Player Profiles - C.J. Byrd

C.J. Byrd  #5  S  (Georgia)

6'2", 190  Junior

OPPONENT: SOUTH CAROLINA

POSITIVES:

1. Decent pursuit in run support
2. Good pursuit to make late tackle
3. Excellent hustle in run support from across field
4. Good fly-in for solid tackle in run support

NEGATIVES:

1. Let man get behind him, TD if better pass
2. Bad angle on ball carrier, no squat, man sidestepped and went on his merry way
3. Snuck into box, no blitz, left covering no zone or man...MOVE!

IMPRESSION:

As you can plainly tell, it's hard to get a read on many safeties that play deep, as you literally don't see them because of the TV camera zoom.  Although I could just be playing nice, as I've got plenty of notes on other safeties.  From the limited plays I saw Byrd participate in, he seems like your usual veteran junior safety who is good in run support, and shows great hustle, but has a weakness in pass coverage---though never really gets tested.  Not that the opponent is fearsome, moreso in that they are probably sticking with a gameplan instead of adapting on the fly.  I am starting to see why the NFL players are so much better---they see all these things and exploit them--quickly--on both sides of the ball.  Byrd has decent size for a safety, but could use a little more mass on his 6'2 frame.  Didn't show any flashes of brilliance or ineptitude, so the jury's still out.

*Keep checking Player Profiles as the year progresses.  One game log may not be an accurate description for any player.*