Chiefs Draft Rnd 5: Alabama S DeQuan Menzie

After losing out on LSU Safety, Brandon Taylor, in round three, the Chiefs found another player from the SEC that could be just as good when they chose Alabama Safety, DeQuan Menzie, in round five.

I’m sure this wasn’t the player the Chiefs had been hoping for in round five. But the Alabama Crimson Tide is one of the better defensive backs in college that not to many people know about.

At Alabama he played opposite of Dre Kirkpatrick, who was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the first round Thursday night. But, Menzie, who the Chiefs plan to convert to Safety, more than held his on one of the best college defensive units in the country.

In 2011, he started 12 games for the Tide defense snagging 37 tackles, one interception, 1.5 sacks and 11 pass break ups. If he has a downside, Menzie isn’t fast. But he has solid instincts in the secondary. And I don’t think the Chiefs would have drafted him in round five, if they didn’t feel he could make the jump from cornerback to Safety.

In 2012, the Chiefs defense must improve it’s third down defense. With safeties Eric Berry returning from injury a year ago and the up and down play of 2010 fifth round pick, Kendrick Lewis, the Chiefs are going to need all three safeties to perform well in nickel situations. And with Menzie’s skills, all the dynamic trio could be on the field at the same time.

When the Chiefs added Defensive Tackle, Dontari Poe in round one, they bought their corners and safeties a split second or two - to close the distance to opposing receivers with Poe’s ability to get the push up the middle.

But the advantage that Menzie has over other mid to late round safeties is something that can’t be ignored, he played in a big time program in College. That means he’s well coached and to his credit was hardly out of position on the field.

However with that lack of speed, he’s going to have to learn how to shorten the distance in open space to either break up a pass, his specialty in college, or make sure that no player gets past the last line of defense he’ll be in charge of in the Chiefs secondary.

If he can make that jump from college to the pros by switching positions in short order, the Chiefs have a player who can make an impact in what has suddenly become a quarterback dominated division.
WARPAINT ILLUSTRATED MESSAGE BOARDS:
Do you think the Chiefs can successfully convert Menzie from cornerback to safety?

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