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Draft stock: Defensive backs offer deep class of solid performers
Posted 9h 41m ago | Comment | Recommend E-mail | Save | Print |
Enlarge By Scott Boehm, Getty Images
Illinois' Vontae Davis, brother of 49ers tight end Vernon Davis, is likely to be one of the first defensive backs selected in April's draft.
Yahoo! Buzz Digg Newsvine Reddit FacebookWhat's this?By Frank Cooney, Special to USA TODAY
Although there are no clones of Deion Sanders or Ronnie Lott available, this year's group of draftable defensive backs offers an interesting array of talent.
According to ratings by NFLDraftScout.com, as many as five cornerbacks could be selected in the first round, topped by Ohio State's physical Malcolm Jenkins, who uses excellent instincts to compensate for a lack of great speed.
Conversely, Illinois' Vontae Davis is an all-world workout warrior lacking technique and consistency who will be drafted for his potential.
Western Michigan's Louis Delmas is at the top of most free safety charts, although most scouts believe he needs more bulk. Oregon's hard-hitting Patrick Chung is the best of a solid group of strong safeties.
A closer look at the top defensive backs in this year's draft (school, height and weight listed; *indicates underclassman).
Cornerbacks
1. Malcolm Jenkins, Ohio State, 6-0, 204: Jenkins is a smart player who not only knows his assignments but also those of each of his teammates. He plays with good instincts and is especially alert in zone coverage, doing a fine job of handling the switch-off. His fastest 40-yard time at the combine was 4.51 seconds, but he shows great reaction and explosion to the ball, which gives him the appearance of a lockdown corner even though his top-end speed is lacking. Despite being rated as a first-round pick by the NFL Advisory Committee in 2008, Jenkins returned for his senior season and won the Thorpe Award as the nation's outstanding defensive back.
MORE JENKINS: Is he a safety or a cornerback in the NFL?
2. * Vontae Davis, Illinois, 5-11, 203: There is no doubt Davis has the athletic ability to be a great defensive back, but he must prove he can play within systems, learn techniques and be consistent. His combine workout included a best 40-yard dash time of 4.40 seconds and 25 repetitions bench-pressing 225 pounds. It was reminiscent of the combine show put on in 2006 by his brother, tight end Vernon Davis, who was the No. 6 overall selection by the San Francisco 49ers but had issues last season with coach Mike Singletary. Vontae was benched in 2008 by Illini coach Ron Zook, opening questions regarding his work ethic.
3. Darius Butler, Connecticut, 5-11, 183: Here is the definition of respect for a cornerback: Butler went without an interception in 2008 because he wasn't challenged that often after collecting 10 over the previous three years. He also earned respect at the combine with a 4.41-second 40 and a vertical jump of 43 inches. He is a four-year starter and two-year captain with enough athletic ability and instinct to be trusted in man-to-man or zone schemes. Size and durability are concerns, especially after he missed the final two games last season with a sprained knee. But Butler looked healthy and played well in Senior Bowl practices and had a great combine workout.
4. Alphonso Smith, Wake Forest, 5-9, 193: He stood out at Senior Bowl practices, often jumping pass routes in step with receivers he was covering and racking up three interceptions in three days. At the combine, his fastest time in the 40 was 4.47 seconds. Smith isn't big in stature, but he is able to stand up to the competition, thanks to great instincts, quickness and agility. On underneath patterns, Smith does a great job staying in position to triangulate so he can track the receiver and watch the quarterback. He entered college with a strong reputation after being runner-up as Florida high school player of the year as a quarterback and defensive back. He made some All-American teams as a junior for the Demon Deacons.
5. * D.J. Moore, Vanderbilt, 5-10, 192: David James Moore exploded onto the scene as a playmaker in 2007 with 83 tackles, six interceptions and an average of 25.7 yards on kickoff returns. In 2008, he added six more interceptions and showed versatility as a runner (76 yards on nine carries), receiver (143 yards, two touchdowns on seven catches) and returner (244 yards on punts, 407 on kickoffs). He is a natural in man coverage and is extremely aware of where everybody is in zone coverage. Moore is willing and aggressive in run support and makes sure, open-field tackles. He has the ability to help immediately.
