Let's bring in a decent guy on a 2 year deal and draft someone to fill the hole.

Most FAs are overpriced and on the downside of their careers, let's not overspend if we don't have to.

Even if he plays poorly next year, he's going to impress a lot of people at the combine: it's not often you find a guy who's 6'4", 224 lbs. & athletic enough to play safety.

Looks like he'll be part of an incredible safety class next year. That's something to remember if we end up signing a mid-level guy like James Sanders and don't draft a safety this year. We can go cheap now, then draft a solid guy next year if it doesn't work out.

Aloysius said:

Delmas's 12 reps of 225 are somewhat worrisome, though his 6.67 3-cone is pretty awesome.

I think Safeties should be stronger than that but then I stop and think of Jack Tatum. A corner coming out of OSU at 5'10" and 190 lbs. To this day one of the greatest tacklers and hardest hitting safeties in the NFL.

Really laying the wood to guys is technique.

I haven't seen him much but If Chung is this kind of Safety I'd love to see him here. Make those WR's fear coming across the middle. A Brown's safety hasn't put that kind of fear in WR's in a long, long time.

@solon16 said:

No, none at all. Which is frustrating, given that he's a guy who might make sense at the top of Round 2.

Here are some good reports on how Chung and Delmas performed at the Senior Bowl practices:

Pat Chung presented himself as a hard-hitting safety and threw his body around the field most of the week. He lacks the top range and speed to the flanks and was best when the action was in front of him or when he was defending the run. He's likely a third round pick for a zone safety defense.

Louis Delmas was terrific and exceeded our expectations. He was physical, showed coverage skills and excellent leadership skills on the field. He relentlessly threw his body around the field and was constantly in the right place at the right time. There's no doubt he improved his draft stock anywhere from 15 slots to a full round based on his performance.

Delmas's 12 reps of 225 are somewhat worrisome, though his 6.67 3-cone is pretty awesome.

I'd agree that Chung makes more Tayloresque helmet-first hits in coverage. But when it comes to run support, I think a healthy Sean Jones is better; his size and strength play a big part in that.

And when healthy, Sean Jones is much more of a ballhawk than Chung. Jones had 9 picks in the last two years, while Chung only had 3.

I don't have a problem with anyone saying that Jones isn't worth the money he wants, especially when his semi-chronic knee issues can seriously hinder his play. But I don't think Chung would completely replace what a healthy Jones brings to our defense.

Maybe I just haven't watched the right games. IIRC, I've watched the USC, Cal, and Oklahoma State games, as well as the Senior Bowl. If Chung had a signature game in which he showed elite skills, please let me know & I'll try to watch it.

Aloysius said:

I heard Mayock make an interesting comment about Chung's play at the Senior Bowl: he said that Chung looked good in press coverage, but he was less than adequate when asked to play off a guy.

Not sure if that translates to success in our defense.

That's why he is a SS and not a FS. He is faster then Jones, covers better then Jones, is more durable then Jones, hits harder then Jones and is cheaper then Jones.

Saying he is far less talented then Jones is questionable since Jones can't cover anybody, isn't fast enough to provide the 2 deep coverage he is suppose to and is always hurt so he doesn't hit anymore. And, now he wants big bucks and at least a 4 year contract

I heard Mayock make an interesting comment about Chung's play at the Senior Bowl: he said that Chung looked good in press coverage, but he was less than adequate when asked to play off a guy.

Not sure if that translates to success in our defense.

Aloysius said:

I'm going to be interested to see if Buffalo can resist the temptation to take yet another Buckeye secondary player with the 11th pick. I know McGee is a tough player and McKelvin is a stud, they also took a corner named Corner last year. So they might not need it. But they sure do like their OSU DB's.

Everyone was acknowledging at the time that Sanders would be a first rounder if he was only bigger.

I really don't think Chung is the same type of player as those two. But if he ends up in multiple Pro Bowls I'll be happy to admit I was wrong.

@wpb-dawg-fan said:

He also got planted on his ass by RB-FB Quinn Johnson earlier in the game.

I need to see more of him. But my impression is that he's the kind of guy who delivers nice head-first hits but can also get pushed back by big runners.

@ytownbrownsbacker said:

Before the knock on Chung was he was too small....then we found out he was BIGGER than Palomalu. Now it turns out he is running 4.5 40's at 212 lbs...among the fastest at the combine...not to mention 25 reps with 225 (3rd best for S)...

I also seem to remember a hit he put on in the Senior Bowl I believe. He hit a TE (260+ guy) and LEVELED him...and Chung never went down.

I think any knocks on this guy are now more to do with the way he was utilized by the Ducks than any lack in his game.

He has proven he has strength, speed, coverage ability, and can lay the wood. Not sure what else he needs to show.

Aloysius said:

People said that about Bob Sanders and Polamalu, sometimes you just have to work a guy out, look at his body of work and guage his love of the game. Nobody is a sure thing.

A favorite pick for them had been another Buckeye, James Laurinaitis, but his poor combine will push him lower than #14.

Right now this is a very LB/OL/WR-heavy draft at the top. I expect the CBs and QBs to really fall to the middle and bottom of the first. I think that's going to be the story at the end of that first Saturday.

He'll have to run in the mid-high 4.3's to convince them he's got elite cornerback speed.

@ytownbrownsbacker said:

is he gonna prove he's strong at his pro day? if i were thinking about drafting him as a safety, he'd need to.

i'm not really sure what all goes on at a pro day. guys run and do position and agility drills. do they lift, too?