Culcasi's Thoughts

The pass defense in Atlanta was horrible last year, as it has been for the past three years. Luckily for us, it makes no difference fantasy wise, and a unit that finished on the bottom in 2003 gave birth to a future stud in Bryan Scott.

Drafted in the second round, Scott joined the Falcons as a 6'1 219 pound cornerback from Penn State with the reputation of being a hard worker who likes to get his nose dirty. He possesses good (not great) speed, good (not great) coverage skills and good (not great) athleticism. Sounds like a good fit as a cover-2 cornerback who could struggle in man coverage, or a great safety prospect.

During the first eight games last year Bryan Scott served as a backup corner, picking up a total of five solo tackles. Not a very promising start to his NFL career. That is until Keion Carpenter, the starting free safety at the time, was benched entering week nine. SS Cory Hall took over at free safety, opening up a spot for Scott in the starting lineup. Flourishing in his new role, Scott posted 44 solo tackles during the final eight games, proving to be a consistent force with no less than four solos in any game down the stretch.

All that remains is for Bryan Scott to refine his game as a safety, an area that his work habits and a full offseason will certainly help.

Positives

• An impressive eight game stretch to end the season should form a nice base for Bryan Scott to build on. His numbers stretched out for a full season (88 solo tackles, 4 ff, 4 INT, 10 pd) would've placed him in the top 10 and he looks to be a consistent performer, a rare attribute for a first year player.



• The Falcons have upgraded their secondary over the offseason, signing Jason Webster and Aaron Beasley, drafting DeAngelo Hall. An improved pass defense should allow Scott to cheat towards the line and use his playmaking skills.



• Bryan Scott has a nice all-around package, bits and pieces of what you look for in the leagues top safeties.

Negatives

• His timed speeds (as fast as 4.3 range) don't translate into playing speed, and he lacks the elite explosion/swivel that would've helped him excel at cornerback.



• This will be his first offseason in which he's been able to concentrate at safety, beginning his rookie year as a cornerback before being thrust into the lineup as strong safety. He'll be expected to learn the position quick because it's unlikely that he'll sneak up on anyone this year.



• New coaching staff, new defensive scheme. There could be a learning curve with the Falcons switching back to a 4-3 defensive front.

Final Thoughts

Bryan Scott appears to be one of the bright young defenders on the NFL. Many of us will be surprised/disappointed if he doesn't use last year's success over the final eight games as a building block into this year's top 10. He has a great nose for the ball that will help him fill up the boxscore.

Magaw's Thoughts

In a league whose landscape is populated with tremendous physical specimens and world class athletes (T-Gon, Julius Peppers, Champ Bailey, Charles Woodson and Chris Gamble, to name a few), Scott stands out. He was a state champion as a Pennsylvania prep in the 100 and 200 m, scored about 20 points a game on the hardwood his senior season, and starred as a RB, WR and DB on his high school team. He was chosen state Player of the Year by both the AP and USA Today, and was a consensus first team All-American. The arc and trajectory of his collegiate career, on and off the field, could be summed up with the word... VERSATILITY. When all four secondary starters departed after his freshman season at Penn State, he was pressed into action early, starting the second half of his sophomore year and his entire junior season as a CB, moving to SS for his senior campaign. During this time he demonstrated aptitudes for tackling and playmaking, getting a career high 82 tackles in '01, followed up by 77 tackles and 4 INTs in '02, his last season. Scott is also a very well rounded person, with diverse interests off the field, as well. He is a talented singer and proficient on drums, sax and keyboards (not at the same time ala multi-horn instrumentalist Rashaan Roland Kirk; he does have some limitations after all), a world traveler, and was also awarded the Frank Patrick Memorial Total Commitment Award, emblematic of players who carry out their football responsibilities for Penn State in an exemplary manner. He radiates confidence (important in a DB, sometimes you have to forget the last play and just focus on your next assignment), exudes charisma and leadership, appears cool under pressure, and has a mature presence and bearing that belies his chronological odometer.

Scott was the Falcon's first draft pick in '03 (a second rounder; they give up their first in the Peerless Price trade). After beginning the season as a nickel back, he finished as one of the few bright spots in an otherwise bleak, dismal season. Despite being the SS for only a few starts, and having a few start opps interrupted with an in-season sprained knee, he was highly productive on a relative basis. For those who are fans of spotting statistical fluctuations and detecting pronounced discrepancies in projecting scoring trendlines given the first half of a season vis-à-vis the second half as an assumption or baseline (and making some informed and educated guesses about which was the "real half"), generalizing this to the IDP domain yields some encouraging projections. If he had a full slate of games to work with last season, there is no doubt he would have been among the top rookie safeties in IDP scoring, along with the Colt's SS Mike Doss and the Seahawks FS Ken Hamlin (ironic in that Scott nearly embodies in one person the respective arch features of these two phenoms gifted in their own right; Doss' coach-on-the-field football IQ and spooky, telepathic instincts for being around the ball and Hamlin's state-of-the-art SS size/speed measurables, versatile athleticism and ability to intimidate in run support and punish WRs on crossing routes without being a liability in coverage). In fact, given the hypothetical 16 starts last season, if since discharged HC Dan Reeves and DC Wade Phillips had known what they had on their hands, he might have paced ALL rookies in IDP scoring regardless of position, with the exception of the Packer's MLB Nick Barnett (who himself put up close to top 10 overall IDP numbers, veterans included, for most of the season until being severely limited in the last month with a high ankle sprain). This encompasses some exceptional rookie talent from the class of '03, including big time prospects Pisa Tinoisamoa (Rams), Boss Bailey (Lions) and Lance Briggs (Bears), who all had stellar debuts, and all play the traditionally highest scoring LB position. Scott's ability to bestride the different worlds of run support and coverage, and be equally adept at each, will give future NFC South offensive coordinators fits trying to isolate, target and exploit weaknesses in his overall game... he doesn't have many.

