Best FS in Draft

[emouldman80]

I've heard alot of people advocating drafting Mike Doss. While he is a great player, he's not what we need. He is a natural SS, we have Coy Wire who looks very promising IMO for that. The guy we should be going after is Ken Hamlin from Arkansas. He had some problem off the field legally but other than that I have heard nothing but good things. He may be a bit of a reach for the 23rd pick, but who knows by the time of the draft. He has had some pretty impressive stats too.

Senior Year- Led the Razorbacks with 159 tackles,
4 ints
4 forced fumbles (thats what catches my eye)

Junior Year- 118 tackles
3 ints
Again 4 forced fumles and 3 fumble recs

Ken Hamlin
6-2, 205, Sr.

I don't know but thats pretty impressive to me considering the best S prospect Doss only had 2 ints and no forced fumbles.
I don't know about you all, but if the Adams thing gets finalized, I'm pulling for us to draft Hamlin. He could probably be an immediate starter and if not, he could develope behind Prioleau for a few games.

[Might]

I like the white dude from Florida. Todd something, I think? Maybe Todd Johnson? Who knows... if we don't get Rashean Mathis I say hold off until Rd. 4 or 5 and pick this guy up. He's smart, a good tackler, and is solid against the pass. Reminds me of Jon McGraw who the Jets picked up last year.

[emouldman80]

Yeah, he's a late rounder I like too. But I still say get Hamlin and if not Mathis with the #23.

[emouldman80]

Actually to correct myself, he is only a junior.

[Fieldmarshal1804]

hamlin could easily be there in the second round

[askabry]

Easily be there in the second. Also worthy of note...

two DWIs in 14 months and considered a great hitter but not necessarily the best cover FS in the draft. Still, I'd agree from what I've seen and read, he's #1.

[Ingtar33]

Mathis is the best FS in the draft and the only one (FS or SS) who will go in th first round.

[D-Rocafella]

This year is loaded with FS's: Guys like Mathis, Hamil, Holt, Pile, Nickey, and Johnson all look like very good prospects. And all are TRUE FS's!

[TigerJ]

Yeah, just about any team that has a need for a good free safety should be able to get one this year.

[Mouldsie]

Mathis rocks

[finsrclowns]

Here's a guy Troy Polamalu who played SS but has the speed to play FS. Likely to be selected at the beginning of RD 2.

CAREER:
In his career as a 3-year starter, Polamalu has 278 tackles (29 for losses), 6 interceptions (3 returned for TDs), 13 deflections, 2 fumble recoveries and 4 blocked punts.

2002:
Polamalu, who started for his third yeat at strong safety as a senior in 2002, became USC's first 2-time All-American first team pick since offensive tackle Tony Boselli in 1992 and 1994 by making the 2002 AP, Football Writers, Walter Camp, ESPN.com and CBS.Sportsline.com All-American first teams, The Sporting News All-American second team and CNNSI.com All-American honorable mention. He was 1 of 3 finalists for the Thorpe Award in 2002. He also was a repeat All-Pac-10 first teamer in 2002. He also made The Sporting News' All-Pac-10 first team. Overall in 2002 while appearing in 12 games (all but California), he had 68 tackles, including 9 for losses of 44 yards (with 3 sacks for 27 yards), plus an interception which he returned 33 yards, 6 deflections and 3 forced fumbles. He did all this despite playing with a nagging ankle sprain for the second half of 2002 (he hurt it early in the Washington State game and was sidelined versus California) and missing all but 2 plays of the Orange Bowl against Iowa because of a hamstring injury. Sports Illustrated named him as 1 of 5 "Terminators" in college football in 2002, a player "boasting an otherworldly combination of speed, strength and athleticism…who can single-handedly kill off drives and wreak havoc on game plans." His jersey currently was on display at the College Football Hall of Fame in South Bend, Ind., in the "Race for the Pantheon" exhibit that highlighted the nation's 10 leading candidates for post-season individual honors. A team captain for the second consecutive year, he also won USC's Most Inspirational Player Award and Co-Lifter Award. He was invited to play in the 2003 East-West Shrine Game and Senior Bowl. He had 7 tackles (1 for a loss) against Auburn. He had a team-high 11 tackles at Colorado, earning Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Week honors. At Kansas State, he had 7 tackles (2 for losses, with a sack), a deflection and forced a fumble (which was recovered by USC for a TD). He had 4 tackles and a deflection against Oregon State. He sprained his ankle on the first series at Washington State and saw only brief action late in the second half (he didn't make a tackle), then sat out the California game with the ankle sprain. He returned to the starting lineup against Washington and had 5 tackles, an interception (which he returned 33 yards to set up a USC field goal) and a deflection. At Oregon, he had 7 tackles (1 for a loss). He had a game-high 13 tackles at Stanford, including 2 for losses (with a sack). He made 5 tackles and had a deflection against Arizona State. He had 4 tackles (with a sack), a forced fumble and 2 pass deflections at UCLA. He had 5 tackles (2 for losses, with a sack) and forced a fumble against Notre Dame. He got in for only 2 plays against Iowa in the Orange Bowl because of a hamstring injury (he didn't make a tackle).

[Tatonka]

Polamalu is a strong safety .. and while he is fast.. he is not good in coverage.. 6 ints.. total.. no thanks..

hamlin is good.. and will easily be there in the second.. i have been reading alot about hamlin recently..

he and mathis seem to be our consensus about who is the best for us..

but it is so tuff to tell what td and modrak are thinking.. none of us saw the coy wire pick coming a mile away..

they may like a guy like battle or something like that.. who knows.

[Mouldsie]

Polamalu may be better than Doss, but he is a pure SS.

[angneli]

Mathis would be a better cover man than our nickel corner. He can do everything.

[kdhammond]

Hamlin has had a fair number of off-field problems including 2 DUIs.

[Mouldsie]

If Mathis is there in round 2, we have to grab him.

[Mouldsie]

Don't we always complain the PP can't cover? Well, the rep on Hamlin is that he's a hard hitter w/ questionable speed and OK coverage ability

[emouldman80]

I wouldn't mind taking Mathis even with the #23, Hamlin, as I said would be kind of a reach. I did not know that it was 2 DWIs! Looked all over and couldn't find out what the legal problems were. Mathis is soo impressive though, I don't care where you play 14 ints in one year is insane. Personally, I want one of these two. But I have faith in TD to do whats right.