The Opening Drive 5/24: Grant Delpit's Versatility Matters, and Todd Monken Loves Running the Football
Data-driven Sunday discussing safety versatility and more about the Browns new play-caller.
I don’t think we’ve talked enough about how good Grant Delpit really is at this point in his career. He’s emerged as one of the most compelling and versatile players on the Browns defense over the last few years and it comes down to successful versatility.
Beyond his normal spot at free safety, Delpit has also been used as a slot corner in nickel packages and as a linebacker in dime formations. That kind of positional range is not quite rare for a safety of his variety these days but it’s rare for players to be successful doing it across the board. He gives defensive coordinator Mike Rutenberg a genuine chess piece to move around depending any offense as I think Rutenberg will ask even more of Delpit than Jim Schwartz did in previous seasons.
The leagues standard for safety versatility is division-rival Kyle Hamilton. He’s uniquely a 1:1 version at the position who can naturally play other positions and create rare defensive versatility. Derwin James accomplishes a similar level of versatility for the Chargers but at a lower quality. Then there’s Delpit. Those are the league’s three most versatile and still very high value player. Sure, there are others doing less hybrid work and thriving in the quantifiable way more than Delpit, but being able to move around a defense in the way he does for this structure is invaluable.
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