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2016 Draft - CB Evaluations

deljzc

deljzc

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Cornerbacks

Vernon Hargreaves III, Florida
A bit short on film but displays plenty of toughness and physicality. Clearly an NFL athlete and shows very good change of direction and body control. Confident. Not a typical college boundary corner and played consistently at LCB. Very good zone defender and understands spacing and can make plays on ball. Should be okay tackler and not afraid of contact (Tenn game was horrible however). Should be immediate starter/top-3 corner on a team from day one. Not sure about pure man-2-man skills and don’t think that will be his role in the NFL at this point, but if he tests well athletically/speed could develop into a shut down corner with commitment to detail, but is not there yet and I would not expect that of him.

William Jackson III, Houston
True senior with lots of starts and thus looks much more polished and “old” as compared to other prospect. Smooth athlete with nice height/length on film but check change of direction numbers. He’s not as quick-twitch as you might like. Is a nice solid prospect, but nothing on film makes me go “wow” yet. Round 1-2

Eli Apple, Ohio State
Lots of flaws on tape, but the talent is tempting. Flashes NFL man-2-man ability but lacks all the polish you need at the next level. Is a bit weak right now (redshirt sophomore) and needs to grow into frame. Is not good at run support and get lose push/pull battles for the ball with quality receivers. Is a superior athlete that was probably highly recruited and has ideal height/length/speed/COD for the position. Another boom/bust prospect that has to take to coaching and self-improvement to live up to capabilities. Will not be able to skate by on raw ability anymore. Round 1-2

Artie Burns, Miami
Looks the part to be a successful NFL player. Needs some refinement to game but exhibits a lot of traits you like. Size is good, length is very good and shows adequate speed and movement skills. Can play man, bump and off-man and shows some ability in zone. Tackling could be better and needs to show some more urgency in run support. Has nice burst off edge in blitz packages. Likely has a limited ceiling but could be a very good pro. Round 2

Mackensie Alexander, Clemson
Adequate size and long arms for position and plays predominantly man-2-man concepts. Can get a little clutchy/grabby and needs to watch contact downfield - could be learning curve on that in NFL. Is a younger player and evaluation is a lot of projection based on size/speed/athleticism - not a finished product. Is still very sloppy with this footwork and needs commitment to the craft. Very boom/bust prospect in my opinion. Is not a round 1 prospect unless he has exceptional physical test scores (4.3 speed, etc.). Tape says round 2-3.

Rashard Robinson, LSU
Prototypical deep coverage corner that looks a lot like Deion Sanders in pads: tall, long and skinny. Makes receivers look covered with long wingspan and uses boundary very well. As a true freshman struggled but held his own vs. Manziel/Evans combo (had Evans in man the whole game). Evans pushed him around a lot (learning lesson), but his length/coverage stopped a lot of throws. Character/off-field issues cost him 2015 season. Limited tape. Did not like school. If all he needs is a fresh start he’s a top-5 corner in this draft but he could just as likely be a bad apple. Round 2-3

Xavien Howard, Baylor
Size and bulk are very tempting and he shows very good line of scrimmage skills with adequate hip action and hand action. Is more of a 2-3 second coverage guy and the longer the play lasts, the worse he gets. Cannot stick with receivers for long and often loses them downfield. Average ball awareness skills and doesn’t have a feel for when ball is in air (penalties?). Could be good red zone defender and isn’t afraid to mix things up with receivers but smaller guys are really going to give him problems. Might have to convert to more of a cover-2 zone corner. Round 2-3

Kendall Fuller, Virginia Tech
Not a big fan of tape (Ohio State was pretty bad) and comes from family of prospects that haven’t lived up to draft status. Size and length are very good for position but there is a lack of “intuition” for the position and often looks great on one play and awful on the next. Round 2-3

Will Redmon, Miss St.
Energetic, scrappy undersized corner. Looks/acts like captain of the secondary: makes calls and communicates well. Ideal slot corner than can stick with jitterbug receivers but also shows ability to turn hips and run down seem routes. Upside is limited because of height/length issues. Not the most efficient use of motion and throws body around on run plays more than a technical “get low and drive” tackler. Round 3

