Taking a Look into a Hybrid Backer Possibility for the Patriots

NAME: Su’a Cravens
POS: LB
HT: 6’1″
WT: 226 lbs

Linebacker isn’t much of a need for the Patriots, as they do have more pressing needs, in (no particular order), running back, cornerback, offensive tackle, and defensive tackle. They also have two of the best linebackers in the game with Jamie Collins and Donta Hightower, signed another former first rounder in Shea McClellin and have Jonathan Freeny along with Jon Bostic. But if Su’a Cravens falls to No. 60, the Patriots should consider drafting the safety to linebacker convert out of Southern Cal.

The converted safety has excellent instincts, the ability to play in various zone schemes and can cover tight ends man-to-man. He makes excellent reads and takes good angles to the ball carrier. He has the burst to jump underneath and medium routes and the soft hands to pick off the pass. He is a playmaker, in his three years playing at USC, he totaled three forced fumbles, nine interceptions, 16 pass break ups, 10.5 sacks, and an astounding 30 solo tackles for loss, His instincts and playmaking ability are undeniable.

At 226 pounds, he is light for the typical outside linebacker and will get sealed off by linemen if he doesn’t win with his hands early, but even when he seems blocked, he has the ability to shuffle with the blocker and disengage to make the tackle. Occasionally he will lose the feel for his assignment in man coverage and when he does he becomes over aggressive as a result and will commit defensive holding and pass interference penalties.

The defense as a whole would benefit tremendously by having Cravens from a schematic stand point. He would free Collins up to blitz more and take the

pressure off by having the ability to cover tight ends like Owen Daniels, who, we all remember,

burned

Collins bad twice in the first half of the AFC title game this past year.

He is a similar player to Tampa Bay linebacker

Lavonte David

in his ability to cover, make the proper reads, take good angles to the ball carrier and finishes tackles with explosion, for all my Madden players, he makes a lot of tackles by pressing up on the R Stick.

Cravens would be an excellent addition to New England’s defense and should be a strong candidate to get drafted if there is a run on cornerbacks and offensive tackles before New England picks at 60.

Next: Revisiting and grading Patriots’ 2015 NFL Draft picks

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