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|
2012 Draft
CORNERBACKS |
Morris
Claiborne 5111 188 LSU |
Combine - Forty: 4.50 | BP: DNP | VJ: 34.5 |
BJ: 118 | 3C: 7.01 | 20Sh: 4.12 | 60Sh: 11.44
|
Pro Day -
Make his case for being a top-five selection in the
2012 NFL Draft.The Tigers’ top prospect reeled off
4.43 and 4.46 40-yard
dashes, improving on his combine marks. He also had
a 35-inch vertical jump and a 9-9 broad
jump.Claiborne will have surgery on Friday to repair
a torn ligament in his left wrist, but he didn’t
show any ill effects of the injury on Thursday. He
caught the ball well in position drills and
displayed quick feet.
PFW Scout's Candid Comments
- "Claiborne's
cover skills are a rare commoditiy. I wish
he were more physical, but he has few holes
in his game."
Pro Football Draft Guide
– #1 CB with value in the return game. Close
to the total package for a press corner..
|
From nfl.com -
Huge for the position and has track speed. A very
explosive athlete, Should easily pressure for a
starting role early in training camp. Covered top
talent in the SEC and is as polished as corners come
in this year's draft. Has first-round value and
shouldn't last long.
Aggressive cover man who likes to use his tall frame
and long arms to get up in the face of receivers and
shock them at the LOS to disrupt timing. When he
punches, he doesn't just get his hands there, he
makes his presence felt. Can run with his back to
the ball at the receiver's hip using a press/bail
technique and looks natural running with his man
in-phase while still keeping an eye towards the
ball. So gifted an athlete with uncommon body
control that he runs with his man fluidly up and
down the field while still being well-positiioned to
break off at any time and get involved in plays
coming across him. As a zone defender, he is simply
an explosive athlete with length and can keep plays
in front of him and react quick enough to meet the
man at the ball. Physical in run support and will
have no problem coming up to tackle from the edge.
So gifted an athlete that he can get lazy in his
technique. In off-man coverage, he tends to get his
pad level high in his back pedal and neutralize his
explosiveness that makes him so effective out of his
breaks.
ESPN (Scouts, Inc.) - Instincts
continue to improve with more game experience.
Confident in press-man coverage. Above average
awareness in zone. Will bait QB's to throw his way
by keeping distance but knows his limitations.
|
"Experienced playing inside but spends a majority
time on perimeter. Can continue to improve his upper
body strength and must become more consistent with
press-technique. But has long arms and is good at
rerouting WRs when in press. Outstanding foot
quickness and fluid hips for a taller corner. Can
flip his hips quickly and has the top-end speed to
turn and run vertically with faster SEC receivers.
Has a legitimate second-gear and can gain ground
when the ball is in the air. Gets a bit sloppy in
his pedal at times and must be more consistent with
his pad level, especially when playing off. But has
good burst out of his pedal and closes quickly when
playing
balls
thrown in front of him.
|
Former WR. Few college cornerbacks have his
awareness and ability to track the ball over his
shoulder. Outstanding body control. Will lay out and
make diving catch. Confident attacking the ball and
has cashed in on most opportunities. Production
matches tape. Some wiggle and explosiveness after
the pick. Big play ability in the return game.
|
Above average in run support but not as big, strong
or physical as Patrick Peterson. Gets pushed around
by bigger blockers and it takes him a bit too long
to get off of blocks. But there's no question he's
willing to support the run and mix it up physically.
Bit of a mean streak. Will break down in space and
stay under control. Attempts to wrap up most of the
time but occasionally will leave his feet and puts
his head down. Should continue to improve tackling
skills with more experience. "
|
|
Janoris
Jenkins 5100 193 No. Alabama |
Combine - Forty: 4.46 | BP: DNP |
VJ: 33.5 | BJ: 121 | 3C:
6.95 | 20Sh: 4.13 | 60Sh: 11.23 |
Pro Football Draft Guide –
Big play gambler booted from Florida. Elite in
off-man coverage with the quickness, closing burst
and uncanny instincts to make plays
From nfl.com -
Transferred to North Alabama after multiple run-ins
with the law and the Gators' coaching staff. But a
natural cover corner with strong instincts who can
cover top wideouts. Size also a concern. Looks
comfortable with the ball in his hands as a
returner. If teams can overlook his off-field
transgressions, he’s a bonafide first-round talent
and a potential top 15 pick.
Explosive. Can
stay with receivers and cover in man and zone alike.
Can read plays and react to them to be around the
ball, where he uses his athletic ability, quickness,
and closing speed to finish plays. Has impressive
hips, / his fluidity stands out and makes him a
natural at the position. A flexible athlete, he is
quick-twitched and can ignite a powerful plant foot
at any time or position to react on a ball or move
by a receiver. Can completely blanket a receiver and
effortlessly move in transition to stay with and on
top of almost any wideout at the collegiate level.
Despite size, he can jam and re-route the receiver
well at the line and play with physicality in run
support. A classic man-cover corner who uses his
superior athletic ability and instincts to stay a
step ahead.
There are the off-field concerns, and he
projects as an undersized corner. Could have trouble
adapting to the size and physicality of some top NFL
wide receivers/ tackling and run-support remains a
question mark.
