A Defensive Back Question for Each Team
Jacksonville Jaguars safety Johnathan Cyprien (37). Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports
Who starts at the other safety spot for the Indianapolis Colts and how will they fare out?
The Indianapolis Colts secondary could be a real weakness next season, even though they have one of the best cornerbacks in the game in Vontae Davis, who is capable of the extraordinary on any given Sunday. Greg Toler wasn’t bad when he was actually healthy last season, but his injuries and contract have drawn the ire of Colts fans. The Colts safety play, however, is their biggest concern. Antoine Bethea isn’t a great player anymore, but he was still solid and gave the team a dependable player in both run defense and pass coverage. Landry can make a big impact against the run, but his coverage skills have long been questionable. Mike Adams has the most experience and should start at the other safety spot over Delano Howell, but he doesn’t have much of a ceiling. Like Landry, Adams struggles in pass coverage, though he doesn’t embarrass himself in that regard either. You know what you are going to get out of Adams, but it probably won’t be much.
Can Blidi Wreh-Wilson start and match former teammate Dwayne Gratz?
Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Dwayne Gratz made a big impact as a rookie out of UConn last season, and he could develop into one of the game’s best press corners under renowned head coach Gus Bradley. Tennessee Titans cornerback Blidi Wreh-Wilson came out of UConn in the 2013 NFL Draft with even higher ratings than Gratz, but he wasn’t able to make a huge impact in his first season behind an elite cornerback duo. He and Coty Sensabaugh are fighting for a chance to start across from star corner Jason McCourty, and I’m hoping Wreh-Wilson can take the job and run with it. He has all the physical tools and athletic traits you look for in a high-upside CB, and the Titans secondary could be nasty (the safety trio of Michael Griffin, Bernard Pollard, and the criminally underrated George Wilson is one of the best in the business) if their second-year pro breaks out.
Will Johnathan Cyprien establish himself as a top safety?
The Jacksonville Jaguars defensive backfield is filled to the brim with youth and potential, and we were able to see a good amount of that potential fulfilled by a strong, physical, and underrated cornerback trio. Alan Ball excelled in his first year under Bradley, Gratz was an impact rookie, and Will Blackmon was their resident playmaker. Transitioning to the NFL isn’t easy at the safety position, and both Josh Evans and Johnathan Cyprien figured that out. Evans and Cyprien have the talent to form a formidable tandem, but it is mostly Cyprien who has the upside to potentially become a true star and impact safety.
Is D.J. Swearinger ready to take the next step?
Many of these questions deal with potential breakouts from second-year players, and Houston Texans strong safety D.J. Swearinger is undoubtedly a young DB to keep a close eye on. He has the ability to cover receivers in the slot, and he is an explosive, hard-hitter who can get downhill in a hurry to beat the running game. Chris Clemons was a nifty offseason signing and Kendrick Lewis is a nice third safety, but a big year from Swearinger as the defense’s imposer would go a long way. The Texans front seven should be elite again, the cornerback duo is good when healthy, but a big focus for this defense will be on Swearinger’s ability to make an impact in a variety of ways; the Texans need strong safety play, and they made two veteran moves to help the cause.