Cowboys Nation: I want to discuss the safety class. You've given lukewarm reviews on this entire class, the strong safeties and the free safeties, all year long. This week however, your NFP buddy Matt Bowen had some positive reports on Boise State's George Iloka as a free safety. Bowen played safety for several years in the NFL, so I give his opinion a lot of weight. Today, you listed Iloka as one of the five players who helped themselves the most during Senior Bowl week.
Iloka has Roy Williams' dimensions. He's 6'3'' and 222 lbs., but it appears that he can run better. What did you see this week?
Wes Bunting: He's a better athlete than Roy Williams. He's 6'3'', so he'll get a bit leggy in and out of his breaks. But he's instinctive. He finds the football well and it doesn't take him as long to collect himself and you see a burst and good closing speed from him.
There were many times on Monday when he was in cover-1, playing centerfield, where he put himself around the football; if this were a live game he would be killing the receiver or he's making a play on the football. That stood out to me.
When he's asked to turn and run he might lose a little space but once he gets his legs going he's fine. He's instinctive and he gets early jumps on the football, so he plays faster, even though he's 6'3''. Plus he can tackle, so I think you can play him inside the box.
He's also played some cornerback for Boise State last year, so I think he's one of these hybrid d-backs who can be an Aaron Hernandez-killer, or a Gronk-killer, or a Dallas Clark-killer, somebody who can match up with these new style tight ends. He's got corner skills, but he's a big 6'3''. He can be somebody who can really help you with these guys.
CN: Where does he go now? You had him as a 3rd rounder before. Has he played himself into the 2nd round, especially with this safety class, which isn't very deep?
WB: I still see him 2nd-3rd, but if runs well at the Combine, and that's possible, I could see him in the 2nd.
CN: So you don't have qualms about him playing deep? Most teams now ask their safeties to play up or play back depending on the formation they're facing. You're comfortable matching this guy down the field with tight ends or slot receivers?
WB: Yes, because he's instinctive. He finds the football. I think he would be fine.
CN: Is he the 2nd safety off the board now, after Mark Barron?
WB: Yeah, it's down to him and Markelle Martin, who had a good week too. I'm going to watch them again on tape. I'd say Iloka I like more because of his cover skills. I'd say Martin is a bit quicker in and out of his breaks. I want to see these two run at the Combine, but they're the 2nd and 3rd safeties this year. There is not a lot separating them.
CN: What caught my attention was a tweet you made a few weeks ago when you reviewed Boise State tape. You talked about Iloka matching up very well against tight ends in the red zone. That's such a big part of the game now, with the Jermichael Finleys and Jimmy Grahams catching fades and playing alley-oop with their quarterbacks in that part of the field.
WB: Iloka is very comfortable in press man. I remember watching Kam Chancellor at the Senior Bowl a couple of years ago in the red zone drills. He was the best press DB down there, because he didn't have to cover a ton of ground. He was physical. He had good short-area quickness. I can see Iloka doing the same things.
CN: Kam Chancellor made the Pro Bowl this year. One more name before we move to corners. I saw Trenton Robinson mentioned in several Senior Bowl reports. What did you see from him?
WB: He can sit into his stance and drop. When the ball is in front of him he stays compact. He's got a burst. He's got good range. He can click and close on the football.
I do see some stiffness when he's asked to turn and run. He didn't show a great feel. There were a couple of wheel routes run against him and he didn't take great angles to the ball. He allowed Bradie Ewing, the Wisconsin fullback, to get behind him because he was stiff when he turned to run, so he gave up steps vertically down the field.
That's not the kind of guy I would trust consistently in the deep half. He can run well but he's tight when he has to change directions.
CN: In your opinion, will one of Iloka and Martin be available in the early 3rd?
WB: I'd say it's possible. I'd say it's a 50/50 shot right now, but let's see how they run.
