What is the difference between a Strong Saftey and a Free Safety? Are different skills required for each position? Are there ideal sizes of players for each position? What I basically know about these positions is that the Strong Safety covers the Tight End right?
In today's game of odd-matchups from spread offenses, the differences between the two are blurring. I will say that I've watched a few old Horns games from the early and mid 90's recently, and I think we've consistently shot ourselves in the foot with tall, largely immobile, SS's that other teams consistently picked on (e.g., Gunn, Tre Thomas, Jackson and Brown). These guys looked great and could hit, but it wasn't worth what it cost us in missed tackles and ineffective coverages when we played good teams (note, they were great against the weakling teams, though). I much prefer to see the shorter (5'9-5'11') Dakarai Pearson, Vasher, Geiggar sized guys who won't get outjuked and blown by in coverage at SS and FS. I think the staff has moved in the right direction.
i never did understand why if someone can get a ut roy williams type (6'4" 215 lbs. w/ 4.3 speed) @ WRwr, why can't they get some DB's with the same physical stature? there aren't many around that i know of. ut's R.W. is a good physical mismatch on the type of DB that pongetti referred to and can be exploited. i never did understand that. --- "We made a big statement about what we want to accomplish with this program. We've won No. 7. You better believe we're going to start to work on No. 8." O.U. A.D. Joe Castiglione, following OU's 13-2 victory over FSU in the 2001 O. B.
Stone Cold: One of the answers is that defenders really have to have better quickness and lateral movement on average than the guy they're guarding or trying to tackle. The offensive player knows where he's going to cut, and the defender doesn't. Hence, mental aspects of offense and defense aside, the same guy who is a bad *** 6'4" WR physically might suck *** as a DB. In fact, UT's Roy Williams isn't a bad example. His ankles aren't great. He can make very explosive cuts the few times he needs to, but he's not the kind of guy you'd want scampering around the field trying to chase down OU's RB's or WR's all game. Also, defenders have to be both strong and quick enough to tackle all manner of players they face -- from a slot WR to some fat *** like Jamar Toombs. Hence, you can't get too big or small in either direction. On offense you can specialize more -- quick as lightning to outjuke a defender, straight away speed to blaze by or massive girth to plow him to netherworld. There are VERY FEW Patrick Bates/Steve Atwater type safeties left in the NFL. In fact, I can't even think of a 6'3" or over one off the top of my head (though I'm sure there are at least a few). Lots of guys in the 5'10" to 6'1", 190-205 range.
In the most general terms the Strong Safety has more responsibility for run support. This is why most SS are physically larger than FS. The SS lines up on the same side as the Tight End and usually helps out in coverage against the TE or is the first Defensive Back to support against the run. The SS is usually the 1st DB to move closer to the line of scrimmage before the snap in order to help against the run. The FS doesn't have immediate man responsibility and often has deep coverage responsibility. Usually the FS are long and lean and play more of a centerfielder type who help the cornerbacks in deep coverage.
Simply put, SS are generally the bigger stronger, better tacklers... While FS, are the better cover guy of the two... I guess you can say maybe the FS is faster than an SS...
The differences between SS and FS have been adequately explained here. On the question of why can't a 6'4" speedster WR play defense? To that I'd say it's all in the hips. DB is the hardest position to play in football. Generally speaking, this is where you find your best "all-around" athletes. The position demands they have hips that can swivel on a dime without breaking stride. If you want to see how difficult this maneuver is try running one direction then turning your body 120 degrees in the other direction and continue running without losing ANY speed/momentum. Screw you guys...I'm goin home." - Cartman
Hence the reason Quan needs to play DB. I myself dabbled in pacifism once. Not in 'Nam, of course. -Walter
A few other thoughts- The SS is so named because they usually line up strong side with the regards to the TE coverage you mentioned, and also cover backs and slot WR in the flats and across the middle. The role in run support has been covered. On our D the FS motto was "deep as the deepest and wide as the widest", meaning that ultimately they were responsible for the entire backfield and closing speed was the key, as they usually either picked up a WR on post patterns who had gotten behind the DB or moved over to help corner's cover a man, covering a lot of ground on the way. Hey sejjr, is that Quan CRosby, our state track meet star you're talking about? I heard he's a good one...