ESPN (Scouts, Inc.) -
Confident competitor with natural instincts for the
game. Anticipation and route recognition skills are
above-average. Good awareness in zone coverage to
mark targets coming into his area. Also good at
reading quarterbacks eyes and drops - which allows
him to get a quicker break. Good field awareness
/will come off of primary responsibility to make a
play on the ball. Over aggressive at times which can
result in a missed tackle after catch.
|
Quick-twitched athlete who reminds us a bit of a
young Asante Samuel. Natural back pedal / makes an
easy flip of hips to turn and go. Balanced - feet
stay constantly underneath him allowing him to make
a quick transition out of breaks. Explodes out of
his pedal and closes quickly on the ball in front of
him. Can mirror and maintain proper position in man
coverage. Could be more aggressive with his press
technique but will jab and run with receivers when
in press-man.
|
Very good at getting his head turned around in time
and locating the ball in deep coverage. Natural
hands / consistently comes down with routine
interception. Will also make acrobatic INT outside
of frame. Times leaps well when high-pointing the
ball, but can be shielded by bigger and more
physical WR.
|
Active and willing in run support. Physical / uses
hands well when taking on blocks. Lacks ideal
strength and will get muscled around a bit by bigger
WR's if they can get into his body. Reliable overall
tackler who breaks down well in the open field.
|
|
Dre
Kirkpatrick 6015 186 Alabama |
Combine - Forty: 4.51 | BP: DNP
| VJ: 35.0 | BJ:
120 | 3C: DNP | 20Sh: DNP | 60Sh: DNP |
Pro Day - Likely
solidified himself a first-round grade with a strong
performance. Kirkpatrick stood on everything from
combine. He had a very, very, very good workout.
He’s already a first-round pick, I think what he did
was make people realize that their evaluation was
correct. I look at him as first half of the first
round.
BRS (Gollin)
- Let
me put it this way - at the one position where
straight-ahead speed means something, only 5 of the
top 11 players thus far are known have run under
4.51. (Granted, a couple haven't been timed in the
forty yet). But in other words: If you're a team who
needs to draft a corner, you'd better pull the
trigger early.
(Note - The only sub 4.5 corner after Kirkpatrick is
Bentley who may be a bit undersized).
PFW Scout's Candid Comments
-
"Has
length and ball-skills. He has a lot of issues
(teams) are going to have to sort through.
Pro Football Draft Guide –
Big physical corner but a little stiff. Great size
and long arms. Fluid hips and good zone instincts.
Plays with supreme confidence.
From nfl.com -
Early-entry junior. Tall dude who can match up with
the league's tall receivers in the red zone. Could
also be moved and developed at safety where he
wouldn't be a tackling liability despite his thin
frame.
Able to defy the perception that taller skill
players don't have the footwork and agility that
shorter players do. Will thrive initially within a
zone scheme, where he can use his burst and length
to cover ground and remain active in plays. He is So
talented athletically that he could be tested early
(& excel) on an island in man coverage /has the
confidence and field presence necessary to take on
such a task.
But he has issues - He is very thin and some will
question his ability to play physically at the next
level. Though technically not a tweener (i.e. always
played and been advertised as a cornerback), his
size and athletic ability could encourage a
transition to the safety position. Physical
development was minimal.at Alabama where his
ESPN (Scouts, Inc.) -
A big cornerback with long arms
and adequate balance for size. Does better than
average job of pressing WR's at LOS
but
needs to improve his strength in order to take game
to the next level. Almost always effective in
rerouting WR's with press technique. A bit stiff in
his hips. Good recovery speed and closing burst but
lacks ideal COD skills. Struggles to mirror smaller,
quicker WR's if he doesn't get hands on him. "
|
Long arms and good defending radius. Strong hands
when in position to make a play on the ball. Can be
late getting head turned around or locating ball
over his shoulder. Does not appear to have great
leaping ability. Will play body rather than ball at
times.
|
Big, physical corner. Aggressive and active in run
support. Works hard to fend off blockers and uses
long arms to keep separation. Very good motor / will
make play in pursuit. Reliable and strong tackler
for the position. Must improve his strength. Only
other negative is occasional lack of discipline.
Gives up outside leverage at times and will leave
defense vulnerable, as a result.
|
|
Alfonzo
Dennard 5100 204 Nebraska |
Combine - Forty: 4.55 | BP: DNP |
| VJ: 37 | BJ: 121 | 3C:
DNP | 20Sh: DNP | 60Sh: DNP |
Pro Day -
Stood on everything from the combine, as well. Some
people think he’s a first-round pick. Best way to
describe him is he’s a steady guy who runs well but
doesn’t have really any exceptional characteristics
at his position. He’s a guy who’s probably going to
be drafted between No. 25-45.
PFW Scout's Candid Comments
-
"I am not buying into Alfonso Dennard. I would not
take him in the first two rounds. He is a third
round talent. He scares me downfield."
Pro Football Draft Guide –
Physical press corner – a little too stiff. On the
short side but thickly built. Very physical and is
good at jamming receivers. Some trouble downfield
From nfl.com -
Less tested as a senior once back from injury
because he lost having that elite player on the
opposite side. Has some of the same traits as Prince
Amukamara (i.e. smart, plays with instincts and
understands how to support in run - a staunch corner
who does more than just cover). While not
particularly stellar with any singular trait, he has
the size, athletic ability, and overall
above-average skills that blend together to make a
nice prospect. Could contribute heavily on special
teams in his rookie year, and although he has not
been tested much working in the slot, could likely
be picked in the late first or early second round.
