It's hard to say at this point whether or not the 49ers will be looking to address the safety position. It really just depends on if they bring Dashon Goldson back or not. There's also a chance that the 49ers give Reggie Smith and Taylor Mays the starting jobs.
Whatever the case may be, Mike Mayock really expressed during the combine and offseason just how much he liked what Black was bringing to the table. He raved about his tangibles and how even though he is a bit on the small side that he has what it takes to start at the next level.
Mayock's opinion holds some validity particularly when it comes to the discussion about defensive backs.
If a guy like Bob Sanders (who also is not the biggest safety) can have success, then it's certainly possible to think that Black could have similar success. But in that success, you have to ask yourself the question of whether or not injuries will be a concern because of the size and body frame.
With the difference of speed and size from college ball to the NFL, it is a legitimate concern.
With that, let's take a look at the Florida free safety.
As the video illustrates, you can see just where Mayock is coming from on this prospect. His natural instinct is off the charts. He makes very good reads and has a great sense for where the ball will ultimately end up both on run plays and pass plays. He definitely plays the game bigger than his size. He has very good hip movement and very good coverage skills. If he weren't so small, he'd have the talent to play as a coverage corner.
Here are his stats:
|
Stats Overview |
Tackles |
Misc |
Interceptions |
|||||||||||
|
YEAR |
TOT |
SOLO |
AST |
SACK |
STF |
STFY |
FF |
BK |
INT |
YDS |
AVG |
LNG |
TD |
PD |
|
2007 |
7 |
6 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0.0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
2008 |
54 |
24 |
30 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
7 |
191 |
27.3 |
80 |
2 |
0 |
|
2009 |
57 |
28 |
29 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0.0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
2010 |
109 |
74 |
35 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
5 |
171 |
34.2 |
80 |
1 |
0 |
|
2010 Regular Season Game Log |
Tackles |
Misc |
Interceptions |
|||||||||||||
|
DATE |
OPP |
RESULT |
TOT |
SOLO |
AST |
SACK |
STF |
STFY |
FF |
BK |
INT |
YDS |
AVG |
LNG |
TD |
PD |
|
9/4 |
W 34-12 |
12 |
8 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
40 |
40.0 |
40 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
9/11 |
W 38-14 |
8 |
4 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
1.0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
9/18 |
W 31-17 |
4 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0.0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
9/25 |
W 48-14 |
6 |
5 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0.0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
10/2 |
L 31-6 |
8 |
5 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0.0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
10/9 |
L 33-29 |
13 |
8 |
5 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0.0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
10/16 |
L 10-7 |
10 |
6 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0.0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
|
10/30 |
W 34-31 |
12 |
10 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0.0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
|
11/6 |
W 55-14 |
5 |
4 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0.0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
11/13 |
L 36-14 |
16 |
10 |
6 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0.0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
11/20 |
W 48-10 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0.0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
11/27 |
L 31-7 |
6 |
3 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0.0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
|
2010 Postseason Game Log |
Tackles |
Misc |
Interceptions |
|||||||||||||
|
BOWL |
OPP |
RESULT |
TOT |
SOLO |
AST |
SACK |
STF |
STFY |
FF |
BK |
INT |
YDS |
AVG |
LNG |
TD |
PD |
|
OUTBACK BOWL |
W 37-24 |
6 |
5 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
129 |
64.5 |
80 |
1 |
2 |
|
Summary: Even though Mayock is endorsing Black quite a bit, it's still hard for players on defense that lack size to make it in today's NFL. The odds are not stacked in Black's favor, but the same could be said for most rookies entering the league. It's a violent game for violent men... and that's one thing that Black has going for him; he plays the game violently.
PREDICTION: 2nd - 3rd Round