STRENGTHS
Justin has been used all over his college team’s defense. He been use as a free safety, strong safety, outside linebacker and all-around line me up were ever you need me, type of guy. He is smart and is like a coach on the field. Justin is a secure tackler and that means he can play in any zone coverage system. He also has the size, speed, and solid change of direction skills to play single coverage close to the line of scrimmage. He can cover in the slot and is quick to come up and support the run but doesn’t get fooled or react too quickly to play action. Justin is a quality football player and the type of safety who will make your defense better because of his “coach on the field” type qualities. His coach like qualities reminds me a lot of a former undersized safety Jim Leonard. Jim played nine years in the NFL for seven different teams and every defense he played in he made better because of his coach like talent. Justin is a bigger, faster version of Jim Leonard who is now the Defensive Coordinator for the Wisconsin Badgers. As far as I’m concerned that’s a high compliment.

CONCERNS
Justin has gotten into some bad habits in coverage because he has been shifted around so much and has had too many different responsibilities. He times faster than he plays because when he flips his hips he still looks back the whole time into the back field. You can’t run very fast if you’re running in one direction and looking back in the opposite direction. As soon as he breaks this habit and starts reading the receiver instead of turning his head to look back he will play as fast as he times and will become much better in coverage.

BOTTOM LINE
This kid could be defensive coordinators dreams come true. There is no other player more valuable on the field than the player who can communicate and get his teammates in the right position play after play on defense. In past years players like linebacker Henry Carson did it for the Giants, linebacker Darrel Tally did for the Buffalo Bills and Safety John Lynch did for the Broncos, and all of these players were the main cog in very successful defenses. The Bills stole a player like this last year from the Packers in free agency Micah Hyde and he made the defensive back field become one of the best in the NFL last year. Justin can be a Micah Hyde type of player and he will make some smart GM and Head Coach be very happy and look very smart and also have one of the better defensive back fields too. As soon as Justin corrects that bad habit of running full speed in one direction and looking back in the opposite direction, his cover skills will improve dramatically and he could wind up be the best cover safety out of all the safeties in this draft.

Drew Boylhart   APR.2018