Strong all-around player – jack of all trades/master
of none (but that’s his key trait). There are few
weaknesses in his game. Heady player who plays on
top of receivers and understands how to turn and run
to not get beat deep. He trusts his speed and
footwork in man coverage and can fill nicely as a
run defender in both run plays and in zone. Solid
athlete with fluid hips who can adjust to make ball
plays in mid-air. Understands how to play with
leverage and jam the receiver at the LOS –a
very balanced
and strong player who rarely falls off his stance or
gets pushed off coverage by bigger wideouts.
Experience starting in games at a high level and is
NFL-ready.
But he is shorter corner and could potentially get
out-jumped at the next level. Lets himself get
blocked by more physical receivers, but when the
play comes his way he usually gets involved. Missed
the first three games of 2011 with a pulled leg
muscle.
ESPN (Scouts, Inc.) -
Above average instincts and ability to keep receiver
on back when facing LOS. Reads receiver and quickly
reacts to any kind of break but may react better
than anticipate. Slow to turn to locate the ball and
can get flagged for pass interference because of it.
|
Quick twitch athlete who can shadow receiver in and
out of breaks. Fast enough to run with most
receivers on vertical routes. Above average recovery
speed when caught out of position. Effective press
corner when he gets hands on receiver. Strong for
size and can reroute bigger receivers but not as
effective in press bail coverage. Can be too quick
to cross over when forced to open up and receiver
shoots inside. Takes extra step and could be a touch
smoother when forced to turn. Closes well but a
little too high in backpedal & gives receiver too
much of a cushion at times.
|
Will make big play and win 50-50 battles but doesn't
extend arms and snatch the ball out of the air. Body
catcher. Drops catchable passes. Willlook for ball
over outside shoulder instead of inside shoulder
when running with receivers downfield.
|
Employs strong punch and won’t back down from bigger
receivers but will get caught up in fights and take
too long to get off blocks. Sub-par tackler who’ll
reach out arm instead of squaring up or attacking
the ball carrier's legs.
|
|
Trumaine
Johnson 6017 204 Montana |
Combine - Forty: 4.61 | BP: 19 |
VJ: 35.5 | BJ: 122
| 3C: 7.20 | 20Sh: 4.15 | 60Sh: 11.68 |
PFW Scout's Candid Comments
- "The
Montana kid is really talented. He can do whatever
you want. He is better than Jimmy Smith (Ravens). He
could go in the first. It would take big balls (to
take him there) but he could.
Pro Football Draft Guide
– Very long fluid athlete with the size and speed to
be an interesting developmental press corner. Raw.
Needs to be a more physical tackler.
From nfl.com -
Arguably one of the best and most polished NFL
prospects to come out of the Big Sky in quite some
time. A big, athletic cover corner who has
completely dominated his competition with the speed
and agility (& height) to stay with receivers. An
NFL-ready corner projected to be picked in the
second round.
A lanky defender with the athletic ability to stay
in a receiver's hip and make plays. Uses his arms
effectively in press coverage and jabs receivers to
interrupt their routes and timing within the
offense. Understands when to react in zone and has
the long speed to take risks and still recover. Good
at reading the receiver's hips, reacting to their
drop and quickly making a play on the ball. A very
effective tackler and imposing athlete at the
position.
Level of competition a possible issue -
there will undoubtedly be a learning curve at
the next level. Although a good tackler against the
run, he can get velcro’d to blocks at times and must
learn to shed more quickly.
ESPN (Scouts, Inc.) - Reads
quarterback and can get an early break on the ball.
A step slow recognizing high-low route combinations
and can drift downfield when he has underneath
responsibilities in zone coverage. Overall route
recognition is average. (Can bite on play action).
|
Fluid hips for corner his size / fast enough to turn
and run with receivers. More than enough range to
cover deep third. Footwork could be crisper but he’s
quick enough to limit separation out of breaks. Got
caught flat footed at times and could do better job
of using long arms to reroute receivers at the LOS.
Will take an extra step or two to gather and plant
off back foot.
|
Tracks the ball well. Times jumps well and can
highpoint the ball in jump ball situations. Arm
length is above average / gets hand on passes most
corners would not reach. Can reach in with left hand
and deflect the ball without getting called for
interference. Can extend arm and knock ball to the
ground when he has opportunity to go up with both
hands and come down with the pick.
|
Doesn't shy away from contact (fills when he reads
run). Violent punch / can get off blocks. Keeps
outside contain and funnels backs inside.
Experienced lining up outside tight end and could
hold own if moved to safety. Wraps up but too high
at times raising concerns about ability to bring
power backs to the ground at the next level.
|
|
Dwight
Bentley 5100 182 Louisiana Lafayette |
Combine - Forty: 4.43
| BP: 13 |
VJ: 31.5 | BJ: 114
| 3C: 6.99 | 20Sh: 4.50 | 60Sh: 12.11 |
Pro Day -
Bentley
posted a 35.5-inch
vertical leap at his pro day. He showed quick feet
and good closing ability in position drills.
