Demystifying the Strong Safety Position: A Comprehensive Guide
The strong safety position has long been an enforcer on NFL defenses. While free safeties grab interceptions and cornerbacks shut down receivers, strong safeties do the dirty work to complete defenses, patrolling the box and laying massive hits. But what exactly does the SS position entail beyond the highlights? This detailed guide will demystify the intricacies of playing strong safety in football.
Origin Stories: The Evolution of Strong Safety Play
To understand the strong safety role as it exists today, you have to look back to the days of the single wing offense in the 1930s and 40s. With the quarterback usually blocking and very little passing, defenses countered with six-man defensive lines and four linebackers. This led to the rise of the “monster man” – a hardy safety who essentially played like an extra linebacker close to the line of scrimmage.
As passing increased in the 1950s, the need arose for safeties with coverage ability. The monster man split into the familiar strong and free safety roles. Chuck Bednarik of the Philadelphia Eagles is credited as one of the first true strong safety prototypes, combining fierce hitting against the run with adequate skills in pass coverage.
The AFL and AFL-NFL merger in the 1960s accelerated passing innovations, and players like Larry Wilson became superstar SS who could do it all – fill the alley against runs, blitz off the edge, and cover tight ends in man or pass off receivers in zone. The SS established itself as a clearly defined defensive back position.
Strong AND Weak Side Responsibilities
Today’s strong safeties generally align to the tight end side of the field, known as the “strong side.” This puts them in better position for run support and covering tight ends releasing into routes. However, you’ll also see strong safeties align to the weak side of unbalanced formations, especially in college.
In single-back sets with no true TE, defenses will designate a strong side, usually based on offensive personnel tendencies. Strong safeties must be ready to realign based on motion and shifts. The SS to the tight end side plays more in the box while the away-side SS will have deeper pass responsibilities. Both must be complete players.
Strong Safety Role in Coverage Schemes
The strong safety’s exact coverage assignments will vary significantly based on the scheme:
-
In Cover 1, the SS plays underneath zone matching up against tight ends or helping double outside receivers. They have deep middle help from a single high safety.
-
In Cover 2, the SS divides the deep half with the FS and plays a lot of zone matching principles. This requires excellent route recognition skills and instincts.
-
In Cover 3, the SS handles the run while also dropping into deep outside zone coverage, allowing CBs to play aggressively on short routes.
-
In Cover 4 or Quarters, the SS matches up man-to-man against slot receivers and tight ends while also helping in run support.
Here’s a coverage diagram showing typical SS responsibilities in a Cover 2 scheme:
Diagram of Strong Safety coverage responsibilities in Cover 2 scheme. Image credit: https://completecorner.com/
As you can see, strong safeties have to balance a lot of diverse coverage duties at once. The SS position requires high football IQ and quick instincts to read offensive concepts and get a jump on the ball.
By the Numbers: Strong Safety Production
Let’s look at how starting NFL strong safeties have performed statistically in recent seasons compared to other defensive backs:
| Position | Tackles/Game | Interceptions/Season | Passes Defended/Season | Sacks/Season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strong Safety | 4.1 | 2.4 | 5.2 | 1.1 |
| Free Safety | 3.7 | 3.1 | 6.9 | 0.4 |
| Cornerback | 2.9 | 2.2 | 9.7 | 0.2 |
Table showing average stat lines for strong safeties compared to other defensive backs. Stats via NFL.com.
As expected, strong safeties edge out free safeties and cornerbacks in tackles by playing closer to the box against the run. However, today’s elite SS like Derwin James and Jamal Adams have coverage stats rivaling top corners while still bringing hitting ability. The best strong safeties boast well-rounded production.
Specialization – Run Force and Kickouts
While strong safeties are complete defenders, they do specialize in a couple key techniques against the run:
Run Force – This refers to edge run containment. The SS sets a hard edge, forcing runs back inside.
Kickouts – Against outside runs like sweeps, the SS will avoid blocks by kicking out or evading lead blockers on the edge and forcing runs back into the teeth of the defense.
Here’s a video showing Chargers’ strong safety Derwin James using the kickout technique against the Ravens to stop the sweep for a loss:
These advanced run stopping tactics allow skilled strong safeties like James to dominate against the ground game.
