB's!

And Ryan Grant and Anthony Smith remind me of Ulysses Grant and John Smith, because they founded the steelers FS position the same way they founded the USA, with blood, sweat and tears.

Expect the steelers to go to the superbowl this year. Because with Polomalu, Grant and Smith, we've got the best safeties in the nfl, to go along with the best QB, RBs, WR, Olinemen, Dlinemen, LBs and CBs. Oh, and great FBs and TE, P, K, LS, Coach and terrible towels that are so money!
how are you still here??

[doingthisinsteadofwork]

Brodie Croyle/Damon Huard/Herm Edwards "shut down" Tony Gonzalez.

However you want to spin it, Huff has been a major disappointment.
Please explain why he shutsdown Gates every game then.

Im sorry but you clearly have no understanding of Huffs role in the defense the past two years.

[Wyndham]

Im sorry but you clearly have no understanding of Huffs role in the defense the past two years.

That's another way of spinning it.

If you're happy with Huff's performance as the No. 7 overall pick, more power to you.

I sure as sh!t wouldn't be, and I'd be praying for improvement, but maybe I just have higher standards.

[doingthisinsteadofwork]

That's another way of spinning it.

If you're happy with Huff's performance as the No. 7 overall pick, more power to you.

I sure as sh!t wouldn't be, and I'd be praying for improvement, but maybe I just have higher standards.
theres no way to spin it thats just the way it is.
Huff has never been asked to be the ballhawk most people think hes been asked to be.Hes either in the box or covering TEs.It was Stu's job to play centerfield it was never Huffs.

[Bengals78]

how are you still here??

Makes you wonder doesnt it?

I agree about the raiders being under ranked in this list.
The Bengals are where they should be. Ndukwe and White will be good before long but theyre still too young to tell.

[drmoyer421]

I figure I would post this here for those who like Donte Whitner. It is a great interview. Shows he is coming into his own as a leader on and off the field. As he becomes one of the better safeties in the league. He has taken both McKelvin and Hardy under his wings early this year. Has team members over his house everyday, and has game film sessions on Thursdays.

Supposedly McKelvin is even living with him for the offseason until he gets a place of his own.

interview (http://podcasting.fia.net/6707/2680510.mp3)

Its a good listen.