To say this weekend is huge for T.J. Green is an understatement. The former Clemson safety has been questioned by the media and the fans for his decision to forgo his senior year and enter his name in the 2016 NFL Draft.
Green is still considered “green” by some NFL expert’s as a safety being that he came to Clemson as a wide receiver and moved to safety in 2014 where he played in 11 games and started one. In 2015, he earned the starting job opposite Jayron Kearse and started every game in the Tigers’ run to the National Championship Game.
But Green’s critics feel he might have been better served to stay at Clemson another year, where he would have potentially been a first- to second-round selection. The NFL.com wrote last month the 6-foot-3, 205-pound safety was one of seven underclassmen that should have stayed in school.
But lately Green has been making a push up the draft boards. Heading into this weekend’s NFL Scouting Combine, the former Clemson Tiger is ranked No. 9 at his position, three spots ahead of Kearse, who also decided to leave school early.
“There is a buzz going around about him from some people I talk to on a regular basis, but I’m not sure where it is coming from. He’s fast, but what else,” said an NFC executive to NFL.com.
That’s what makes this weekend so big for Green. If he can test well and do well in the interviews in Indianapolis, he has an opportunity to move up even more and perhaps guarantee himself a draft selection which last week seemed unlikely.
The knock on Green, who had 128 tackles to rank third on Clemson’s team last year, is his raw skills. His coverage skills are limited and he has not developed into a strong tackler. He had 17 missed tackles last season and tries to tackle with his shoulder too much.
Green’s strengths are obvious. For one he is extremely fast, which will make him an asset in blitz situations coming off the edges, and for running people down.
“It’s going to be hard for a tackle to drop back and try to stop me coming off the edge,” Green said to ESPN.com. “I think it’s pretty effective.”
Green’s lanky body gives him an advantage to cover the field as well. His speed helps him cover the slot receivers in man situations, and it allows him to make up ground. It also helps he has the past experience as a wide receiver. He understands what a wideout is trying to do.
“Prospect who appears to be heating up around the draft circles,” writes Lance Zierlein on NFL.com. “With just one year of full-time experience and so much dead tape due to deep coverage responsibilities, teams will have limited sample size to operate from, but traits usually win out. If Green hits a fast forty at the combine (as expected), his stock will get a bump. Green’s coverage potential is evident, but he might need time on the bench to watch and learn early on.”
Green is one of eight former Tigers at the combine this weekend, and one of seven from the defense. He will be in interviewed, tested, measured, and will work the bench through the weekend and will participate in on-the-field workouts on Monday along with Kearse and former Clemson cornerback Mackensie Alexander.
Photo credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
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