DC.com: Prince Wants To Make Instant Impact

[Miller]

Most base it on 1 GAME against OSU, where Justin Blackmon basically owned him. He's a good CB. I've seen many Nebraska games in the last 2 years.

I'm not saying I wouldn't take him but it is more than this. On ESPN Insider they broke down his numbers and against strong competition overall his numbers were below other corners out there in the draft.

You have to be signed up on Insider but I'll give you the gist

http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/draft2011/insider/columns/story?columnist=joyner_kc&id=6353475

Amukamara earned more than a few on-field and off-field honors in his career, but a game-tape/metrics analysis shows that he did not perform at an NFL-caliber level last year. In fact, his performance level placed him well behind some other cornerbacks that are considered borderline first-round choices.


Let's start with Amukamara's 2010 metrics. In the 10 games in which the Cornhuskers faced FBS AQ competition (Kansas State, Texas, Oklahoma State, Missouri, Iowa State, Texas A&M, Colorado, Oklahoma and two games against Washington), he posted these metric totals:

For perspective, consider that an 8.7 total YPA ranked Cleveland Browns cornerback Sheldon Brown tied for 70th out of 98 qualifying cornerbacks in that metric last year. It is far from an elite mark and Amukamara posted the same mark against collegiate-level competition.


But it wasn't just in total YPA where Amukamara came up short. Giving up 11 completions/defensive penalties in 20 vertical pass attempts equates to a 45 percent success rate, a number that would have ranked 82nd in that category at the pro level last season. The 14.1 vertical YPA and 16.6 stretch vertical YPA would also have placed him in the bottom quarter of the league in those metrics.


There are those who would argue that Amukamara's numbers were skewed by his performance against Oklahoma State star wideout [URL="http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/player/profile?playerId=380077"]Justin Blackmon[/URL]. While that single contest did spike Amukamara's totals (Blackmon went 3-for-6 for 144 total reception/penalty yards and a touchdown), even if you subtract that game, he still gave up a nearly 50 percent completion rate on all of the other passes.

And consider that there are receivers of Blackmon's caliber all over the NFL. Slowing down elite pass catchers is exactly why teams draft cornerbacks in the first round, and an inability to do that should raise huge red flags on a first-round corner's draft status.


One more reason to consider passing on Amukamara is the metric totals posted by Colorado cornerback Jimmy Smith and Miami Hurricanes cornerback [URL="http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/player/profile?playerId=479322"]Brandon Harris[/URL].


In an eight-game sample (Colorado State, California, Hawaii, Georgia, Missouri, Baylor, Oklahoma, Nebraska) Smith was targeted 21 times and gave up only eight completions for 73 yards, or a 3.5 YPA. He also had a 3.6 vertical YPA on 11 passes and a 2.3 stretch vertical YPA on seven passes. (The Georgia game included two targets in which Smith was covering consensus No. 1 wide receiver [URL="http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/player/profile?playerId=379205"]A.J. Green[/URL], both of which fell incomplete.)

 

[Future]

As long as Ryan can improve the pass rush, I'm down with Prince.

 

[CCBoy]

I haven't watched enough film on him to be honest. Only thing I've noticed is in his interviews/ tv time, I just get this impression that he's slow to react mentally to questions. These were football questions, i.e. Coverages, techniques and things. Answers I thought he would just fire right back he seemed hesitant or slow to answer.

Maybe I'm being dumb but he just gave me this feeling that he's not very confident when it comes to football off the field. Obviously that can develop but he doesnt give me the impression that he's more ready than anyone else.

This draft is very very deep at the db position win Peterson being the top. If we can't get him then I don't see us getting a db that would be able to start or play nickel until year 2-4, depending on how long Newman is here.

It is really difficult to pinpoint direction in youthful adults. They need direction and reinforcement through the earlier transitional points in young adulthood. And often it is quality of instruction that they receive in how they are able to then self direct and develop from there, on the carpet.

I think that Prince has good coverage skills and was scout evaluated with strong speed for the position. His size is good for the position, and his tackling skills are really a big plus for many teams. He's not adversed to working at either a corner or safety position, and that expands his useage in any secondary.

I think that cocky and a physical coverage skill are a great combination.

Your point as to an availability of players with good upend is relevant for this draft. I'm interested in seeing how this develops into the Dallas secondary.

The Cowboys have a significant amount already invested in the secondary, and from their recent drafts as well. I am curious if they would feel the need to again put a highly placed pick into this pool also...but you raise some valid considerations in your post.

 

[CCBoy]

I'm not saying I wouldn't take him but it is more than this. On ESPN Insider they broke down his numbers and against strong competition overall his numbers were below other corners out there in the draft.

You have to be signed up on Insider but I'll give you the gist

http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/draft2011/insider/columns/story?columnist=joyner_kc&id=6353475

Just a note here, LaDanian Thomlinson was drafted highly by San Diego. He was picked with a high first round pick, but there were many doubters who stated that he was just too small and from an unproven program/scheme.

I'd say that he did a pretty solid job in his career. And the NFL is dotted throughout of examples of players excelling at a high level who had questions due to the level of play about them, but were able to walk on into a higher level themselves.

 

[bsheeern]

It is really difficult to pinpoint direction in youthful adults. They need direction and reinforcement through the earlier transitional points in young adulthood. And often it is quality of instruction that they receive in how they are able to then self direct and develop from there, on the carpet.

I think that Prince has good coverage skills and was scout evaluated with strong speed for the position. His size is good for the position, and his tackling skills are really a big plus for many teams. He's not adversed to working at either a corner or safety position, and that expands his useage in any secondary.

I think that cocky and a physical coverage skill are a great combination.

Your point as to an availability of players with good upend is relevant for this draft. I'm interested in seeing how this develops into the Dallas secondary.

The Cowboys have a significant amount already invested in the secondary, and from their recent drafts as well. I am curious if they would feel the need to again put a highly placed pick into this pool also...but you raise some valid considerations in your post.

I also see a him as a solid player with speed. This draft has given us more options than any draft in quite some time. I'm hoping we have various strategies worked up and are prepared for many different scenarios. My 2 favorite players are Von miller and Peterson but I have a feeling both will only be had by trading up. I also have this strong feeling that Bowers is the player who is going to slide the most. Even falling out of the top ten and maybe even being picked after Prince. His knee could scare off teams and make others hesitant.