6. * Sean Smith, Utah, 6-4, 214: The usual NFL urge is to automatically move a player of this height to safety, where his size and aggressive play would certainly be an asset. But Smith has rare skills that might allow him to stay at corner against tall and talented NFL receivers. He bolstered that opinion at his pro day workout with a 40-yard time of 4.43 seconds. His 40 time at the combine was 4.50. As a starter the past two seasons, Smith was extremely productive with nine interceptions and 15 pass breakups. He actually began his career at wide receiver for all but two games of his redshirt freshman season.
7. * Jairus Byrd, Oregon, 5-10, 207: Byrd has the instincts that scouts appreciate. They just need assurance he has the requisite speed, too, but a groin injury prevented him from working out at the combine or at his March 13 pro day. Byrd's 17 career interceptions were one short of the school record. He has quickness and agility, but lacks top-notch speed, although he does show another gear for at least a short distance when reacting to a ball in the air. Byrd is a willing, sure tackler, but doesn't rattle teeth. His father is Gill Byrd, a former Pro Bowl cornerback with the San Diego Chargers.
8. Victor Harris, Virginia Tech, 5-11, 198: Harris has played at cornerback, free safety, running back, wide receiver and as a returner on kickoffs and punts. He was used all over the field for the Hokies and presents similar options for his future NFL employer. Harris was voted a second-team All-American in 2008 after he intercepted six passes, returning two for touchdowns. This vocal, flashy player lacks elite speed, as evidenced at the combine where his best 40-yard time was 4.68 seconds.
9. Coye Francies, San Jose State, 6-1, 185: Francies has everything except blinding speed. He clocked a best 40-yard time of 4.63 seconds at the combine, but he did impress scouts at East-West Shrine Game workouts as an aggressive corner with coverage and return skills. He has a spotty history dating to his stint as an All-American junior college player in 2005 when he had 11 interceptions at American River College. He transferred to Oregon State and looked outstanding in three starts until he was arrested for possession of a loaded firearm and was dismissed from the team. Charges were dropped, but Francies transferred to San Jose State and last year earned All-Western Athletic Conference honors with 69 tackles and three interceptions.
10. Mike Mickens, Cincinnati, 6-0, 184: When healthy, he has the ability to make quarterbacks hesitate before throwing near him because of his explosive closing speed. He was slowed last year by a left knee injury that required arthroscopic surgery in November. He played in the Orange Bowl but was at less than 100%. He also did not work out at the combine after aggravating the injury at the Senior Bowl. Mickens holds school records with 14 interceptions (three returned for touchdowns) and 296 interception return yards. Scouts look forward to his March 19 pro day workout.
Safeties
1. Louis Delmas, Western Michigan, 6-0, 202: Although he is a four-year starter and three-time all-conference safety, there are concerns among scouts about his ability to hold up physically in the NFL as a run defender. But he has been holding up just fine for a long time, going back to high school where in his senior season he played defensive back, wide receiver, kick returner and long snapper and never missed a play in eight games. Delmas is a natural playmaker in coverage and a physical player despite his smallish frame.
2. Patrick Chung, Oregon, 5-11, 212: Chung is a strong safety prospect who has the ability to play with agility and aggression. He wisely stayed in school last season and enters this draft with 51 career starts. He led the team with 117 tackles in 2007 and made 92 stops in 2008 along with 6½ tackles for loss and six pass breakups. He displays natural instincts in coverage and in run support, and his tackling technique is textbook and devastating. At the combine, his best time in 40 yards was 4.49 seconds. He can be an enforcer despite being only average as a ballhawk and sometimes is a step slow helping out over the top.
