2016 NFL Draft: Hyundai Sun Bowl
Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Miami
#2 S Deon Bush (6’1 | 205 | 4.54)
Aggressive, versatile safety who played all over the filed at Miami being utilized as both a free and strong safery as well as a blitzer off the edge in sub packages. There is a lot to like about Bush as he can competently fill multiple roles on the defense which is a huge plus for some DCs (like Vic Fangio) who like to use their safeties in multiple roles.
Bush can play high-deep safety (4 INTs), can play in the box when needed (131 tackles last three seasons), shows a knack for well-times blitzes (4 sacks), and is a big-time hitter with 9 forced fumbles in his career at Miami. He’s aggressive against both the run and the pass which has resulted in multiple big plays for the Hurricanes over the last few years.
His aggressive nature and excitement to lay people out has led to some missed tackles and penalties for both unnecessary roughness and targeting over the last two seasons. Bush seems or always go for the big play which can have huge benefits, but also leads to his share of mistakes and penalties.
Overall Bush is a rare safety who can play either free or strong safety with the possibility of even filling in as a dime package OLB. With the Bears DC Vic Fangio preferring safeties who can play both the run and pass and blitz, Bush may be a perfect fit for Fangio’s scheme and his flaws may drop him to the mid-to-late rounds where he’d be a steal for the Bears. Pairing the ultra-aggressive Bush with the somewhat conservative Amos could give the Bears their safety combo for the next few years.
Projection: 3rd-4th round
#3 WR Stacey Coley* (6’1 | 187 | 4.39)
Only a junior and probably doesn’t have the stats (44, 645, 3) to merit a jump to the pros when he could come back for another season with a promising QB under center (Brad Kaaya). It’s rumored he’s waiting to hear what his draft grade is from the NFL advisory committee, but most sites have him ranked as a 4th-6th round pick. Coley finished the 2nd half strong with just under 80 yards per game and could leverage that strong 2nd-half into a mid-round draft pick. If he runs a sub 4.4 40-time, Coley may get picked as early as the 3rd round but if he comes back for one more season with Kaaya he could end up much higher.
Projection: 4th-5th round
#17 OLB Tyriq McCord (6’3 | 236 | 4.74)
Has the versatility to play with his hand in the dirt off the edge or as a stand-up OLB as he proved this season. McCord’s starts have yet to match-up to his physical gifts, but he played solid football at both DE and OLB. He has an NFL quality burst off the edge, sheds blockers well, and has a polished swim move. In in first year as an OLB he made plenty of wrong reads, but showed the ability to cover well in the flat, good blitz instincts, and the pass rush moves to beat edge blockers. It may take a year or two but and he may never be much of a run stopper, but McCord could develop into a quality pass rush OLB in an NFL 3-4 scheme.
Projection: 7th-FA
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