Why was Byron Jones rated so low before the combine?

[CyberB0b]

This article was written in February:
http://www.theuconnblog.com/2015/2/...combine-nfl-draft-profile-2015-uconn-football

NFLDraftScout.com is reporting that Byron Jones is expecting to be healthy enough to participate in position drills next Monday. They have him ranked as the 31st cornerback with a 7th round grade.

NFL.com has Jones ranked 25th among cornerbacks in this year's class, and also suggests that a move to safety may benefit him at the next level.

Does this concern anyone? His combine numbers jumped him from a late round CB to a 1st rounder. From what I have seen in his limited youtube video clips, he didn't seem that impressive to me. There are some choice quotes from that article.

Scouts seem to agree that he has the size and instincts to compete at the next level but is lacking in overall burst and athleticism.

 

[PoundTheRock]

Definitely liked the Gregory pick more. It seems like seeing his measured athleticism made Bryon a riser. Doesn't mean he can't play, but it's curious. Definitely think the tape is why he was at the end of the first round rather than in the first half. If his tape matched the way he worked out somebody woud've taken him much higher.

 

[YosemiteSam]

Word is he lacks instincts. So, we have an athletic freak who lacks instincts. Think AOA, Jason Williams. Both athletic freaks who lacked football instincts.

Now, I'm not sure he is as inept as those two based on what I've seen, (which admittedly is very little) but I've said many times that the Byron Jones pick is the one that I'm most concerned with.

 

[gimmesix]

Definitely liked the Gregory pick more. It seems like seeing his measured athleticism made Bryon a riser. Doesn't mean he can't play, but it's curious. Definitely think the tape is why he was at the end of the first round rather than in the first half. If his tape matched the way he worked out somebody woud've taken him much higher.

Possibly, but actual scouts could have already had him rated high. I don't know if their grades actually change as much as draft pundits.

 

[viman96]

IIRC his combine results had Scouts review his games again and they changed their position. Basically his combine results confirmed what they saw on his game tapes.

 

[EMMITTnROY]

I'm sure playing at lowly Connecticut hurt his projection as well.

 

[PoundTheRock]

IIRC his combine results had Scouts review his games again and they changed their position. Basically his combine results confirmed what they saw on his game tapes.

Sorry, but the math doesn't add up here. If he played to that athleticism he woud've been picked higher than 27. Nobody lets a freak corner who proves it on the field fall to the bottom of the first round.

 

[AdamJT13]

http://www.nhregister.com/sports/20...nn-cb-byron-jones-was-high-before-nfl-combine

“The interesting thing about Byron Jones is when he jumped out of the building in the Combine, I think some people assumed this guy came out of nowhere, that this was an underwear Olympics superstar and there was no tape to back up what you saw,” said Daniel Jeremiah, a draft analyst for NFL Network who spent seven years as a scout for three different teams, in a recent conference call. “Here we go again getting carried way with a workout, but I had him in my top 50 going into the Combine. It wasn’t like this was a meteoric rise based on a workout. He’s a good player when you study him on tape.

“The year before, you go back and watch him against Michigan and watch the plays he makes in that game as a press corner, located the ball down the field, he’s physical. And then this year you saw him play in the boundary, he had a bad shoulder so he missed tackles, but he has good feet.”

 

[Irvin88_4life]

This article was written in February:
http://www.theuconnblog.com/2015/2/...combine-nfl-draft-profile-2015-uconn-football



Does this concern anyone? His combine numbers jumped him from a late round CB to a 1st rounder. From what I have seen in his limited youtube video clips, he didn't seem that impressive to me. There are some choice quotes from that article.

Because he was injuried for most of his senior year. .......read where he said Jones lacks burst and athleticism? Haha really look at his combine numbers. I can't take anybody serious that said that about Jones and his athletic ability

 

[CyberB0b]

http://www.nhregister.com/sports/20...nn-cb-byron-jones-was-high-before-nfl-combine

“The interesting thing about Byron Jones is when he jumped out of the building in the Combine, I think some people assumed this guy came out of nowhere, that this was an underwear Olympics superstar and there was no tape to back up what you saw,” said Daniel Jeremiah, a draft analyst for NFL Network who spent seven years as a scout for three different teams, in a recent conference call. “Here we go again getting carried way with a workout, but I had him in my top 50 going into the Combine. It wasn’t like this was a meteoric rise based on a workout. He’s a good player when you study him on tape.

“The year before, you go back and watch him against Michigan and watch the plays he makes in that game as a press corner, located the ball down the field, he’s physical. And then this year you saw him play in the boundary, he had a bad shoulder so he missed tackles, but he has good feet.”

Jeremiah posted this AFTER the combine.

