News: NFL Draft prospect to know: Derwin James, Safety, Florida State

[CCBoy]

NFL Draft prospect to know: Derwin James, Safety, Florida State
https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/201...ida-state-dallas-cowboys-jourdan-lewis-awuzie



Derwin James is a freakishly athletic safety that has the ability to play anywhere on the defensive side of the football. He has the IQ to make the right play, the ability to jump off of your television screen on any given play, and the talent to instantly improve a defense. How freakish is James? Well, it’s almost like he was made in a lab. James is a chiseled 6-foot-3 and 215 pounds, with strength and explosiveness that set him apart even in one of the most talented locker rooms in the country. He can bench press 450 pounds, and he's approached 600 on the squat rack. He's broad jumped 11 feet, 3 inches, which would have ranked him in the top five among more than 300 players at the 2017 NFL Scouting Combine. You want speed? He was clocked at 4.49 seconds in the 40-yard dash at the Nike Opening coming out of high school.

Would the Cowboys like to add James to the mix of Jourdan Lewis, Chido Awuzie, and Xavier Woods in the secondary? I know I would.


FSU safety Derwin James was targeted 39 times in coverage this season, and he allowed only 17 of those to be caught - tied for the lowest catch rate of Power-5 safety with at least 23 targeted passes.

 

[CCBoy]

2018 NFL Draft: Three prospects the Cowboys could trade up for

https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/201...d-trade-up-derwin-james-roquan-smith-vita-vea



Derwin James, S, Florida State
With the addition of Kris Richard to the Cowboys’ coaching staff, there should be a huge level of excitement for this defense going forward. Despite there being a number of injuries to key players and clubhouse issues, Richard was scapegoated as the reason the Seahawks struggled defensively.

Dallas has a number of defensive backs that could explode under the tutelage of Richard. However, the Cowboys could look to add another toy for him in the draft.

At 6-foot-3, 215 pounds, James is one of the bigger safeties in this year’s draft class. Despite being taller and bigger, James is a sure tackler who plays with a range from the center-fielder position of the defense. He’s exactly what the NFL is looking for now in safeties.

By adding James, the Cowboys will all of the sudden have an extremely talented secondary filled with younger players with a ton of upside. When you look at the takeaway numbers over the past decade, the Cowboys have never really been at the top. With this group, expect a lot of takeaways and short fields for the offense...

 

[cnuball21]

I wasn't waiting on PFF to post something on his coverage ability...dudes a stud.

I think he might be my top target in the 1st - and isn't probably be willing to move up a few spots to get him.

 

[hendog86]

I wasn't waiting on PFF to post something on his coverage ability...dudes a stud.

I think he might be my top target in the 1st - and isn't probably be willing to move up a few spots to get him.

He's a beast. This time last year he was being talked about as the potential #1 overall player in this years draft!

 

[Dylan88Wilson]

Fortunately for us, he’s being criminally underrated. Give me both D.J.’s in the first two rounds. Derwin James & D.J. Moore.

 

[hendog86]

Fortunately for us, he’s being criminally underrated. Give me both D.J.’s in the first two rounds. Derwin James & D.J. Moore.

Love me some DJ Moore. It would be nice to get him later than rd 2. Dang we have too many holes lol

 

[marchetta]

Drew Boylhart's (The Huddle Report) #1 prospect in the entire draft.

PARAPHRASED...


Derwin James S/CB/LB Florida State

TALENT
ROUND 1

STRENGTHS
Derwin has the size, speed and athletic talent to play more than one position on defense for the team that selects him in this draft. He is one of the best form tacklers and one of the best open field form tacklers and this will help him to stay concussion free. He has excellent change of direction skills and has those long arms and legs the make it easy for Derwin to cover players in pass defense. He has excellent vision and this makes it easy for him to look into the backfield and still see out of the corner of his eye his assign player as they are running a route. Derwin has a very high football IQ with excellent anticipation. He sees the whole field like a running back or linebacker even when he is close up to the line of scrimmage. Derwin has excellent size and quickness to cover most any size receiver in the slot and when in the red zone on the outside, against those big receivers or pass catching Tight Ends. He has unique talent, size, skills and unique football IQ and that’s the full package.

CONCERNS
Right now at the end of the college season I don’t believe Derwin still has all of his pure speed back from his knee injury and can get beat deep if you get behind him. In spite of that, there is no reason to down grade his skills and talent and football IQ, this kid is an impact player.

BOTTOM LINE
When you watch Derwin on film you see a player who is head and shoulders above his teammates and opponents in athletic talent, football skills and football IQ. He can play more than one position on your defense. He can play corner inside the red zone, cover those big receivers one on one in the slot, be your linebacker in nickel and dime, spy on those pesky quarterbacks who use the run to make first downs and because of his size Derwin is outstanding when used to blitz from deep or standing on the line. Because of his size and the fact that he is an excellent form tackler and high football IQ, Derwin has the ability to be moved around your defense as a robber, making impact plays. I’d like to see him communicate more with his teammates but because I don’t see him doing that on film doesn’t mean he is not doing it. A lot of athletes with this type of natural athletic and mental talent struggle to communicate because they really don’t know or understand how they do what they do, they just do it. In fact most players with this type of talent don’t understand why others CAN’T do what they do and this causes them to be frustrated with their teammates at times. Derwin is the type of defensive player you build your defense around. Think of him as a bigger version of former Steelers Troy Polamalu with better cover skills.

