Scouting The Draft: Jimmie Ward, S, Northern Illinois

Introduction

If you follow me on Twitter you will know that I'm a massive Jimmie Ward guy, to the point where he may be my favourite prospect in the entire draft. When I watch his tape, it just jumps off the screen at me. Whether he is making plays in centre field or blocking punts (which he is an expert at). Jimmie is a guy I want on the Jets and a player I would actively target going into the draft.

Jimmie Ward was a three year starter in 6A competition in Alabama, earning defensive MVP his senior season. His numbers were exceptional throughout and he performed on both defense and on special teams. So it was slightly confusing when he was rated as just a 2* prospect by many main stream recruiting sites like Rivals. Despite drawing some interest from teams such as Auburn and Florida State his offers list was limited to just five. In the end he chose Northern Illinois as his destination.

To start the process, Jimmie was probably looking at the 4th round. However after a very strong showing at the Senior Bowl where Todd McShay said he was the best cover safety on show, his stock will continue to rise to the point where I think he could go very early 2nd round. Which means we're in a situation if we want to take him.

Measurables

Height: 5'11

Weight: 192lb's

Class: Senior

Projected 40: 4.5 - 4.6

Statistics

*All statistics are taken from Sports Reference*

Positives

• Coverage: Jimmie Ward is an exceptional cover safety, he will play deep a lot of the time, but he is a ball hawking cover guy. Someone who will make a play but not get beat trying to go for it.
• Angles: A few years ago, a lot of people loved Taylor Mays at safety. I wasn't one of them because I kept saying he took poor angles and you can't have that as a last line. Ward takes good to great angles to the ball carrier almost every single time, that's reliability.
• Intelligence: A guy who diagnoses a play and makes the right decisions. If you saw the play where Chancellor came off Julius Thomas last night to break up a pass to Welker, that's the kind of intelligence and play recognition you want at the back, Ward has that in spades.
• Ball Skills: If you watch Ward and some of the interceptions he comes down with, you'd instantly get where I'm coming from here. He plays the ball in the air as well as any safety I've seen coming out of college.
• Quickness: Often is matched up with receivers in the slot or tight-ends and his flexibility in the hips as well as his lateral ability enable him to stay with the receivers even on quick patterns.
• Tackling: Works to the ball very well and although he is capable of delivering a big hit, he wraps up and brings the player down as the primary focus. If he can deliver a message at the same time, he will.
• Run Support: Although he is known primarily as a coverage safety, his ability against the run is above average. Manages to use his hands to shed blockers and comes down hill quickly.
• Special Teams: Impact player, has blocked numerous punts during his time at Northern Illinois and his tackling ability make him a very valuable special teams player.