Aight... Let's get back to this Barbara Walters style interview we've got going on here ;-)

From Ryan - aka VanRam - (playing the part of Barbara)...

How do you approach the free and strong safety position?

I think it all depends on what defense you're in.  You could be playing strong safety, but - in a certain defense - be in the middle of the field.  Or, you could be playing free safety, but - in a certain defense - you could be coming down in the box as if you're a strong safety. ...Know what I mean?

As a strong safety, I'm thinking I want to be as aggressive as humanly possible as I'm coming down towards the box around the line of scrimmage, like a linebacker.  Here, I'll be able to throw my body around and beat-up on some guys.

When I'm at free safety, I still wanna be aggressive;  but, on run plays, I can't wild-out too much, because my job is to stay over the top of the defense to keep the action in front of me.  If the rush breaks through, I gotta be ready to make a good form tackle in the open field to prevent the guy from gaining any more yards, because I'm the last line of defense.  

As a free safety on pass plays, I'm still wanting to keep the action in front of me, yet I also have to make sure I have a good read on the quarterback so he doesn't let loose any long balls that could get by me.  

Keep the questions comin', guys!  I'm cool with talkin' football, and I'm cool with talking about stuff that's going on off the field.  So get at me in the comments or hit me up on Facebook.com/KevinPayneNFL or Twitter.com/Kevin_Payne.

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