REUBEN JOHNSONNASHVILLE, TN
I'm a firm believer that Byron Jones will be an upgrade at the free safety position over J.J. Wilcox, Barry Church or Jeff Heath in pass coverage, but is he big enough, physical enough and a good enough tackler to elevate his complete game?
Bryan:Jones is a physical player to begin with. He doesn't shy away from the contact. He likes being in the middle of the action. In his role as that free safety you need him to play with more range – that's what I am looking for. Give me a guy that plays the middle of the field and gets his hands on passes down the field or who is in position to get those overthrown passes.
Rob: Jones is 6-0, 200 pounds. He's big enough to play free safety, and we've seen he's physical enough the way he covered tight ends as a rookie. He seemed more comfortable in that role than playing on an island against faster receivers, and his cornerback experience is an asset at free safety because he's used to making quick decisions and covering a lot of ground. I think it's the best spot for him.
ERIC BAILONPHARR, TX
Who do you think is the most likely to have a breakout season? Who can make their first Pro Bowl?
Bryan:Has to be Orlando Scandrick. If he would just improve on his ball skills and not drop three interceptions a year, he'd likely be chosen for the squad. He is poised to have a great season even coming back from the knee surgery. He has always been confident. Now he is healthy and hungry to do so.
Rob: I don't know if it would qualify as a "breakout season" for Orlando Scandrick since he's been a productive player for nearly a decade. This year he's coming off a major knee injury, so the biggest benchmark right now is a strong training camp. But if the defense can improve its takeaway total and Scandrick's part of a major turnaround after being sidelined last year, it's certainly a possibility.
