6/23/2006
By Chick Ludwig
Dayton Daily News
PERSONNEL ANALYSIS: Rookie CB and No. 1 draft pick Johnathan Joseph is like a sponge, soaking up every ounce of advice from veterans Tory James and Deltha O'Neal, plus a supportive coaching staff. A gifted athlete with great speed, quickness and ball skills, Joseph is a quick study who is learning the nuances of man-to-man and zone coverage. He gets himself in good position because he understands situations and anticipates well. His swift development makes him a candidate to become the club's nickel back. . . .
Rookie OLB Rashad Jeanty, who gained experience as a pass-rushing defensive end for the CFL Edmonton Eskimos, has been one of the team's most pleasant surprises this offseason. He's showing signs of becoming an explosive pass rusher, but the most difficult aspect of his transition has been learning pass coverage. Now that he's playing in more space, he'll have to run with tight ends and make more open-field tackles. . . .
If there was ever a season to keep a quarterback on the practice squad, this is it. Non-drafted rookie QB Erik Meyer is a smart, hard-working overachiever with plenty of promise, but he's far behind backups Anthony Wright and Doug Johnson on the learning curve. Meyer has quickness, mobility and a strong-enough arm, but needs time to develop. The combination of his physical skills and work ethic make him a prospect worth keeping around.
SCOUTING REPORT: OLB Hannibal Navies is a solid backup with speed, toughness and experience. He reads plays quickly, gets through traffic and does a good job of chasing down ball carriers. He's fast enough to turn and run with most tight ends and running backs, and is a reliable wrap-up tackler. But he lacks ideal size and power at the point of attack, and has a tendency to wear down against the run. He needs to improve his hand placement so that he gets better leverage. Navies has good range against the run and in coverage, but he isn't dominant in either area. His biggest impact will come on special teams because he's fearless in kick coverage.
REHAB UPDATE: FS Madieu Williams is prepared to make an impact after recovering from left shoulder surgery that caused him to miss 12 games last season. He's a tremendous athlete who is fast and fearless with excellent range and ball skills. He covers a lot of ground with his speed and is a physical, wrap-up tackler. His only weakness is the fact that he's injury-prone. In an effort to erase that tag, he's added 10 pounds of muscle and now weighs 200, and kept all his speed. He gives the secondary a ball hawk who can run step-for-step with wide receivers and make plays on the ball in the air. If Williams stays healthy, the club won't get burned deep.
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