Florida’s Chauncey Gardner-Johnson and Maryland’s Darnell Savage are the new type of college football player. They represent an updated safety for the Seattle Seahawks to draft come April. These draft prospects are weapon safeties.

The “free” and “strong” monikers applied to the safety position need updating. The terms are inadequate, meaning different things to different teams. Plus: the lines between the two on a lot of franchises have become increasingly blurred.

A much better way of categorizing the safety position is by sorting them into categories. This is something that The Draft Network’s Jon Ledyard did. While Ledyard had four differentiators, I use three: high, box and weapon. The high safety is an Earl Thomas; a safety who plays the deep zones. The box is fast becoming closer and closer to the size of an inside linebacker. Given nickel is the base defense of NFL teams, teams will start to convert box safeties into ILBs more regularly. The Los Angeles Chargers conversion of Kyzir White will become the norm.

Then, finally, there is the weapon safety. Sure, you could brand this chap a slot. But, given the bigger size and different skill sets of a safety compared to a slot corner, they add so much more than that. Getting dynamism on the field is the way college football has gone to deal with spread attacks. The capable safeties put into the slot are often frenetic apex defenders who: rush the quarterback, turn runs inside, match up against targets and play various zones. That’s a weapon.

In the peak days of Kam Chancellor and Thomas, while BamBam was primarily a box, he still played some deep coverage with Thomas rotated down over the slot. The duo possessed low-key interchangeability and the playbook reflected this.

The importance of a free safety to Carroll’s scheme is one that feels somewhat overstated. The league has got far better at dissecting single-high coverage. Moreover, the NFL is finally starting to fully embrace the potential of spread concepts.

Even when in single-high against spread, Carroll rarely asks his deep player to roam from sideline-to-sideline. Instead, they are asked to cover shorter areas against spread in what, conceptually, is still a three-deep, four-under defense. It’s middle of the field closed with the middle of the field safety running with a deep over/crosser in a matching style.

Lions got an INT last year vs Saints w/ a 3 deep slot adjustment known as RENO. 1st saw this concept in Seahawks playbook w/ Carroll/Quinn pic.twitter.com/9mHlLX7wI5 — James Light (@JamesALight) October 15, 2017

Thomas’ departure in free agency adds to the sense that FS isn’t as important to Carroll as we initially thought and that elite range isn’t a requirement from the position—particularly in the NFL. If it was, despite the awkward circumstances, Seattle would have made a bigger push to try and re-sign Thomas.

Then there’s the fact that the Seahawks adapted their playcalling without Thomas to fit the available talent.

Per @SportsInfo_SIS Data:

During 2016-18, Seattle played MOFC 8% more when Earl Thomas was on the field vs when he wasn't.



With MOFC, opponents targeted the Middle and 10+ Air Yards down field on 11.6% of attempts when Thomas was on the field. (16.8% when he was off the field) — John Shirley (@JshirleyAK) March 14, 2019

In 2018, Seattle played MOFC 5.3% more with Earl Thomas on the field.



With MOFC, opponents targeted the Middle and 10+ yards down field 4.3% less with him on the field.



Per @SportsInfo_SIS — John Shirley (@JshirleyAK) March 14, 2019

(Middle of field closed being cover 1/3, middle of field open being cover 2/4.)

Adding to the calling of middle of field open defense, Seattle’s defense last year took some evolutionary steps. Against teams who aligned with 11 personnel or lighter, we saw a lot more match quarters (cover-4) from Carroll. Akeem King, listed as a cornerback, was used more as a weapon safety as he matched up on tight ends.

In a post-Thomas defense, the Seahawks are going to have: A pure box/ILB-type safety that is currently missing on the roster despite Bradley McDougald fitting amicably; a weapon safety who will play some box, blitz, match receivers and play some deep; and a high safety who starts with a 10-yard cushion and must be able to read 2-3 man route combinations, run across the field with crossers or rob the number one receiver.

2018 was wrought with a lack of playmaking on the back end. Heck, Thomas finished with the most interceptions despite suffering a very early end to his season! Turnovers are a high variance statistic, but Seattle has been plagued by a scarcity of plays made by defensive backs for too long.

