Continuing our film review season of the Jets 2015 season, we move on to one of the most impressive reels: former first round pick Calvin Pryor. What kind of jump did the strong safety make in his sophomore season? Let’s take a look.

Violent Hitter

This was one of Pryor’s best traits coming out of college, earning him the nickname ‘Louisville Slugger.’ He is a force when players come over the middle.

IQ and Range

The first thing that jumps out is how much more comfortable Pryor looks compared to his rookie season. He is constantly reading plays in front of him and understanding his assignments when dropping back into…

Coverage Improvement

Pryor is giving up half a foot to JJ Watt in the clip above, but he takes away the outside and uses his reach to break up the pass in front of him.

This interception on Andrew Luck might seem like a right place at the right time moment, but we never saw those flashes in his rookie year. This is a player that is understanding where to be, who to help, and how to take advantage by reading the quarterback.

Versatility

While he sees most of his time on the back end of the defense alongside Marcus Gilchrist, Pryor had no problem playing in the box like a linebacker and shadowing over tight ends. With the big bodies in front of him, he is a menace working through space and blowing up runs.

Conclusion

The Jets have a building block on the back end of their defense in Calvin Pryor. With a big front clearing out space for him, he is a playmaker against the run and screen game, while developing into a reliable help coverage defensive back. He is one of the NFL’s top young, strong safeties and could have a Pro Bowl type season in 2016.

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Connor Rogers is the NFL Draft Analyst for Jets Wire. He can be reached via Twitter @ConnorJRogers. All of the Jets Wire scouting reports for the NFL Draft can be found here.