 

[Corso]

http://www.nhregister.com/sports/20150429/draft-stock-of-uconn-cb-byron-jones-was-high-before-nfl-combine

“The interesting thing about Byron Jones is when he jumped out of the building in the Combine, I think some people assumed this guy came out of nowhere, that this was an underwear Olympics superstar and there was no tape to back up what you saw,” said Daniel Jeremiah, a draft analyst for NFL Network who spent seven years as a scout for three different teams, in a recent conference call. “Here we go again getting carried way with a workout, but I had him in my top 50 going into the Combine. It wasn’t like this was a meteoric rise based on a workout. He’s a good player when you study him on tape.

“The year before, you go back and watch him against Michigan and watch the plays he makes in that game as a press corner, located the ball down the field, he’s physical. And then this year you saw him play in the boundary, he had a bad shoulder so he missed tackles, but he has good feet.”

My... Gawd. What is this with players being high before the combine?
Wait. I think I read that wrong.

 

[Irvin88_4life]

Sorry, but the math doesn't add up here. If he played to that athleticism he woud've been picked higher than 27. Nobody lets a freak corner who proves it on the field fall to the bottom of the first round.

It happens when is deep and talented at that spot. CB this year was like last year's WRs

 

[Alexander]

Word is he lacks instincts. So, we have an athletic freak who lacks instincts. Think AOA, Jason Williams. Both athletic freaks who lacked football instincts.

Now, I'm not sure he is as inept as those two based on what I've seen, (which admittedly is very little) but I've said many times that the Byron Jones pick is the one that I'm most concerned with.

I am concerned about the "freak" thing translating to the field as well, but he is not anything close to Okwusu-Ansah or Jason Williams.

 

[Vinnie2u]

http://www.nhregister.com/sports/20...nn-cb-byron-jones-was-high-before-nfl-combine

“The interesting thing about Byron Jones is when he jumped out of the building in the Combine, I think some people assumed this guy came out of nowhere, that this was an underwear Olympics superstar and there was no tape to back up what you saw,” said Daniel Jeremiah, a draft analyst for NFL Network who spent seven years as a scout for three different teams, in a recent conference call. “Here we go again getting carried way with a workout, but I had him in my top 50 going into the Combine. It wasn’t like this was a meteoric rise based on a workout. He’s a good player when you study him on tape.

“The year before, you go back and watch him against Michigan and watch the plays he makes in that game as a press corner, located the ball down the field, he’s physical. And then this year you saw him play in the boundary, he had a bad shoulder so he missed tackles, but he has good feet.”

In AdamJT13 we trust....

 

[erod]

He played on an awful defense that made it impossible to stand out.

 

[CyberB0b]

In AdamJT13 we trust....

Daniel Jeremiah posted that on February 23. AFTER the draft.



Here's his January Mock:
http://www.nfl.com/draft/2015/mock-drafts/daniel-jeremiah/215603
Here's his February Mock:
http://www.nfl.com/draft/2015/mock-drafts/daniel-jeremiah/230600

 

[gmoney112]

Daniel Jeremiah posted that on February 23. AFTER the draft.



Here's his January Mock:
http://www.nfl.com/draft/2015/mock-drafts/daniel-jeremiah/215603
Here's his February Mock:
http://www.nfl.com/draft/2015/mock-drafts/daniel-jeremiah/230600

Most pretend scouts only scout the guys they've watched. I bet he hadn't seen many UConn games.

You'll never know his true rating because real scouts don't post on the interwebs for clicks.

 

[Corso]

Daniel Jeremiah posted that on February 23. AFTER the draft.



Here's his January Mock:
http://www.nfl.com/draft/2015/mock-drafts/daniel-jeremiah/215603
Here's his February Mock:
http://www.nfl.com/draft/2015/mock-drafts/daniel-jeremiah/230600

I clicked those links and it shows only the 1st round so either there is a link on there that goes on and we can read if there was a difference in reports, or you were basically saying that this guy that AdamJT brought up never considered Jones a 1st Rounder from the start. Former, or latter?

 

[cmoney23]

I'm up in the air on him and I'll explain why.

He really was an un-known player to me until closer to the draft and I started seeing him on Mocks and in different articles. I'm not a fan of guys that don't play against good competition week in and out at the college level... I like guys from Major conferences and big time programs more than guys like Jones. But that's just my personal preference.... nothing factual to base that off of... just the way I am. Anyway, that is one check against him in my book. Second, I don't care for anyone that "shows up" on draft boards after the combine... "Work out Warriors" don't have a great track record in the NFL. so that's another check against him in my book.

BUT

from the video I've seen of him, he looks alright. He sounds like a "worker" and a "studier" of the game which is a plus for a CB in the NFL. I think that the position is as much about film study as it is about measurable. (The greats have both!) I've heard comparisons to Devin McCourty and from what I've seen I'd say they are pretty fair. He will probably start out as a CB for us and move to FS in a few years.

Bottom line is, I actually trust the guys making the call now (I really don't think it's Jerrah and hasn't been for awhile now) and will give them the benefit of the doubt. Seems like a nice pick in the late first round.

 

[Vinnie2u]

Carr and Claiborne will be gone next year at the latest... So I hope he's another first round HR...