BRS (Gollin) – 4.43 Forty time
further reaffirms impressions that "he can play." His performance during
Senior Bowl Week impressed me. Perhaps he lacks the
prototypical size and athleticism per the ESPN
write-up, but he has one thing that impresses me
most when rating CB’s – he’s aggressive breaking on
the ball – especially those thrown in front of him.
(The one thing that, in my opinion, separates
keepers from pretenders is whether they arrive at
the ball early or whether they arrive a step late.
Bentley gets there in time to break up the play - an
attribute that's not all that easy to find).
Pro Football Draft Guide –
Fluid, quick cover corner with good closing speed
and a ball-hawk mentality. Can be burned by
double-moves. Size an issue; not physical. Projects
to a potentially very good nickel corner.
From nfl.com -
Classic, undersized corner from a small school with
the athletic ability to contend for an NFL spot. Has
very quick in short movements and is an instinctual
player. Could definitely be knocked for his size and
level of competiton, but he is a good option for a
team that needs to bring corners into camp and let
them compete. Could struggle in man coverage, but
worth a flier in late rounds.
Athletic and it shows once the ball is thrown to his
area. Can jump and adjust his body to make a play on
the ball. Very natural when working on the LOS and
in zone coverage. Will aggressively drive his foot
and move toward the ball when working the flats in
cover 2. A "blanketer" at the top of routes, and
very good at staying with his man to contest the
ball once it's thrown.
But he’ll struggle in man coverage - it could be a
huge issue for him in the NFL. Wasn't given many
opportunities to play straight up in college, and he
played a lot of zone coverage in which he didn't
have to rely on his footwork to play on an island.
Non-existent in run support. Struggles to play
physically - which could hurt his NFL development.
ESPN (Scouts, Inc.)
- Aggressive and confident
in his cover skills. Will occasionally bite on
double-cut when playing off-man coverage but overall
instincts are above average. Good at anticipating
WRs breaks.
|
"Primarily an off-man cover corner who drops with
hips open to the QB. When he does use traditional
backpedal he tends to let his pads rise and can get
caught a bit off balance. Lacks strength in press
coverage but can be physical with receivers.
Quick-twitch athlete with very good agility. Plays
with good balance, has ultra-fluid hips and can
change directions in an instant. Awareness /has a
feel for reading routes and QBs eyes. Good recovery
speed."
|
Tiny hands but above average ball skills. Not very
physical when the ball is in the air but times his
jumps well and is competitive. Very good body
control. Adept at locating the ball over his
shoulder. Takes solid angles to the ball and will
attack it at its highest point.
|
Adequate effort in run support/ will fill hard when
necessary, but by no means can he be considered a
physical cornerback in run support. Lacks size and
power. Struggles to get off of blocks. Effective as
an open field tackler and almost always gets his guy
down. But his tackling skills must
improve.
Not a wrap up tackler. Leads with shoulder and
frequently dives for the legs of ball carriers.
|
|
Brandon
Boykin 5092 182 Georgia |
Combine - Forty: DNP | BP: DNP |
VJ: DNP | BJ: DNP |
3C: DNP | 20Sh: DNP | 60Sh: DNP |
BRS (Gollin) – Strong ESPN write-up for
a guy ranked so low. Interesting mid-round option
for a team like the Cardinals (who “can never have
enough quality corners”). Granted, size may be
a problem, but he projects as one of those stocky,
low COG (Mike Adams) guys who'd be great at
smothering smaller more mobile receivers out of the
slot.
Pro Football Draft Guide –
Small quick-twitch CB with big play knack. Compactly
built, quick explosive cover corner with added value
as a return man. Big vertical leap and excellent
ball skills but can get outmuscled by bigger
receivers, Could be valuable playing inside early on
From nfl.com -
Superior athlete who relies on his speed and
quick-twitched feet to cover. Very flexible and
athletic mover who needs to improve his technique to
cover at the next level. An intriguing prospect for
teams who want to develop his technique and are
willing to overlook his stature. Value as a nickel
corner immediately and should be selected near the
middle of the third round.
Perfect athlete for the corner position. Makes hip
flipping and backpedaling look natural, and uses
elasticity in his legs and the rest of his body to
mirror closely in man coverage. Although shorter
than many corners, he rose to grab passes and
adjusted his body to intercept tipped balls numerous
times at Georgia. A burner who can recover & run
with almost any receiver in the NFL. Can trail
receivers well throughout their routes and
effortlessly flip his hips to stay with them in
transition. A cover corner who can also play well
up-close despite his smaller stature.
A smaller corner, who struggles when tackling and
has to drag players down. Not very strong and can
fall off players when attempting to tackle.
Sometimes slow to react to balls even if he is
running side by side with a receiver. Will struggle
against bigger, more physical wideouts.
