[This Jeremy Cash scouting report, with a Vikings slant, has been provided to Vikings Territory by Draft Season. Be sure to check back for more and also be sure to visit Draft Season to quench your NFL Draft thirst.]
Height – 6’1
Weight – 210 Lbs.
Age – 23
All-American Safety and ACC Defensive Player of the Year.
Very versatile in the secondary, can and has played multiple spots
Plays angry, isn’t afraid to lower his shoulder and put a big hit on opposing players
Excels against the run, has made a knack for stopping a play before it starts racking up a total of 18 tackles for a loss in 2015
5th year senior who has a ton of film and experience making him ready to contribute day one
Great size at 6’2, 210 lbs and a big frame that allows him to make plays and shed blockers
Great instincts, always seems to be a step ahead of the offense
With a name like “Cash” there are plenty of routes to go for a solid nickname. Harry the Hitman and the Money Maker has a pretty solid ring to it.
Needs to improve on his awareness in pass coverage
Won’t wow you with his speed, come Combine time, some might get scared off by the number he puts up
Will need a safety along-side of him that can pick up the slack in the pass coverage while he adjusts to the NFL
Wrist injury ended his season and could affect his ability to do certain workouts come Combine/Pro Day
Landon Collins S, New York Giants
Like Collins, coming out of Alabama in 2015, Cash is great against the run but needs some fine tuning in the pass game. But also like Collins, Cash has shown the ability to improve in weak areas and has the smarts to be a safety in the NFL for a long time.
The Vikings have yet to find a tag-team partner to play alongside Harrison Smith. With guys like Antone Exum and Anthony Harris on the depth chart, I would say it is a safe bet that the safety position is one the Vikings will look long and hard at during the early rounds of the 2016 NFL Draft.
Cash has been one of the better overall defenders in the nation these past three years. While his home in the NFL will most likely be at safety, he has proven to be versatile enough to play multiple spots including corner and linebacker.
There isn’t much not to like about the Blue Devil Thumper. While his skills as a cover man need to be improved, his play versus the run (18 tackles for loss) goes unmatched. I don’t think he could find a better tutor than Mike Zimmer and the Vikings defensive coaches.
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Last year Zimmer and Spielman really drafted for defense, and did really well at it. The defense played at an elite level for most of the season, even with marginal players opposite Smith. So I think they will probably draft more for offense this year, targeting either a true #1 receiver or O line talent. Diggs, for all his talent, isn't that big. Charles Johnson disappeared, and Wallace had minimal impact. Teddy didn't have much time to throw deep, so if Wallace is still around and the line gets better, hopefully he has more opportunities. Wallace might not be around due to his contract, which would increase our need at WR. Maybe CP learns to run routes this off season, but I doubt it.
This guy mostly plays by the line and is known as a SS. Taking some of Smith's thunder. Also not good in pass coverage, Zimmer wants all DBs to cover and does not make a distinction. I think he would be a Buchanan (ARZ) type of LB/S hybrid, but not for the Vikings.
Harry plays FS,so we will be looking for a SS and this guy fits the bill.He will certainly be on the Vikings radar.
While his coverage skills need work,he is a very good tackler and has excellent size.No rookie comes in as a perfect player.
22 is listed as a FS but doesn't play like one. In Zimmers scheme, there really isn't a difference in safeties. For coach Zimmer, both safeties need to play the run and pass which is why I think he liked Sendejo more than us fans.
I agree with Skol12 about Smith's actually playing more like a strong safety much of the time. Personally, I don't see Blanton (a free agent who should draw some interest) or Exum (Zimmer has no problem burying players on special teams if that's where they can contribute) getting another shot at starting but it seems that Harris made a good impression, so I'd like to see him and Sendejo competing for the job and Spielman concentrating on the offense in the draft.
Can't argue too much against that ck,except to add they may take a shot at George Iloka in FA if the price is right.Cincinatti will probably fight hard to keep him though.
Von Bell in 2-3rd round seems a better fit for a high round pick. Zimmer has never taken a FS above the 5th round.