With talk of Jimmie Ward auditioning at free safety in a single high safety scheme similar to SEA's, I took at look at his lone game at safety(2015 vs Rams week 17, Mangini DC). Specifically, the times he was playing as single high safety. First, a description of what is asked from the free safety in SEA's scheme.
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http://www.espn.com/blog/seattle-seahawks/post/_/id/15829/earl-thomas-job-description-own-two-routes-and-dont-get-greedy
Coach Pete Carroll and the defensive coaches teach him to cover two routes above all others: the seams and the post.
"I think they emphasize that every chance they get because they understand who they've got back there," Thomas said. "They just want to beat home in my brain that you've got to own seams and posts."
Assistant head coach/defense Rocky Seto added: "That's a big emphasis. That's what we ask him to take care of -- seams and posts. And any underneath routes or runs that get out, to make those tackles.
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While there were a number of plays where Ward played single high, I only two noticed two plays where he was the focal point of the route combination as the key defender for the QB. Shown are those two plays.
Pin concept vs Cover3
The "Pin" concept is a two route combination, Post + Dig (In) = Pin, designed to vertically stretch a safety. 49ers show a 2 deep look but will rotate to Cover3.
The Dig route breaks first to set the bait for the safety. If the safety moves up to cover the Dig, it opens up the Post. If the safety gains depth to cover the Post, then it opens up the Dig. The Dig is not the safety's concern. It is up to the middle of the field underneath defenders (Hook zones) to gain depth to cover the Dig.
Here, Ward sees the Dig and comes up to defend it.
Ward takes the bait, opening up the Post. QB just released the ball.
Completed for +53 yards. Can't get greedy. Gotta defend the Seam/Post.
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Later in the game. Same concept vs same coverage.
No doubt, Ward sees the Dig route in front of him, but he shows discipline in his assignment and stays back. It's the Hook zone defenders' responsibility (orange) to see the deep dropback (7 step timing), get their head on a swivel, gain depth, and cover up the Dig.
As soon as he recognizes the Post trying to get behind him, he turns and runs. It seems like the angle he takes here is a good one, but because the QB saw Ward gain depth, the QB targets the Dig, Ward peels off, and we can't tell if the angle Ward took was actually good or not.
Pass was dropped. Props to Ward for not getting tricked again. Wish the Rams had ran this concept out of a different look instead of the same personnel, same formation as the previous cut up. Would have been really bad had Ward fallen for it again.
An overaggressive safety gets noticed on film and will become the target of an offense's gameplan. Ward's college film suggests he is aggressive in coming up to make a tackle/play. He will have to find the perfect balance between being aggressive and being smart.
. How do you have it scored? 
