DraftTracker
Round | Team | Pos. | School | Name
Jason Leach
DS (5-10, 214, 4.55)
USC
Grade: 30
Comments
Is a versatile safety with experience at FS and SS. Has enough bulk and strength to match up in the box as a SS-type and has decent range to hold his own as a cover-two type FS. Has adequate straight-line speed. His instincts are good and his diagnostic skills are much improved. He takes good angles to the ball both in the running and passing games. Is very productive and efficient in run support. Is aggressive and tough. Lacks explosiveness but is a sure-tackler that will fill hard from the high-point. Has flashed good ball skills in coverage when he is in position. Has improved each of the last two seasons and is very coachable. Does not have great height and lacks ideal leaping ability. Will have some trouble matching up against taller tight end one-on-one. Has adequate but not great speed. Lacks ideal fluidness and athleticism. Does not show explosive burst out of his pedal or ideal COD skills. Has trouble matching up one-on-one versus quicker receivers that can double move him. Will struggle to recover in coverage if he takes a false step. Is well-built and strong, but lacks explosive power. Leach redshirted in 2000 and backed up Troy Polamalu (Steelers) from '01-'02 before taking over as a fulltime starter last season. He finished second on the team with 88 total tackles as a junior in '03. He also had 5.5 TFL, one sack, two interceptions and six PBU. Leach continued to improve as a senior, finishing with 51 total tackles, three INT's and four PBU. Leach is a well-built safety with just adequate height, speed and overall athletic ability. He does, however, show good instincts, toughness and playmaking skills. He is not an athletic enough prospect to develop into a starter in the NFL but he has the tools and mentality to become a special teams contributor and he also is versatile enough to provide depth both at FS and SS in the NFL. If nothing else, Leach is worth taking a chance on late in the 2005 draft.
* Player biographies are provided by Scouts Inc.