Kerby Joseph
S Illinois 6-1 203 JR #25
GRADE: 72 OVR RANK: NR POS RANK: (S) NR
ARM LENGTH: 33″ // HAND SIZE: 10 1/4″
40YD: ( %) // 10YD: ( %) // VJ: 38 1/2″ (89%) // BJ: 10’03” (74%)
BP: 18 (79%) // SS: ( %)// 3C: ( %)
Projection: Backup safety who fits best as a Post Safety but versatile enough to have other responsibilities and could fill in at other S-type positions in a pinch. Draft Projection: Round 3 ~ GrindingTheMocks.com
Ravens Fit: Currently a pure backup as man coverage skills are not advanced enough to play him as a Nickel Safety or closer to the LOS but he’s not yet processing at a high enough level to win a starting FS job. He has some tools with his explosion/solid fluidity along with his ball skills and competitiveness that would lead you to take him as a developmental post Safety but not with a premium pick. The Ravens don’t have a pure FS backup to Marcus Williams but they’re also stacked with different types at the position so likely wouldn’t take a guy who won’t see the field for a couple of years as he won’t fit on the 53-man.
Overall Fit 
3/5
Context
Plays mostly as the post Safety in his one year as a starter but did play some snaps in the box and in the slot.
Coverage
He has solid range. He can get to the ball from a deep zone making plays on the ball on the inside of the numbers from the middle of the field and at the sideline from the near hash. In this he wins with his explosion from that deep spot – he often plays a long way off the line of scrimmage and he reads QBs with less eye discipline well. When he gets a QB who is more advanced as a processor and can manipulate him with his eyes, Joseph doesn’t read route progressions as well when facing more complex offenses. When he can go straight backwards from the middle of the field to post routes, he can make a play on the ball but when he needs to take a more complex angle to the sideline, he can struggle to make it to the ball. He doesn’t consistently locate the ball in the air, so has to make adjustments to his route to the ball often multiple times. He also needs to trust his eyes more, he often does see it, breaks on it with explosion but hesitates mid-pursuit.
In the limited times he is deployed in man coverage, he can cover with explosion and play strength against decent competition but his athletic ability won’t stretch to running with more athletic WRs downfield and those with good salesmanship to their routes can get his hips turned. Has plenty of athleticism to cover Tight Ends up the seam. He has good length and competitiveness at the catch point. In general his ball skills are very good when he can locate the ball. He picks off a number of the balls he gets his hands on – he has good tracking once he has located the ball and competes for the football with good timing to judge his intervention. His pedal can be a little high and his hips a little tight but he has solid movement skills. Has good mental toughness, responding well to bad plays.
Run Support and Tackling
He plays with toughness and play strength when he has run support responsibility. He could support the run with more consistent aggression – can see him do it when he has to, i.e. at the goal-line to save a TD but not always. His angles to the ball do need adjustment and he doesn’t always account for traffic well but he does get off blocks with good hand placement and leverage. As an open-field tackler he is very good, he comes from high to low, keeps a consistent aiming point and uses his length and lateral agility well to get most types of ball-carrier to the ground.
SUMMARY
Backup Post Safety who could develop into starter. Has enough other skills to dabble closer to the LOS but not a full-time or contributory role. Good ball skills and open-field tackler
PRODUCTION
JR: 1 Sack, 57 Total Tackles, 5 INTs, 4 PBUs
INJURY: Missed 2 games (FR)
RAVENS FIT
Athleticism 3
Intelligence 3
Versatility 2
Grit 4
Scheme 3