ESPN
(Scouts, Inc.) - Still has room to
improve but made huge strides. Is learning when to
gamble and when to play it safe. Does a nice job of
reading QB's eyes and getting an early jump on
throws. Is confident / shakes off mistakes. Good
instincts as a return specialist.
|
Outstanding natural athleticism. Quick feet, fluid
hips and above average top-end speed. Very good body
control / explodes out of his pedal. More physical
in coverage than size indicates / exceptional
leaping ability helps him match up well vs. bigger
WR’s. Must improve his press technique and footwork
but has the tools to cover at a high level both in
man and zone.
|
Instincts and anticipation continue to improve. Is
finding the ball sooner and putting himself in
better position to succeed. Exceptional leaping
ability. Can climb the ladder and contest the jump
ball with the tallest receivers. Very good at
adjusting to the ball in the air. Good hand-eye
coordination and solid hands. Very reliable
returning kicks.
|
Willing in run support. Does not back down. Good
toughness. A scrapper. Likes to get involved even
when he doesn't need to. Biggest issue is his lack
of size and strength. He works hard to keep outside
leverage vs. the run but bigger WR's can steer him
if they can get into his body. Usually finds a way
to get the ball carrier in space but leaves his feet
too often. Must learn to break down and wrap up.
|
|
Josh Norman
6002 197 Coastal Carolina |
Combine - Forty: 4.66 | BP: 14
| VJ: 33.0 | BJ:
124 | 3C: 7.09 | 20Sh: 4.23 | 60Sh: DNP |
PFW Scout's Candid Comments
-
"Norman
will go in the second round just off the Shrine
game. Granted, he was cheating the drill and
squatting routes, but he picked off six passes
during the week. he is talented."
Pro Football Draft Guide
– Fearless FCS corner with length and speed. A
gambler with good ball skills. Willing to get
physical. Brings length, fluid athleticism,,
acceleration and recovery speed. .
From nfl.com -
Solid prospect from a small-school. Great size for
the position / parlays this with fluid movement/
match up with big, athletic wide receivers. Similar
to Ike Taylor. But does have not quite Taylor’s
blazing speed that he had when he entered theNFL.
Level of competition a concern, but look for Norman
to be selected in the fourth round.
Can play man and zone equally well and was a
physical presence on the outside of the defense.
Understands when to take risks and when to play
back. And he is physical when he makes his decision
to come up. Supports the run well and is a reliable
tackler. Works well to feel with his hands to stay
on a receiver in-phase, and has the hip mobility to
move with his man all over the field.
Could have a longer adaption period early on due to
level of competition. Taller /might struggle with
some hip/transitional movements moving to his left
(but it's not a major concern).
ESPN (Scouts, Inc.) - Has good
natural cover instincts but is inconsistent with his
recognition skills and must do a better job of
diagnosing WRs routes. Looks lost in space at times.
Does not pick up new concepts quickly and can be a
quarter-count late to react in zone coverage.
|
Has the size to match up one-on-one vs. bigger WRs.
Smooth hips for a tall corner and looks natural
sinking and opening. Very quick feet. Can
plant-and-drive on the ball quickly. Good burst out
of his pedal and closing burst to the football.
Smooth mover who can change directions with ease.
Can turn-and-run with little wasted motion. Must
become more consistent and polished with footwork
and press-technique. Awareness in zone is
inconsistent. Might always be a better man-to-man
cover corner.
|
Playmaker with very good natural ball skills.
Impressive body control to adjust when ball is in
the air. Upper-echelon short-area closing burst to
the football. Knows when to play the ball and when
to play the body. Has long arms and big hands. Will
make the play when laying out horizontally and times
his jumps/dives well. A ballhawk at the small-school
level.
|
Diagnoses run quickly. Adequate but inconsistent at
keeping outside leverage. Fills hard and aggressive
in run support. Good toughness and overall
willingness. Plays a bit out of control at times and
could improve his pursuit angles and open-field
tackling skills. Also must improve lower body
strength.
|
|
Leonard
Johnson 5097 196 Iowa State |
Combine - Forty: 4.71 | BP: 15 | VJ: 32.0 | BJ: 120 |
3C: 6.96 | 20Sh: 4.15 | 60Sh: 11.40 |
Pro Day — Johnson ran the 40-yard
dash in 4.54 and 4.55
seconds. He had a 35-inch vertical, did the
three-cone in 7.01 seconds and the short shuttle in
4.17 seconds. Poor running at the NFL Scouting
Combine likely knocked Johnson from consideration as
a draft pick, but he ran much better this week,
saving his stock and probably landing him back in
the draft. He had a good workout. Johnson has the
potential to do well as a third corner. He did a
very good job against Oklahoma State last season,
shutting down top WR prospect Justin Blackmon.
PFW Scout's Candid Comments
- "(Johnson)
is a backup to me. He's a tough, zone corner. I have
him in the fourth round."
Pro Football Draft Guide
– Undersized, scrappy cover corner. Ultra
competitive with the mindset of a #1 corner. Fluid
hips and good COD. May lack straight-line speed for
press coverage, but could excel ion zone due to his
instincts .
From nfl.com -
Has played both the field and boundary corners and
is a good lateral mover and overall athlete for the
position. Not a speed guy and can struggle in
transition, but is a strong player and is patient
playing both man and in zone. Reliable to keep his
side of the field covered and has late third round
value.
Has a good feel for his man when covering him and
is good in
his back pedal and staying with a man in transition.
Plays the ball well, coming towards it or working
away and running deep, and is a very physical
tackler who makes his presence felt from the
outside. Good at flipping his head and torquing his
body to make plays on the ball when running
downfield to
A solid all-around player who doesn't quite have
elite corner speed for the next level. He does many
things in his game to avoid getting exposed, but it
will be tough to look past his lack of speed.
ESPN (Scouts, Inc.) - Overall
diagnostic skills are solid. Good awareness in zone
coverage and adept at maintaining strong position to
mark targets coming in and out of his territory.
