SS, Duke
Rankings: 23rd-ranked strong safety by Pro Football Weekly. Graded originally as a player who should make an NFL training camp but has been upgraded to better-than-average chance to make an NFL roster. Free-agent grade.
NFLDraftScout: 9th-ranked SS, #263 player overall (right behind Austin Davis), 7th-round/free-agent grade.
Biography/honors:
2011: Second team Walter Camp Foundation all-American. First team all-ACC. Started all 12 games at strong safety. Team captain and MVP. 126 tackles, 14 passes defended, 2 interceptions. Played in East-West Shrine Game.
2010: Started all 12 games at strong safety. 93 tackles, 6 tackles for loss, 7 passes defended, 1 interception, 3 forced fumbles.
2009: Started all 12 games at strong safety. 83 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, one-half sack, 5 passes defended, 3 forced fumbles.
2008: Played in 10 games with one start at strong safety. 22 tackles, one interception.
Major: public policy studies. Three-time ACC all-academic team member.
Injuries:
2008: Missed most of one game and all of the following two due to a knee injury.
Pro day stats: (NFL Combine SS averages in parentheses)
4.48 40 (4.62 average – Daniels would have been the fastest safety at the Combine)
1.50 10-yard split
35.5” vertical jump (34 3/4”)
10'4” broad jump (10'1”)
6.90 3-cone drill (6.99)
4.31 20-yard shuttle (4.27)
15 bench press (18)
Positives: Strong in-the-box safety and run supporter. Anticipates plays and finds the ball well. Takes good angles and closes to the ball with burst. Excellent all-around speed and closing speed. Textbook form tackler, strong and sure. Shows good feel for zone defense, good ball awareness, keeps his head up. Outstanding character, leadership and work ethic. Excellent production. High football IQ, can call signals and make adjustments on the fly. Projects as a traditional strong safety with deep zone responsibility on passing downs.
Negatives: High-hipped and very stiff. Poor hip turn and change of direction with almost robotic movement. Not smooth in his backpedal. Lacks explosiveness. Liability in man coverage. Poor hands - should have a lot more interceptions compared to his number of passes defended. Has some trouble getting off of blocks. Not suited to succeed on special teams. Weird tendency to flop to the ground when an opponent with the ball comes near him. No, wait a minute, that's the Duke basketball team.
Compares to: Gerald Sensabaugh.
Fun Facts: Among Matt's many academic awards: three ACC all-academic team honors, National Football Foundation/College Hall of Fame University Scholar-Athlete Award, Duke Student-Athlete of the Year, and the Watkins Award, which goes to the top African-American high school student-athlete in the nation. Besides collecting academic awards, Matt also enjoys fishing and skeet shooting.
RamView: RamView mentioned during free agent previews that good in-the-box safeties fall out of the draft every year. Meet Matt Daniels. Faster than any safety in the draft? Rang up a ton of tackles and pass defenses against top college competition? Excellent tackler and run supporter? I can't be the first person to wonder why Daniels wasn't drafted. As it is, the Rams find a player who has a very good chance to walk directly on to the 53-man roster in the open backup safety position. If Daniels can affirmatively answer questions about his coverage skills and special teams ability in camp, he should have this nailed.
Chance of making roster: 55%.
Sources: Pro Football Weekly 2012 Draft Guide, CBS Sports, Wikipedia, Duke University athletics, The Duke Chronicle
Photo: Pro Football Weekly
No comments:
Post a Comment