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Vic's picks: Top 5 cornerbacks in draft
By Vic Carucci
National Editor, NFL.com
(March 28, 2007) -- One man's ranking of the top five cornerbacks in the NFL draft:
1. Leon Hall, Michigan
Positives: Tremendous instincts. ... Does an excellent job of anticipating plays and reacting accordingly. ... Superb ball skills. ... Outstanding hands. ... Physical in bump-and-run coverage and shows no hesitation to provide run support.
Negatives: Not many for the player who shapes up as the draft's best at his position.
2. Darrelle Revis, Pittsburgh (Underclassman)
Positives: Exceptional speed, agility, and footwork. ... Outstanding hands. ... Excels at reading plays and making the proper adjustments. ... Body control. ... Toughness; can't be easily blocked on run plays. ... Can make an instant game-breaking contribution as a punt returner.
Negatives: Must work at improving his backpedal; his tendency to go sideways rather than straight back can give receivers an unnecessary advantage.
3. Aaron Ross, Texas
Aaron Ross won the Thorpe Award as the nation's top DB as a senior. Positives: Size (6-foot-plus, 197 pounds), speed, and athleticism. ... Makes good use of long arms to knock receivers off their routes and knock down passes. ... Does an outstanding job of reading plays and knows how to react. ... Rarely fooled by play fakes or misdirection plays. ... Excellent ball skills. ... Can recover from missteps with strong closing burst.
Negatives: Given his size, he could stand to be more aggressive in run support.
4. Marcus McCauley, Fresno State
Positives: Size (6-0-plus, 203 pounds), speed, and athleticism. ... Long arms. ... Effective when jamming receivers at the line. ... Outstanding instincts. ... Aggressiveness in run support.
Negatives: Needs to work on backpedaling technique. ... Could stand to improve his lower-body strength.
5. Chris Houston, Arkansas (Underclassman)
Ask Vic!
Positives: Outstanding speed and athleticism. ... Able to closely shadow receivers anywhere on the field in man-to-man coverage. ... Physical enough to knock receivers off their routes. ... Shows explosiveness to cut in front of receivers and make plays.
Negatives: Can be beaten by quick moves in the open field. ... Needs to work on backpedaling technique. ... Generally must become more consistent in making the most of his considerable physical skills.
National Editor, NFL.com
(March 28, 2007) -- One man's ranking of the top five cornerbacks in the NFL draft:
1. Leon Hall, Michigan
Positives: Tremendous instincts. ... Does an excellent job of anticipating plays and reacting accordingly. ... Superb ball skills. ... Outstanding hands. ... Physical in bump-and-run coverage and shows no hesitation to provide run support.
Negatives: Not many for the player who shapes up as the draft's best at his position.
2. Darrelle Revis, Pittsburgh (Underclassman)
Positives: Exceptional speed, agility, and footwork. ... Outstanding hands. ... Excels at reading plays and making the proper adjustments. ... Body control. ... Toughness; can't be easily blocked on run plays. ... Can make an instant game-breaking contribution as a punt returner.
Negatives: Must work at improving his backpedal; his tendency to go sideways rather than straight back can give receivers an unnecessary advantage.
3. Aaron Ross, Texas
Negatives: Given his size, he could stand to be more aggressive in run support.
4. Marcus McCauley, Fresno State
Positives: Size (6-0-plus, 203 pounds), speed, and athleticism. ... Long arms. ... Effective when jamming receivers at the line. ... Outstanding instincts. ... Aggressiveness in run support.
Negatives: Needs to work on backpedaling technique. ... Could stand to improve his lower-body strength.
5. Chris Houston, Arkansas (Underclassman)
Ask Vic!
Positives: Outstanding speed and athleticism. ... Able to closely shadow receivers anywhere on the field in man-to-man coverage. ... Physical enough to knock receivers off their routes. ... Shows explosiveness to cut in front of receivers and make plays.
Negatives: Can be beaten by quick moves in the open field. ... Needs to work on backpedaling technique. ... Generally must become more consistent in making the most of his considerable physical skills.
