Pred's Fantasy Football Forums - 6.10- Marviel Underwood- DB- Packers

Okay, I spent far too much trying to figure out who to take with the 70th pick in the draft. However, after a good bit of research and contemplation, the Gunslingers selected Marviel Underwood. The Packers have an open competition for a starting safety spot and based on the comments below it sounds like Marviel is in a good spot to grab it.

Green Bay's secondary has major questions at both safety spots, but the Packers believe Underwood might have a chance to step in and contribute from Day 1.

Even though Green Bay used its second-round choice on safety Nick Collins, he's extremely raw and might take a year or two to develop. Underwood (5-10½, 205) has more experience, has faced better competition and might be ready to help before Collins can.

"Underwood in a lot of our minds upstairs is maybe the most complete safety that we're looking for maybe on the board as far as after (Carolina's Thomas) Davis was gone, after (Indianapolis') Marlin Jackson, he started fitting right into the picture," Packers defensive coordinator Jim Bates said. "There were others that were taller, there were others that maybe were a step faster, not that much faster because he can run.

"And just as a complete player he reminded us a lot of Brock Marion that played for us, was All-Pro for us down at Miami for a couple of years, played well for us at Dallas. He has that type of athleticism. Good open-field sure tackler and played smart. He played really, really smart for San Diego (State) and that guy has a chance."

Underwood is about two inches shorter than most teams like their safeties to be. But he's got speed (4.47), strength (19 reps of 225 pounds) and smarts (24 on the 50-question Wonderlic test). And he's certainly athletic enough to handle the job, owning a 39-inch vertical jump and a broad jump of 9-10.
Underwood was a three-year starter for the Aztecs and had 209 tackles, broke up 19 passes and had seven interceptions. He's got good instincts, is a solid tackler, is aggressive in run support and made all of the calls in the secondary.

What Green Bay was perhaps most impressed with, though, was Underwood's versatility. He played both safety positions at San Diego State and covered receivers in the slot on passing downs.

"He has the talent," Packers director of pro personnel Reggie McKenzie said. "He can flat-out run, he's tough as nails, good tackler, he's a good football player. Instinctive, has ball skills, we like him.

"The thing with him, he's probably played more safety throughout his career as opposed to Collins. Being the athlete he is, he's lined up all over, playing corner and both safety spots."

Added West Coast scout Sam Seale, who recommended Underwood: "He can play strong, free or corner. And from what we were told, the defense is going to be blitzing, and you need people that are safeties that you don't have to take them out of the game. They can stay in the game and play corner, and that's what he can do."

Thompson traded his third-round pick - the 89th overall selection - to Carolina late on Day 1 for a pair of fourth-rounders. Then, he sweated it out hoping Underwood would still be there when the Packers' first fourth-rounder - pick No. 115 - came up.

"I don't want to get into specifically where we had people rated, but we think Marviel Underwood is an outstanding football player," Thompson said. "He's an excellent open-field tackler. He is 5-10½, I think, which is a little shorter than most safeties, but he is a tough football player."
Underwood's first chance to impress the coaches comes this week when the Packers hold their post-draft minicamp. And he knows with Green Bay's issues at safety, a job could be there for the taking.

"The coaches let me know that there is a good opportunity for me out there and if I work hard and put up a fight to play a little bit this year," Underwood said.

Bates certainly wasn't ruling out the chance of Underwood providing immediate help.

"The big thing that's going to happen in that secondary is there is going to be an incredible amount of competition," Bates said. "We brought in some free agents in Earl Little, Arturo Freeman, of course we have Mark Roman. So it's going to be interesting and we'll challenge them right from the get-go.
"It's going to be a real battle for positions, which is exciting. We have a lot of youth and a lot of guys that are going to be hungry and we've got some guys that have been out there, that didn't get the money that they thought they were going to get as free agents. We kind of like that kind of atmosphere that we can develop with this competition when they come into camp."