- Position: LB
- School: TCU
- Class: Senior
- Height: 6-1
- Weight: 230
StrengthsÂ
Dee Winters is a fast athletic linebacker, with coverage skills like a nickel safety. The former safety shows the ability to cover running backs, tight ends, and slot receivers in man-to-man/zone schemes. Winters displays technical and violent tackles by using leverage and exploding at pad level with aggression. His speed in small spaces takes away plays for yards after the catch, with the ability to run down ball carriers on sweeps or busted coverages. Winters displays play recognition by running through correct gaps, with awareness by attacking the ball carrier or quarterback in the backfield.
SECOND PICK SIX OF THE NIGHT! DEE WINTERS!! 🔥
📺 @ESPNCFB #Big12FB x @TCUFootball pic.twitter.com/SpMAriipkI
— Big 12 Conference (@Big12Conference) December 31, 2022
Scheme Fit
Winters’ abilities transition best in a 4-3 Will linebacker scheme where the defense can use his speed to blitz and disrupt plays in the backfield for tackles for loss or sacks. The Buffalo nickel scheme is usually deployed with a safety. However, with Winters’ ability and history of playing safety, he can be used in schemes in ways to cover athletic tight ends/slot receivers in zone coverages.
WeaknessesÂ
- Needs to improve on shedding blocks, once engaged.
- He plays too fast at times, missing the correct assignment.
Overall
Winters has the ability to be used as an attacking linebacker to disrupt the run game and sack the quarterback with his speed. Defenses will maximize his athletic ability to cover running backs, tight ends, and slot receivers. His speed and versatility is an asset in the NFL with more hybrid WR/RB and athletic tight ends being used.
