Every year 1,696 football players make an NFL roster. Some turn out to become future Hall-of-Famers while others turn out to be the 53rd man of the roster and never see daylight. At the end of each season, the NFL goes through all players and ranks the top 100 players of the NFL. Everyone remembers the top-five players, but do you remember the new Los Angeles Rams’ player that just cracked the list at 100?

In this article, we will be looking at number 100 of the NFL Top 100, Eric Weddle. Weddle is a free safety for the Los Angeles Rams. He just finished playing with the Baltimore Ravens in 2018 but was released at the end of the year. Weddle has been in the league for 12 years now and is still competing with some of the best.

In this article, we will see how Weddle cracked the list while also examining why he is not higher on the list. We’ll also look at his pass coverage, pass rush, overall tackling, and run support as a free safety.

Pass Coverage

In six of Weddle’s twelve seasons, his highest PFF grade has come in the pass coverage category. In his prime, Weddle had a pass coverage grade of the high 80s to low 90s. In his 2018 season, he finished with a 74.4 rating. That was the 18th best rating in the league last year for both strong and free safeties. He has been a dominant threat in the air game and was a huge factor in why he slipped into the top 100.

In this clip, Weddle has been flipped into a strong safety role. The Ravens are running a Cover 3 where the cornerbacks and one safety drop into deep thirds. The other safety, Weddle, drops down to the flats and tries to stop any drags, curls, or smaller routes.

The Cincinnati Bengals are running a Guns Double Flanker where A.J. Green motions then runs a drag route. The tight end runs a dig in a level matchup with Green, and the other receivers run an out route and streak for another level matchup.

Weddle notices Green breaks free from the coverage and he lowers his hips and anticipates the pass. He drops down quickly and makes the tackle as soon as Green makes the catch for a one-yard gain.

Weddle has been great with these type of plays. According to Next Gen Stats, Weddle had the lowest yards per coverage snap with a 0.26. He also allowed the fewest yards per target while in coverage with 3.6 yards per catch.

In this clip, we see Weddle as a free safety in a Cover 2 scheme. The Atlanta Falcons are in a bunch formation, and one of their receiver’s plans to run a double move for a big play. Once the ball is snapped, Weddle shows us what makes him a top 100 player, and what a gem the Rams are getting.

If you notice the white box, that is the cushion Weddle gives himself. This cushion allows him to stay in front and watch what the quarterback and receiver are doing. Plus, if the receiver breaks the cushion, he is even. One common saying is if he is even he is leaving.

But, Weddle doesn’t let the receiver break the cushion then attacks the ball instead of watching. He ends up breaking the play up and ending the play in an incompletion.

Weddle has another stat to prove he should be in the top 100. Weddle finished tied for 14th for a passer rating of 62.8 against him. In a pass-happy league, it’s no wonder a team like the Rams, who are itching to get back to the Super Bowl, picked up Weddle as quickly as they did.

Pass Rush

Weddle struggles to make a point for the top 100 in this category. It is not that he is a lousy blitzer. In fact, he is reasonably good. Unfortunately, it is his stature that holds him back.

An average safety, particularly free safety, is 6’2″, 200-210 pounds. Weddle creeps in at 5’11”, 190 pounds. Weddle’s strength and size hold him back from making a significant impact in this game, but his speed sometimes makes up for it.

In this clip, Weddle is lined up as the free safety over the top. However, he drops down and turns it into a Cover 0 man blitz. Weddle’s 4.48 40-yard dash speed comes into play when the Ravens have numbers. The left guard and tackle are each manned up while Weddle flies through the line untouched. Within seconds, the top 100 superstar sacks the quarterback.

Weddle finished the 2018 season with a pass-rush grade of 73.9, fifth-highest rating in his 12 years.

Tackling

Weddle finished 19th overall in tackling grades with an 82.6 grade. Another reason why he made the push for the top 100 but also some weaknesses that caused him to stay at the number 100 spot.

First, we will look at what rated him so high as a tackler. After all, he finished the season with 66 total tackles and only five missed tackles.

In this clip, Weddle creeps into the box while the other half of the field has a bunch formation. The New Orleans Saints decided to run a screen pass to Alvin Kamara while the two other receivers block downfield. The linemen start going downfield to block too but forgot about Weddle. Weddle starts about 15 yards away and makes an angle to where Kamara will be heading. Weddle reads where the hole is being created and meets Kamara further down the field and makes a spectacular come back tackle to stop Kamara.

Although a positive play here for the Saints, it could’ve gone for more. It’s one that I’m sure the Rams looked closely at prior to bringing Weddle in. The Rams know that the Saints are going to again be a contender standing in their way of a Super Bowl run. They’ll need everything they can to slow down the offense of New Orleans and Weddle’s tackling ability will certainly help.

In this play, Weddle is the free safety in a Cover 1 scheme. The Bengals run a play-action bootleg where the weak side tight end runs a flat route. Weddle has about 25 yards of open space between him and the tight end. Now, instead of coming down and making the play on this one, he sits back flat-footed and lets the play come to him.

Weddle stands up high and allows the tight end to initiate contact. Although he makes the tackle, this is a dangerous play that leads to missed tackles or even injuries. Weddle was not ready for the power coming his way, and he fell back while giving up a couple of extra yards while making the tackle.

Overall, he usually attacks the ball, but small things like the second clip can cause him to fall down on the list in the top 100.

Run Support

Weddle’s highest grade was his run support. He finished 13th overall with a 79.9 grade. Just like his tackling, Weddle knew how to crash down and take great angles. He would close gaps before they would open and make touchdown-saving tackles as a free safety.

Although this was an assisted tackle, Weddle starts the play 8 yards off the line of scrimmage. Nick Chubb breaks through a small gap on the right side and starts cutting upfield. However, that teal vision cone shows Weddle’s eyes were on Chubb the whole time.

Weddle comes straight downhill once he realizes it is a run play. He shuts down the middle lane as the last support option and helps takes down Chubb for a huge stop.

In this video, Kamara and the Saints are running a sweep toss to the left. Weddle starts as the free safety 10 yards off the ball. Weddle’s speed is on the showcase again as he goes back to the basics.

He follows the banana angle drill to follow Kamara and force him out of bounds. The banana angle is where you follow the near hip of the ball carrier. Weddle does that and begins to attack the near hip downhill while slowly changing his angle toward the sideline. If you replay the video, you notice his angle change looks like a banana or complete 90 degrees by the end of the play.

That is why it is called the banana angle, and Weddle uses it to perfection for a perfect run stop against an elite Kamara.

Final Verdict

Eric Weddle may be going into his 13th season at 34 years old, but he is still an excellent safety. Signing with the Rams gives Weddle an opportunity at a Super Bowl run. He will be a great addition to the Rams roster that will coincide with Lamarcus Joyner and the rest of those defensive backs in LA.

Weddle won’t be the best safety in the league next year, but his wide variety of skills can make him an X-factor still.

Nick Zeller-Singh is a writer for the Pro Football Network covering the PFN Film Room. You can follow him @zickster21 on Twitter.