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Atlanta Falcons 2016 scouting report: SS Keanu Neal

By Eric Robinson

Apr 28, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Keanu Neal (Florida) is selected by the Atlanta Falcons as the number seventeen overall pick in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft at Auditorium Theatre. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 28, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Keanu Neal (Florida) is selected by the Atlanta Falcons as the number seventeen overall pick in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft at Auditorium Theatre. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Finally, the Atlanta Falcons have a bully on defense for the first time in a long time.

At 17th overall, Falcons GM Thomas Dimitroff, head coach Dan Quinn, and the rest of the Falcons contingent stayed put and selected arguably the best strong safety in the entire NFL Draft: SS Keanu Neal of Florida. Neal has a scary resemblance to another large, hard-hitting safety that Quinn coached once upon a time in Seattle:

As you can tell by my tweet in March and my scouting report from February that I have been wanting to see Neal in a Falcons uniform for a long time:

So now that he’s in Atlanta, what now? What does he bring to the table? What can he provide to an improving defense? Here is an updated scouting report on the newest member of the Atlanta Falcons, Keanu Neal.

S Keanu Neal, Florida

Height: 6’1

Weight: 211 lbs

Strengths:

  • Brings NFL size to the table with muscular frame
  • 32 inch arm length, 4.5 seconds in the 40-yard dash, 38 inch vertical, 11 feet on the broad jump
  • 92 tackles, 1 INT, 3.5 TFL in 2015 (missed two games)
  • Quick-twitch defender with sharp instincts; explosive in run support
  • Hard-hitting safety with intentions on destroying opponents; equally effective tackling ability
  • Excellent in pursuit; takes proper angles to ball carriers
  • Spent time at strong safety as well as free safety; held his own in single-high safety coverage
  • Active near the line of scrimmage
  • Maintains vision on ball carriers while engaging with blockers
  • No character concerns; very quiet, mature player off the field
  • Consistent, contagious motor, effort, and passion

Weaknesses:

  • Decent coverage abilities
  • Must show better awareness in coverage
  • Must sharpen his discipline when it comes to laying a hit
  • Will have to increase his burst when coming from single-high in run support

Bottom line: Picking Neal at 17th overall will pay huge dividends for the Falcons. Keanu Neal is an enforcer and hits everything that moves and for Quinn’s ultimate outlook on the team, a player like Neal is greatly needed. A large safety that is capable of covering the underneath routes with a vengeance and with a reliable burst to eliminate receivers in his area.

In Atlanta’s Cover 3 scheme, the strong safety is assigned to cover the middle of the field (in particular, zone coverage against curls/hooks) within an eight to ten yard range of the line of scrimmage. That way, Neal can apply his instincts and hard hitting ability in a very simple assignment. Some were against taking Neal at 17.

Next: Ten reasons why Keanu Neal was a great pick

In this unique scheme of Atlanta’s, why not take a player who will have a vital role such as Kam Chancellor. For those who are against taking Neal, your mind will change when he’s added aggressiveness to the defense and makes the defense better. For those who are in favor of it, enjoy.