Quotes from NFL Strong Safety Greats
To gain more insight on the intricacies of the position from those who have mastered it, let’s look at some quotes from all-time great NFL strong safeties:
“I always focused on being dominant against the run. I wanted to be an intimidating force.” – Rodney Harrison, two-time All-Pro SS
“Strong safeties have to lead the secondary, especially against the run. You have to want that physicality.” – John Lynch, Hall of Fame SS
“The strong safety has to run the show for the secondary, getting guys lined up right. That leadership is huge.” – Troy Polamalu, Hall of Fame SS
“With all the passing nowadays, strong safeties have become interchangeable with free safeties. I prided myself on excelling at both.” – Adrian Wilson, five-time All-Pro SS
These NFL greats emphasize attributes like physicality, leadership, and versatility that allow strong safeties to excel. Though schemes and responsibilities vary, being that complete defender is what defines elite players at the position.
How Rules Changes Impact SS Play
In recent years, rules changes aimed at improving player safety such as targeting penalties and increased emphasis on eliminating helmet contact have directly impacted strong safety play. As Polamalu notes:
“With some of the rules changes like targeting, strong safeties have to lower our strike zone. But you can still separate the ball from the receiver legally with good technique.”
This shows how strong safeties must adjust to regulations by aiming lower on hits while retaining physicality and aggression within the rules to neutralize receivers. The NFL continues to legislate against certain violent collisions, so strong safeties must toe the line to avoid penalties while not conceding their dominance.
The College Perspective
The life of a strong safety also varies at the college level depending on the defensive scheme. In the Big 12 and Pac-12, spread passing offenses force strong safeties to function essentially like extra cornerbacks in space. SEC strong safeties deal with more power run game offenses and play closer to the line.
Regardless of the system, scouts want to see college strong safety prospects demonstrate above averagehitting ability, short area quickness, and fluidity in coverage to translate to the pro game. College strong safeties rarely make the eye-popping plays, but their well-rounded consistency makes them valuable.
Strong Personalities from the SS Position
The NFL has featured some legendary figures at strong safety who made their mark through fierceness on the field and strong personas off it. Here are some of the most prominent:
Jack Tatum – Nicknamed “The Assassin”, the Raiders’ Tatum instilled fear with his spine-jangling hits, including a tragic one that paralyzed WR Darryl Stingley. His intimidating style defined the "Raider mystique" of the 1970s.
John Lynch – The heart of the Tampa 2 defense, Lynch combined brains, speed, and bone-rattling hits to become a true field general for the Bucs and Broncos leading them to Super Bowl wins. Known as one of football’s nice guys off the field.
Rodney Harrison – One of the most feared defenders of his era, Harrison was a master at toe-ing the line between great physicality and dirty play. His trash talking and aggressive play epitomized the early 2000s Patriots dynasty.
Troy Polamalu – With his iconic long hair flowing from his helmet, Polamalu made acrobatic highlight-reel plays and pulverizing hits that made him one of the NFL’s most recognizable defenders. A quiet leader who led by example.
These strong personalities exemplified different styles, but all shared the toughness and playmaking work ethic expected from elite NFL strong safeties.
Fantasy Football Spotlight
Strong safeties often languished in anonymity as tackles machines without gaudy interception stats. But the rise of fantasy football and scoring systems that reward versatile defensive production have shined a spotlight on strong safety value.
Top fantasy assets like Derwin James, Jamal Adams, and Harrison Smith stuff stat sheets combining elite tackling with turnovers, sacks and passes defended that rack up fantasy points. This recognition has elevated the SS position in the eyes of average fans.
The Next Evolution of Strong Safeties
The increasing athleticism of tight ends and quicker RBs is demanding that strong safeties become even more versatile in coverage. At the same time, the college game is producing elite “joker” defenders that perfectly fit the SS mold.
Defenses are incorporating these hybrid players in sub packages like the Big Nickel with great success. Versatile rookie Kyle Hamilton playing both safety spots and slot corner for the Ravens is the prototype for this new wave of SS who can line up anywhere. Position-less defenders like Hamilton will allow DCs to get very creative with their strongest athletes.
The SS position has always evolved to answer the challenges of modern offenses. As spread concepts and athletic QBs take over, expect strong safeties to meet offenses’ speed and flexibility with versatile skills of their own. They remain the heart of NFL defenses.