3. William Moore, Missouri, 6-0, 221: Moore struggled early in his career as he showed more potential than production as he switched between strong and free safety. He enters this draft as a strong safety candidate after exploding onto the scene in 2007, intercepting eight passes and establishing himself as a renowned playmaker. He has a history of turning interceptions into touchdowns, with four of his 11 career picks returned for scores. He appeared too stiff for a safety in Senior Bowl workouts, and scouts began discussing him as a linebacker.
4. Darcel McBath, Texas Tech, 6-0, 198: He reads, reacts quickly and arrives early to plays with startling closing speed. At the combine, he had a best of 4.58 seconds in the 40-yard dash and a vertical jump of 38 inches. He became a more vocal leader as a senior and made first-team All-Big 12 with plays against the pass (seven interceptions) and run (75 tackles). He earned all-conference honors in his sophomore and junior seasons, totaling 148 tackles and five interceptions in 2006 and 2007.
5. Rashad Johnson, Alabama, 5-11, 203: An instinctive defender who acts like a coach on the field, Johnson had a knack for making timely plays for Alabama. He is a former walk-on running back who played a major role in the Tide's return to prominence. Scouts love Johnson's cerebral play, but some have reservations about his size and open-field tackling. Johnson's best time in 40 yards at the combine was 4.49 seconds, and he had a 37-inch vertical jump. A unanimous first-team All-Southeastern Conference selection last season, he collected 89 tackles, including 60 solo stops, to go with five interceptions and 11 passes defended.
6. Chip Vaughn, Wake Forest, 6-2, 221: Although he is not as well known as teammates and top prospects Aaron Curry and Alphonso Smith, Vaughn quietly rose up draft boards over the past two seasons. He has a reputation for making big plays in crucial situations. In 2008, he ranked third on the team with 87 tackles and six pass breakups. In 11 starts, he had two interceptions and two fumble recoveries. As a junior, Vaughn led the Demon Deacons with 105 tackles and was an honorable mention All-Atlantic Coast Conference selection.
7. David Burton, Notre Dame, 6-2, 219: A team captain, Burton has the size, speed and athleticism to help immediately on special teams in the NFL as he matures into a starter. Scouts certainly took note at the combine when he blazed through 40 yards in 4.40 flat and soared 41½ inches in the vertical jump. Burton first showed up as a playmaker when he became a starter in 2007, collecting 85 tackles, three interceptions and 4½ tackles for loss. His production increased in 2008 when he had 97 tackles, four interceptions and two forced fumbles.
8. Michael Hamlin, Clemson, 6-2, 214: He is a strong safety prospect who has been productive since his redshirt freshman season. Hamlin emerged as one of the most productive safeties in the country as a junior, earning second-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference honors after totaling 80 tackles and four interceptions. Last season, Hamlin received first-team All-ACC honors after collecting six interceptions to go with 97 tackles. At the combine, he ran 40 yards in 4.57 seconds and soared 37½ inches in the vertical jump.
9. Derek Pegues, Mississippi State, 5-10, 199: He already has impressed at cornerback and safety but is being viewed in this draft as a free safety. As a first-year starter at corner in 2006, Pegues was second-team All-Southeastern Conference with four interceptions. He made the first team as a free safety as a junior and as a senior, picking off seven passes and breaking up 13 others over those two seasons. He also has return skills, averaging 10 yards a punt return and 22.3 yards on kickoffs. His most impressive work at the combine was on the bench press, where he hoisted 225 pounds 23 times.
10. * Emanuel Cook, South Carolina, 5-10, 197: One of the more physical strong safeties of the 2009 class, Cook was an immediate standout for the Gamecocks and earned all-Southeastern Conference recognition all three seasons he spent at South Carolina. He plays somewhat in the mold of Indianapolis Colts star Bob Sanders as a run enforcer while using his physicality, but he is not as athletic or explosive as Sanders. Maturity is a concern. Cooney missed the Outback Bowl last season because of an academic suspension. He was arrested on a gun charge and suspended in 2007, but the charges were dropped.
