Scouting Robenson Therezie
Yesterday, the Jets announced that they had signed former Falcons and Saints defensive back Robinson Therezie. We're going to be taking an in-depth look at his strengths and weaknesses.
The 26-year old Therezie is listed at 5-foot-10 and 212 pounds and was an undrafted free agent out of Auburn in 2015. He had a significant role as a back-up safety with the Falcons as an undrafted rookie, making two starts and racking up 33 tackles and an interception. However, he didn't play much on defense in 2016 and was released near the end of the year. He was claimed by the Saints but they waived him after their first preseason game a few days ago.
Background
Therezie was a running back in high school, which was where he earned the nickname "Cadillac", based on his similarities in terms of build and running style to Auburn legend Cadillac Williams. He headed to Auburn himself but, after a redshirt year, was converted to defensive back.
Therezie didn't play much over his first two seasons, recording 20 tackles and one pass defensed. However, in his redshirt junior season he had career highs of 57 tackles and four interceptions. While his production dipped slightly in his senior year, he showed good playmaking abilities with career highs in tackles for loss (four), sacks (0.5), passes defensed (six) and forced fumbles (two).
After not being invited to the scouting combine, Therezie had a solid pro day but was undrafted. He was signed by the Falcons and played well enough in preseason to earn the back-up safety role. During the season, he started twice and recorded 33 tackles, two passes defensed and a game-clinching interception.
When the Falcons drafted Keanu Neal in the first round in 2016, Therezie fell down the depth chart and was mostly relegated to a special teams role. He hurt his ankle down the stretch and then was released late in the year.
New Orleans claimed him off waivers but didn't use him in their last two games and he would last just one preseason game with them this year.
Now let's review what Therezie brings to the table, divided into categories.
Measurables
Therezie (#27) has some outstanding athletic ability and this is evident from his film:
At his pro day, he ran a sub-4.4 40-yard dash, did 19 bench press reps and ran a 4.05 short shuttle. The rest of his numbers were no worse than average.
He doesn't have great length, but has bulked up nicely, adding 10 pounds from his senior year to his pro day and another seven since then to get up to his listed weight of 212.
Usage
Therezie was primarily a free safety with the Falcons, although he would also come up into the box and match up with slot receivers. At Auburn, he started off in a hybrid linebacker/safety role but converted to a more conventional slot corner role in his final season.
Falcons coaches have praised his versatility, noting that they used him at middle linebacker in one game.
Coverage skills
Therezie's coverage numbers are not too bad, although he has given up a high completion percentage when targeted at the NFL level. He closes well on the ball while mostly being employed in off-coverage.
The Falcons would often match him up against tight ends. He fared quite well in that role, but it's clear that bigger tight ends should be able to use their size to box him out. Here's an example where Therezie (#27) gives up a catch to Benjamin Watson:
This is a deep quarters coverage and he allows Mike Evans to beat him too easily down the seam. The outside corner almost gets across to rescue him, but can't:
Physicality/Penalties
Therezie has just one defensive penalty in regular season action; for defensive pass interference. However, he's had another three in his 11 preseason games.
He doesn't seem ideal suited to a press cover type of role but is certainly a physical tackler. Here's a couple of big hits which look the same but are actually two different plays from the same game:
Ball skills
Therezie showed good playmaking abilities in his redshirt junior season, intercepting four passes, including one which he returned for a touchdown:
However, these were his only four interceptions in his college career. At the NFL level, he had one in his rookie season to ice a 10-7 win over the Titans and two more in preseason. He made a good read in zone coverage and reacted well to make the play:
Run defense
Therezie shows an eagerness to contribute in run defense and does make some stops. Due to his size he can be blocked out of plays, but he has good range in pursuit when in space.
Here's a great play where he sets the back up perfectly on an outside run and then closes explosively to the ball carrier:
Tackling
As already noted, Therezie is a big hitter. Here's another example:
Robenson Therezie was just charged for attempted murder. WHAT A HIT #Falcons #JAXvsATL pic.twitter.com/xZDJyi2PCR
— Rise Up Reader (@RiseUpReader) September 2, 2016
Whenever you hear descriptions like "guided missile" for a safety, you know to expect the rough with the smooth. He's going to come up fast and make some big hits, but could also overrun plays and miss tackles.
To his credit, he is not quite as reckless as many big hitters are and hasn't had that many missed tackles, although he hasn't been a full time player otherwise those numbers would be much higher. On this play, Therezie is the deep safety, wearing #48, and he comes up too fast and lets Chris Ivory break his tackle to go the distance:
Blitzing
Therezie only had one-half sack in his college career and none at the NFL level, although he's generated pressure pretty consistently whenever they've blitzed him.
Special teams
Therezie was a key contributor on special teams with the Falcons and at Auburn. He was a productive tackler at Auburn and, while he only had a couple of special teams tackles each year with the Falcons, he saw plenty of reps as a gunner and in the vice role.
Instincts
Therezie has been praised for his instincts. He seems to be a player who puts in a lot of film study work and makes some good reads on the field. There didn't seem to be any examples of blown coverages or anything like that. After his rookie year, Dan Quinn said he had done well and just needed to work more on the details and communication that go into playing the position.
Attitude
Therezie has drawn praise for his willingness to learn and eagerness to improve. He's a player with a passion for the game who has talked in interviews about his love for hard hitting.
The only semblance of a red flag is that he was in danger of being suspended at Auburn due to academic eligibility issues, but that was resolved in time for the season.
Injuries
Therezie has dealt with a few injuries at the NFL level, including an ankle injury in December last year that contributed to his being replaced before the postseason. He's also had a thumb injury and a head injury and missed time in 2015 with a hamstring issue.
Scheme Fit
Therezie is an interesting addition at this stage. His hybrid qualities make him the sort of player that you'd expect to interest Todd Bowles, who employed a not-dissimilar player in Deone Bucannon at inside linebacker in his last year with the Cardinals.
The prevailing notion is that Therezie is here for added depth due to the injury to Doug Middleton, but it's also possible they've brought him in as cover for Shamarko Thomas. Thomas would be a candidate to make the team at safety, especially with Middleton and the recently-released Corey White out of the picture, but has also missed some time. He played a similar role on special teams to Therezie and has a similar level of experience and production on defense.
Conclusions
At this stage of the preseason, you'd expect anyone that comes on board to be a camp body, but Therezie is a player with some athleticism, talent and experience that might catch on in the Jets' system.
There is at least one safety spot up for grabs, especially with White and Middleton gone. Therezie's special teams abilities could serve as a tie-breaker if it comes down to him and another player for the final spot.
With Quincy Enunwa and Doug Middleton expected to be placed on injured return soon, we'll be back with scouting reports for whoever they sign to replace them, provided it's not a re-signing of some description.