Looking for expert CB analysis

patriot1136 · May 26, 2015

Hey guys,
I was hoping for some of you to chime in and give me your expert analysis on our CB's, as we have quite a few new ones on the roster. I also don't watch much NCAA ball so I am not familiar with these guys we drafted. So what's the word on Jimmy Jean, Darryl Roberts, Brandon King, Eric Patterson?
Also, any chance Justin Green or Dax Swanson will be any good?

Nunchucks · May 26, 2015

We have a bunch of number 2 and 3 corners with skills to play cover 2. The only outlier appears to be Butler, but we really cannot make any predictions with him.

The guys you mentioned would be lucky to ever see the field and by the word "ever" I mean in their entire NFL careers.

patsinthesnow · May 26, 2015

My not so expert analysis, from most promise to least:

1. Butler: He earned a 53 man roster spot on a team with the most loaded CB group in the NFL last year. He shined as a CB3/CB4 at times (Broncos, Bears, and Superbowl) while struggled vs. Mike Wallace. His in game athleticism is great (plays at 4.4, and check out his vertical jump on the Kearse tyree type play against a WR 4 inches taller than him). Rookie CBs usually struggle, but Butler showed promise.

2. Roberts: He has elite athleticism, 99% percentile among NFL players in athletic traits (vertical, 40, 3 cone, broad jump). He's 6' tall, and benched 225 lbs 23 times at weighing just 187 lbs. The kid is a physical freak lottery ticket. He needs coaching, but shows some natural ability in man to man.

3. Fletcher: The guy got torched last year, particularly 3 times in one game by Dez Bryant. However, the previous years he was solid and he still had 22 PDs last season. Philly's safeties are terrible, and BB won't leave him out to dry. He could emerge as a solid system CB1/2 (Bodden?).

(notable drop off)

4. Ryan: I'm just not a fan of him to this point. He isn't a great athlete, can't play man coverage at even a decent level, and is wildly inconsistent.

5. McClain: A 5'9 JAG slot corner.

6-9. Green, Swanson, Jean, Patterson: unknowns/camp fodder

patriot1136 · May 26, 2015

Awesome, I appreciate it

Brady6 · May 26, 2015

I think that Fletcher is much better than people give him credit for. He has 37 pass defends in the past 2 seasons. With McCourty playing centerfield he is a very capable CB. In my opinion, Fletcher is a better CB than Brandon Browner.

Horace's Ivories · May 26, 2015

Jimmy Jean - that's my corner
he's got the goods -makes him a true number one
he can bump he can press he can run

stinkypete · May 26, 2015

Brady6 said:
I think that Fletcher is much better than people give him credit for. He has 37 pass defends in the past 2 seasons. With McCourty playing centerfield he is a very capable CB. In my opinion, Fletcher is a better CB than Brandon Browner.

I forget the source (either PFfocus, footballoutsiders), but they had Fletcher ranked #37 among qualifying cornerbacks when he was covering anyone other than Dez Bryant, Jordy Nelson, DeSean Jackson or Odell Beckham. Basically, this guy is a solid #2, even a borderline #1, so long as he isn't covering a legit #1 WR. Good news for us is that the legit #1 WRs in our division (Watkins, Marshall) have crappy QBs.

Also of note is the impact of injury on Fletcher's play. He had down years in 2012 and 2014, and was injured in both. He played very well in his healthy years, 2011 and 2013.

Profootballfocus raves about Roberts. They had him listed as a top 10 draft steal and even claimed to have mocked Roberts to the Pats in round 2. (For more good news, Trey Flowers was their #2 steal of the entire draft).

McClain is a Jag. So is Arrington. They play the same role, so maybe he is a cheaper, suitable replacement.

eom · May 26, 2015

Brady6 said:
I think that Fletcher is much better than people give him credit for. He has 37 pass defends in the past 2 seasons. With McCourty playing centerfield he is a very capable CB. In my opinion, Fletcher is a better CB than Brandon Browner.

well, if we go by stats, cary williams was apparently the better corner and he wasn't very good.

fletcher didn't make the top 45 according to these stats

and according to football outsiders he ranked 72nd in success rate for 2013, wtf that means

jah · May 26, 2015

I think McClain is a 1 for 1 Arrington replacement, while some combination of Butler, Fletcher, Ryan should start on the outside. Green was alright in limited snaps in 2013 and on ST, Swanson was turning heads in camp last year but didn't do much afterward. I love Roberts and I hope he can be a steal as well.