Cooney is publisher of NFLDraftScout.com, the scouting service of USA TODAY
Posted 9h 41m ago | Comment | Recommend E-mail | Save | Print |
Enlarge By Scott Boehm, Getty Images
Illinois' Vontae Davis, brother of 49ers tight end Vernon Davis, is likely to be one of the first defensive backs selected in April's draft.
Yahoo! Buzz Digg Newsvine Reddit FacebookWhat's this?By Frank Cooney, Special to USA TODAY
Although there are no clones of Deion Sanders or Ronnie Lott available, this year's group of draftable defensive backs offers an interesting array of talent.
According to ratings by NFLDraftScout.com, as many as five cornerbacks could be selected in the first round, topped by Ohio State's physical Malcolm Jenkins, who uses excellent instincts to compensate for a lack of great speed.
Conversely, Illinois' Vontae Davis is an all-world workout warrior lacking technique and consistency who will be drafted for his potential.
Western Michigan's Louis Delmas is at the top of most free safety charts, although most scouts believe he needs more bulk. Oregon's hard-hitting Patrick Chung is the best of a solid group of strong safeties.
A closer look at the top defensive backs in this year's draft (school, height and weight listed; *indicates underclassman).
Cornerbacks
1. Malcolm Jenkins, Ohio State, 6-0, 204: Jenkins is a smart player who not only knows his assignments but also those of each of his teammates. He plays with good instincts and is especially alert in zone coverage, doing a fine job of handling the switch-off. His fastest 40-yard time at the combine was 4.51 seconds, but he shows great reaction and explosion to the ball, which gives him the appearance of a lockdown corner even though his top-end speed is lacking. Despite being rated as a first-round pick by the NFL Advisory Committee in 2008, Jenkins returned for his senior season and won the Thorpe Award as the nation's outstanding defensive back.
MORE JENKINS: Is he a safety or a cornerback in the NFL?
2. * Vontae Davis, Illinois, 5-11, 203: There is no doubt Davis has the athletic ability to be a great defensive back, but he must prove he can play within systems, learn techniques and be consistent. His combine workout included a best 40-yard dash time of 4.40 seconds and 25 repetitions bench-pressing 225 pounds. It was reminiscent of the combine show put on in 2006 by his brother, tight end Vernon Davis, who was the No. 6 overall selection by the San Francisco 49ers but had issues last season with coach Mike Singletary. Vontae was benched in 2008 by Illini coach Ron Zook, opening questions regarding his work ethic.
3. Darius Butler, Connecticut, 5-11, 183: Here is the definition of respect for a cornerback: Butler went without an interception in 2008 because he wasn't challenged that often after collecting 10 over the previous three years. He also earned respect at the combine with a 4.41-second 40 and a vertical jump of 43 inches. He is a four-year starter and two-year captain with enough athletic ability and instinct to be trusted in man-to-man or zone schemes. Size and durability are concerns, especially after he missed the final two games last season with a sprained knee. But Butler looked healthy and played well in Senior Bowl practices and had a great combine workout.
4. Alphonso Smith, Wake Forest, 5-9, 193: He stood out at Senior Bowl practices, often jumping pass routes in step with receivers he was covering and racking up three interceptions in three days. At the combine, his fastest time in the 40 was 4.47 seconds. Smith isn't big in stature, but he is able to stand up to the competition, thanks to great instincts, quickness and agility. On underneath patterns, Smith does a great job staying in position to triangulate so he can track the receiver and watch the quarterback. He entered college with a strong reputation after being runner-up as Florida high school player of the year as a quarterback and defensive back. He made some All-American teams as a junior for the Demon Deacons.
5. * D.J. Moore, Vanderbilt, 5-10, 192: David James Moore exploded onto the scene as a playmaker in 2007 with 83 tackles, six interceptions and an average of 25.7 yards on kickoff returns. In 2008, he added six more interceptions and showed versatility as a runner (76 yards on nine carries), receiver (143 yards, two touchdowns on seven catches) and returner (244 yards on punts, 407 on kickoffs). He is a natural in man coverage and is extremely aware of where everybody is in zone coverage. Moore is willing and aggressive in run support and makes sure, open-field tackles. He has the ability to help immediately.
