|
NCAA Scouting
2013 Draft – Cornerback Rankings
by Paul Emery
April 18th 2013
For new readers it’s worth quickly going through how I do things. If you are looking for a consensus ranking or something that copies from elsewhere, then this isn’t the place! I watched 278 games this year, I like to watch full games rather than the cut up prospect clips on YouTube (which I do use to break ties or where I can’t get full games), so I can get into the flow of the game and really understand when a big play is needed etc. I try and watch the top prospects at least 6 times, the middle rounders 3 to 5 and the later rounders at least a couple of times. I rate each game I see, work out an average and then build in the Combine/Pro Day numbers (see my two Combine articles).
These rankings are therefore my personal position boards and are in no way meant to predict who will be taken first in the Draft. Someone might be taken in the top 10, but that doesn’t necessarily mean I think he will make it in the NFL after all there are busts every year, so why shouldn’t rankings differ?! I’m sure NFL teams boards vary far more than the media believe.
I have no contacts in the NFL and have kept it that way on purpose so their opinions don’t change my mind. I always trust what I see on tape. However, this does mean I am not party to which players are character or medical red flags outside of what is in the media. I take into account medical to a degree, but will ignore character red flags outside of a mention in the text as I don’t know these prospects personally and it’s unfair to judge them (e.g. last year I had Janoris Jenkins as my number one CB). With that said, let’s get started with the offensive tackle class.
This is a deep group which will be well received by teams who are looking to slow down high powered passing attacks. There is only one solid first round level talent, but there are some players who could push into the first frame on the back of excellent post seasons.
Please note as Houston weren’t on in the UK at all this season and I can only find a couple of cut up games online, I have not ranked D.J. Hayden. I could try and fudge it, go with the flow and put him in the top 5, but I prefer to be honest and say I haven’t seen enough of him to rank him.
Tier One
1. Dee Milliner* Alabama. Milliner cemented a high first round slot when he ran faster than many expected at the Combine (high 4.3’s). He’s a very physical corner with excellent press ability. He was generally either up at the line in press or in bail coverage often into a Cover-3 shell. When in zone coverage he reads the QB very well and can unexpectedly slide off the sideline to make a play. He can turn and run with his man off of press coverage, but is very physical with receivers beyond the 5 yards allowed in the NFL. He will also need to learn how to backpedal as this skill isn’t required in Alabama’s defense. Alabama CB’s have taken time to adjust to the NFL, partly due to the physical style they play down the field and also not backpedalling, so he may not be a top 5 slam dunk pick but he responded when challenged this year and looks to be a top 15 pick.
Tier Two
2. Robert Alford Southeastern Louisiana. Some say scouting small school talent is difficult and even some GM’s will shy away from these prospects due to the level of competition question. While I’m not necessarily in favour of taking a small schooler with every pick in your Draft, I don’t think taking one or two is a problem. Indeed if you ignore them, you are missing out on some very good talent. The way I go about scouting small schoolers is pretty simple. You watch them in college as you would any other prospect, but they have to stand out at that level as a first round pick would in a major conference. Then they need to show they can handle the step up in competition at an All Star game and finally have a good Combine/pro day workout.
In Alford’s case he was clearly the best player on the field for Southeastern Louisiana. He stood out at CB, as a returner and even played some WR (in one game I watched he actually drew two pass interference calls!). At the Senior Bowl he stood out in the practice he was physical and most certainly looked like he belonged. Finally, the Combine he ran in the high 4.3’s and his all around workout showed explosion. So check, check and check and he’s here, with his kick return ability just edging Trufant.