Bobsyouruncle · May 26, 2015

I know you've been busy Bill, but you should have looked at this earlier.

mgteich · May 26, 2015

Elijah said:
I think McClain is a 1 for 1 Arrington replacement, while some combination of Butler, Fletcher, Ryan should start on the outside. Green was alright in limited snaps in 2013 and on ST, Swanson was turning heads in camp last year but didn't do much afterward. I love Roberts and I hope he can be a steal as well.

I agree 100% with this analysis.

OUR FOUR CORNERS
Unless there is another pickup, we are set with our four top four corners. As you say, McClain is our nickel, and we have three corners. I think that Ryan can also be the backup at nickel (as well as backup corner) if Butler and Fletcher win the starting jobs.

ADDITIONAL BACKUPS
I suspect that we will either keep a developmental corner on the 53 (usually inactive). Of course, it also possible that we will add someone else to add to the 53.

As of now, I would think that we have Green, Swanson and Roberts competing for the 5th CB roster spot (if there is one) and for Practice Squad positions.

Brady_to_Moss · May 26, 2015

Trade for a #1 please

Ross12 · May 26, 2015

I wonder if Roberts is any good at ST? His athleticism would seemingly make him a good fit there.

Sticky Caulk · May 26, 2015

Does anyone have any annalists on Green? I notice him positively a few times, but I never really payed attention to his play. Is he obviously a JAG or does he have potential for more?

captain stone · May 28, 2015

patsinthesnow said:
My not so expert analysis, from most promise to least:

1. Butler: He earned a 53 man roster spot on a team with the most loaded CB group in the NFL last year. He shined as a CB3/CB4 at times (Broncos, Bears, and Superbowl) while struggled vs. Mike Wallace. His in game athleticism is great (plays at 4.4, and check out his vertical jump on the Kearse tyree type play against a WR 4 inches taller than him). Rookie CBs usually struggle, but Butler showed promise.

2. Roberts: He has elite athleticism, 99% percentile among NFL players in athletic traits (vertical, 40, 3 cone, broad jump). He's 6' tall, and benched 225 lbs 23 times at weighing just 187 lbs. The kid is a physical freak lottery ticket. He needs coaching, but shows some natural ability in man to man.

3. Fletcher: The guy got torched last year, particularly 3 times in one game by Dez Bryant. However, the previous years he was solid and he still had 22 PDs last season. Philly's safeties are terrible, and BB won't leave him out to dry. He could emerge as a solid system CB1/2 (Bodden?).

(notable drop off)

4. Ryan: I'm just not a fan of him to this point. He isn't a great athlete, can't play man coverage at even a decent level, and is wildly inconsistent.

5. McClain: A 5'9 JAG slot corner.

6-9. Green, Swanson, Jean, Patterson: unknowns/camp fodder

In general agreement, though I'm hoping that Dax Swanson separates himself from the trash heap
of Green, Jean & Patterson. Even if he does, we still have the Worst collection of CBs in football,
by far. Browner, Arrington, Butler, Ryan, Tarell Brown, Swanson, DJ Smith or PJ Williams, and
JaCorey Shepherd or Ifo Ekpre-Olomu would've looked much, much, much, much, much better.

patsfaninpa · May 28, 2015

It wouldn't happen until the trade deadline. If it happened at all, but Sean Smith - KC might be our best bet. He's going to be a free-agent. KC drafted Marcus Peters. If Smith appears to have one foot out of the door and Reid doesn't want to wait on a comp. pick, we might be able to make a move for him. BB/Reid have a long history of making trades. Usually involving draft picks. But, at least there will be dialogue.

Bourne Again Christian · May 28, 2015

We have young hungry unheralded athletic players competing for spots.
As we all know Belichick doesn't care where you were drafted Ryan, if you were a free agent Fletcher.
Roberts, Swanson, Green, Jean all flash talent.
I can guarantee that the 5 or 6 sticks will earn their roster spot.
They will all bring the best out in each other.
No divas this year no Mevis.
If you doubt Roberts? Mccourty is already telling people to follow his Twitter and show the young boy love.
I have a feeling he will surprise and be a number 4 or 5 going into the season pushing Ryan or Fletcher for the number 2 spot.
Sit back and enjoy the absolute dog fight BB has created at the position.
If they don't pan out then a trade for a vet, Claiborne,Smith?

Looking for expert CB analysis

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