NFP Senior Strong Safety Breakdown

FROM WES BUNTING:

On the final day of our 2010 NFL Draft senior prospect preview, we break down the strong safety class. For the most part, strong safety has consistently been one of the weaker positions in the draft over the past five years, and this year’s group seems to follow suit, lacking any kind of elite talent or depth. There were no strong safeties selected in the first round of this year’s draft, and I don’t expect much to change with the 2010 crop.

Click HERE to check out the rest of the NFP’s Senior rankings.

Here’s our first look at the 2010 SS class.

Myron Rolle, Florida State (6-2, 218)

Rolle is possibly the most physically gifted strong safety prospect in the group and might offer more upside than any safety in the country -- and yes, that includes USC standout Taylor Mays. Rolle is a three-year starter at Florida State and possesses the prototypical size/speed numbers for the position. He has all the necessary tools needed to develop into a star at the next level and has as much untapped potential as any prospect in next year’s draft. However, Rolle, a 2008 Rhodes Scholarship winner, and has decided to take a year off from football to attend the University of Oxford and complete his master’s degree in medical anthropology before entering the 2010 draft.

The long layoff from football may hurt his draft stock a bit, but he has already hired a trainer and has asked Florida State to send him all of his game tapes from the 2008 season to help him prepare for the 2010 NFL Combine. As an overall prospect, Rolle is a gifted athlete with good power and knows how to consistently make plays in the run game. The big question is his overall commitment and passion for the game. But he’s a special kid, and if he decides to devote his full attention to football, it’s scary to think how good he could become.

Barry Church, Toledo (6-2, 218)

Church is a three-time first team All-MAC performer and has done nothing but produce in the Rockets’ secondary since his freshman year. He’s a consummate playmaker who not only flashes on film but at times is down right dominant. He showcases great instincts, ball skills and physicality, plus he has a knack for making the game-changing play. Church has recorded 254 total tackles during his career to go along with 17½ tackles for loss, eight interceptions and 16 passes defended. He is very physical in run support and demonstrates the body control and power to consistently bring down the ball carrier. He is also smooth and fluid in space for his size and does a nice job getting an initial jump on the play and breaking on the football. The only concern with Church is his average straight-line speed as he struggles making up for a false step and doesn’t have any kind of second gear. However, you can’t teach his instincts and ball-hawking ability, and with another strong year, he should be in the mix as one of the top strong safety prospects for the 2010 draft.

Darrell Stuckey, Kansas (6-1, 205)

Stuckey possesses a strong, athletic-looking frame and showcases possibly the best instincts and closing speed of any strong safety in the senior class. He has an ability to get cleanly out of his breaks and exhibits a first step that consistently allows him to close on the ball. Stuckey possesses a nice set of hands and demonstrates the body control to go up and get the ball. He led the Jayhawks with five interceptions last year and always seems to be flowing toward the action. He is also a sound wrap-up tackler who breaks down well in space and is a solid last-line defender. However, unlike most strong safety prospects, Stuckey lacks ideal girth and isn’t real physical at the line of scrimmage. He lacks the overall power to take on blockers and will struggle a bit when asked to play inside the box at the next level. Even so, he’s a fluid athlete who knows how to play in space and will certainly be a welcomed addition to an NFL secondary because of his ability to play the pass.

The Next Two

Justin Woodall, Alabama (6-2, 220)

Woodall is a thickly built prospect who’s comfortable in space and knows how to make plays on the football. He’s a smart kid who reads and reacts quickly and does a nice job deciphering his run/pass keys. He finished the 2008 season with four interceptions and eight pass break-ups and showcases the ball skills to consistently make a play on the ball. He also exhibits a real physical dimension to his game when attacking downhill and taking on blocks at the line of scrimmage. He has a tendency to get caught up in traffic and doesn’t showcase the same type of instincts at the line of scrimmage that he does in the deep half of the field. However, he should benefit greatly from another year under head coach Nick Saban and clean up any rough edges to his game this offseason.

Dominique Harris, Temple (6-3, 218)

Harris is a physically built strong safety prospect who sticks out like a sore thumb on the Temple defense. He not only looks like the biggest defender on the field, he also plays like it, throwing his body around with reckless abandon and making sure he’s involved in virtually every tackle. He finished last season with 66 total tackles, three interceptions, three forced fumbles and three pass break-ups and is consistently making his presence felt all over the field. He’s a physical wrap-up tackler at the line of scrimmage and possesses the range and power to destroy receivers in the pass game. Harris is still very raw with his technique and footwork but is a very intriguing piece of clay who could be molded into a good NFL player with the right coaching.

The Rest

Kurt Coleman, Ohio State (5-11, 190)

An undersized safety prospect who possesses great rage and physicality on all areas of the field.

Quinton Andrews, North Alabama (5-11, 208)

A three-year starter at West Virginia who was dismissed from the team in March. He will try to catch on at North Alabama under new head coach Terry Bowden in 2009.

Bo McNally, Stanford (6-0, 208)

He lacks great straight-line speed but has a nose for the ball and always seems to be in the right place at the right time.

T.J. Ward, Oregon (5-11, 190)

A tackling machine in the Oregon secondary who plays a lot bigger than his size indicates.

Kyle McCarthy, Notre Dame (6-1, 205)

Does a great job sniffing out the ball and wrapping up on contact. He isn’t the best athlete, but he makes up for it with his instincts and work rate.

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