Pittsburgh safety Paris Ford scouting report: The defensive spark plug

A hard-hitting flyer at 190 pounds, Pittsburgh Safety Paris Ford is an emotional leader with a natural inclination for flipping momentum.

The University of Pittsburgh already has a likely first-round selection representing their defensive unit in IDL Jalen Twyman, and redshirt Junior safety Paris Ford is looking to put the Panthers program on notice for NFL scouting departments.

Ford measures up at 6-foot, 190 pounds fitting the mold of the increasingly popular undersized safety who can reach all parts of the field. At this size, Ford is not going to be slotting into the role of box-safety, being a dominant interior run-stuffer alongside the likes of Jamal Adams. Ford is down 24 pounds on the Seahawks All-Pro and will need to develop to take on big-body ballcarriers such as Derrick Henry or Nick Chubb.

Where Ford’s strength lies though is in his ability to pursue the play from sideline to sideline. With projected 4.4 speed and possibly the highest motor in college football, Ford is a ball-seeking demon from the safety position who can read the play and break downhill at breakneck speed. Having a player in your secondary who can manufacture losses of yardage on the edge is an invaluable asset to NFL defenses.

With this high-energy play though, Ford can find himself out of position when playing hard downhill and leave the back-end exposed. This emotional play also generates missed tackles and gaps in technique which shed tackles for loss off of the box score at the end of the game. When Ford does connect though, momentum can swing and change the outlook of the ballgame.

Looking into some of these flaws in tackling, Ford is a player who prefers the less conventional option of throwing himself as a human projectile through the tackle. This means of contact is punishing and the reason he is such a major factor in the momentum of the game.

One concern to keep an eye out for with Ford’s tackling is his tendency to go low on diving tackles and end up taking himself out of the play. Many times Ford would seek out contact with a thrown-shoulder and end up diving to the feet of the ballcarrier, either being avoided with a quick jumpcut or uninspiring hurdle.

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Highlight plays do vary from snap to snap though, as Ford has proven himself to be one of the premier open-field tacklers of the 2021 NFL Draft class with reliable positioning and technique. Ford is able to outstretch his long arms and reel in ball carriers for little yardage post-contact.

In the 2019 campaign, Ford managed to collect 90 tackles (2.5 for loss) and forced three fumbles. Through seven games of the 2020 season, Ford was on track for a similar total at 41 tackles but managed to produce three tackles for loss within half the playing time. Ford appears to be growing in confidence attacking downhill, and given freedoms at the NFL level will continue to grow.

Although Ford’s brand revolves around his abilities to attack ballcarriers, his coverage abilities have generated interest with his schematic fit for the NFL. Ford has shown his best work playing over the top of a receiver, reading the eyes of the quarterback and breaking on routes with instincts and timing. With his natural anticipation carrier over from his run-stopping Ford is able to beat the ball to the receiver and swing the game into his team’s favor through a second dimension.

Ford has also made a number of plays sitting underneath in robber coverage, jumping routes, and producing Bruschi-like interceptions. This is an essential skill for safeties like Ford who will often find themselves placed within the defensive-front and need to drop back into coverage.

A concern for Ford fitting into NFL defenses from day one though is his ability to operate in man-to-man coverage. Pittsburgh generated respectable pressure from a conventional four-man pass-rush, and Ford was not often forced to match up against receivers one-on-one. His ability in zone coverage will make him a functional scheme fit upon entering the league, but to grow into an all-purpose safety he will need to develop physically and challenge receivers at the line of scrimmage as well as downfield.

Once the ball is in Ford’s hands, there is offensive potential. The same athleticism used to track down ballcarriers is know unleashed with the ball in his hands and can carve offensive players for crucial yardage to help the offense. On six interceptions in his two seasons at Pittsburgh, Ford managed 103 yards and one touchdown.

The final major selling point to Ford’s game is his ability to lead with emotion and create energy on the defensive side of the ball. NFL locker rooms are always in search of players who can spark higher levels of play within their units, and Paris Ford is a player who can mold a defense in his image with immense effort and physicality.

Player Comp: Malcolm Jenkins, S, NO

A well-rounded coverage safety with sure-tackling around the line of scrimmage, the former Saints and Eagles safety has been a staple NFC defensive star for the last ten years. Malcolm Jenkins has tallied eight seasons of at least 70 tackles. Jenkins has also managed a career-high of nine tackles for loss in 2015, and on 18 career interceptions produced 499 yards and six touchdowns.

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At 6-foot, 204 pounds, Jenkins fills a similar physical profile to what Ford is expected to grow into. Jenkins may play more conserved and calculated than Ford, but serves the same role within a defense as an anchor in the secondary with reliable tackling and productive coverage over the top of the defense.

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