Player Profiles - Kenny Phillips

Kenny Phillips  #1  FS  (Miami) 

6'2", 210  Junior

OPPONENT: MARSHALL

POSITIVES:

1. Though wrong read on run, quick to adjust to make late tackle
2. Doesn't quit on plays
3. Great stick on 3rd and short, reading off-tackle
4. Leader of this Miami team; speaks with referees and directs teammates around field
5. Good backpedal out of free safety position
6. In correct position on deep ball attempt
7. Pre-snap directions for corners
8. Though a tick late, recognized curl and made appropriate solid close to man
9. Playing appropriate depth for score to prevent cheap deep ball
10. Takes good angles in run pursuit
11. Effective disruption on blitzes
12. Always seems to be around ball, participating or not (quality control)
13. Pursued man before QB threw it, good anticipation
14. Snuck in box late, good crouch and lunge tackle on QB option for no gain

NEGATIVES:

1. Though he can bail himself out, makes wrong reads in running game
2. As stated above, though he made late tackle, fell for juke and missed first attempt at tackle
3. Pass interference on TE, late to jump route
4. Bit late again on play recognition
5. Slow to realize his assignment, late to quick screen, hesitation on close, blocked out of play

IMPRESSION:

Kenny Phillips has all the tools to be one of, if not the top safety NFL prospect in this class, unless he decides to stay his senior year.  Though this first opponent wasn't of equal talent, I still feel like I nitpicked on Phillips, as he has the challenge of calling the plays, instructing his teammates, pre-snap reads, necessary adjustments, etc.  His experience shows, as he is always around the ball and can make plays in coverage or at the LOS with good speed for a safety.  Has the skills to play corner as well, as he did so when teammates were suspended for a game last season.  My only qualms are his hesitant reads and play recognition in run support.  Another year under his belt in Coral Gables should patch up those inconsistencies.  Expect to see him gone quickly in next year's draft.

OPPONENT: OKLAHOMA

POSITIVES:

1. Came up to make stop on sweep, ankle tackle
2. Puts head down and stops breakway run
3. Came up for a big stick on ball carrier, almost prevented first down
4. Still around ball at end of plays again...
5. Came up "with the quickness" on ball carrier to prevent bigger run
6. Good block shed, in on run support yet again (an often overlooked play, may have best quality control management in college game this year)
7. Seemingly the only one playing, another run support tackle
8. Beautiful penetration on run read, made stick, forced fumble, Miami ball
9. As you can see huge lane open up for runner, big gain stopped after 10 yards by great open field ankle tackle
10. Correct pre-read of offense, got orders to teammates just in time to prevent 1st down
11. On pass play, "still tackling other guys' mistakes"
12. "WOW.  Blitz, instantly found ball carrier and took him down. Solid tackler."
13. Sat on man in flat, instant tackle
14. Snuck in box, forced runner inside pile for small gain
15. Forced run outside after average gain, tackle out of bounds
16. TD-saving tackle from behind..."has to do it all and simply can't"
17. Though late in game and down big, snuck into box for run support

NEGATIVES:

1. Blitz picked up...
2. Finally messed up; didn't pursue man with tenacity, got caught up in traffic, man made catch
3. Late to cover TE on first down, though made tackle

IMPRESSION:

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see that Kenny Phillips is clearly a, if not the best safety in college football this year.  I was amazed at how much work he was doing just to keep his team in this game, but one man against eleven isn't the best odds.  In this game he showed hustle, great tackling ability, run support, and leadership.  If I had to pick a vulnerable spot, it'd be the deep ball, as he's always prone to want to help stop the run and can be seen sneaking into the box on several occasions.  Most, if not all of the long plays from Oklahoma were on the other side of the field away from Phillips, though, so his presence on the field is clear to everyone.  Miami would be much worse off without this All-Everything safety.  In the future I'd like to see "Tha U" man him up at the LOS on wideouts and get their athletic LBs more involved so Phillips can roam the secondary and create more turnovers.

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