DMN: BLOG: Albert Breer: McShay takes a crack at corners

[WoodysGirl]

DB class is deep but lacks superstars

By Todd McShay
Scouts Inc.
(Archive)

Updated: April 15, 2008
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Similar to a year ago, the 2008 crop of cornerbacks is deep in talent but void of any true blue-chippers. The only difference is that this year's top prospects hail from schools like Troy, South Florida and Tennessee State rather than Pittsburgh, Michigan and Texas.


At the top of the class are four cornerbacks who should be selected in Round 1: Leodis McKelvin, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Mike Jenkins and Aqib Talib. Brandon Flowers, Antoine Cason, Tracy Porter, Justin King and Patrick Lee represent the second tier of cornerback talent and should all be off the board by the end of Day 1.

On the flipside, the supply in this year's safety class does not come close to meeting the demand. The past three drafts have seen an average of 5.3 safeties selected in the first two rounds, but only two safeties are among the top 10 defensive backs this year and neither receives a first round grade.

Here's a look at the top 10 defensive backs in 2008 followed by a breakdown of the top DBs in a variety of essential skill areas.

Top 10 Defensive Backs in 2008 Draft
Player Position School HT WT 40 time Grade
1. Leodis McKelvin CB Troy 5-10¼ 190 4.38 95
2. Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie CB Tennessee State 6-1½ 184 4.33 94
3. Mike Jenkins CB South Florida 5-10¼ 197 4.38 93
4. Aqib Talib CB Kansas 6-0¾ 202 4.44 92
5. Brandon Flowers CB Virginia Tech 5-9¾ 189 4.55 91
6. Kenny Phillips S Miami 6-2¼ 212 4.48 89
7. Tyrell Johnson S Arkansas State 5-11½ 500 4.56 88
8. Antoine Cason CB Arizona 6-0¼ 191 4.45 87
9. Tracy Porter CB Indiana 5-10⅞ 188 4.37 86
10. Justin King CB


Vital skill sets
Instincs/confidence
Rarely peeks in the backfield on play-action. Senses when the ball is up in the air. Knows receivers' tendencies and how to attack them. Always in position when it counts. Confidence and "selective amnesia" are also important qualities.
Best in cornerback class: Brandon Flowers, Virginia Tech
Best in safety class: Jamie Silva, Boston College

Closing burst
Quickness and speed are premiums at the CB position. Upper echelon DB's typically run the short-shuttle in 4.20 seconds or faster, the three-cone drill in 7.1 seconds or faster and the 40-yard dash in 4.49 seconds or faster.
Best in cornerback class: Tyvon Branch, Connecticut
Best in safety class: Josh Barrett, Arizona State

Fluidity
Shows the fluid hips and change-of-direction skills to mirror receivers one-on-one. Can stay with the double move and does not lose much time in transition when turning to run with receivers on vertical routes.
Best in cornerback class: Leodis McKelvin, Troy
Best in safety class: Dejuan Morgan, N.C. State

Ball skills
Pursues plays aggressively, and then uses his soft hands to defend when in position. Times jumps well.
Best in cornerback class: Antoine Cason, Arizona
Best in safety class: Quintin Demps, UTEP

Run support
He can both take on and disengage blocks in space and slip blocks while maintaining outside leverage. Knows how to use his shoulders when matched up against bigger opponents.
Best in cornerback class: Reggie Smith, Oklahoma
Best in safety class: Tyrell Johnson, Arkansas State

Demand
Here are the five most likely teams to select a cornerback early in the draft, with their overall picks in the first three rounds in parenthesis:

1. Baltimore Ravens (Nos. 8, 38, 99)
2. New Orleans Saints (10, 40, 78)
3. Arizona Cardinals (16, 50, 81)
4. Houston Texans (18, 79)
5. Green Bay Packers (30, 56, 60, 91)

The five most likely teams to select a safety early in the draft, with their picks in the first three rounds in parenthesis:

1. Philadelphia Eagles (19, 49, 80)
2. New York Giants (31, 63, 95)
3. Carolina Panthers (13, 43, 67, 74)
4. Washington Commanders (21, 51, 84, 96)
5. Green Bay Packers (30, 56, 60, 91)

<snipped some stuff, cuz I didn't feel like fighting tables>

 

[Stash]

I would like to ask for responses from the folks who doubt Cason as to why exactly they feel he's not worthy of Dallas' pick in the first round?

Why do you guys feel he's not worthy of being drafted there?

Honest opinions.

 

[MONT17]

how has Cason done v. Pac 10 Wrs who r in the NFL or will get drafted?

 

[Hostile]

I would like to ask for responses from the folks who doubt Cason as to why exactly they feel he's not worthy of Dallas' pick in the first round?

Why do you guys feel he's not worthy of being drafted there?

Honest opinions.

Magazines have him bottom of the 1st or top of the 2nd and the contributors to those magazines are deity.

 

[Hostile]

All I know is Hos. lives in Arizona, breathes air from used footballs instead of normal air like the rest of us, has good info on the kid and I respect his opinion on the kid over just about anybody, since we have a huge need at the position, I'm gonna sink or swim with Hos. on Cason. I do however reserve my right to be wrong. Have a nice day, I have farm implements to tend to and I'm taking my dog to get a tatoo, later. He's a Bull Mastif and a rebel.I refuse however to let him get his ears pierced. My 2 cents is equal to your two cents and together that's four cents and that won't feed my cattle or my dog.

If I chipped in my 2 cents you'd have 6 cents. That's a 50% return on your investment.

Man, Hos isn't going to be able to fit his big head through doors after reading this stuff.

In other words, not much has changed.

 

[ndanger]

If I chipped in my 2 cents you'd have 6 cents. That's a 50% return on your investment.

In other words, not much has changed.

I'll take that and see your six "sense"

If you would stop breathing air from old footballs your head would reduce to normal.That's what my Granny always used to say.That and "GIT OUTTA MY KITCHEN YA" LIL" VARMIT" "Now straighten up and fly right !"

 

[Hostile]

I'll take that and see your six "sense"

If you would stop breathing air from old footballs your head would reduce to normal.That's what my Granny always used to say.That and "GIT OUTTA MY KITCHEN YA" LIL" VARMIT" "Now straighten up and fly right !"

But it's the best air ever.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Magazines have him bottom of the 1st or top of the 2nd and the contributors to those magazines are deity.

See, told ya that you should have come out with yours this year Hos.

 

[Hostile]

See, told ya that you should have come out with yours this year Hos.

Yeah you did, and I need to get off my butt.

 

[ndanger]

Yeah you did, and I need to get off my butt.

Whatsamatta your butt heavy from passin' all that stale ol' football air ?

 

[theogt]

Yeah you did, and I need to get off my butt.

How 'bout I buy yours and you can buy mine and then we can be "people paid for their draft opinion."

 

[ndanger]

How 'bout I buy yours and you can buy mine and then we can be "people paid for their draft opinion."

I'll buy that.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

How 'bout I buy yours and you can buy mine and then we can be "people paid for their draft opinion."

Hos and you should collaborate on one...

I'll publish it.

 

[I LOVE ME SOME ME!]

If Flowers is available when we are taking a corner we will take him. I think hes gonna be the best corner of this class. Think Antoine Winfield. We would easily have the best tackling corners in the NFL. And bring a little attitude to the choir boy cornerback group.

 

[tomson75]