6. * Sean Smith, Utah, 6-4, 214: The usual NFL urge is to automatically move a player of this height to safety, where his size and aggressive play would certainly be an asset. But Smith has rare skills that might allow him to stay at corner against tall and talented NFL receivers. He bolstered that opinion at his pro day workout with a 40-yard time of 4.43 seconds. His 40 time at the combine was 4.50. As a starter the past two seasons, Smith was extremely productive with nine interceptions and 15 pass breakups. He actually began his career at wide receiver for all but two games of his redshirt freshman season.
7. * Jairus Byrd, Oregon, 5-10, 207: Byrd has the instincts that scouts appreciate. They just need assurance he has the requisite speed, too, but a groin injury prevented him from working out at the combine or at his March 13 pro day. Byrd's 17 career interceptions were one short of the school record. He has quickness and agility, but lacks top-notch speed, although he does show another gear for at least a short distance when reacting to a ball in the air. Byrd is a willing, sure tackler, but doesn't rattle teeth. His father is Gill Byrd, a former Pro Bowl cornerback with the San Diego Chargers.
8. Victor Harris, Virginia Tech, 5-11, 198: Harris has played at cornerback, free safety, running back, wide receiver and as a returner on kickoffs and punts. He was used all over the field for the Hokies and presents similar options for his future NFL employer. Harris was voted a second-team All-American in 2008 after he intercepted six passes, returning two for touchdowns. This vocal, flashy player lacks elite speed, as evidenced at the combine where his best 40-yard time was 4.68 seconds.
9. Coye Francies, San Jose State, 6-1, 185: Francies has everything except blinding speed. He clocked a best 40-yard time of 4.63 seconds at the combine, but he did impress scouts at East-West Shrine Game workouts as an aggressive corner with coverage and return skills. He has a spotty history dating to his stint as an All-American junior college player in 2005 when he had 11 interceptions at American River College. He transferred to Oregon State and looked outstanding in three starts until he was arrested for possession of a loaded firearm and was dismissed from the team. Charges were dropped, but Francies transferred to San Jose State and last year earned All-Western Athletic Conference honors with 69 tackles and three interceptions.
10. Mike Mickens, Cincinnati, 6-0, 184: When healthy, he has the ability to make quarterbacks hesitate before throwing near him because of his explosive closing speed. He was slowed last year by a left knee injury that required arthroscopic surgery in November. He played in the Orange Bowl but was at less than 100%. He also did not work out at the combine after aggravating the injury at the Senior Bowl. Mickens holds school records with 14 interceptions (three returned for touchdowns) and 296 interception return yards. Scouts look forward to his March 19 pro day workout.
Safeties
1. Louis Delmas, Western Michigan, 6-0, 202: Although he is a four-year starter and three-time all-conference safety, there are concerns among scouts about his ability to hold up physically in the NFL as a run defender. But he has been holding up just fine for a long time, going back to high school where in his senior season he played defensive back, wide receiver, kick returner and long snapper and never missed a play in eight games. Delmas is a natural playmaker in coverage and a physical player despite his smallish frame.
2. Patrick Chung, Oregon, 5-11, 212: Chung is a strong safety prospect who has the ability to play with agility and aggression. He wisely stayed in school last season and enters this draft with 51 career starts. He led the team with 117 tackles in 2007 and made 92 stops in 2008 along with 6½ tackles for loss and six pass breakups. He displays natural instincts in coverage and in run support, and his tackling technique is textbook and devastating. At the combine, his best time in 40 yards was 4.49 seconds. He can be an enforcer despite being only average as a ballhawk and sometimes is a step slow helping out over the top.
