Senior Bowl Safety Notes

[bamainatlanta]

From Walter Football:

UConn safety Obi Melifonwu has had an excellent Senior Bowl, and he was impressive on Thursday. Melifonwu is a big safety who can be the eighth man in the box, but he showed impressive range in the team scrimmage. The Bears staff had Meilfonwu being the lone deep safety on a lot of plays, and he covered a lot of ground. Even though Melifonwu is big, he is not stiff as an athlete, showing some ability to open up his hips and run. After his week in Mobile, there has been some buzz about Melifonwu having late first-round potential.


https://walterfootball.com/seniorbowl2017practice6.php


ne prospect that is creating a buzz is UConn safety Obi Melifonwu. He was one of the stars of the weigh-in, as he checked in at 6-foot-4, 219 pounds and obviously is a dedicated patron of the weight room. During the fall, scouting sources told WalterFootball.com that Melifonwu would rise in the lead up to the draft because he is a workout warrior and was putting together a quality senior season. He totaled 118 tackles, three passes broken up, and four interceptions on the year.

Some sources believe Melifonwu could be a versatile safety with the size and speed to cover tight ends in man coverage. They also feel he can walk down into the box like Deone Bucannon and be an enforcer like Kam Chancellor. While it is very early in the process, here are five teams that are showing a lot of interest in Melifonwu: Seattle Seahawks, Houston Texans, New Orleans Saints, Philadelphia Eagles, and Carolina Panthers.



Anyone watch this kid play?

 

[Sagbear]

From Walter Football:

UConn safety Obi Melifonwu has had an excellent Senior Bowl, and he was impressive on Thursday. Melifonwu is a big safety who can be the eighth man in the box, but he showed impressive range in the team scrimmage. The Bears staff had Meilfonwu being the lone deep safety on a lot of plays, and he covered a lot of ground. Even though Melifonwu is big, he is not stiff as an athlete, showing some ability to open up his hips and run. After his week in Mobile, there has been some buzz about Melifonwu having late first-round potential.


https://walterfootball.com/seniorbowl2017practice6.php


ne prospect that is creating a buzz is UConn safety Obi Melifonwu. He was one of the stars of the weigh-in, as he checked in at 6-foot-4, 219 pounds and obviously is a dedicated patron of the weight room. During the fall, scouting sources told WalterFootball.com that Melifonwu would rise in the lead up to the draft because he is a workout warrior and was putting together a quality senior season. He totaled 118 tackles, three passes broken up, and four interceptions on the year.

Some sources believe Melifonwu could be a versatile safety with the size and speed to cover tight ends in man coverage. They also feel he can walk down into the box like Deone Bucannon and be an enforcer like Kam Chancellor. While it is very early in the process, here are five teams that are showing a lot of interest in Melifonwu: Seattle Seahawks, Houston Texans, New Orleans Saints, Philadelphia Eagles, and Carolina Panthers.



Anyone watch this kid play?

I've met him at Uconn, incredibly smart and well spoken, looks like he added some weight since last summer he looks skinny in person. But the inbox safety isn't his game just because he's big. He isn't nearly as physical as his size suggests but he's almost more agile than you think with good cover skills.

 

[bamainatlanta]

I've met him at Uconn, incredibly smart and well spoken, looks like he added some weight since last summer he looks skinny in person. But the inbox safety isn't his game just because he's big. He isn't nearly as physical as his size suggests but he's almost more agile than you think with good cover skills.

Safeties are more valuable with cover/ball skills than being an in the box safety

 

[NCChiFan]

I thought we were needing a FS more than a SS ?

 

[Adipost]

Speaking of safeties, Eric Berry went on the record that he will sit out the season if the KC Chiefs place the franchise tag on him again.

 

[gallagher]

I thought we were needing a FS more than a SS ?

We do, but Fangio were testing his deep coverage skills, and by all accounts the kid left a good impression.

He could be missing a leg and play better than what we had at FS last year

 

[bamainatlanta]

We do, but Fangio were testing his deep coverage skills, and by all accounts the kid left a good impression.

He could be missing a leg and play better than what we had at FS last year

Or he could be a hybrid LB/S

 

[Sagbear]

Safeties are more valuable with cover/ball skills than being an in the box safety

Agreed, I was just stating that to use him in the box role may not be best suited for him.