Finding the next Richard Sherman

[RS12]

By Russ Lande
With the Seahawks winning the Super Bowl behind a great defense with a big secondary, many have pointed to NFL teams now wanting to find tall cornerbacks. However, NFL teams have always been searching for cornerbacks who are more than six feet tall and have the hips and speed to cover NFL receivers.


Richard Sherman was a raw cornerback prospect coming out of Stanford, but at 6-foot-2 ½ and 194 pounds with athleticism usually seen only in smaller cornerbacks, he has evolved into a star. If you look at the cornerbacks selected in the first round over the last 10 years, you see many who were drafted because they were over six feet and very athletic despite not being great college players. NFL teams hoped they could coach their size and athleticism well enough that they would become productive starters, but all too often they failed. As the search continues, here are the 2014 draft's best bets to follow Sherman's path:

1. Stanley Jean-Baptiste, Nebraska, 6-foot-2 3/8, 215 pounds.

Possessing great cornerback height and good all-around athleticism, Baptiste was an up-and-down player at Nebraska until his final season, when the light seemed to go on.

http://www.sportsonearth.com/articl...s-rankings-stanley-jean-baptiste-pierre-desir

 

[dbonham]

The talent pool of tall fast guys is much deeper at WR. Find a guy who won't get drafted highly at WR for whatever reason who posts a good 3 cone time and put him on special teams until he shows promise or doesn't.

The thing about finding the next Richard Sherman is that you're probably going to fail.

 

[supercowboy8]

You can't just find one in this draft. It's not that wasy. There isn't one in every draft. Why hasn't a 3 time superbowl winning qb come out of the 6th since tom brady.

Looking for a type of player because of sherman will get you in trouble and pass over a better player just because your looking at size.

 

[xwalker]

It does not have to be a 6-3 CB, but they Cowboys should look for developmental guys that are bigger than Webb.

There are 31 CBs in this draft that are 6-0 and over but only 2 that are 6-3.

 

[Hardline]

Why doesn't the Dallas Mavericks draft the next Michael Jordan?
Why doesn't the Rangers draft the next Nolan Ryan?
Why doesn't the Stars draft the next Wayne Gretzky?

 

[cbow44]

well shoot I wouldnt even try then.

 

[DuDa]

I do like Keith McGill's skill set. I think you could move that guy to free safety.

 

[reddyuta]

I think Sherman is so successful because he is smart and can diagnose the play very well,you cant except every big CB to be successful because generally they are stiff.

 

[casmith07]

Sherman is an anomaly. Just find good cornerbacks if that's what you need.

Attempting to peg them with their size is the wrong answer.

 

[AsthmaField]

I do like Keith McGill's skill set. I think you could move that guy to free safety.

I like McGill a lot. The most out of the "Sherman-esqu" corners in this year's draft. Actually, I like him better than I do Baptiste, although I do like him too.

As long as you don't overdraft him, I don't see anything wrong with trying to find a tall, physical corner.

On a side note: When everyone is trying to find a corner like Sherman, you always hear "big, tall, physical, aggressive"... but what a lot of people forget about, or at least don't mention is, "smart as hell". That guy has a good head on his shoulders and that, along with those really good physical tools is what makes him so good.