 

[gmoney112]

I would love James. You need talented players in the center of the field, we saw the damage both teams did in the Super Bowl using routes that abused the middle of the field.

Unfortunately, I don't think he gets to 19.

Maybe though.

 

[Dylan88Wilson]

This was fun to watch. Centerfield, in the box, QB spy, you name it. He was constantly around the ball and disrupting plays.

 

[baltcowboy]

You have to have to play him all over the field and develop schemes that maximize his talents. Do you think Ol Rod can do that?

 

[CATCH17]

Fortunately for us, he’s being criminally underrated. Give me both D.J.’s in the first two rounds. Derwin James & D.J. Moore.

That's what I'm saying..

The guy is going to be an awesome NFL safety. Please fall to 19.

 

[Setackin]

Can u imagine a situation where Ridley and James fall to 19! That would be nuts, but it won’t happen.

 

[atlantacowboy]

First of all, I would love to add Derwin James. But it is highly unlikely that we would spend more draft capitol in the secondary after last years draft. And second, he's going a lot higher than #19. So, your talking about packaging picks to move up. After Mo, Jerry has shown no interest in those kind of deals.

 

[Dylan88Wilson]

First of all, I would love to add Derwin James. But it is highly unlikely that we would spend more draft capitol in the secondary after last years draft. And second, he's going a lot higher than #19. So, your talking about packaging picks to move up. After Mo, Jerry has shown no interest in those kind of deals.

Derwin is probably more realistic than we think.

Nelson and Fitzpatrick - Likely long gone; Smith, Vea and Edmunds - Likely gone too; Ridley - I wouldn’t take him, especially not with all the WR talent in the 2nd; Hurst, Payne and Wynn - Good players, but I wouldn’t take them over James.

Most mocks have Derwin going a few spots before us. If the rumors are true that they’ll be moving Byron back to corner, that means our starting safeties will be Woods & Heath. Both are serviceable but I don’t think either should be starting.

Defensive tackle is probably the most likely position we’ll take if we stay at 19, but I think we have a realistic shot at Derwin, which is crazy because he’s one of the best players in this draft and has elite potential. If we have to trade up a few spots to get him, he’s one of a handful of players I consider to be well worth it... (And if we get Earl Thomas as well, we’ll have one of the most promising secondaries in the league)

 

[ghst187]

Love DJ would give up a late pick to move up and get him. He may be great

 

[atlantacowboy]

Derwin is probably more realistic than we think.

Nelson and Fitzpatrick - Likely long gone; Smith, Vea and Edmunds - Likely gone too; Ridley - I wouldn’t take him, especially not with all the WR talent in the 2nd; Hurst, Payne and Wynn - Good players, but I wouldn’t take them over James.

Most mocks have Derwin going a few spots before us. If the rumors are true that they’ll be moving Byron back to corner, that means our starting safeties will be Woods & Heath. Both are serviceable but I don’t think either should be starting.

Defensive tackle is probably the most likely position we’ll take if we stay at 19, but I think we have a realistic shot at Derwin, which is crazy because he’s one of the best players in this draft and has elite potential. If we have to trade up a few spots to get him, he’s one of a handful of players I consider to be well worth it... (And if we get Earl Thomas as well, we’ll have one of the most promising secondaries in the league)

Don't discount the OL either. Thats the part of the team that really killed us last year. I can easily see us drafting a Tyron Smith insurance policy.

 

[TheFinisher]

I'm usually in the camp of 'draft the big boys early', but James is an exception. He's exactly what this defense needs, an enforcer.

 

[stilltheguru88]

Derwin is probably more realistic than we think.

Nelson and Fitzpatrick - Likely long gone; Smith, Vea and Edmunds - Likely gone too; Ridley - I wouldn’t take him, especially not with all the WR talent in the 2nd; Hurst, Payne and Wynn - Good players, but I wouldn’t take them over James.

Most mocks have Derwin going a few spots before us. If the rumors are true that they’ll be moving Byron back to corner, that means our starting safeties will be Woods & Heath. Both are serviceable but I don’t think either should be starting.

Defensive tackle is probably the most likely position we’ll take if we stay at 19, but I think we have a realistic shot at Derwin, which is crazy because he’s one of the best players in this draft and has elite potential. If we have to trade up a few spots to get him, he’s one of a handful of players I consider to be well worth it... (And if we get Earl Thomas as well, we’ll have one of the most promising secondaries in the league)

Nobody associated with the actual team has mentioned once about Byron moving to corner. That’s all fan talk.

 

[Dylan88Wilson]

Nobody associated with the actual team has mentioned once about Byron moving to corner. That’s all fan talk.

I thought I heard it on one of the Cowboys’ shows, but I just googled it and couldn’t find anything, so it looks like you’re right. Nevertheless, would Byron and Heath prevent you from drafting Derwin James?

 

[Dylan88Wilson]

Don't discount the OL either. Thats the part of the team that really killed us last year. I can easily see us drafting a Tyron Smith insurance policy.

Wynn would probably be that guy. Could start at LG and move over to LT if Tyron went down. He’s probably our top target in a trade down situation.