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Player Bio

Savage led Delaware's Caravel Academy to a state title his senior year as a two-way player (1,298 rushing yards, 54 tackles). Maryland coaches got him on the field right away as a freshman, playing him in 10 games (12 tackles) and starting him in the season finale. Savage started 12 games the following year (59 tackles, 3.5 for loss, one interception, four pass breakups) and in 2017, as well. He was an honorable mention All-Big Ten selection as a junior (59 tackles), leading the Terrapins with eight pass breakups and tying for the team lead with three interceptions (returning one of those picks for a score). Savage was a playmaker again as a senior, earning second-team all-conference notice with four interceptions, two pass breakups, and 52 tackles (5.5 for loss).

 
Draft Projection
Rounds 1-2
NFL Comparison
Lamarcus Joyner
 
Overview
Savage will offer an interesting litmus test for how teams value instincts, IQ and coverage quickness against size. He sports a compact frame with a muscular build and was actually bigger at the combine than some scouts expected. His sticky cover skills and ability to close on throws from all areas of the field are valuable commodities that should not be undervalued. Savage should be targeted as a Day 2 hybrid defender offering early starting potential as a two-high zone or slot cover talent.
 
Strengths
  • Twitchy, urgent athlete
  • Movement in space is fluid and natural
  • Quick pedal to gain depth from high-safety spot
  • Makeup speed to chase down the throw
  • Thrives in off-man coverage from slot
  • Above-average coverage IQ
  • Responsive to pattern clues laid out by QB and WR
  • Smooth hips with sharp burst to smother underneath routes at the break
  • Plus burst to close
  • Shows lurker qualities to read and jump throws by unaware quarterbacks
  • Of his 7 interceptions over the last two years, two have gone for touchdowns
  • Takes laser-focused paths to avoid traffic in run support
  • Explosive downhill trigger to run the alley or fit up into gaps
  • Always looking for work, and motor won't allow him to coast
  • Good radar to seek and tackle on the move
Weaknesses

  • Slightly undersized for an NFL safety
  • Built more like a running back than safety
  • Looks tiny when forced to match against college tight ends
  • Could struggle to elevate and challenge high-points against NFL size
  • Just average discipline in positioning between multiple downfield targets
  • Needs to build downhill momentum as tackler
  • Becomes grab-and-drag tackler when feet are stationary
  • Size could preclude success as open-field finisher
 
Sources Tell Us
"He reminds me of Lamarcus Joyner when he was coming out. They are the same type of player minus Joyner's pop." -- Former area scout for NFC team

Great ideas rooted in love.(R)

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Last edited by Rusty
Original Post

Replies sorted oldest to newest

Grave Digger posted:
Herschel posted:

Not sure they needed to trade up for a safety with Adderly, Thornhill and Gardner-Johnson still on the board but like the player well enough. 

All of them are overrated. They’re all HHCD. Savage is more in the mold of Nick Collins or Earl Thomas. 

Yeah, step away from the crack pipe. All four of them have corner skills, Clinton-Dix did not. I like Savage, but the price was steep with the other guys on the board. 

No, actually watch them. They’re overrated by draftniks. They’re HHCD. None of them have “corner skills”, if they did they would actually have been playing CB. They’re not true FS’s and that’s exactly what we needed. The price wasn’t that steep, we still have 4 top 75 picks. We can flip Day 2 picks to get 4th rounders, we can’t get another Savage. 

Last edited by Grave Digger

In fairness, the only thing any of us know about these players is what we read on the Internet. That includes all the assholes giving out draft grades. At some point we have to put our trust into the guys actually getting paid to evaluate players for a NFL franchise. Some dumdum like me that talks schit about Gary is irrelevant. We aren't qualified to even offer an opinion, much less evaluate these guys.  It's fun though.

Grave Digger posted:

No, actually watch them. They’re overrated by draftniks. They’re HHCD. None of them have “corner skills”, if they did they would actually have been playing CB. They’re not true FS’s and that’s exactly what we needed. The price wasn’t that steep, we still have 4 top 75 picks. We can flip Day 2 picks to get 4th rounders, we can’t get another Savage. 

Then why were all of them corners at one time and still covering slot receivers from the safety spot? 

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