Kaevarae Russell, Notre Dame
I don’t think he’s all that bad a prospect. Reminds me a lot of a Steelers’ guys. A bit undersized on tape but plays physical and is a good one-on-one tackler. Decent hips and athleticism. Looks like he’s doing exactly what the coaches want but still gives up a lot of completions because of scheme. Not a playmaker. Curious about his 40-time and looks in the 4.5 range. Not a burner but can play decent man in the right circumstance or zone. Versatile and can play slot or outside. Coming off broken leg. Missed 2014 (academic dishonesty). Round 4


Others not reviewed in mix for top-10

Maurice Canady, Virginia
Zack Sanchez, Oklahoma
Cyrus Jones, Alabama
D.J. White, Georgia Tech
 
thanks - I was just looking for something like that

The Draft a little over 2 weeks away
 
I have a spread sheet eventually as well before the draft, as always.
 
Nice work Del. Would be curious to learn more about these mid-to-late round guys

DEIONDRE' HALL - NORTHERN IOWA
JAMES BRADBERRY - SAMFORD
JUSTON BURRIS - NC STATE
 
So you are saying Hargreaves, Jackson and possibly Apple (though he is a project and we can't really afford a project right now) should be in the mix at 1.25, but if a better Safety prospect is available we might be further along as a secondary.
 
I feel that last 1st, early rd 2 there will still be some of these guys available. I'm all for trading down with a qb needy team and taking the best cb, or Noah Spence. Big proponent of trading down this year. Many team may want to get ahead of AZ or DEN for a qb.
 
Tibs said:
Nice work Del. Would be curious to learn more about these mid-to-late round guys

DEIONDRE' HALL - NORTHERN IOWA
JAMES BRADBERRY - SAMFORD
JUSTON BURRIS - NC STATE
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Funny my notes refer to all of these guys as potentially better free safeties than cornerbacks at the next level. You like the big guys but not sure the reports on them indicate any have the speed/talent to really hold up at CB at the next level. All would be projects and none appear to be Steeler type prospects in my opinion.

If the Steelers go tall at CB, they want speed and there just aren't many like that in this draft. Maybe a Ken Crawley from Colorado? Tall, skinny kid that ran a 4.4.

I would expect, this year especially, that we draft what we normally do. The draft is deep in the 5'-10", 5'-11" zone corners that can tackle well and provide run support.

If we're going to get a tall corner, it's going to be in the first two rounds this year or I wouldn't expect much.
 
ZACKB said:
I feel that last 1st, early rd 2 there will still be some of these guys available. I'm all for trading down with a qb needy team and taking the best cb, or Noah Spence. Big proponent of trading down this year. Many team may want to get ahead of AZ or DEN for a qb.
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My sense it's been smoke & mirrors leading up to the draft. They will think long and hard taking any one of Spence, Calhoun or Ogbah at #25 if either of them are there. Calhoun is the least likely, as there's a chance he'll be there in the 2nd. But Colbert is too smart to not realize what's happening at ROLB with Deebo half foot out the door and Uncle Jarvis being, well, Uncle Jarvis.

Same goes for that magical NT/DE hybrid they could stick in there between Tuitt & Cam for the next 5-10 years and never look back. If some top dog DT is there at #25 would not shock me at all.

So my sense is CB/S may have to wait till round 2 or even 3 or 4. For the better or worse.

WJIII may be the exception. If he's there, they may just take him regardless.
 
deljzc said:
I have a spread sheet eventually as well before the draft, as always.
Click to expand...

A true student of the game.

Your take on Alexander seems more accurate than most of what I have read.

Mackensie Alexander, Clemson
Adequate size and long arms for position and plays predominantly man-2-man concepts. Can get a little clutchy/grabby and needs to watch contact downfield - could be learning curve on that in NFL. Is a younger player and evaluation is a lot of projection based on size/speed/athleticism - not a finished product. Is still very sloppy with this footwork and needs commitment to the craft. Very boom/bust prospect in my opinion. Is not a round 1 prospect unless he has exceptional physical test scores (4.3 speed, etc.). Tape says round 2-3.
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Let's also not forget that the entire Tiger D was stacked, making his job far easier; QBs with no time to throw are so much easier to defend. And I agree much of his grabby technique will draw flags in the NFL. I don't want this guy taken in the 1st.
 
