CB conversion to Safety

Mar 7, 2014 at 2:39 PM

GhostofFredDean74
Hall of Fame
Posts: 30,082

Originally posted by Butter:
Stanley Jean - Baptiste
Keith McGill

The copy cat phenomenon suggests these two may be targeted to copy the Seattle Legion of Boom. But could the Niners convert a player like these two to S? I'd love to have a 6'3" safety with significant coverage ability to cover the big, fast TE in the league.

Not sure if these guys fit the style of safety that Harbaugh/Fangio seem to like. Sure seems like our staff prefers tough, physical safeties that are really good at run support but not necessarily pure "center fielder" types. Both SJB and McGill seem like the ideal CF types (which I personally prefer, btw), but not particularly physical.

[ Edited by GhostofFredDean74 on Mar 7, 2014 at 2:40 PM ]

Mar 7, 2014 at 2:53 PM

NinerSickness
Member
Posts: 8,897

2 similar players. Both have experience at safety (McGill has more). Both are really old (McGill's already 24 & SJB will be 24 next month).

I'm honestly not a huge fan of either one. McGill missed 2 seasons due to injury. He's not nimble enough for my liking as a CB, and he doesn't hit hard enough to be a great safety IMO. I like SJB better of the two, but I wouldn't take either in the first 3 rounds.

Mar 9, 2014 at 12:46 AM

buck
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Posts: 13,137

Originally posted by VPofCarnage:
2 similar players. Both have experience at safety (McGill has more). Both are really old (McGill's already 24 & SJB will be 24 next month).

I'm honestly not a huge fan of either one. McGill missed 2 seasons due to injury. He's not nimble enough for my liking as a CB, and he doesn't hit hard enough to be a great safety IMO. I like SJB better of the two, but I wouldn't take either in the first 3 rounds.

When did SJB play safety? I thought he went from wide receiver to cornerback.

Mar 9, 2014 at 4:37 PM

NinerSickness
Member
Posts: 8,897

Originally posted by buck:
When did SJB play safety? I thought he went from wide receiver to cornerback.

He played a bit of safety at Fort Scott Community College. He also played some wide receiver. It's not much, and I don't really see him as a safety in the NFL.

I think McGill would be a better fit at safety of the two, but I'm not exactly enamoured of either of them as safety prospects.

[ Edited by VPofCarnage on Mar 9, 2014 at 4:37 PM ]

Mar 9, 2014 at 7:09 PM

Butter
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Posts: 2,484

If Whitner comes back, one of these two would be a luxury pick. If they work as CB, the 9ers have a big CB. If they turn out to be good S candidates, then they can be groomed to take over for Whitner some day.

Mar 9, 2014 at 7:18 PM

qnnhan7
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Posts: 35,111

My take on converting CB to S is, physically it may be easy, but not everyone has that instinct to necessarily play the position.

Mar 9, 2014 at 8:19 PM

Butter
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Posts: 2,484

Originally posted by qnnhan7:
My take on converting CB to S is, physically it may be easy, but not everyone has that instinct to necessarily play the position.

Agreed. It seems like CB who play a lot of zone would make an easier transition.