What a “prototypical” safety looks like in today’s NFL is always evolving. However, Johnson might be the ideal modern-day safety because of his size, athleticism and overall versatility. He has a long, impressive frame with room to continue to fill out. His play strength stands out with his power as a tackler and the way he finishes at the football. Although he isn’t a player with elite speed, Johnson has fluid movement skills with read-and-react quickness to lock down receivers in coverage.
In scouting, all evaluators have “types” at each position that they’re drawn to, consciously or subconsciously. I can’t help but be enamored with versatility at safety — players who can do a little bit of everything and play interchangeable roles, which limits the ways offenses can attack them. Understanding the basics of American football starts with learning the different positions on a team. The football abbreviations for many of these positions are used more often than their actual names.
Strong safety is typically referred to by the abbreviation “SS,” while safety is typically denoted by the letter “S.” The NFL Draft is a frequent occasion when the SAF acronym is used. Battle was the fifth member of that group and should soon join the rest as a top-100 draft pick. He immediately worked into the safety rotation as a true freshman and has been a mainstay for Saban’s secondary the past few seasons. Battle had his best season last year, with 86 tackles and a team-best three interceptions. Alabama did a nice job of raiding the state of Georgia in the 2020 recruiting class, luring Branch and Will Anderson to Tuscaloosa. Anderson quickly announced himself as one of the best players in college football, but Branch has also been a valuable part of Saban’s defense.
The free safety tends to watch the play unfold and follow the ball as well as be the “defensive quarterback” of the backfield. The free safety is typically assigned to the quarterback in man coverage, but as the quarterback usually remains in the pocket, the free safety is “free” to double cover another player. On pass plays, the free safety is expected to assist the cornerback on his side and to close the distance to the receiver by the time the ball reaches him. If the offense puts a receiver in the slot, then the free safety may be called upon to cover that receiver. Because of their speed and deep coverage, free safeties are especially likely to make interceptions. More often, defensive linemen are broken down into tackles and ends, or DT and DE, respectively.
The main abbreviation for a running back in football is RB.However, there are different classifications of running backs that each have their own abbreviations. The two most common abbreviations you will see for running backs besides RB will be HB and FB . A fullback is mainly used to block for the halfback, but sometimes will be used as a ball-carrier on running plays. When it comes down to it, if Layne wants any measurable chance of making the final roster, he’ll have to be a world-beater on special teams. He finished his career with 206 tackles, 12.5 tackles for a loss, 0.5 sacks, 11 pass deflections, 6 interceptions, and 3 forced fumbles.
A defensive tackle who plays opposite the center is often called a nose tackle and abbreviated as NT. In a 3-4 defense, an inside linebacker is an ILB and an outside linebacker an OLB. Defensive backs may be abbreviated as DB but are more typically broken down into cornerbacks and safeties, or CB and S, respectively. A strong safety is abbreviated as SS and a free safety as FS.
While Americans call one game football, most of the rest of the world calls a different game football. What’s known as football around the world is called soccer in the United States of America. This type of football also uses abbreviations for player positions.
Current examples of strong safeties active in the NFL include Jamal Adams, Landon Collins, Jordan Poyer, Harrison Smith, Budda Baker, Tyrann Mathieu and Derwin James. Strong safeties are not seen in the Canadian game, where the role is filled by the two defensive halfbacks. When I was studying the Arkansas defense, it felt like Catalon was part of every play. He is quick to key and diagnose, and he plays fast and decisively to affect every inch of the field. Catalon has a natural feel for how an offense wants to attack, and his fluid transitions and burst to close help him drive on the football.
Lewis Cine UGA – Length, speed, quickness, athleticism, range, vision, toughness, tackling. There are practically no flaws to his game, and if his tape were a bit better, I’d have him ahead of Hamilton. Hamilton and Cine are the cream of the crop here, but there is talent to be had even beyond those two. There hot chicks in the olympics is plenty to like, but the lack of 1st round talent, along with the lack of serious depth or quality starters beyond the top few players makes for an average position group as a whole. When this happens, the pressure on the quarterback can be severe since a blitz by a defensive back is not usually anticipated.
Over his two college seasons, Branch has combined for 18 passes defended and has earned the trust of the coaches as a player who can be interchangeable across the secondary. One of the most appealing assets for a defensive back is the versatility to play multiple roles and coverages. And that is precisely what Branch provides for Nick Saban’s defense.