3. Desmond Trufant Washington. I’ve had a second round grade on Trufant all season and overall I think I’m going to stick with that, although a high second round grade. He has enjoyed a superb post season and with two brothers in the NFL I’m sure he was well drilled on what to expect. When up in press he gets his jam in nicely, he sits deep in his stance to get under his man and can then turn and run down the field very naturally. In man coverage he does a really nice job of turning his head for the ball to bat away or even intercept passes. He occasionally will get a bit too grabby or use a hand to locate his man, which could possible see a few illegal contact penalties. Also has experience in off coverage where he will bite on double moves, but that’s the case for many players in this class. Had a very good Combine workout and looks like someone who can help right away.
4. Jamar Taylor Boise State. Decent size (5’10 192 lbs) but plays bigger than his size. Will get up and press, even against bigger WR’s like BYU’s Cody Hoffmann. Turns and runs smoothly when up in press and can then get his head around to the ball. Can do it all, including blitzing off the edge. The only problem with projecting him as a press CB at the next level is that he has very short arms. He does have legitimate 4.3 speed though and does have experience in off coverage as Boise do a number of things defensively that he will find himself doing at the next level. He shows a nice break on the ball when he’s off the line. Has had a fine post season including in interviews where he reportedly was one of the better prospects at the Combine.
Tier Three
5. Tyrann Mathieu – LSU. Mathieu did not play in 2012, having failed multiple drug tests. Unlike Janoris Jenkins last year he elected not to drop down to the D2 level, play and stay clean. In October he was arrested for possession of marijuana, but has stayed out of trouble since that time. The evaluation off the field for Mathieu therefore is complex. However, the on the field element is pretty easy. He does lack ideal size, but in an era of slot WR’s the NFL needs guys to cover them and Mathieu fits the bill. He tested out at the Combine better than anticipated (outside of a woeful 4 bench press reps), but because of his instincts he plays faster than he tested. Mathieu has a nose for the ball and is one of those players who just seems to know when his team needs a big play be that interception, forced fumble or even in the return game where he is electric. He will gamble and might be best suited to a zone defense, but he can play.
6. Blidi Wreh-Wilson Connecticut. Wreh-Wilson’s grade is reportedly all over the place with teams and I can see why. He looks like a high pick when he’s up in press man coverage, but in off coverage he doesn’t have a great break on the ball. So press man heavy teams will love him and off man or zone teams probably won’t as much. Against Cincinnati for example he didn’t look great in off coverage most of the game he had a number of balls caught in front of him. He has good size (6’0 195 lbs) and does a nice job getting a clean jam at the line. He can then turn and run smoothly down the field plus does a really nice job of looking and leaning using the sideline as the 12th defender. He gets the correct position and can get his head turned around to play the ball. He will help support the run taking on a pulling guard in the Louisville game and blowing up a counter run for example. He’s not for everyone and a little difficult to rank on a general board, but I like him as a press man CB.
7. Leon McFadden San Diego State. Not that big (5’9 193 lbs) and didn’t run that fast at the Combine (mid 4.5’s) but a really feisty player who I really like. He has very quick feet and adjusts to double moves with consummate ease. He is not afraid to get physical at the line, although he may be limited to covering smaller slot WR’s at the next level but that’s OK as there’s a market for such CB’s. Looks comfortable in man or zone coverage indeed looks very skilled in zone coverage with a nose for the ball and looking comfortable handing men off to other zones. May slip to day three on the back of his Combine numbers, but plays faster than he timed and isn’t afraid to mix it up, so I like him.
Tier Four
8. Johnthan Banks Mississippi State. The post season has not been as kind to Banks as it has to Trufant and Taylor. He was hurt and couldn’t play in the Senior Bowl and then ran poorly at the Combine (low 4.6’s). He did run faster at his pro day, but times range from a good improvement (low 4.5’s) to a marginal one (high 4.5’s), so while it’s hard to get an accurate time for him, it’s clear he’s not a 4.3 burner. He has a very thin frame with very thin ankles. He is willing as a tackler, but too often he will go for the strip rather than getting his man down and there were some missed tackles as a result (including one on special teams which resulted in a kick-off being returned for a TD against Auburn). He generally played in zone coverage, often when the Bulldogs were in man on blitzes he was the man coming off the edge. His instincts are first class and he has a nice break on the ball. Not a prospect for everyone and certainly man heavy teams will push him lower down the board than this.
