Rd 2 pick: Su'a Cravens, S

[Irn-Bru]

OK, how can you not like this guy. Apparently he wears #21 in honor of Sean Taylor, his favorite player: http://www.redskins.com/news-and-events ... 62bb9a3898

Discussion, videos, projections can go here!

[Irn-Bru]

Keim on Cravens:

I like that Washington continues to add players who have a certain mindset, guys who can do a few things and seem to have a passion for the game. When you make the NFL as an undersized linebacker -- or as a tweener between linebacker and safety -- then it's probably because you have some good skills and just love to play. But you need to do more than that and Cravens has the ability to do so. He said the Redskins told him he'll play immediately as their dime linebacker, someone who can cover but also defend the run -- their version of Deone Bucannon, the Arizona safety who plays like a linebacker. In this era, it's important to have players such as this. And it's hard to imagine them seeing him strictly as a dime linebacker after this season. If he develops, he'd provide the Redskins good versatility in multiple packages.

http://espn.go.com/blog/washington-reds ... -selection

[riggofan]

You gotta dig up some of the video highlights of this guy.

[Countertrey]

Highlights... pretty long... always around the ball, EXCELLENT tackler. Outstanding when blitzing from the edge. V good in coverage.

More from NFLN

[Irn-Bru]

Highlights... pretty long... always around the ball, EXCELLENT tackler. Outstanding when blitzing from the edge. V good in coverage.

More from NFLN

Wow, this guy is a player. Great tackling technique. Very good looking pass defenses and INTs.

I hate to be that guy who says this, but I'm sure I'm not the only one thinking it: watching those highlights, I was getting flashbacks to another very famous #21. If this kid's goal was to model his game after the great Sean Taylor, I think he's succeeding . . .

[riggofan]

I keep thinking Polamalu when I watch too.

He's kind of a cocky guy on the radio today. I like the swagger, just noticeably different from Docston. Fuller seems less fazed by it all - probably helped by having that family of NFL guys already.

[Countertrey]

I keep thinking Polamalu when I watch too.

He's kind of a cocky guy on the radio today. I like the swagger, just noticeably different from Docston. Fuller seems less fazed by it all - probably helped by having that family of NFL guys already.

Me too... and, like Polamalu, has Polynesian roots... I saw a couple of older highlight tapes that called him the "next Palamalu". I have no problem with swagger in a DB. I think we loaded up on potential playmakers. We got help in the middle of the D-line (he's not real big, so I worry about run d help at the NFL level... we shall see). A developmental quarterback...

[tribeofjudah]

Su'a said he is BUMMED OUT that he can't practice until May 13th. Said he was gonna FIND a way to get into the building to workout.

Look at his physical stature. He is pretty YOKED UP (hope not like Laron Landry......hahaha)

BUT yeah, I liked the guys since the combine when there were "whispers" that he could fall to the SKINS.

[tribeofjudah]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MCpf-DZQqo

He has PASSION for the game.

[HEROHAMO]

Polamalu ran a 4.3 but I think Sua is bigger and hits harder. Similar instincts. Flies to the ball.

[HEROHAMO]

I think he could come in at Ss or LB.

[cowboykillerzRGiii]

Already listed as a safety, and has changed his number to #36... sent out a message on social media about honoring the number and the legacy of the great Sean Taylor. My D O G!!!

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_ ... _tn__=%2As

[Irn-Bru]

Already listed as a safety, and has changed his number to #36... sent out a message on social media about honoring the number and the legacy of the great Sean Taylor. My D O G!!!

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_ ... _tn__=%2As

[Countertrey]

I think he could come in at Ss or LB.

He is Definitely a safety. but I think we'll see him playing both, staying on the field in 3rd and long situations as the Dime LB, to cover the slot/TE inside, to blitz, or to spy/cover the draw. I watch his tape, and I just smile...

[cowboykillerzRGiii]

Right you are CT!!

He will definitely be our guy to spy and shut down mobile qbs, and our best friend when we face athletic TEs that seem to torch normal LBs. Going vs Reed in camp will DEFINITELY help him develop

[mastdark81]

You guys are something else! LOL. Let's play devil's advocate here...he's a tweener, undersized at linebacker and doesn't have great speed so essentially he's a reach for a 2nd rd pick. We couldn't find someone that was a true safety in the later rounds?

How many 2nd rd picks are we going to get of guys that are just good for PACKAGES and not an every down starter? At safety his coverage skills are questionable and he's too light to play in 3-4 OLB.

Tight Ends? Okay well he's only 6-1. I'd rather have kept the 6-3.5" Keenan Robinson on the TE if we worried about them that much.