Good anticipation, but route recognition skills are
still developing. Recognizes and reacts well to
screens. Plays with confidence and does not go into
the tank after getting beat. Good versatility /
experienced lining up at the nickel-back position in
the slot.
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Quick-twitched athlete with above-average movement
skills. Stays low and natural in back pedal. Feet
are always underneath him with good balance to
quickly transition when changing directions. But he
appears quicker than fast on tape and his closing
burst is good but not great. Overall range is just
average and scout did not see an extra gear to
recover once caught in trail position.
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Good but not great ball skills. Locates the ball,
takes good angles to the point and puts himself in
solid position. Uses quick hands to separate the
ball from the receiver. But not much of a finisher
or playmaker at this point. Must work on timing
leaps with more consistency. Hands are just average.
Can be pushed around by bigger and more physical
receivers in jump ball situations.
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In run support, he plays bigger than measureables
indicate. Makes a quick diagnosis and will set the
edge. Aggressive disengaging from blocks. Takes
sound angles to the ball and is a solid wrap-up
tackler. May have issues tackling bigger and more
powerful ball carriers in the open field.
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Stephon
Gilmore 6004 190 South Carolina |
Combine - Forty: 4.40 |
BP: 15 |
VJ: 36.0 | BJ:123 | 3C:
6.61 | 20Sh: 3.94
| 60Sh: 11.15
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Pro Day
—
He was at the combine, and kept all of his times. He
was weighed and measured. He will probably be
selected between No. 25 and No. 40. He worked out
well.
BRS (Gollin) - Shooting up the
charts/could be the second CB drafted.
Pro Football Draft Guide –
Tad skinny. Not great in press but with good ball
skills Big instinctive corner with good fluid
athleticism. Excellent ball skills. At his best
sitting back in zone coverage but could be developed
further as a press corner.
From nfl.com -
Has the skill set to move to safety but is talented
enough to challenge for a starting role at the
corner position as a rookie. Makes big plays.
Impressive footwork for his size which he uses well
in a shuffle-shuffle-bail technique at the LOS.
Although this isn't considered the most efficient
technique, Gilmore makes it work, which allows him
to use his huge frame to mirror and cut off
receivers early in their route. A natural cover man
who can jam at the line and stay with a receiver in
his hip and use his strength and length to make
plays on the ball and finish plays.
Loses a lot of his fluidity when working in zone or
off-man (his eyes slow his feet and he doesn't
diagnose routes as quickly and will get his feet
stuck in the ground prior to breaking). Gilmore Was
able to rely on size, strength and athleticism to
cover in college and will get exposed by technically
sound receivers at the pro level. Will struggle when
forced to work within specific schemes that don't
allow him to play freely.
ESPN (Scouts, Inc.) - Vocal leader
on the field with a clear understanding of the
defensive scheme. A natural at reading QBs eyes and
consistently getting an early jump on throws when
working in zone coverage. Still developing his route
recognition skills in man coverage. Competitive and
passionate about the game, but borders on being
overly emotional.
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Plays a lot of zone/bail and almost always uses
shuffle technique rather than the traditional pedal.
At his best when the action is in front of him. Very
good recognition skills in zone coverage and off-man
coverage. Quick feet / closes quickly coming
forward. Tough
and
strong enough to hold up in press-man but must
become more consistent with his technique. A little
bit of stiffness in hips when forced to turn and
run. Can improve in this area with better footwork.
Frequently too high in his pedal and gets sloppy
with his footwork (gets his feet crossed and will
open too early, which leaves him vulnerable vs.
double moves).
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Natural tracking the ball over his shoulder. Takes
good angles to the ball and times jumps well. Hands
are adequate but not great. Fails to high point the
ball at times and lets it into his pads.
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A bit lean and can get run over at times. But he's
tough and backs down to nobody. Feisty with a mean
streak. Likes to be in the mix near the LOS. Will
lower his shoulder and deliver a blow. Has good
initial power for a CB but doesn't always finish.
Must become more reliable as a tackler. Leads with
his shoulder too often and fails to wrap up. Falls
off too many attempted tackles. Gets overaggressive
at times and will lose outside contain.
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Chase
Minnefield 5102 183 Virginia |
Combine - Forty: DNP | BP: 7 |
VJ: DNP | BJ: DNP | 3C:
DNP | 20Sh: DNP | 60Sh: DNP |
Pro Day -
Minnifield ran the 40-yard dash in 4.63 and 4.68
seconds. He said he had a tight hamstring, and
probably didn’t run as well as he could have. He had
a 32-1/2-inch vertical and a 9-9 broad jump, and did
8 strength lifts.
PFW Scout's Candid Comments
- "I
don't think he can play. He's not a very good
athlete. I don't like him at all."
Pro Football Draft Guide –
Size/speed CB who gets in trouble deep. Good in run
support and has fluid hips to turn and run, but
doesn’t locate deep balls quickly enough
From nfl.com -
Savvy
and polished corner who may not electrify a defense
at the next level but projects to be a serviceable
starting corner and a stalwart in both defending the
pass and run. Clearly understands how to play to his
strengths. While he seems to have a "just don't get
beat deep" mentality, he is an effective player who
will fill in run support and also cover in both man
and zone. Will likely excel in a zone scheme at the
next level but does not quite possess the speed and
athletic ability to be taken in the first round of
the draft. Expect him to be taken at some point in
the second and contribute early.
