*Quinn Hughes - S Scouting Report #1

[Warner]

Quinn Hughes - Scouting Report


Player Link: http://nsfl.jcink.net/index.php?showtopic=...=0&#entry255844

Introduction:
This is the first of several scouting reports that I’ll be writing on this upcoming DSFL draft class of Safeties. Considering that they are a deciding factor on whether or not your defense will be able to to force a turnover in the passing game, prevent a score or large gain in the running game as the last tackler, or even to put pressure on the Quarterback by racking up sacks and TFLs through being lined up in the box, Safeties are an important position that every DSFL GM should be looking for on their draft board. This series of reports will be written so that DSFL GMs won’t need to look far to determine which of the Safeties in the upcoming draft class will fit their needs best. Now, without further ado, here is my scouting report on the S out of the University of Arizona, Quinn Hughes.

Strengths and Weaknesses:
As a Playmaker Safety, Quinn Hughes has multiple attributes to focus on in order to allow him to perform his various duties to the best of his ability. No attribute goes unused. He has below-average strength for a Safety, meaning that he might not be able to deliver the huge hits that Safeties like Jack Tatum and Ronnie Lott are famous for, unless he has good tackling and is coming out of a blind spot. He also has above-average agility for a Safety, which means that he won’t have any trouble making quick or large turns in the zone that he’ll be assigned, and won’t have any problems with changing direction quickly. He has exceptional intelligence for a Safety, meaning that his instincts are very good and that he won’t have a lot of trouble tracking the ball, or assuming it’s landing point. It’ll also be harder for ball-carriers to fake him out with double-moves, and he’ll have an easier time intercepting passes by reading the Quarterback. He has average tackling for a Safety, meaning that he’ll have to prioritize pass-deflections and wrap-up tackles over forcing incompletions and decking offensive players with hard hits. He has above-average speed for a Safety, which is great for when he has to traverse different sections of the field quickly in order to make a play on the football. He has below-average hands for a Safety, which is something that he needs to improve if he wants to have a higher rate of pass deflections and interceptions. Lastly, he has average endurance for a Safety, which makes him adept at playing at a higher pace for an extended period of time. Due to his attributes, I’d say that Hughes is more geared towards playing Free Safety over Strong Safety.

Pro Comparison:

A good Safety comparison for Quinn Hughes would have to be Minkah Fitzpatrick, the former Safety for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Fitzpatrick is a Safety who isn’t the best tackler and doesn’t always deliver big hits on ball-carriers, but was perhaps one of the best ballhawks in the league during his career, with an exceptional ability to track a ball through the air and pick it off, in addition to his astounding intelligence, football instincts, and speed. This parallels well to Hughes, who has many of the same attributes as Fitzpatrick with the exception of his great hands, something that Hughes needs to put work into attaining. I’d consider his ceiling to be around Ed Reed level. Ed Reed has many of the same traits that Fitzpatrick and Hughes have, but is much more proficient in these skills, along with his ability to tackle and land big hits on ball-carriers. I think that Hughes will eventually be able to get to his ceiling, but it’ll take a lot of work for him to reach this level. I consider Hughes to have a high floor of Minkah Fitzpatrick, alongside a high ceiling of Ed Reed.


Extras:
- Measured in at 6’1”, which is a great height for a Safety of his archetype.
- Weighed in at 195 lbs, which is a little bit on the lighter side for his archetype, but doesn’t take anything away from his ability to play.
- Has experience playing WR and slot CB, allowing him to be an adequate injury replacement for both positions.
- Right-Handed.
- Is a foreign prospect, having played in Canada, but has experience facing competition in the United States. Does not need to prove himself further as a prospect.

Conclusion:
Quinn Hughes is a safe and solid choice for any DSFL GM that has a hole at the Safety position. With good attributes all-around, and exceptional intelligence, I think that he is one of the premier talents at Safety in this draft, and will be a steal for whatever team that decides to draft him, considering that it’ll probably be in the late first or early second due to the sheer amount of talent in this draft. He is more adapted to playing Free Safety than Strong Safety, but should be a decent fill-in for Strong Safety as long as he increases his strength and tackling. Other than that, I’d say that he’ll have to wait a season or two for his true potential to start shining through in the pros, but with enough dedication, he’ll reach his ceiling sooner rather than later. In my opinion, he’s the best Safety prospect in this draft, but it’s close. With a high floor and a high ceiling, I think Quinn Hughes will be the cornerstone of an NSFL defense in no time, and for years to come.

Code:

934 words.

[Isidore94]

Great write up man. It's funny I was definitely thinking of Minkah and Ed Reed when I was creating Quinn. Definitely going for those interceptions over forced fumbles with him. I hope I go late first early second but who knows with such a deep draft, especially at safety