With all this said I couldn't tell you who I would have picked outside of him haha. Wasn't really impressed with the DLineman this draft. I wanted Myles Jack, Jaylen Smith, or Nick Martin. So if Scot thought he is the best guy available than cool I'm just skeptical.

[Countertrey]

Did you guys hear something?? Maybe it's just the rain.

[tribeofjudah]

yeah........pitter pat, pitter pat (that's my rain)

[DEHog]

The thing I love about him is that he can tackle! Sounds simple but tackling in the NFL has become a lost art.

[ferryrich]

The thing I love about him is that he can tackle! Sounds simple but tackling in the NFL has become a lost art.

Completely agree with this. Those highlights at least show he knows how to wrap up and he wasn't just targeting a big hit. Hopefully the phrase "another missed tackle" will be heard a lot less often in future when our D is on the field

[Irn-Bru]

The thing I love about him is that he can tackle! Sounds simple but tackling in the NFL has become a lost art.

Yeah. Lots of shoulder drives and wrapping up in those highlights. I hope he keeps that approach in the pros.

[DarthMonk]

The thing I love about him is that he can tackle! Sounds simple but tackling in the NFL has become a lost art.

Yeah. Lots of shoulder drives and wrapping up in those highlights. I hope he keeps that approach in the pros.

The old line applies:

The money will make him more of what he already is.

[DarthMonk]

Second-round pick Su'a Cravens played inside linebacker at rookie minicamp.

Probably because it's rookie camp. OTOH, gotta know EVERYTHING to play ILB.

Cravens should get most of his snaps as a dime linebacker, but will also see time at safety and in nickel packages.

The Redskins want to use him as their version of Deone Bucannon. Cravens dropped down to 215 pounds before the draft.

Source: Washington Post May 14 - 6:25 PM

[DarthMonk]

Redskins LB/S Su'a Cravens: Sean Taylor 'changed the culture of football'

7:21 AM ET
John Keim
ESPN Staff Writer

ASHBURN, Virginia -- Washington Redskins rookie linebacker/safety Su'a Cravens picked his new number -- and one of Sean Taylor's old ones -- shortly after the draft, getting an assist from the fans. And, when he did so, Cravens briefly explained why he wanted that number and how much Taylor meant to him.

Redskins defender Su'a Cravens on wearing No. 36, the number Sean Taylor wore as a rookie: "Sean Taylor is one of my all-time favorite players," Cravens said. "The fact that I get to wear the number means so much to me." AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana
During the rookie minicamp last weekend, Cravens explained a little more about why he wanted to wear No. 36, the same number Taylor wore during his rookie season in Washington before switching to 21.

The No. 36 had been worn by fullback Darrel Young the past six years, but he’s no longer with the team. Cravens is the first defensive player to wear it since Taylor was murdered in 2007.

"Sean Taylor is one of my all-time favorite players," Cravens said. "The fact that I get to wear the number means so much to me. I’m so grateful and thankful, and I’ll do my best to respect the number and to show out with it."

Cravens wore No. 21 at USC, and even though he’s listed as a safety, he will likely end up playing more linebacker. The Redskins said he will be a linebacker in their nickel and dime packages. That would give them someone aligned as a linebacker who covers better than most linebackers but is bigger than most safeties and able to play the run. Considering the Redskins use one of these packages 70-75 percent of the time, it's important to handle both roles.

Taylor was a safety all the way, but he was big and hit like a linebacker. He was a fan favorite because of those hits and, especially in his last season, how well he was playing overall.

Cravens could become a fan favorite, but that will be determined by his performance (his personality will then take over). And that’s something that can take a little time. But honoring Taylor will go a long way toward him gaining popularity. He seems genuinely excited to not just play in the NFL, but to be in Washington. He’s already visited monuments in D.C. -- bragging about how he passed his mission at the Spy Museum (while his brother and aunt did not).

But it’s the chance to honor Taylor that matters to him as well.

"It was just how he carried himself and played on the field, like every snap was his last," Cravens said. "The things he did, the amazing plays -- even when he didn’t make plays you still looked at him like, 'Wow, I don’t think I could have done that.' He stood out and he really changed the culture of football with the way defensive backs came up and hit. It made me want to play football even more."

[Burgundy&GoldForever]

Cravens wore No. 21 at USC, and even though he’s listed as a safety, he will likely end up playing more linebacker.

No. He would have to change numbers per league rules to line up primarily at linebacker.

The Redskins said he will be a linebacker in their nickel and dime packages.

Yes. About 20% of the snaps.