I think to some degree the traditional strong safety is a dying position. Everyone wants to have that “enforcer” on their defense, but how many enforcers can run with today’s tight ends, slot receivers and running backs?
Those traditional strong safety guys are getting relegated to subpackage linebacker spots in many defenses, including the Patriots’. I expect to see Jamie Collins in this kind of role this year, because big safeties are no longer enough. You need uber-athletic linebackers.
It takes a special player to be able to do everything, but ultimately if you’re a safety you need to be able to be a safety, i.e. run and cover on the back end and show good range and tackling skills. Coming downhill and filling against the run is still important, but it can’t be their only tool in their toolbox.
So while I do think strong safety is a need, I think it’s more in a depth role in rounding out what the safety group brings to the party. It goes back to my overall philosophy that if a player isn’t helping the pass defense he’s not helping enough.
A box safety would look good in warmups and presnap, but offenses would attack him if he can’t cover.