9. Mike Edwards* – Hawai’i. Edwards was a surprise name on the list of juniors declaring early for the Draft, but I came away extremely impressed with him. He did not run that well at the Combine, but ran in the low 4.4’s at his pro day, so I’m happy with him this high particularly as he played to his pro day time. In reality because of a dismissal from Tennessee (attempted armed robbery arrest, in the end reached a plea agreement on a lesser charge) he’s not likely to be in the first 10 CB’s taken but as off the field stuff won’t factor in on talent alone he’s here. Edwards isn’t the biggest, but is not afraid to come up at the line and press. His hips are very loose and he really looked comfortable in man coverage. He shows a really nice extra gear and looks like a very smooth athlete. He also has the bonus that he can return kick-offs. If he’s put his arrest behind him and changed, I like him to be real day three value.
Tier Five
10. Jordan Poyer Oregon State. Poyer was OK on tape and had momentum on the back of a good week at the Senior Bowl. However, that came to a halt with a slow 40 time at the Combine (mid 4.5’s) and rather oddly he elected not to give the 40 another go at his pro day, so perhaps that was a good time for him. He was used more often off the line, but from time to time he pressed and looked nice and physical at the line. When in off coverage he plays flat footed looking for that underneath route and the big play. This may be used against him on double moves and then the recovery speed isn’t there. Looks like a Cover-2 click and close CB will also help as a gunner on the punt coverage team and as a decent punt returner (quicker than fast).
11. B.W. Webb William and Mary. Webb was more difficult to judge than Alford on tape as he wasn’t tested much at all. However, at the Senior Bowl where everyone gets tested in 1 on 1 drills, he looked very good. He followed that up with a very good Combine workout (top performance in vertical, broad and shuttle). Generally played off man or zone in college has short arms and doesn’t project as a press corner. Played a fair amount of bail coverage and then into Cover-3 so side-on reading the QB. He did show he can turn and run down the field in man coverage. It was almost impossible to judge him in college (even against Maryland they didn’t throw at him) but his Senior Bowl week and Combine make me confident enough to rank him here.
12. David Amerson* North Carolina State. Amerson was extremely productive in 2011, leading the nation in interceptions. He didn’t play as well in 2012 but elected to declare early for the draft anyway. He was burned repeatedly in the season opener against Tennessee and had the same issue against Miami. After that game he did play better, but it’s hard to push someone who was beaten so badly so often too far up. Some teams may view him as a free safety and with excellent ball skills I can certainly see him as a deep centre field type reading the QB. If he stays at CB he must be more patient, he bites up on double moves as he’s looking for that big play. At times his eyes were on the QB and his feet stopped moving, letting his man get behind him. He ran well at the Combine for a bigger CB and should be a top 100 pick, but more off his 2011 showing.
13. Xavier Rhodes* Florida State. As soon as Rhodes ran in the low 4.4’s at the Combine at 6’1 210 lbs with the best marks in both vertical and broad jumps he was vaunted into a first round talent. Clearly with him way down here I disagree and it’s all down to his complete inability to change directions. He didn’t run the shuttle or cone drills at the Combine (due to cramp) but at his pro day his shuttle was 4.65 and cone 7.29 both slower than any other CB or safety at the Combine. Bearing in mind Eric Fisher at 306 lbs ran the shuttle in 4.44 and Rhodes time would have been only above average in the OT class and Lane Johnson ran the cone in 7.31 you get an idea just how poor his agility and change of direction is. It shows on tape and I waited for his pro day numbers ahead of any others in pro day season, I thought they would be slow but that slow is a massive red flag. In many games he wasn’t tested, but in the NC State game he was picked on a little including being beaten on a 4th and 10 play on the game winning drive. He lacks a consistent break up on the ball when he’s in off coverage (although there were flashes), so I think he must be up in press where he can use his size to slow WR’s up. He can turn and run in a straight line, but double moves I think will be a problem certainly he got undressed on such a play in the Miami game but got away with it as the WR dropped the pass! Looks to be over rated on the back of his Combine showing.
