STRENGTHS
Sydney is an instinctive football player who can play in the box or in the back end of your defense in a two-deep safety system. He is a sure tackler with the quickness and burst to the play that allows him to be around the ball and to make plays. His competitiveness sets him above other players in this draft and that’s what gives him the ability to make plays. He can be used to blitz off the line because he tackles like a linebacker. Sidney fits as a deep nickel or in the center of the field type of safety. His leadership skills and instincts to make plays in zone coverages and his skill set to tackle, force fumbles, and limit run after the catch yardage makes him one of the better football players in this draft. The truth is, Sidney is a pure old-school linebacker in a safeties body.
CONCERNS
Sidney lacks the lateral agility and flexibility to be used in single coverage. To impact, he needs the play to be in front of him and this will affect his ability to play in any style of defense and affect his draft status.
BOTTOM LINE: 3.17
Sidney is physical and instinctive, has good straight-line speed, and is fearless, tackling in the open field. That being said, he is not a very good cover defensive back because he lacks the fixability and lateral agility to keep receivers from separating from him. That’s why he refuses in his workouts, to run the 20-yard shuttle. I don’t know why he refuses because his lack of coverage ability is obvious on film so unless he has an injury it doesn’t make sense to me. Just about every one of his interceptions could have been called pass interference, because he catches the receiver and holds them when they go to make their break. He is outstanding in zone coverages and overall is an excellent football player because of his instincts and straight-line speed, but don’t ask him to go into the slot and cover because, at the next level, he will struggle. Sidney is a playmaker and there are few playmakers who play defense. If a team that selects him uses him like the Steelers used Troy Polamalu, Sidney could be an impact player. He has the high football IQ, instincts, and sure tackling skills to be used all over a team’s defense but don’t expect him to be this great cover defensive back, that’s not going to happen. He will always need help over the top and give up first downs or commit penalties if you use him in single coverage situations. As I stated before, he’s an old-school linebacker in a safety body.
