2010 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Eric Berry

Strengths:
  • Extremely productive
  • Highly athletic
  • Great initial quickness; short-range explosion
  • Nice recovery speed
  • Terrific instincts; anticipates the play
  • Smooth athlete
  • Fluid hips
  • Shows textbook footwork
  • Absolute playmaker
  • Can really lay the wood
  • Physical and violent player
  • Interception machine
  • Does a great job of reading the quarterback’s eyes
  • Gets out of backpedal cleanly and breaks on ball
  • Soft hands
  • Good route recognition
  • Doesn’t miss tackles
  • Elite range in pass coverage
  • Turns INTs into TDs
  • Aggressive against the run
  • Closes in on ball-carrier quickly
  • Scheme and position versatility (FS or SS)
  • Plays through pain
  • Elite skill set
  • Very intelligent
  • Nice work ethic



    Weaknesses:
  • Lacks some upper body strength
  • Average height
  • Inconsistent when taking angles against the run
  • Could perfect his backpedal as he has a tendency to get too high
  • Left shoulder needs to check out medically

    Summary: Eric Berry is an elite talent and a top-10 pick. It is as simple as that, barring injury next season. Berry is one of those few individuals where it just seems like this is what he was born to do. He is a natural on the football field with the intangibles to boot. He will also be coached by one of the best defensive coordinators of all time in Monte Kiffin who knows how to coach the strong safety position (John Lynch and Jermaine Phillips).

    What really impresses me about Berry is he reportedly played all of the 2008 season with a nagging shoulder injury, which he then had surgery on in December. Berry is the No. 1 prospect in the 2010 NFL Draft, in my opinion.

    Player Comparison: Ed Reed. Both players are 5-11 with a surreal knack for the game of football and have the ball skills, range, and playmaking ability you look for.



    RELATED LINKS:


    2010 NFL Mock Draft: Matt’s | Walt’s


    2010 NFL Draft Prospect Rankings


    2010 NFL Draft Scouting Reports








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