FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — Billy Bowman Jr. spent four years as a starting safety for Oklahoma. He's been through coaching changes, scheme changes. He's seen a little bit of everything, and done a little bit of everything at the position, too. It's why the Falcons were pretty surprised — if not altogether very pleased — that they were in the position to draft him Saturday afternoon at pick No. 118 in the fourth round.
According to The Beast by Dane Brugler, Bowman, who has often been praised for his top football IQ, was a "versatile field safety" in defensive coordinator Zac Alley's 4-2-5 scheme, where he also saw reps in the box and at nickel. The latter of the two is where Falcons evaluators plan to begin when Bowman makes his way to Atlanta, with Jerry Gray and Jeff Ulbrich confirming so after the pick.
Gray told AtlantaFalcons.com that he'll further his assessment of Bowman when he's in the building, ultimately fine tuning and figuring out where he's most comfortable.
"Do we give him a chance to play nickel? Do we give him a chance to play safety, close to the line of scrimmage? What are we trying to do with him that's going to help our defense be that much better?" Gray said. "Getting the chance to start out, though, it'll be at the nickel spot, because that's probably where we need the most."
The Falcons brought back Dee Alford in free agency, and head coach Raheem Morris said during Annual League Meetings in March that the Falcons were planning on shifting Clark Phillips III to nickel this offseason. Gray said adding Bowman only enhances the spot in the slot.
"That will be really, really good for us to see how those guys mix in what we're trying to get done," Gray said.
As for what the Falcons can expect from Bowman at nickel, area scout Dante Fargnoli broke it down.
"I think there is a level of toughness that's needed to play inside there, because you're taking on linemen, you're taking on bubble screens, you're going in the backfield against running backs. There is so much that is asked of you, and it's almost like a linebacker-ish role, so you have to kind of be wired that way to do it," Fargnoli said. "He's got that wiring."
At 5-foot-10, 192 pounds, Bowman isn't the tallest guy around. He's not the longest either. But he's got the speed to match up with slot receivers if necessary (he ran a 4.42 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine in February). That, and like Fargnoli said, he has the wiring the Falcons like.
"In his heart, he is like 220 pounds and he doesn't care. He's going to run right through that person and he's going to do whatever he can to make the stop or get the TFL or PBU," Fargnoli said. "Whatever it is, he's leaving it all out there. That's what Billy is all about. That's what we love about him."