Positives

• Outstanding quickness and a real speed merchant... was the Pennsylvania state champ in the 100 m as a prep, a distinction rarely held by a safety... more commonly by skill position players (such OAK RB Justin Fargas and DET WR Charles Rogers, who won the their state 100 m championships, from California and Michigan, respectively), though StL FS Jason Shivers was the top prep sprinter in the state of Arizona.



• A tremendous physical specimen at 6'1" 220... 30 pounds heavier and 4 inches taller than highly productive stud SS Mike Minter, about 15 pounds heavier and 3 inches taller than up 'n coming SSs Mike Doss and Troy Polamalu. Not shy about mixing it up, he brings a rugged, hard-nosed, physical presence to the Falcon deep patrol and takes pride in his tackling prowess and relishes contact. His 61 solo tackles as a rookie without even starting a good portion of the season tends to bear out his rep for being willing and able in run support ... looks capable of logging a LB-like 80-90+ solos, which could push him into top 10-20 DB territory... especially when coupled with his penchant for turnovers. With 2 INTs and 3 FFs in limited duty, Scott could be even more productive with a whole season (and preseason) as an entrenched starter. Look at what he did in his limited number of starts, project those numbers on prorated basis over a full 16 game schedule, and you get a glimmering of the kind of productivity he could bring to the table over the span of an entire season.



• Very well-rounded and versatile talent. He has played S and CB for both Penn State and the Falcons, so it is nice to know he will never have to be pulled due to coverage weakness. Has the ball skills when the pass is in play to be a ball hawk and give his stats a boost with multiple INTs. The dual duty at CB/S gives him additional and deeper perspective on the progressions a QB goes through and how WRs route trees branch out... the advantage of seeing how to attack offenses from multiple vantage points confers on him the "football smarts" equivalent of binocular vision depth perception.



• Superior run/pass recognition, instincts and reflexes (don't even need to use the "for a young player" qualifier; he is outstanding in this area period, even when measured against experienced veterans), he processes information very quickly, sees where to go and has the "quick twitch" reflexes to flow in the direction of the play almost in unison... rarely takes false steps. A real "Johnny-on-the-spot" who seems to have a "sixth sense" for being around the ball. A big play magnet who has capability to elevate the play of those around him and make the whole defense better.



• An extremely bright individual who studies hard and knows his assignments, he is expected to effortlessly segue way into his new responsibilities under the Mora regime). Couples playmaking ability with a disciplined approach to filling his role within the overall team defense (doesn't need to be a reckless freelancer who abandons his responsibilities in order to make plays; he finds ample opportunity to make things happen within the framework of the defense). A natural leader who has many diverse off field interests and is mature and experienced beyond his years. An eminently grounded person who is a high character type and team player that coaches are glad is playing on their side. As will those lucky enough to draft this ascendant talent in the '04 season and beyond. He has a high ceiling and has not realized all his upside yet.

Negatives

• Didn't begin the 2003 season as a starter, but was inserted into the first unit in-season, so there could be some inevitable blown coverages. Scott is basically almost like a rookie in terms of practice reps, game experience and starts.



• Missed a little time with a tweaked knee during the '03 season, yet he showed admirable toughness and professionalism by playing through it, and continued to play at a high level even afterwards. It is far too early to start calling him injury prone (highly durable at Penn State, seeing action in 48 career games). Has a sturdy build and wiry strength, and definitely looks the part of a SS.



• There is some uncertainty associated with the fact that new Atlanta HC Mora brings a different system/scheme... despite Scott's outstanding athleticism and individual secondary play, the Falcons had an abysmal pass defense ranking last season, and Scott could be saddled with additional coverage responsibilities... he is athletic and versatile enough, and has the coverage skills to excel at such an assignment. Though he is also such a natural in run support and highly productive, there shouldn't be a presumption of such a drastic role change (or a "Roy Williams-effect").