As far as our secondary -- I'd love nothing more than drafting a top CB early this year, preferably William Jackson III. I'd give them a pass on Eli Apple, shoot for the stars and get a top-notch corner.

Let's not forget the braintrust that's in place, that'll be doing the drafting. I presume it's Lake, Butler, Tomlin, Colbert for the Db's. They picked Senquez Golson in the 2nd ******* round last year. They must think he's the second coming of Jesus Christ. All 5-9 of him. No way they pick Golson not thinking he can be a starting CB. No way.

So they'll be looking at Golson and Willie Gay as the starting corners, correct? Golson should be back healthy, ready to go. With Cockrell & Grant worked in, improving in their 2nd years. That's how I think they're looking at it.

Draft experts and basically the entirety of humanity seems to agree the Steelers will pick a CB early. But Tomlin & Co may not feel that way. I'm not saying I agree with them, but let's not forget who's picking the players, year in and year out.

There, I've done my job in jinxing the Steelers thinking they don't need to draft a corner early.

Just do it Colbert. Chad Scott? How ******* long ago was that? ;)
 
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Tibs said:
Just do it Colbert. Chad Scott? How ******* long ago was that? ;)
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Not only that, but Scott showed promise as a rookie, but blew out a knee, got heavier and was never the same again. He wasn't a bad draft pick, he just ended up one after injury.
 
If there is one concern it's that William Jackson III almost looks identical to Cortez Allen. They're like the same player to me.

The only difference is measured speed, where Jackson is a good tenth faster, but I don't see that kind of speed on film. On film, Jackson plays like a 4.5 guy with average change of direction skills. Those are tough to grade on how they handle the NFL. Some learn how to use their strength and height and adapt well without taking penalties, others struggle (like Allen).

I like Jackson. But I have to be honest and tell you I was much more enthusiastic about prospects like Marcus Peters or Xavier Rhodes or Bradley Roby when they came out of college (and I thought those three fit us more) than I am Jackson. He might just be high on my list because I'm not really sold much on #3 to #5.

This position is a very inexact science. Look as the problems Gilmore, Claiborne, Kirkpatrick, Milliner, Gilbert and Fuller are having. All very highly touted 1st round prospects. We'll probably look back at this top-5 group and say only two are "good+" corners with two others getting playing time and one busting out completely. And I still think we could look back three years from now and wonder why no one talked about Rashard Robinson more, but his red flags are real.

This is not my favorite group of top CB prospects I've seen. That's for sure. Which makes it all the more likely this is the year we finally pull the trigger on one.
 
CoolieMan said:
I think we all agree that at 6' and with his 4.37 40 time, WJIII is the way to go. Forget all the other sub par CBs.
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Yep.

At least six feet tall, physical and maybe some ball skills would be nice. No more Umpa Loompas please.
 
deljzc thinks this class corner back class is over rated. I think 7-8 corners will be off the board before we pick in round two.
 
I think the class is a tad overrated too, that's why I think we could trade down with Denver and still snag one that we like.
 
bermudasteel said:
Good stuff, as usual - I particularly like your assessment of Rashard Robinson - he's my secret pick if Alexander, WJIII or Apple are all gone by 1.25...
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Rashard Robinson, LSU
Prototypical deep coverage corner that looks a lot like Deion Sanders in pads: tall, long and skinny. Makes receivers look covered with long wingspan and uses boundary very well. As a true freshman struggled but held his own vs. Manziel/Evans combo (had Evans in man the whole game). Evans pushed him around a lot (learning lesson), but his length/coverage stopped a lot of throws. Character/off-field issues cost him 2015 season. Limited tape. Did not like school. If all he needs is a fresh start he’s a top-5 corner in this draft but he could just as likely be a bad apple. Round 2-3
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Robinson has major character issues. He's did not look good in drills and weights about 171 pounds. If its round three and we haven't taken a corner, I'm okay with that. Otherwise I'd pass.
 
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