Good instincts - reacts to the ball well. Keeps his
eyes on the quarterback and good at reacting to
plant and drive towards the receiver. An effective
player in man- playing up close and off - and also
in zone. Has somewhat of a choppy backpedal, but can
plant and drive using his foot quickness to makes up
for being out of position in his pedal. Good ball
skills and in run support.
He can get in trouble at times due to a back pedal
that can get out of control. His technique is strong
in all other areas, but he can struggle when working
backwards with his eyes towards the receiver. Has a
slight hitch in transition when turning his hips. He
has always been a willing but not punishing tackler
and shied away from contact a bit in 2011.
ESPN (Scouts, Inc.) - Plays
with discipline and within the scheme. Knows his
assignments and rarely fails to execute. Excellent
focus. Is dialed in on every play as if it's the
last of his career. Good space awareness. Diagnoses
WRs routes early and consistently gets an early
jump. Gets his head around early and can locate the
ball quickly.
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High cut a/tends to pedal tall. Some stiffness in
his hips. Has learned to protect himself well but
takes a bit too long to flip his hips. Lacks ideal
recovery speed but does have a bit of a second gear
when the ball is in the air. Quick feet and good
lateral agility. Experienced playing on the
perimeter and in the slot. Good at rerouting WRs in
press-man technique. Very good instincts in zone
coverage. Holds up in majority of man-to-man
situations but skill-set indicates he might be best
suited to play in a Tampa 2 or zone-heavy defensive
scheme in the pros.
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Very
good overall ball skills. Gets his head around
quickly and is a natural at picking up the ball in
the air. Takes very good angles and knows how to cut
off the WR without contact. Has the height, leaping
ability and long arms to contest on the jump ball.
Attacks the ball at its highest point. Can make the
acrobatic pick. Strong hands for a DB and
confident
going after the ball. Very good focus / will secure
the ball in traffic, even when he takes a bit hit.
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Lean lower body. Struggles at times to get off of
blocks but is willing in run support. Spends a lot
of time working in the slot and holds up well near
the LOS. Disciplined /good at keeping outside
contain. Has a mean streak. Not afraid to mix it up.
Overall tackling skills are OK but there’s room to
improve. Takes good angles in pursuit, stays under
control and will break down and look to wrap up in
space. Gets in trouble at times when he dips his
head and/or leaves his feet.
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Jayron Hosley 5-11
182 Virginia Tech |
Pro Day —
Despite the fast running surface, Hosley kept his times from
the combine. Hosley did post a 34 1/2-inch vertical and 10-1
broad jump. Hosley did the position drills, displaying good
ball skills, quickness and recognition in the passing game.
Size is a concern given all of the tall pass catchers that
populate NFL receiving corps. However, Hosley’s quickness
makes up for that lack of height, and that helps him project
to being selected somewhere in the middle of the second
round.
BRS (Gollin) -
Cards have seen him work out.
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Jamell Fleming 5-11
202 Oklahoma |
Combine- Forty: 4.53 | BP Reps:
23 (Tops for position) | BJ: 10 -5 (Tops for Position)
BRS (Gollin) -
A good Combine apparently wiped out several concerns. Urban
claims he ran a 4.43 forty at the Combine. The nfl.com
workout video says his best time was 4.53. Bench press and
broad jump scores were tops for all corners. I had been
hoping to hear more from Wiz and Graves about why they
picked a 4th-5th round value in the 3rd round. Instead, we
got the predictable mantra - "BPA." "He was rated much
higher than the O-linemen." "He can play a little bit of
safety and is good on special teams." But I'm not hearing
anything about terrific ball skills, toughness or
interception production. And I'd like to hear a bit more
about character questions in his background. (Note - not to
be totally negative, I'd like to hear more about his
confidence and aggressiveness to the ball).
Mixed
reviews from the pundits - PF Draft Guide says he has "long
arms." PFW says he has "short arms." There's also
inconsistency about his physicality - PFDG says "he'll be
pushed around" and "doesn't help in run support." NFL
Draft Scout - while agreeing he isn't a "tenacious tackler"
does observe that "he can deliver the big hit." PFW calls
him a "soft and shoddy tackler." The picture I get is of a
soft cover-guy with average speed and good ball skills but
who has a soft physique and is unwilling to to mix it up. A
4th or 5th round value we reached for in the 3rd round.
PF Draft Guide - "Has long arms and the fluid
hips and decent speed to press. Physicality is a problem as
he'll be pushed around by big receivers and doesn't help in
run support. But if a coach can light a fire under him, he
has No. 2 potential. "
NFL Draft Scout.com - (Projects as 5th round pick).
An athletic but narrow based cornerback with a lean frame.
Must answer questions about academic fraud that led to his
dismissal from OU (he was reinstated). He's not a tenacious
tackler and plays the position with a wide receiver's
mentality similar to Asante Samuel and enters the NFL much
more of a raw athlete than a ready for prime-time
cornerback. His upside will get him a look in middle rounds.
Should excel as zone defender because of his closing
speed to wrap receivers after the catch. Can deliver the big
hit and isn't afraid to jump inside to slow the ball. Strong
hands, quick reactions for the interceptions. Former HS
receiver with good ball skills. Willing and successful
blitzing off the edge. Consideration for move to safety
with combination of range and sure tackle.