That’s where Gardner-Johnson and Savage come in. These weapon safeties fit the direction the Seahawks are going in. The weapons make big time plays and straight up BALL.

Chauncey Gardner-Johnson

Having grinded Gardner-Johnson’s tape, here were my positives and negatives:

Florida S Chauncey Gardner-Johnson:



:

.athletic

.quick trigger v run

.side-shuffle

.leverage comprehension

.buttery transition on in-breaking routes

.re-route

.path to ball in air

.blitzing disguise

.blitzing bend

.taking on screens as point man

.motor

.chip

.improvement '18 — Matty F. Brown (@mattyfbrown) February 28, 2019

:

.overextends/compensates matching stems leading to balance issues

.mirror footwork

.high pedal

.allows receivers to eat cushion in pedal

.bites on underneath eye candy

.play strength

.allows runner to initiate contact

.tackling footwork

.can only tackle eyes through thighs — Matty F. Brown (@mattyfbrown) February 28, 2019

John Schneider was seen looking through binoculars as CGJ prepared to run his forty. Seattle’s general manager may well have been observing a different player entirely. Regardless, Gardner-Johnson killed the combine. He measured in big. He tested superbly.

John Schneider and unidentified man to his right scouting final day of NFL Combine this morning. pic.twitter.com/k9QRVR7EBr — Bob Condotta (@bcondotta) March 4, 2019

Florida safety Chauncey Gardner-Johnson is another playmaker Seattle might be looking at. He could play bandit back in the Seahawks' 4-1-6 package and win as a match-up weapon.



CGJ tested well after measuring: 5ft11 and 210lbs



40: 4.48s

Vert: 36"

Broad: 117"

3C: 7.03s

SS: 4.2s https://t.co/U8zXi02hmC — Matty F. Brown (@mattyfbrown) March 4, 2019

According to PFF’s Draft Guide, Gardner-Johnson missed 13 tackles last year, which sounds right. His issue is his tackling footwork is a mess. He’s reliant on diving at the legs of players which is very high variance and dangerous, but Carroll—an innovator with heads up tackling—will be confident in his ability to correct this through solid coaching.

So we're saying Chauncey Gardner-Johnson cleaned up his tackling because he started diving low, relying on sliding down the legs?



That's a volatile technique that doesn't lend itself to 1) safety 2) reliability in space 3) consistent success



'17 issues were still on '18 tape. — Matty F. Brown (@mattyfbrown) March 19, 2019

CGJ was put into an apex role that freed him up to make plays on the EDGE, and he still missed some of these plays. https://t.co/yxcVhhAOLy — Matty F. Brown (@mattyfbrown) March 20, 2019

The rest of Gardner-Johnson’s game is awesome. He’s an effortless mover, including executing the shuffle that the Seahawks use, but he’s also a disciplined football player who plays with sound leverage and shows patience on the backside of bootlegs.

When I talk about being a point man:



CGJ gets outside the blocker with sound leverage. He then uses length with a strong long arm, keeping his outside arm free. Upper body strength and extension knocks the blocker backwards into the runner turning upfield. Great play. pic.twitter.com/6qeI9rMqK6 — Matty F. Brown (@mattyfbrown) March 22, 2019

CGJ allowed a passer rating of 52.5 in 2019 per PFF. Look at this interception. It comes from some funky cover-7 defense from Florida. Gardner-Johnson starts as the underneath defender yet matches deep. Then he performs an Ed Reed-esque speed turn, making it look simple and timing his ball location perfectly to brilliantly intercept. He also returned this for serious yardage.

This is his best play whewwww pic.twitter.com/OqzKNtxBa1 — Matty F. Brown (@mattyfbrown) March 21, 2019

Move him around as a fun nickel/dime apex weapon who matches routes in the intermediate and gets sent after the quarterback too. Let him shuffle, not backpedal. https://t.co/U8zXhZKFY2 — Matty F. Brown (@mattyfbrown) February 28, 2019

Darnell Savage

Let’s get this out of the way with: along with Trevon Wesco, Darnell Savage is my draft crush. No player popped off the film more. He demands you notice him. Every snap is played like it’s his last on a football field. He has a hunger for the ball that is admirable and should be in every football player.