14. Tharold Simon* LSU. A very difficult evaluation as outside of the Clemson game he just wasn’t thrown at. Every LSU game I watched I was willing teams to test him, but they stayed away from him more than any other CB in this class. Thank goodness for DeAndre Hopkins in the Bowl game the Clemson man’s quickness off the line gave him fits. Now, he does have the length to press (6’2 202 with long arms) so if used to press in a Cover-2 scheme he might find a home, but he won’t be for everyone might be a nice fit with the Vikings.
Tier Six
15. Nickell Robey* USC. Checked in at the Combine at 169 lbs and even before he ran his 40 I knew he would be a day three pick. Like Leon McFadden didn’t run that fast (low 4.5’s) and that’s not a combination teams value a great deal. Robey projects as a nickel CB but did have experience outside for USC something he struggled with because of his size. Over the slot WR he looked far more effective. Playing in Monte Kiffin’s Tampa-2 he showed loose hips and a nice break on the ball. He plays much bigger than his size and is not afraid to mix it up physical to the extent he was used quite a lot as a blitzer. He will even get up and press, but with the shortest arms of any CB at the Combine he won’t make his living doing this. Better tape than athletic numbers could be nice day three value in the right scheme.
16. Will Davis Utah State. A one year starter who at one point was getting some first round talk, but after an average Senior Bowl performance he slipped down boards although he did do well at the Combine (but low 4.5’s in the 40, so not enough to move up boards like some of the 4.3 guys). Has a similar frame to Johnthan Banks, but is a little thicker in the legs. Will get a bit grabby down the field and must clean this up as he will draw illegal contact flags. Has the frame to press, but will lunge and stop his feet so if he doesn’t get a clean jam he’s in big problems as he’s off balance. Very physical though really got after Quinton Patton in the Louisiana Tech game (won some battles, but lost some as well!). Looks more comfortable in press man coverage than in off or zone where he lacks a great break on the ball. He has tools to work with, but will need to clean up his jam technique but he can turn and run smoothly and with a little work could help.
17. Darius Slay Mississippi State. A late riser in this process and working out better than team mate Johnthan Banks it could even be he gets taken before him. However, his tape is not as good he did improve as the year went on, but Banks is still far more instinctive for me. The best example is a TD in the Ole Miss game to Montcrief didn’t feel the route and get deep enough in Cover-3. Just doesn’t seem to feel WR’s in zone coverage Mississippi State use a lot of Cover-3 and he would have balls caught in his zone didn’t seem to have a natural feel for the scheme. Doesn’t always get his head turned around for the ball when in man coverage. Has long arms and 4.3 speed so has all the tools to be a press man CB, but has limited experience in this role and doesn’t look like a Tyrann Mathieu instinctive football player in zone. Has athletic upside but could be overdrafted.
Tier Seven
18. Rod Sweeting Georgia Tech. Sweeting looked best when up in press coverage, but unfortunately he has short arms, so doesn’t project too well for this at the next level. Feisty and confident showed up positively in most Tech games I watched. Did a really nice job against the Clemson due of Hopkins and Watkins. Looks and leans nicely down the field using the sideline as his friend. Ran in the low 4.4’s at the Combine. Former Tech defensive co-ordinator Al Groh will know all about this young man so expect the Patriots to be interested in him.
