Prospect Profile: Tyler Nubin, S, Minnesota

Context

Plays split safety and single high, rarely in the box.

Coverage

He has good range derived from his play speed, and faster than his measurable speed due to the way he processes the game. This is especially true when he’s able to sit back in a deep zone, periph the WRs and read the QB. He easily gets to vertical routes breaking down the sideline from a split safety position and can make plays outside the numbers for deep routes from the deep post, as long as the receiver doesn’t have elite long speed and a free release. He will also get to post routes breaking in front of him. Where he can struggle is routes that break all the way across the field in front of him when the WR has attacked leverage successfully. In these situations he doesn’t unlock his hips quickly enough and it takes a few clicks of motion for him to unstick himself. He’s particularly good when the offense floods his Zone: he stays calm, reads the QB and takes away the most dangerous threat. Generally he’s off his spot quickly and breaking on the ball when the QB starts his release.

His processing also helps him in man as he’s able to read even the most technical receivers and break with them on most types that call for a 2-step break. He also has enough play speed to cover deep routes. When he comes up against more elite athletes at the position, some of the technical deficiencies he has hurt him; his backpedal is high and he is off-balance which makes it easy to gain separation on comebacks and hitches against him. He’s not the twitchiest or most explosive guy so relies almost entirely on his processing to get a jump on the ball either in Man or Zone. He has excellent click and close on screens or RBs leaking out of the backfield.

His ball skills are impressive. He is a huge threat to take the ball away in the middle of the field using his excellent anticipation and ability to read the QB to jump routes, often by baiting the QB and lying in wait for the throw. Where he can’t pick the ball off he can get his hands on the football with excellent timing and placement on the PBU, when in phase with the receiver. He’s also great at stripping the ball out just after the catch has been made if he’s not quite in position to prevent the catch in the first place. When covering receivers downfield, he needs to locate the ball in the air more consistently.

Run Support

Inserts himself in the run game and can fly like an Exocet to the football. He can be overly aggressive with his run entry angles at times and can shoot the gap too quickly, only for backs with good lateral quickness and who press their keys to spring away from him and leave him trapped by an outside receiver block. This is normally against Gap runs where he doesn’t diagnose the point of attack as well as he does when coming up to play Zone runs. He will throw himself at lead blockers;  he’s aggressive and competitive. He’s an outstanding open-field tackler, he comes from high to low, breaks down and can go in either direction against even those with elite lateral quickness. He has excellent technique, hitting hard with his shoulder but wrapping up too. He takes good angles and is physical enough to get all types of ball-carrier to the ground.

SUMMARY
Highly intelligent, off his spot quickly and enough athleticism to maintain a good range. Not explosive or twitchy, some deficiencies in Man. Outstanding open-field tackler, tough and aggressive.

PRODUCTION 
SR: 1 Sack, 58 To. Tackles, 1 FF, 4 PBUs, 5 INTs
JR: 1 QB Hit, 52 To.Tackles, 1 FF, 4 PBUs, 4 INTs
Injury: Missed 1 game with broken hand; postseason meniscus surgery

RAVENS FIT
Athleticism 3
Intelligence 5
Versatility 4
Grit 5
Scheme 5