FanPost

Brandon Burton -- Converting to Safety??

i was listening to KFAN today via podcast, and PA was at Vikes minicamp and had Rick Spielman on for a few segments (see: 6/21, HR 3, 41:24). PA asked him about the Safety situation; Spielman had a bit to say about our personnel, and this is a tid-bit that really caught my attention:

... you see Brandon Burton, who is similar to Mistral Raymond in the fact that he was a Corner that you're converting to Safety and how he's making that adjustment ...

i think it goes without saying that Harrison Smith will (and should) be a starting Safety for us (personally i would plug him in at SS, but in the Tampa-2, Safeties are somewhat interchangeable). however, therein lies the follow-up question -- who plays alongside Smith??

well, as Chris just pointed out, Husain Abdullah won't be back with the team this season... which appeared to be a given considering we had not signed him to this point, but at least now we have a definitive explanation.

certainly Jamarca Sanford has 'seniority' as the veteran, but that doesn't mean a whole lot unless you've proven yourself year-in and year-out... which Sanford hasn't necessarily done.

Eric Frampton... meh, Special Teams ace, but not a viable starting Safety option.

Mistral Raymond is young and has potential, but has his work cut out for him in terms of starting status.

then there are a bunch of new guys who are basically Practice Squad candidates.

but, here is where we ask the question... did Spielman really mean Brandon Burton, or did he misspeak and was actually referring to Robert Blanton (also of Notre Dame fame) when speaking to CB's converting to Safety...??

whatever the case, i have always been of the opinion that Burton was an absolute steal in the 5th rd in last year's draft, and i hope we find a place for him and he excels enough to scratch the starting roster. i always felt he would be a great fit at the Nickel once Winfield decided to retire, but Spielman's comment has me wondering if they're actually converting him to Safety... i've been pulling for Burton since we drafted him, so i'm similarly intrigued with the thought of him at Safety.

at the same time... perhaps Spielman simply misspoke and he meant to say Blanton instead of Burton.

in any event... i think almost by default, we'll see Smith and Sanford as our starting Safeties entering the season. but the future at Safety is Smith and __(fill in the blank)__ ... {TJ McDonald in the 2013 Draft...!!}

what do you think?? does Burton fit into the equation at Safety, or...??

[this post was brought to you by the number 6, and the beverage Capt Morgain]

This FanPost was created by a registered user of The Daily Norseman, and does not necessarily reflect the views of the staff of the site. However, since this is a community, that view is no less important.