3. William Moore, Missouri, 6-0, 221: Moore struggled early in his career as he showed more potential than production as he switched between strong and free safety. He enters this draft as a strong safety candidate after exploding onto the scene in 2007, intercepting eight passes and establishing himself as a renowned playmaker. He has a history of turning interceptions into touchdowns, with four of his 11 career picks returned for scores. He appeared too stiff for a safety in Senior Bowl workouts, and scouts began discussing him as a linebacker.
4. Darcel McBath, Texas Tech, 6-0, 198: He reads, reacts quickly and arrives early to plays with startling closing speed. At the combine, he had a best of 4.58 seconds in the 40-yard dash and a vertical jump of 38 inches. He became a more vocal leader as a senior and made first-team All-Big 12 with plays against the pass (seven interceptions) and run (75 tackles). He earned all-conference honors in his sophomore and junior seasons, totaling 148 tackles and five interceptions in 2006 and 2007.
5. Rashad Johnson, Alabama, 5-11, 203: An instinctive defender who acts like a coach on the field, Johnson had a knack for making timely plays for Alabama. He is a former walk-on running back who played a major role in the Tide's return to prominence. Scouts love Johnson's cerebral play, but some have reservations about his size and open-field tackling. Johnson's best time in 40 yards at the combine was 4.49 seconds, and he had a 37-inch vertical jump. A unanimous first-team All-Southeastern Conference selection last season, he collected 89 tackles, including 60 solo stops, to go with five interceptions and 11 passes defended.
6. Chip Vaughn, Wake Forest, 6-2, 221: Although he is not as well known as teammates and top prospects Aaron Curry and Alphonso Smith, Vaughn quietly rose up draft boards over the past two seasons. He has a reputation for making big plays in crucial situations. In 2008, he ranked third on the team with 87 tackles and six pass breakups. In 11 starts, he had two interceptions and two fumble recoveries. As a junior, Vaughn led the Demon Deacons with 105 tackles and was an honorable mention All-Atlantic Coast Conference selection.
7. David Burton, Notre Dame, 6-2, 219: A team captain, Burton has the size, speed and athleticism to help immediately on special teams in the NFL as he matures into a starter. Scouts certainly took note at the combine when he blazed through 40 yards in 4.40 flat and soared 41½ inches in the vertical jump. Burton first showed up as a playmaker when he became a starter in 2007, collecting 85 tackles, three interceptions and 4½ tackles for loss. His production increased in 2008 when he had 97 tackles, four interceptions and two forced fumbles.
8. Michael Hamlin, Clemson, 6-2, 214: He is a strong safety prospect who has been productive since his redshirt freshman season. Hamlin emerged as one of the most productive safeties in the country as a junior, earning second-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference honors after totaling 80 tackles and four interceptions. Last season, Hamlin received first-team All-ACC honors after collecting six interceptions to go with 97 tackles. At the combine, he ran 40 yards in 4.57 seconds and soared 37½ inches in the vertical jump.
9. Derek Pegues, Mississippi State, 5-10, 199: He already has impressed at cornerback and safety but is being viewed in this draft as a free safety. As a first-year starter at corner in 2006, Pegues was second-team All-Southeastern Conference with four interceptions. He made the first team as a free safety as a junior and as a senior, picking off seven passes and breaking up 13 others over those two seasons. He also has return skills, averaging 10 yards a punt return and 22.3 yards on kickoffs. His most impressive work at the combine was on the bench press, where he hoisted 225 pounds 23 times.
10. * Emanuel Cook, South Carolina, 5-10, 197: One of the more physical strong safeties of the 2009 class, Cook was an immediate standout for the Gamecocks and earned all-Southeastern Conference recognition all three seasons he spent at South Carolina. He plays somewhat in the mold of Indianapolis Colts star Bob Sanders as a run enforcer while using his physicality, but he is not as athletic or explosive as Sanders. Maturity is a concern. Cooney missed the Outback Bowl last season because of an academic suspension. He was arrested on a gun charge and suspended in 2007, but the charges were dropped.
Cooney is publisher of NFLDraftScout.com, the scouting service of USA TODAY