Looking back on the 2014 NFL Draft teams that chose to go after the high profile Safeties like Calvin Pryor or Ha Ha Clinton-Dix. There was still value at the position. Kudos to the Arizona Cardinals for picking up a gem in Deone Bucannon. He will be one of the key factors tied to the Cardinals victory over the Green Bay Packers this weekend.
I knew back in 2014 this 6-1/211 centerfielder would not go past the first round; however, there have been stranger things that have happened with the Draft. Players that I had high on my board would drop drastically because of poor scouting. Players like Keenan Allen or Zac Stacy who went in rounds 3 and 5 are good examples of this.
After taking a long hard look at the former Cougar, I realized this guy has great field vision gaining him 6 interceptions in 2013; he is very aggressive which is why AZ decided to move him to ILB. Bucannon fights for position using his body to shield the receiver, when the ball is in the air. I like his tackling ability; there are few NFL Safeties that pull off 114-tackles in one year even in college. Look at his success already; he has 112 (93 solo) tackles this year. That is 20th in the league out of all players, no matter the position. This speaks to his aggressiveness when getting after the ball; his physical toughness is a force to be reckoned with. The guy was even named week 15 NFL Defensive Player of the Week.
Cris Collinsworth of NBC even had this to say about the second year player.
“I really have a lot of respect for Deone Bucannon…a guy with military parents and a guy who just said Yes Sir, when asked to do something.”
We all know these players do not come out of college as perfect products. There is always going to be something each player will have to work on upon reaching this next level. However this former Cougars’ transition from SS to LB as well as from NCAA to NFL has been seamless and he has truly brought the talent level up of this team.
He has a tough matchup this weekend against the beastly Eddie Lacy but this is a guy who doesn’t shy away from upper body tackling. Look for some serious smash mouth football as these two meet this weekend.
Jermaine Lockett is a Writer and CEO for Couch Rider Report. Follow us on Facebook or twitter.