Maryland S Darnell Savage:

:

.Stupid twitch, burst and speed

.Unbridled, unabated baller

.Ferocious motor with insatiable appetite for the ball

.Has hitpower missiling downhill

.Quick trigger v routes and from off-man

.Clean, fluid transitions

.Excellent angles to the ball — Matty F. Brown (@mattyfbrown) March 16, 2019

:

.Good off-man footwork, matching route path

.Leverage, walling MOF in man-match

.Quick arm extension to minimize receiver push-off separation

.Scrapes when blitzing from deep

.Swats and rips blockers away, reduces surface area by turning sideways

.Tackling wrap

.Leg drive — Matty F. Brown (@mattyfbrown) March 16, 2019

:

.Range potential from deep

.Aggressive paths to the ball

.Adjusts beautifully to ball in air, changing his coordinates

.Hands remain close together and soft for variety of catches

.Tone setter — Matty F. Brown (@mattyfbrown) March 16, 2019

:

.Instincts from deep zones need work, bites on cheese and eyes are hungry underneath

.Overextends against deceptive stems in off-man, such as jab steps at top of route

.Has to play right on the physical edge against bigger targets, leading to balance issues — Matty F. Brown (@mattyfbrown) March 16, 2019

His measurements would go against what Seattle typically looks for as he weighed in at 198 pounds with 31” arms. The front office has taken safeties who are between 205 to 220 pounds, and they look for slot corners with arm length closer to 32”. PFF had Savage with 8 missed tackles in 2019. His tackling technique, as mentioned in my report, features a lot of positives. The issue is his size means he has to missile into guys to bring them down—resulting in whiffs if they hit the right stick.

Furthermore, Savage only put up 11 on the bench press which suggests he either can’t add to his frame or hasn’t really tried. He tested fantastically overall though, though his 7.03 3-cone demonstrated the straight-line athleticism present on film.

January 17th. I said that high ceiling safety Darnell Savage could be a bandit back upgrade, a playmaker who fits in Seattle's 4-1-6 package. In base, he'd be a downhill missile.



DS tested great after measuring in: 5ft11, 191lbs and 31" arms.



40: 4.36s

Vert: 39.5"

Broad: 126" https://t.co/OL3eU3MoH2 — Matty F. Brown (@mattyfbrown) March 4, 2019

That forty-yard dash time featured a 10-yard split of 1.50 seconds which is stupid quick. You can see that instant twitch on this interception, which features the awesome matching coverage that resulted in a stingy 35.3 2019 passer rating allowed according to PFF.

This is an example of the excellent downhill hunger Savage has for the ball. He adjusts really well to the ball in air after taking an aggressive, great initial path. Awesome quickness to trigger and pick six the stick route. pic.twitter.com/b2chDPJJ2q — Matty F. Brown (@mattyfbrown) March 22, 2019

Michael Kist beautifully described Savage’s ceiling as being “cathedral high.” His range in deep zone coverage is large reason for such lofty praise.

Don't get it twisted: Savage is a downhill player first and foremost. But what makes him such an exciting proposition in the NFL is the potential on top of his existing traits. He needs to better process from deep and not bite on cheese, but there is a lot of range within him: pic.twitter.com/jSDgJ86VOP — Matty F. Brown (@mattyfbrown) March 22, 2019

Savage’s traits are ones you must get on the field.

Anxiously wait and see

It’s easy and understandable to get lost in the weeds of the Seahawks plumping for a direct Earl Thomas replacement. (For instance, taking someone with single-high range like Nasir Adderley.) Yet a weapon safety like Gardner-Johnson or Savage would bring so much more to the defense while also having range potential.

Seattle looked like a slow team in 2018 and both would add blistering speed to the defensive front when tasked with apex duty. But their versatility means they could stay on the field for every snap and carry out their favorite activity: making plays. Right now, it feels like Gardner-Johnson will go in the late first round and Savage will be taken on day two. Let’s anxiously wait and see.