Wednesday, April 14, 1999DRAFT PREVIEW: SAFETIES
Bengals could have late options
BY GEOFF HOBSON
The Cincinnati EnquirerAs usual, some competent safeties will be available in the NFL draft from the middle of the second round on down. And two of them come from along Interstate 71.
Winton Woods High School product Tony George, who leaves Florida as one of the Gators' all-time versatile performers, could go on the first day of the draft in the second or third round.
TOP SAFETIES
1. Antwan Edwards, Clemson
2. Anthony Poindexter, Virginia
3. Tony George, Florida
4. Marquis Smith, California
5. Scott Shields, Weber StateOhio State's Damon Moore, who became the first non-linebacker to lead the Buckeyes in tackles in 26 years when he was a sophomore in 1996, may go in the third or fourth round.
George was second on Florida's defense in tackles as a junior in '97, but when the Gators lost cornerbacks Elijah Williams and Fred Weary, he moved to corner.
ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr., says George “held up well against SEC wideouts,” but strong safety is his spot.
The 209-pound Moore has shown some inconsistency covering on deep routes, and some analysts wonder why he didn't have as good a year tackling last season as he did earlier. But his 222 tackles in the last three seasons reflect his overall productivity. This class of safeties is a bit faceless, given that major questions surround the two best prospects.
Virginia's Anthony Poindexter, the best pure safety on the board, would have gone in the middle of the first round if he hadn't ripped up his knee Oct.24.
Poindexter's attributes are intensity and positioning. He was never fast, so the knee injury scares people. Clemson's Antwan Edwards is being groomed for cornerback after he broke into the Atlantic Coast Conference with a bang at strong safety as a young player.
A consensus of draft analyses compiled by Jerry Jones, the former Mariemont pharmacist who publishes The Drugstore List, has the 6-foot, 210-pound Edwards as the only first-round safety.
Plus, Edwards averaged 27 yards on his 13 kick returns. He also returned six punts for 13.7 yards a return.
“I would think that teams would find out right away if he can play cornerback. With his size, that's too good to pass up,” said Jim Lippincott, the Bengals' director of pro and college personnel.
Weber State's Scott Shields picked off 23 passes as a free and strong safety for four years while also punting and kicking. He'd be a handy man on a roster. He had a 42.3-yard punting average and nailed 13 of 14 field goals inside the 40.
As for the Bengals, they probably won't start looking for a safety until the fourth round, maybe too late to have a homecoming for George. But it may be in time for Moore to become the 18th Buckeye to play for the Bengals.
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