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Moving forward we shift back to the defense and onto the safety position
Player: Mike Mitchell
School: Ohio
Position: Free Safety
Strengths:
Acceleration
Strong hitter
Sideline to sideline athleticism
Weaknesses:
Takes too many penalties
Looks for big hit, and fails to wrap up, at times.
Overview: While watching Mitchell on tape, one thing that is really noticeable is his speed. He plays in single high coverage 20 yards off the line, and can still cover from sideline to sideline while also stepping up for run support. It is this ability which has turned into a huge asset for this defense.
He still plays tends to play hesitant at times, not really trusting his instincts, and allowing his athleticism to make up for late reads. Because of his speed this rarely hurts him on deeper coverages, but can make the difference on shorter routes between breaking up a pass, and giving up the completion.
When brought over from the Carolina Panthers in 2014, the Steelers saw a ball hawking safety with 5 interceptions and a hard hitting persona. It has taken time, but fans are finally starting to see the safety they thought they got years ago. Mitchell has become a force in the team’s secondary, and if he can stay healthy, could be considered a top tier safety in the NFL.
Chances of making team: 100%
Highlights: