09-23-2022, 03:15 PM
Spotlight will be on Akeem Gaither-Davis.
A little small for a LB (6'1", 225) but has speed like a safety (4.57 forty). Son of a college football coach. Was a 2-star 170 lb safety coming out of high school. Grew into hugely productive player at Appalachian State (Sun Belt Conference Defensive Player of the Year '19).
Played 314 snaps as a rookie (33%) and 207 in just 9 games last year (30%), but was used quite differently. As a rookie he blitzed about once every 10 snaps (31 in 314) and was only targeted in coverage about once per 17 snaps. Last year those numbers flipped. He only blitzed about once every 21 snaps (10 in 207) but was targeted in coverage once every 10.
I like Pratt a lot, but I don't think there will be a big drop off to ADG. Akeem is smart, athletic, and versatile. The only real knock on him is some sloppy tackling, but he was only charged with 8 missed tackles over his first two season. He needs to improve that aspect of his game, but it is not a crippling deficiency.
A little small for a LB (6'1", 225) but has speed like a safety (4.57 forty). Son of a college football coach. Was a 2-star 170 lb safety coming out of high school. Grew into hugely productive player at Appalachian State (Sun Belt Conference Defensive Player of the Year '19).
Played 314 snaps as a rookie (33%) and 207 in just 9 games last year (30%), but was used quite differently. As a rookie he blitzed about once every 10 snaps (31 in 314) and was only targeted in coverage about once per 17 snaps. Last year those numbers flipped. He only blitzed about once every 21 snaps (10 in 207) but was targeted in coverage once every 10.
I like Pratt a lot, but I don't think there will be a big drop off to ADG. Akeem is smart, athletic, and versatile. The only real knock on him is some sloppy tackling, but he was only charged with 8 missed tackles over his first two season. He needs to improve that aspect of his game, but it is not a crippling deficiency.
