STRENGTHS: Good-sized frame for safety…long arms to lasso ballcarriers and find passing lanes…tracks the action well from the backfield, showing range as a run defender…holds outside contain, filtering runs inside…accurate strike zone as a tackler with strong hands to finish his man to the ground…physical at contact, striking low to stop the ballcarrier in his tracks…senior captain…reliable off the field and was ordained as a youth minister…durable with resilient toughness, starting all 25 games the last two seasons.
WEAKNESSES: Lanky and needs to continue and add bulk…labors in man and zone coverage…lacks the straight-line speed to hang with receivers vertically…feet get tied up with sophisticated routes and can’t recover…late to see routes develop and won’t jump passing lanes because of his tardiness…not a burst player, making it too easy for receivers to gain separation…spends too much time engaged with blockers…overeager tendencies vs. the run and will get lost in a crowd…half-hearted player at times with too many clean-view stat stuffers or examples of him coasting on tape.
SUMMARY: A two-year starter at Colorado, Laguda was a reliable safety for the Buffs his junior and senior seasons, playing primarily in the deep half of the field as the last line of defense. He is a steady run defender with his play range, sound angles and finishing skills, although he needs to do a better job working through blockers to the ballcarrier. His pedestrian speed and struggles changing direction limits his ability in pass coverage, taking too long to break down on routes or adjust with receivers out of breaks. Overall, Laguda is a capable tackler with a solid resume, but he isn’t a playmaker and is a liability if left alone in coverage.
