NFL Draft Prospect Profile: S Deone Bucannon

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Deone Bucanan
Safety Deone Bucannon (image courtesy of WSU Athletic Communications)

Packers prospect profile:  S  Deone Bucannon

Player Information:

Deone Bucannon,  S  Washington State, 6-1, 211 pounds Hometown: Fairfield, CA

STATS

NFL Combine:

40 time: 4.49

Vertical jump: 36.5″

225 lb. bench: 19 reps

Broad jump: 10’04”

News and Notes:

First team All American and first team all PAC-12 in 2013. . .led PAC-12 in tackles in 2013. . .was a four-year starter and three-year captain in college. . .was a finalist for the Jim Thorpe award (given to top college defensive back in the nation)

 What they’re saying about him: 

  • CBSSports.com: Boasts an imposing build with broad shoulders and a thick, muscled-up top half. Best attribute may be his explosive hitting, unloading on runners and receivers crossing the middle and forcing fumbles. Doesn’t only rely on his big hits to create fumbles, also demonstrating the wherewithal to rip at the ball as he’s making the tackle. Also showed improved range and ball-skills in 2013, recording a career-high six interceptions in 2013 to give him 15 for his career. Has a high, choppy backpedal and is stiff in the hips, limiting his ability to change directions fluidly. Vulnerable to double-moves and ball-carriers with the agility to cutback against the grain. While a big-hitter, too often Bucannon will lunge at ball-carriers, occasionally resulting in some ugly whiffs. Struggles a bit with tunnel vision, focusing strictly on the ball-carrier and losing sight of would-be blockers, who take advantage of his lack of spatial awareness to seal him off from the play.
  • NFL.com:  Reads run and drops downhill quickly. Has an old-school mentality — likes contact and is a physical tackler. Covers kicks and has an ideal mentality for special teams. Average speed — struggles to recover from missteps and will not track anyone down from behind. Some tightness in his hips. Man-coverage limitations (struggles to match with slot receivers). Can be overaggressive and miss tackles. Does not always arrive under control in space. Misjudges angles.

Video:

Video Analysis:

  • This is a highlight reel so don’t forget, it doesn’t show the plays he missed
  • Bucannon plays big, meaning his size is an asset and he  can deliver a blow
  • Gets after the football, both in the air and from the ball carrier.  Play making mentality
  • With that desire to make plays, will find that it’s not easy in NFL and will have to refine his game
  • No film of him in the box or near the line but seems to have the grit to blitz, if asked to
  • Despite his decent 40 time, doesn’t seem very fast.  Will need to be quick in NFL
  • Smart player.  Has the confidence to sit back and try to bait a bad throw by QB
  • Shows emotion on the field, has a fire in his gut
  • Looks to be adequate in coverage on short to mid-range throws.  Against more accurate QB’s in NFL, deep coverage could be a question mark

If drafted by the Packers:

If nothing else, Bucannon certainly looks the part of a NFL safety.  If the Packers choose to address another area in round one, Bucannon could become an intriguing option for them in round two and beyond.  He could start right away, opposite Morgan Burnett, but would be learning on the job and will need to develop rather quickly.  Bucannon is listed as a strong safety, which is the position already occupied by Burnett.  Fortunately, in the Packers defense, the safety positions are often interchangeable, given how often they are in the nickel.  Bucannon would be a huge asset on special teams, where he played in college.  With the Packers looking for more play makers on defense, Bucannon would certainly fit that bill, if chosen.  As with any rookie defensive back, taking some of the gambles that paid off in college can lead to problems at the pro level.  Still, the Packers have to want a guy who is hungry for the ball with their being in a very pass-happy NFC North.  If Green Bay can nab Bucannon in rounds two or three, he could end up providing a good value.  While it’s hard to compare what Bucannon could be to what running back Eddie Lacy was in round two last year, he could become a steal in this area of the draft.

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Jason Perone is an independent sports blogger writing about the Packers on AllGreenBayPackers.com

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11 thoughts on “NFL Draft Prospect Profile: S Deone Bucannon

  1. If Hyde moves, I think it drops Safety down the priority list a bit. I think there is no bigger need than ILB on the team as it stands right now. TE is also a big gaping hole as things stand now. But Safety sure isn’t off the priority list.

    This kid has the measurables. He’s over 6 ft and has decent speed. Both scouting analysis say he likes contact and I definitely think the Packers need need a guy that can thrive in the box.

  2. If he likes contact and loves to lay wood on people, TT will stear clear of him. TT likes the pussies…

  3. With Shields resigning and Hayward coming back, I can see us trying Hyde at safety. As for Bucannon, his highlights look good but then again they should. The picks were on some very poorly thrown ducks or ill-advised throws. Still, he was there. I would like to see the out-takes to see how well he plays his position, game-in game-out.

  4. I don’t trust TT when drafting defensive players. That said, we need a new DL, two new starting ILB, and OLB to start opposite of 52, and a S. That’s only 7 of 11 positions. We will be lucky if TT adds one real defensive player this off-season. It is a depressing situation. TT is failure – 9 years of drafting and one of the worst defenses in the league is horrible. And yet, he has given many of these duds a 2nd contract. And he tried to pay Raji $8MM/yr. The guy rides in a clown car. Take the checkbook and the responsibility for drafting away from Grandpa Ted. Make him our head scout for WRs.

    1. Entertaining the 8 million/yr. for, Jaba the Hut fat bastard Raji, pretty much tells us that TT has no reason or accountability in that little pin head of his…

  5. It’s nice to see the Archie, Big T and Charles Martin bandwagon so full!

    ….. meaning I get a kick out of NOT clicking on the “hidden due to low comment rating” hyperlinks below their constantly negative vibe. 😉

  6. Not the biggest fan of Bucannon. But if they don’t get a FA Safety getting him in the 2nd would be value. As long as its not at #21. Still think Safety should be addressed in FA not the draft.

  7. I liked Deone Bucannon a lot after he put up some great numbers at the combine. Overall he has the build of some of the top safeties in recent drafts like Eric Reid and Kenny Vaccaro that Pryor and Clinton-Dix lack….

    …and then I watched him vs Oregon this year. NOT PRETTY.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I4x6J0cicds

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