Berry a more complete safety than Mays
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The top two safeties in the land take the field this week when Taylor Mays and USC face off against San Jose State and Eric Berry and Tennessee take on Western Kentucky. Both are outstanding players, but there are some big differences in their games.
Mays has a freakish combination of size (6-foot-3, 236 pounds) and athletic ability. We saw him in person last season against Stanford, and his physical presence is mesmerizing, with fluid hips that contribute to his excellent range. But after watching last year's game film, we did see some holes in his game.
The first problem for Mays is his lack of ideal instincts. He can be late diagnosing plays and sometimes is a step late breaking on the ball, and as a result, he is not enough of a playmaker in terms of getting to the ball and breaking up or intercepting passes. Mays had three interceptions as a freshman in 2006 but has just one pick the past two seasons, which is a concern because of his range, burst and ability to get off the hash. He just does not seem to find the ball consistently enough.
And although Mays can explode on ball carriers in the running game and often flashes highlight-reel hits, he has to do a better job of breaking down in space and making tackles in the open field. Too often he looks for the big hit and leaves plays on the field. He will be called on to contribute even more against the run this season after four USC linebackers departed for the NFL after last season, so scouts will have a keen eye on that part of his game.
As for Berry, he is not nearly as big (5-11, 203) as Mays but brings to the table everything you want from a safety. He is a difference-maker in all areas. In coverage, he has the instincts to get to the ball and bring it in. He has had 12 interceptions the past two seasons and has taken three back for touchdowns, and in that way, he is much like Ed Reed was coming out of Miami. Berry looks to get his hands on the ball and get to the end zone after the catch.
Against the run, Berry makes up for his lack of ideal physical gifts by taking exact angles and filling hard downhill. He does not have the same ammunition Mays does and sometimes will get knocked around on contact when filling, but in the open field is an excellent tackler who knows how to break down and make the stop.
Overall, Berry is the better overall player at this point thanks to his instincts and ability to make plays. Mays can get there but has much more to prove to scouts.
For more on Week 1, including an outstanding perimeter matchup, a player to watch in the trenches and other notes from around the country, become an ESPN Insider.
• One of the best perimeter matchups of Week 1 is Rutgers cornerback Devin McCourty versus Cincinnati wide receiver Mardy Gilyard. This will be a battle between two excellent athletes, both of whom are very quick and have excellent athletic ability.
However, we were surprised to see on film that Gilyard appears more quick than fast. He made a lot of big plays last season, but we expected to see more explosiveness, and he also is unpolished as a route-runner. Scouts want to see quicker cuts and less wasted motion coming out of his breaks. Gilyard's advantage comes after the catch, though. He is dynamic in the open field, using his quickness and elusiveness to make defenders miss and break long runs.
McCourty can change directions quickly and has the speed to recover when caught out of position, so he should be able to stay with Gilyard on short and intermediate routes. He also has the tools to hold his own when Cincinnati looks for Gilyard down the field. McCourty does an excellent job of turning to locate the ball and shows good timing in jump-ball situations. The biggest key will be McCourty's ability to break down in the open field against Gilyard. Even if he doesn't make the tackle, he must at least slow Gilyard enough to allow the rest of the Scarlet Knights to get there. McCourty has had issues in space during his career, so this will be a big test for him.
• Virginia Tech G Sergio Render has a reputation as a mauler inside, someone who can control defenders in phone-booth situations and root them off the ball with excellent overall strength and a violent initial punch. Many people might be expecting Render to battle with mammoth Alabama nose tackle Terrence Cody this week, but with Alabama favoring a "30" front most of the time, Cody will be over center and scouts will get a look at Render's ability to play in space.
He is underwhelming in that area on film and needs to do a better job of getting to the second level and adjusting to moving targets. Scouts will get a good idea of whether Render has improved his agility and lateral mobility. Crimson Tide ILB Rolando McClain is an explosive, instinctive player who gets downhill immediately, and when Render is uncovered, he will have to show the ability to get in front of McClain and adjust to his movements in space.
• A small-school prospect to keep an eye on this week is Youngstown State WR Donald Jones, who has a chance to prove he can play with the big boys this week against Pittsburgh. Jones has excellent size (6-2, 210) and is put together well, and he will have a physical advantage over Panthers CBs Aaron Berry and Jovani Chappel.
One of the flaws in Jones' game is a lack of elite burst and top-end speed, and it will be interesting to see whether he has improved his route-running and can create separation against a higher level of competition. Jones excels when the ball is in the air, though. He does a great job of tracking the ball, shows the strong hands to snatch balls thrown outside his frame and does a good job shielding defenders with his body. Jones will improve his draft stock with a good showing this week against the big boys.
Around the nation
• At Clemson, who will open the holes for RB C.J. Spiller (Scouts Inc.-rated No. 15) to run through? According to The State (Columbia, S.C.), the Tigers have begun a Heisman campaign for the senior. Meanwhile, the Clemson O-line has its own campaign to improve upon the 2008 season, when injuries and inexperience hindered the running game. "Last year at this time, we were coaching all assignments -- here's what you do," head coach Dabo Swinney said. "Now we're coaching technique. They know what to do because they've all played now."
• He's a senior captain and he's accomplished, but in a sense, Central Michigan QB Dan LeFevour (rated No. 54) feels he's starting over. After throwing 46 touchdowns and passing and rushing for a combined 4,774 yards in 2007, LeFevour couldn't match those numbers because of injury last season. But 2009 brings hope. "It's just nice to have a fresh start and have everything that happened last year behind me," LeFevour told the Central Michigan Life. "Everyone in the conference starts out with no wins or losses."
• Everyone knows about Florida QB Tim Tebow (No. 26), but whom will he throw to? The Gainesville Sun reports the Gators have a shortage of experienced wide receivers and tight ends. "Yes, to be honest with you, I'm worried," senior wide receiver David Nelson told the newspaper. "We've got some guys that need to step up. That's a work in progress. That's the main concern right now on the team, our depth at wide receiver."
• South Florida DE George Selvie (No. 17) doesn't want to leave the school without a Big East title. Selvie, who has 25.5 career sacks, told the (Winter Haven, Fla.) News Chief that anything less would be a disappointment. "We underachieved," Selvie said. "We expected to do better last year, 8-5 is not a great season. We had a lot of talent back. I figured we should have done more. There's a lot riding on this season. I feel like we'll get it done."
• If there's one thing Stanford RB Toby Gerhart (No. 77) doesn't lack, it's ambition. The Cardinal senior has his sights set on 2,000 yards rushing this season. Gerhart tells the San Jose Mercury News that a bowl bid and redshirt freshman QB Andrew Luck could help him near his goal. Luck's presence could prevent opposing defenses from stacking their line to stop Gerhart. "Now we're going to have bodies for bodies," Gerhart said.
• Heading into the opener against Louisiana-Monroe on Saturday, Texas LB Rod Muckelroy (No. 32) doesn't believe he needs to fire up his teammates. Muckelroy, who led the Longhorns in tackles last season with 116, tells the Fort Worth Star-Telegram that he'll let his play speak for him. "I feel like you can lead in a positive way by example," Muckelroy told the Star-Telegram. "You really don't have to just talk and yell all the time. That's never been me."
