Could Chad Jones Be An Option At Safety?
February 27th, 2010
A Bucs fan called “The Blitz” Friday morning — not to be confused with Joe’s good friend Justin Pawlowski’s “The Blitz” — heard exclusively on Sirius NFL Radio, asking co-hosts “The Godfather” Gil Brandt and Alex Marvez of FoxSports.com about the Bucs’ plans for the draft.
The caller asked about two specific players the Bucs may pick at No. 3, South Florida defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul and Tennessee safety Eric Berry.
Brandt isn’t overly enamoured with Pierre-Paul and thinks the Bucs can get better value at safety with another SEC star.
“You talk about Pierre-Paul from South Florida, he only has nine games of major college football,” Brandt said. “He has long arms and everything you look for, but that scares you with a guy with that limited amount of experience.”
Marvez began to laud Berry when Brandt came up with an interesting plan.
“Eric Berry, there has not been a safety to come out this talented since Rod Woodson,” Marvez said.
Brandt, the former architect of the famed Cowboys dynasty of the 1970s, agreed but suggested the Bucs should not draft him at No. 3.
“Berry is a quality player and may be a top-five talent but I would not draft him in the top five,” Brandt said. “Historically, safeties are not drafted that high. Maybe Berry can play corner? You can get a guy like [Chad] Jones from LSU who may not be quite as good but you can get him in the second round.
“Do you want to pick someone a little too high or wait until the second round?”
February 27th, 2010 at 1:12 pm
Here is what is most frustrating to me about the conversation on whether we should draft Eric Berry at 3. I don’t mind folks who would say he isn’t talented enough to be picked there, although i disagree. I don’t mind folks who say we have a bigger need than safety, although aside from defensive tackle I disagree there as well. But its when very knowledgeable people acknowledge that he might be a once in generation talent (Rod Woodson!) and that he has top 5 talent, but then and turn around and say they wouldn’t pick him there because “Historically, safeties aren’t drafted that high”.
What a load of bullshit.
MAYBE the reason they aren’t usually drafted that high is because traditionally the top 5 in the draft is inhabited by teams that are bad on a continuous basis and who draft bad on a consistent basis. Anybody ever thought of that? That argument makes not one lick of sense to me and it never ever will.
February 27th, 2010 at 1:20 pm
Good point, and also, how many safeties drafted in the top 5 or 10 “already know their playbook. I already know everything from the D-line to the linebackers to the corners. I know what they’re supposed to do and where they’re supposed to be at.” (St. Pete Times)
Shouldn’t there be some added inherent value for a guy who’s learning curve would be next to nothing and can immediately come in and play?
February 27th, 2010 at 1:43 pm
It’s funny cause Berry and Pierre-Paul are the only two guys I would hate to see us draft in the first.
February 27th, 2010 at 7:03 pm
Marvez is obviously full of smoke. Rod Woodson was drafted as a CORNERBACK and only moved to SAFETY after the apex of his career and a serious knee injury…
February 27th, 2010 at 10:46 pm
Nice to have good comments from a Professional perspective, thanks Steve…
Im not a fan of Berry at 3…
no disrespect but is 5′-11″ 200 big as far as SS go?
OK I looked it up Woodson is 6′ 200…
On a side note Steve is there also a Stretch of the “facts” in height as well as weight for players?
Just wondering ..
Joe keep up the great work. I read everyday..