clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Chargers Draft - Community Grades: Darrell Stuckey

The San Diego Chargers' 4th round pick in the 2010 NFL Draft may finally be the answer to the "Who will step up at SS?" question that has plagued the team for years.

There's no doubting, based on who has started at SS for the Chargers lately, that they're looking for a big-hitter that can stop the run to play Strong Safety. Stuckey is exactly that. He's fast, he's strong and he "sells out" to make the big play and occasionally to get to the QB on a blitz.

Just about the only negatives about Stuckey, who led his Kansas Jayhawks team in tackles in his Junior and Senior seasons, is that he does not play very well with his back to the QB and is not very good in man-coverage in general. Based off the type of defense the Chargers want to play, and how they want their SS to play, I don't think that's a huge issue for them.

When you're making this grade, don't entirely judge it on the type of player Stuckey is. That's your opinion of what you want a SS to be, but what we're looking for is if you think it was a good pick or not for the team....who obviously value this type of player. Also factor in the fact that Stuckey has a chance to win the starting SS spot with a solid training camp/preseason.