Chris Hope

Like the rest of the Tennessee defense, Hope saw a big jump in his stats last year. After hovering in the 80-tackle range for 2008 and 2009, he blew up for 101 tackles (87 solo) in 2010. Hope's numbers likely will regress toward the mean in 2011, but he has a fairly high floor considering how late he�ll be available in most drafts. When Hope's played 16 games in a season, he's never posted fewer than 78 tackles, and he's recorded more than 100 tackles in two of his four full seasons with the Titans.

In 2010, Hope enters his ninth year as a solid starter as strong safety. He has not missed a game in two years and looks to still be in great shape to continue that streak. He maintains steady but not "eye-popping" numbers at his position.

Hope returned from a 2007 neck injury to have his first Pro Bowl season in 2008. He has totaled 497 total tackles in seven years at safety. Hope it could be argued is on the back side of his prime years but likely has a few more good ones left in him. We expect him to have another IDP-worthy year in 2009, with a high number of tackles and at least a few interceptions.

Hope had been one of the better IDP secondary choices in the last several years but last season was marred by injury. Hope had just 49 tackles and two interceptions in 11 games compared to 121 tackles and five interceptions in 2006. Hope says he is healed and should start at strong safety if healthy.

Hope has gotten better in each of his three years as a starter. His tackle counts have moved from 89 to 96 to 121, while his picks have jumped from one to three to five. Can he get even better? It would be awfully difficult, since he was the top IDP defensive back last year—by a wide margin of 11 points over second-place Champ Bailey. It was the best year by a defensive back since the days of Rodney Harrison and would have put him in the top 10 among linebackers. Hope gives himself the opportunity to be in on any play with sideline-to-sideline range, speed for deep coverage and effective aggression in run support. Strong change-of-direction skills and quick feet have made him an effective ball hawk, but even after five interceptions in 2006 he has room to improve through better recognition and greater aggression. There are plenty of holes on this defense, especially with Pacman Jones suspended for the season, so Hope will have ample opportunities to keep pouring in the points.

Hope will start at free safety for Tennessee, where he should have plenty of chances to rack up the tackles missed by the team's young and suspect cornerbacks.

Hope's ability to deliver crushing hits has opposing receivers developing alligator arms at inopportune times. The free safety finished with 89 tackles (58,31) and one interception in 2004.