19. Dwayne Gratz Connecticut. The other CB at Connecticut (and it is possible they could have 4 players taken in the top 100 picks all from the defense!). Some rate him above Blidi Wreh-Wilson, but I have some distance between them (one of the last games I watched was a UConn game just be sure!). Flashes top 100 talent, but is not consistent got beaten for 2 TD’s in the Louisville game for example. Will get up and press including against TE Travis Kelce in the Cincinnati game. Will get caught with his eyes in the backfield at times and stops his feet. If you grade on the flashes he’s a top 100 talent, but flashes are no good at the CB position.
20. Terry Hawthorne Illinois. Yet another Illinois prospect who had a down year, although not as poor as Michael Buchanan. May be seen as a safety by some does not look natural backpedalling, too upright and stiff. Plays flat footed when in off coverage looking for the big play, you can get behind him. Has relatively short arms even though he’s got good size, so may not be able to press at the next level although this was one of the better parts of his college game. Will come up and support the run not afraid to hit unfortunately got carted off in the Wisconsin game taking on a FB. Size and speed should see him drafted, but didn’t have the best 2012 season.
21. Logan Ryan* – Rutgers. Ran slowly at the Combine (mid 4.5’s) which is a problem for him because he looked better in man than zone. His eyes get locked onto the QB and he let too much get behind him in the zone instead of feeling that and getting more depth. I was struggling to like him anyway, then I went back and watched the Arkansas game and Cobi Hamilton torched him so he ended up here with the slow 40 time not helping him.
Tier Eight
22. Charles James Charleston Southern. I watched James against Liberty and liked him so much I went and watched a second unplanned game (Gardner-Webb) right away (it was either that or take the wife out!). 5’9 184 lbs but very physical was up against bigger WR’s in the Gardner-Webb game and did not back down one bit. Not the best athlete from his pro day numbers but did run in the high 4.4’s. Will bait the QB when in off coverage has a nice break on the ball and looks very instinctive. Also can return punts. Might go undrafted, but I find a way to get him into camp even perhaps to the point I’d draft him late on day three.
23. Robert Steeples Memphis. Transfer from Missouri didn’t start there, but graduated and transferred to Memphis for the 2012 season. Has the length to press, but generally played off the line for the Tigers. Tall with thin ankles (a positive trait to change directions quickly). Showed he can turn and run. Looked like one of the best players at the Casino Del Sol All-Star game.
24. Sanders Commings Georgia. 6’0 201 lbs and a 40 in the low 4.4’s should equal a top 100 pick, but Commings did not shine on tape. Looks good in press man coverage and must land with a team that principally uses this coverage. He does not look instinctive in zone coverage, has too much caught around him. Does not change directions well shuttle and cone times at the Combine were weak. Also has off the field red flags (suspended in both 2011 and 2012).
Tier Nine
25. Kayvon Webster South Florida. Has long arms and projects as someone who can press, although he wasn’t asked to a great deal in college. Looked good in the Shrine Game. Backpedal looks a bit high and awkward in off coverage. Should make a roster based on his special teams coverage play and athletic upside.
26. Micah Hyde Iowa. Has experience at safety and with a 40 time in the mid 4.5’s might project there as a pro. Has experience in a Cover-2 scheme and could play at CB in this system. Looks very comfortable in zone coverage unlike Logan Ryan will feel the deeper route and get depth accordingly. Looks very comfortable drifting back and will make plays on the ball. Returned punts in college, but lack of speed means he’s not a game breaking option here. Limited athlete and will only fit certain systems thus reducing his chances.
27. Adrian Bushell Louisville. Transfer from Florida (missed some meetings, was in the dog house so elected to move). Another good college CB who ran poorly at the Combine (high 4.5’s). Looks most comfortable when he can keep everything in front of him Cover-2 click and close type. Better college player than pro prospect.
28. Brandon McGee Miami (FL). Didn’t ever put things together in college but ran in the low 4.4’s at the Combine so he might well be taken fairly early on day three. Not an instinctive player, doesn’t have a great feel for zone coverages. Has the speed to play man, but gets too grabby with his hands and will draw too many penalties. Athletic upside gamble.
|
