2021 Official Chargers Season Discusssion

[Formula 21]

Ben DeLuca






Ben DeLuca

Charlotte

6' 1"

202 lbs


Prospect Grade

5.65


Stephen Benito DeLuca Jr. was a three-time All-Conference USA selection for the 49ers, achieving the recognition as a sophomore (team-high 102 tackles, six pass breakups, five forced fumbles -- which tied for the FBS lead), junior (team-high 92 tackles, 1.5 for loss, one interception, four pass breakups in 12 starts) and senior (48 tackles, 1.5 for loss, one interception, three pass breakups, two forced fumbles in six starts). Even as a freshman in 2016, DeLuca earned Freshman All-Conference USA honors with 68 tackles, two interceptions and four pass breakups in 12 games (eight starts). He missed most of the 2019 season, however, after suffering a right shoulder injury in Week 2 (three tackles in two starts). The Orlando product and former second-team all-state pick at Bishop Moore High School is Charlotte's all-time leading tackler. -- by Chad Reuter

By Lance Zierlein
NFL Analyst

Draft Projection
Round 7/PFA

Overview
DeLuca has played in two-deep, single-high and slot-man coverage with varying degrees of success. He has adequate size with decent athleticism, but his instincts and field recognition help to speed up his play and take him to the football. His paths to the football are fairly accurate when playing over the top, but his speed to range and get there on time to make a play is suspect on the next level. DeLuca is a willing, aggressive run supporter but might not have enough reactive athleticism to get to as many tackles as teams would like. The traits are average but his nose for the ball gives him a chance.

Strengths

• Noteworthy career production totals, including nine forced fumbles and 17 passes defensed.
• Gains ground with a smooth backpedal.
• Plays with instincts and anticipation in coverage.
• Terrific feel for altering angles to the throw.
• Able to adjust and go from outside to inside shoulder when playing the ball.
• Quick diagnosis and trigger downhill against run.
• Willing to throw his entire body in as tackler.

Weaknesses

• Disappointing top-end speed.
• Missed most of 2019 with season-ending injury.
• Bites on bait, leading to occasional busted coverages.
• Not enough close-out juice to beat NFL quarterbacks to the window.
• Stalls in plant-and-drive phase when closing on the throw.
• Average tackle-finisher.

[Xenos]

Ben DeLuca






Ben DeLuca

Charlotte

6' 1"

202 lbs


Prospect Grade

5.65


Stephen Benito DeLuca Jr. was a three-time All-Conference USA selection for the 49ers, achieving the recognition as a sophomore (team-high 102 tackles, six pass breakups, five forced fumbles -- which tied for the FBS lead), junior (team-high 92 tackles, 1.5 for loss, one interception, four pass breakups in 12 starts) and senior (48 tackles, 1.5 for loss, one interception, three pass breakups, two forced fumbles in six starts). Even as a freshman in 2016, DeLuca earned Freshman All-Conference USA honors with 68 tackles, two interceptions and four pass breakups in 12 games (eight starts). He missed most of the 2019 season, however, after suffering a right shoulder injury in Week 2 (three tackles in two starts). The Orlando product and former second-team all-state pick at Bishop Moore High School is Charlotte's all-time leading tackler. -- by Chad Reuter

By Lance Zierlein
NFL Analyst

Draft Projection
Round 7/PFA

Overview
DeLuca has played in two-deep, single-high and slot-man coverage with varying degrees of success. He has adequate size with decent athleticism, but his instincts and field recognition help to speed up his play and take him to the football. His paths to the football are fairly accurate when playing over the top, but his speed to range and get there on time to make a play is suspect on the next level. DeLuca is a willing, aggressive run supporter but might not have enough reactive athleticism to get to as many tackles as teams would like. The traits are average but his nose for the ball gives him a chance.

Strengths

• Noteworthy career production totals, including nine forced fumbles and 17 passes defensed.
• Gains ground with a smooth backpedal.
• Plays with instincts and anticipation in coverage.
• Terrific feel for altering angles to the throw.
• Able to adjust and go from outside to inside shoulder when playing the ball.
• Quick diagnosis and trigger downhill against run.
• Willing to throw his entire body in as tackler.

Weaknesses

• Disappointing top-end speed.
• Missed most of 2019 with season-ending injury.
• Bites on bait, leading to occasional busted coverages.
• Not enough close-out juice to beat NFL quarterbacks to the window.
• Stalls in plant-and-drive phase when closing on the throw.
• Average tackle-finisher.

You can be a decent safety if you have the smarts. Weddle was a great example though his athleticism was actually underrated.

[dmac_bolt]

You can be a decent safety if you have the smarts. Weddle was a great example though his athleticism was actually underrated.

Waddle ran sub 4.5. This guy is slow, i think NFL speed will eat him alive. We’ll see i guess - wish him the best

[Ghost of Quacksaw]

You can be a decent safety if you have the smarts. Weddle was a great example though his athleticism was actually underrated.

Weddle was an outstanding overall athlete. He was the best player on the field as a high schooler (not a big surprise), but also became the best player on his college team by the time he was a senior. It's much more rarified air in the NFL, but even then, Weddle had some Pro Bowl years, so he was among the better handful of free safeties during his pro career.

[dmac_bolt]

Weddle was an outstanding overall athlete. He was the best player on the field as a high schooler (not a big surprise), but also became the best player on his college team by the time he was a senior. It's much more rarified air in the NFL, but even then, Weddle had some Pro Bowl years, so he was among the better handful of free safeties during his pro career.

I remember a college game against my Aztecs, he torched them for 3 TDs, 2 pick-six and one on offense.

[Steve]

Waddle ran sub 4.5. This guy is slow, i think NFL speed will eat him alive. We’ll see i guess - wish him the best

The question is whether DeLuca is really slow or if he just runs a bad 40. Remember that Ronde Barber was about the same speed as DeLuca and he was a CB. A lot of small school guys test badly because they don't do the combine drills every day like the guys in the big programs do.

[Formula 21]

It’s strange to see a guy with solid vertical and long jumps who runs so slow. Thinking fast does give him a head start on plays though. I can see him on the PS as a future injury replacement.

[wu-dai clan]

Ben DeLuca forty time 4.70
Taylor Rapp forty time 4.78

[Steve]

As F21 points out, the other measures of explosiveness (vertical and broad jump) suggest a more explosive guy. Never get too hung up on 40 times. Players don't make a roster in the underwear Olympics. They make the roster playing football, and last time I looked, there is no stop watch. All of the focus on 40 times just biases the observer and makes them lose track of the important thing ... can they play.

If a player doesn't explode on his start, or weaves in his lane, not only is he running too far (more than 40 yards), but it slows them down. There are plenty of guys who have good playing speed who never ran track and don't know how to run a good 40 time. It isn't as easy as it seems, and there are some slow guys who can hide their lack of speed by doing a better job of knowing how to do it, that masks how fast they really are.

The other thing is that speed is only one aspect of being a football player. Instincts, the ability to see or anticipate what is going on, and what you do. Jimmy Oliver is still probably the fastest player to be in a charger uniform in the last 40 years, and that guy couldn't do anything but run in a straight line.

[Xenos]

Waddle ran sub 4.5. This guy is slow, i think NFL speed will eat him alive. We’ll see i guess - wish him the best

No actual combine this past year though.

[Xenos]

One down, two to go:

[Xenos]