Each week this offseason, we’ll be focusing on one position and how the Panthers may choose to address their needs; whether they’re in the market for an upgrade at starter or just a reliable backup, every player on the 53-man roster is going to be important in 2018.
This is Safety Week.
While the Panthers would likely rather secure one of the top safeties in the 2018 class, there is a chance they find themselves still looking to find a solution to their safety needs come the middle rounds of the draft. With that in mind, the Panthers needs to be aware of what their options are likely to be in this regard, and one player they might be interested in is Northwestern’s Godwin Igwebuike.
Run Defense
Igwebuike is one of the many safeties in the 2018 class who look to be able to play both free and strong positions in the NFL; the projected fourth-round pick measured in at 5’11 and 213 pounds at the combine, and that size is evident on tape when he is asked to play against the run. What’s surprising on tape, however, is the speed that he is able to play with. On both of the following plays he shows the ability to run down plays from the back side (For reference, Igwebuike wears #16):
What the first of these plays also demonstrates is that Igwebuike’s tackling technique is something that comes and goes; on the positive side, he does generally look to go low and use his arms to bring down tacklers, rather than simply flying at them with his shoulder, a problem that plagues Ronnie Harrison, who will go much higher in the draft:
Unfortunately, he does have a tendency to come in a little too hot, and while this sometimes allows him to make the spectacular plays:
It can also lead to him missing some tackles:
This is not the worst thing in the world, similar criticisms were leveled against Thomas Davis when he came out of Georgia, but it is something worth noting, and something that will need some coaching. The biggest concern with his run defense, however, is his gap discipline, as while he is not terrible in this regard, he does occasionally get caught trying to do too much. On both of the following plays he tries to dive inside the blocker only to allow the running back outside. On the first play this doesn’t end up costing him:
But it does here:
This is not something that is hugely unusual in players in college, and is worryingly common in the NFL, but Igwebuike’s biggest limitations in run defense have been his discipline. He is still a decent run defender, but will need to be a lot more conscious of gap control, and more controlled in his tackling, in order to prevent big plays against him at the NFL level.
Next Up: Pass Coverage