• Improvements in the supporting cast between the draft and free agency could signal a slight downturn in his tackle numbers. With an influx of new surrounding talent such as prized first rounder DeAngelo Hall and free agent acquisitions ex-Raider DT Rod Coleman and ex-49er Jason Webster (or in some cases, the same personnel deployed more intelligently and in a manner more consonant with their aptitudes and skills), the Falcons WILL field a better, more competitive overall team defense in 2004. DE Patrick Kerney gets to better showcase his repertoire of edge rushing moves in the new 4-3 alignment, and former MLB Keith Brooking gets to flash his outstanding lateral movement, change of direction skills and sideline-to-sideline speed from the WLB position, (relatively unencumbered by interior congestion, he should be kept cleaner from blocks and more freed up to fly to the ball carrier). Between the newcomers making plays, and veteran stalwarts like Kerney and Brooking enabled to make more plays in their new playmaking guises, Scott may have less slop to clean up after in his last line of defense capacity, compared to last season.

Final Thoughts

Scott is somewhat of a sleeper and underappreciated. The fact that he was somewhat neglected by scouts and therefore flew under the radar last season was primarily due to uncertainty over whether he was a CB or a S (in this respect he is very similar to the Chief's Julian Battle, who looks like he is going to stick at CB but has safety size and skills, and the Eagles Matt Ware, who will initially be tried at CB, though some NFL personnel-types suggest he could have been a blue-chip safety prospect if he had been allowed to focus on that position in college). He played both positions at Penn State, and definitely possesses the athleticism, talent and versatile skill set to play either professionally, yet was projected by many scouts to play CB. There, his formidable array of size/speed measurables and ball skills could have made him a Bobby-Taylor-like weapon, to help combat the super-sized WRs that are so in vogue now, and a fixture in the current NFL. At 220 lb Scott would have been a handful for WRs, and one of the biggest CB's in the league... how many others could make hulking CB Marcus Coleman look like a smurf or munchkin in comparison? As a consequence, some scouts from teams with a need for a safety that might otherwise have been inclined to break down film of him, didn't make the connection if they heard he viewed himself as a CB. Multiple scouting sources, however, speculated pre-draft that he would be far better deployed as a safety, and was miscast as a CB. The gist of the rationale being that Scott might not possess elite feet quickness, hip flip and CB change-of-direction ability, but that playing safety in the NFL was more suited to his talents and skill set. With the play in front of him, he could better leverage his combination of big time speed, instincts, range, aggressiveness and hard-nosed hitting mentality. In a kind of perverse, inverted logic, negative events for the team (i.e. - brutal, horrifically bad coverage by the secondary) conspired to force Atlanta to take desperate measures and completely blow things up... going with four brand new starters at the respective two CB and two safety spots, including flipping Scott from nickel CB to starting SS. In this way, Scott's NFL destiny as one of the league's most promising young SSs may have been forged and cast in the crucible of last seasons tormented defensive and secondary misfortunes.

With one of the league's worst defenses statistically last year, coupled with Michael Vick's cataclysmic injury completely changing the tenor of the season and rendering it a washout, most Falcon fans (and players) would prefer to put that wasted, forgettable time behind them. But there is seemingly justified cause for renewed optimism with a litany of positives leading into the season. They could be a harbinger of a rapid ascent to the NFL's upper echelon teams... a healthy Vick, help from the draft in the person/s of coveted first rounders DeAngelo Hall and Michael Jenkins, a vibrant young HC in Mora, one of the best O-Line coaches in the business in Alex Gibbs (master of the controversial and notorious cut-block; the O-Line couldn't even practice the technique in minicamp because they were afraid to hurt their own defense) after a reputation-making stint in Denver, an experienced DC in Ed Donatell who held the same title for Green Bay (but fell out of favor with the unfortunate, for his tenure anyway, fourth-and-26 Mitchell-gate reception that led to the Packers demise in the '03 playoffs), an elite interior rush presence in ex-Raider Rod Coleman as well as a complementary starting CB in ex-49er Jason Webster from free agency, and the promise to deploy their existing playmakers in a scheme more aligned with their talents and skills. In the midst of all this good news, within a team that clearly has the arrow pointed in an upwards direction, Scott's multitalented skill set and penchant for the big play capable of igniting his team, is one of the compelling reasons for some of the prevailing enthusiasm and optimism on the part of the Falcon's faithful.

Quotes from the IDP Spotlight Message Thread:

To view the entire thread, click here: DB Bryan Scott, Atlanta Falcons

grady:
"Bryan Scott was a surprise as a rookie last year. He was able to shine on a somewhat troubled secondary. This year, the Falcons secondary is better and he should continue to improve as a result. The only x-factor in all of this is the Falcons shift to the 4-3. Scott will have more defensive responsibilities in this scheme and he will have to adjust."

Burning Sensation:
"Since taking over the starting job in week 10, Scott had 39 solo tackles, 6 assists, 2 INTs, and 5 passes defended, along with 2 forced fumbles and 1 fumble recovery in 7 games. That projected over a full season is 89 solo tackles, 13.74 assists, 4.58 INTs, 11.5 passes defended, 4.58 forced fumbles, and 2.29 fumble recoveries. Those numbers would have been good enough to be a top 5 DB last year in fantasy points. Now in his 2nd year, and first going in as the starter, I think he should have little problem equaling those numbers."

Projections

IDP Scoring System
1 pt per Solo Tackle
0.5 pt per Assisted Tackle
3 pts per Sack
4 pts per Interception
1 pt per Pass Defensed
2 pts per Forced Fumble
2 pts per Fumble Recovery