Why S Reed Blankenship has A LOT of promise in the Eagles secondary: Film Breakdown
In this film breakdown, we take a look at Philadelphia Eagles 2nd-year safety Reed Blankenship, who was impressive in a limited sample size, as a rookie.
Last season, Reed Blankenship ranked 1st among safeties in forced incompletion %, run stop rate, and top-5 in success $, EPA/target, and overall PFF run defense. Blankenship was a 5-year starter in college, which clearly shows on tape, as he always appears to know his role and where he needs to be. He is a good, twitchy athlete that can break on routes and deliver a blow when needed. His play recognition shows up in tons of ways, where you can see him mirroring a play as it develops. This is a critical skill for a safety to have, otherwise the offense can go over your head and you can give up home run plays.
Eagles S Reed Blankenship Film Breakdown
Strengths:
- Versatile Playmaker: Blankenship's ability to contribute as both a cornerback and safety adds versatility to his skill set, allowing him to excel in different defensive roles.
- Fearless Hitter: Despite his average size, Blankenship isn't afraid to deliver big hits and disrupt plays, showcasing his physicality and willingness to engage in contact.
- Instinctive and Disciplined: With good instincts and anticipation, Blankenship reads the game well and reacts with discipline, making sound decisions and positioning himself effectively on the field.
- Fluid Body Control: Blankenship demonstrates smooth body control, displaying the ability to change direction seamlessly and redirect his movements with agility.
Weaknesses
- Deficiencies in Man Coverage: Blankenship struggles in man coverage, lacking the skills to effectively stay with receivers and maintain tight coverage.
- Lack of Explosiveness and Flexibility: Blankenship is not an explosive player and needs improvement in terms of his bend and flexibility. He tends to play with a high pad level, which can impact his ability to change direction fluidly and adjust to different routes.
- Suspect Instincts in Coverage: Blankenship's instincts in coverage have been questioned, particularly in terms of his ability to read and react to plays. He needs to develop better pre-snap recognition skills to anticipate and position himself effectively.
- Limited Speed and Play Recognition: Blankenship lacks the timed speed required to consistently keep up with faster receivers and maintain contact downfield. On slower-developing plays, he tends to lose track of the ball and may resort to reaching and grabbing out of impatience or uncertainty.
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