But his
body type is similar to (first-round Sooner bust) Andre
Woolfolk. Questionable technique and he gets lazy with his
fundamentals, sometimes getting too high in his backpedal
and will breach the coverage call seeking flashy plays.
PFW -
(Projects
as 4-5 round pick) - Upside: Plays with eyes and diagnoses |
Aware in zone | Good timing and ball reactions | Gets his
hands on a lot of throws | Special teams production.
Downside: Short arms | Lacks elite top end speed | Unrefined
technique | Upright, slightly choppy pedal | Inconsistent
setting the edge | Soft, shoddy tackler.
nfl.com -
Overview
Fleming lines up in the boundary for Oklahoma and has a
great combination of size, speed and technique that makes
him a premier prospect at corner. His speed and athletic
ability allow him to recover quickly off the line of
scrimmage. He can get caught looking at the quarterback at
times, but he usually can stay with receivers in man
coverage. He is a physical and explosive athlete who can jam
receivers and bring down running backs with ease. Fleming
has played at a high level for the past four years and
projects to start early at the next level as a second-round
selection.
Strengths
Fleming is superb in man coverage. He is reliable on an
island and can stay with any receiver in the Big 12. He is
not technically sound, but his back pedal and hips are
naturally fluid. He can backpedal for an uncommonly long
amount of time, even by NFL standards, which allows him to
stay on top of receivers and plant, driv, and react to
plays. He has the speed to catch up to receivers if beat and
the ability to run down plays from the backside or provide
help in zone. He makes the play every time as a tackler, and
he can drive through his hips to deliver a blow to a ball
carrier. When the ball is in the air he has the body control
to turn and make a play on it. He is thick for the corner
position and it is apparent that he understands his role in
the run game. He is a prototypical athlete for the position.
Weaknesses
Fleming is not technically sound, and it hasn't hurt him up
to this point. At the next level, he will need to work on
his technique when using his hands and feet to jam receivers
and turn at the line of scrimmage. He can be undisciplined
in various aspects of his play, but it usually hurts him
more in zone coverage than it does in man, where he is a
natural cover corner.
|
Justin Bethel
CB 6-0 200 lbs
Presbyterian |
Combine -
Forty: 4.58 | BP: 19 | VJ: 39½ (Position High)
| BJ: 131 (Position High) | 3-Cone: 6.79
| Sh Shuttle: 4.30 |
BRS (Gollin) - Brandt
and Kirwin on SIRIUS liked him - said the difference between
a #20 CB and a #4 CB is miniscule. Said he once scored all
the points for his team from the non-offense side of the
ball.Bleacher Report -
Defensive back Justin Bethel from Presbyterian
recently was seen jumping onto boxes five feet into the air,
something San Jose State defensive end Jarron Gilbert (3rd
round Buffalo) did in 2008 when he jumped out of pool.
Bethel, who showed off a [sic] 39.5-inch
vertical jump, is 6'0' and 200 pounds. He has 9 and 3/4
hands, to got with a 4.53 40-yard dash, a vertical of 39.5",
a broad jump of 131", benched 19 reps, ran 4.3 seconds in
the 20-yard shuffle and 6.79 seconds in the three cone
drill.
(NFL Draft Scout)
-Bethel blocked nine kicks in four seasons, and in a game
against Gardner-Webb, he recorded 12 total tackles, a forced
fumble, a pass break-up, and a blocked field goal. That
week, he was named the Big South Co-Defensive player of the
week. He had four interceptions in 2011, one of which went
for a touchdown.
(Pro Sports Weekly) - He
was named Big South Defensive Player of the Year, after
recording 87 total tackles with 3.5 tackles for a loss, a
sack, a forced fumble, and three blocked kicks. He also had
a punt return for a touchdown. Athletic, competitive,
versatile, unpolished FCS prospect. Could be a swing back-up
or special teams contributor. Good size, covers ground with
a smooth and gliding stride. Great tackler, special teams
producer along with great character, motivated, hardworking
and intelligent.
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Brandon
Burton 6-0 178
Kentucky |
BRS (Gollin)
- Said to have signed an UDFA contract with Cards but not on
the official first list of 17.
Walter Mitchell (posting on ASFN) - 2011 stats: 41 t, 1 sack, 3
ints for 60 yds., 2 pbus. 2010 stats: 36 t, 3.5 tfl, 6 pbu,
1 int. Was named SEC Defensive Player of the Week on
November 14th, 2011 after he posted 9 tackles and 1
interception versus Vanderbilt. His 4.6 time in the 40 hurt
his chances of getting drafted---but his aggressive play
warrants a good look.
|
Larry Parker
5-11 180 San Diego
State |
BRS (Gollin)
- One of 4 free agents who survived OTA try-outs.
Walter Mitchell (posting on ASFN) -
1st Team All-Mountain West---56 t, 6
ints, 3 ff, 1 fr---Plays press CB---and is very
aggressive---a real ballhawk---takes some gambles but
usually wins them---needs to look back for the ball more
often---when he does he's an interception waiting to happen
because he locates the ball quickly, tracks it well and has
very good ball skills. Comment: Parker jumped out on tape to
me and I would be surprised if he wasn't offered a contract. |
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