Player Profiles - Jonathan Hefney

Jonathan Hefney  #33  FS/PR  (Tennessee)

5'10", 185  Senior

OPPONENT: FLORIDA

POSITIVES:

1. Excellent read and react on reverse (though he missed tackle, but who doesn't miss on Percy Harvin?)
2. Quick close and pop on reception for tackle
3. Good block shed and tackle on Harvin; saved big play
4. Aggressive; Hit Tebow out of bounds to make a point
5. Great angle to take down Tebow on QB sprint
6. Shows resiliency; Though blocked out of previous play, wasn't going to let it happen again and made a good hard tackle on Harvin.  Aggressiveness shown again
7. Excellent read on toss, good penetration to take down a possible big play
8. Again good penetration into backfield
9. Clearly his game assignment was to spy Tebow and Harvin in run support, and he did well
10. As with Kenny Phillips at Miami, is asked to do the brunt of the work in secondary, calling plays, covering men, calling audibles, blitzing, etc.

NEGATIVES:

1. Will miss his fair share of tackles because of aforementioned aggressiveness
2. Blocked out of off-tackle run
3. Muffed punt, though didn't lose possession
4. Assuming UT wants veteran knowledge and skills at punt returner; Hefney doesn't have next level PR skills
5. Since he is asked to do so much in the secondary, mistakes in coverage and overrunning plays can happen, though not often

IMPRESSION:

Hefney is one of those proud, hardworking, "bring it every game" safeties that any team would welcome.  Although his height is a disadvantage, he plays bigger than he is.  Has the mass to not be overwhelmed and good enough speed to stay out of too much trouble.  He has excellent play recognition skills and is quick to react to the run and impose his presence on ball carriers.  I really like his quiet aggression and subtle reminders that he'll lay you out if you make the wrong move.  I see more potential athletically, as well as mentally.  The veteran of the Volunteer secondary, he's a top safety in next year's draft, but to achieve success at the next level, he'll have to work on his coverage skills...a factor not entirely his fault playing in the run-first mentality of the SEC.