Wilfork#75
In the Starting Line-Up
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- Sep 27, 2010
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Since the end of the first round I've gone back and watched 7 of the top CB's still available. I was going to write more detailed notes on all of them but I won't have time (I was also hoping to get to Josh Shaw and Steven Nelson). Surprisingly there three of the top guys I really don't like at CB
One of the issues we have is we don't know what kind of scheme and coverage the Pats will run this year so we don't know what kind of CB they may be looking for. What I am confident of though is we won't be running the same system as last year simply because we don't have the same talent at CB. Because of that I'm not necessarily looking for just a physical press-man CB, but someone who has really good fundamentals, especially tackling.
The guys I like are:
(Note: Projections are where I personally think they should go, not where draft experts think they should go)
Eric Rowe- Utah
Positives
Tall, long CB with excellent athleticism. Tested out very well at the combine, especially for his size. Long arms give him good potential as a press corner, but I didn’t really see him do that a lot in the film I saw. Physical in the run game and isn’t afraid to make a tackle (former safety). Special teams contributor.
Negatives
Despite running well at the combine he can be beat deep. Needs to learn to press at the LOS to take advantage of his length. Good but not great cover guy.
Love the length, like the physicality, still has room to grow.
Projection: 2nd round- I think he can be a solid #2 CB in the NFL
PJ Williams- Florida State
Strengths
I love the way he plays the game. Tough, aggressive, instinctual. Versatile, plays both sides of the field, inside and out, and is an active blitzer. Love his physicality, is a strong tackler that can lay a hit and often tries to strip the ball. Playmaker.
Weaknesses
Isn’t an elite athlete. Lacks top end speed and can be beat deep. Not great change of direction skills. Adequate cover skills but not exceptional. Better in man coverage than zone because he can be late to break on balls in front of him, but will likely need safety help over the top against speedy receivers.
Love the way he plays the game, I just wish he were a better athlete. Lack of elite athleticism the only thing keeping him from being a top flight CB prospect.
Projection: 3rd round- I think he can be a good NFL starting CB given the right system. Character could be a concern
D'Joun Smith- Florida Atlantic
Excellent, fluid athlete with loose hips and lots of potential. Still raw and needs to develop and clean up his technique. Not great size or length but very physical in the run game. Good ball skills and temperament for a CB. I think he can develop into a good #2.
Projection: Round 3
Senquez Golson- Ole Miss
If any of you are Red Sox fans you should LOVE Golson. A little fun fact- Golson was drafted by the Red Sox in the 8th round of the 2011 draft. He was seen as a tough sign and one that the Sox would need to push hard to sign away from Ole Miss. As it turns out, despite a strong effort by the Red Sox, Golson chose football over baseball. Because of this, on the last day before the deadline to sign draft picks, the Red Sox had some extra money left over which they used to instead sign Mookie Betts. If Golson had of chosen baseball, the Red Sox never would have gotten Betts.
Now on to the important stuff. I love Golson's game. I love his athleticism, his skill set, his attitude. I love everything about him except that he is 5'9" with short arms. If he were bigger I would take him much earlier, but the size does knock him down because of his limitations playing outside.
Projection: 3rd/4th round
The guys I DO NOT like are:
Ronald Darby- Florida State
I really just don't get the love. He is a much better athlete than he is football player right now and I want football players. He is weak against the run, doesn't play very physical and there have been time I've seen him look completely lost. Overrated as a cover man. To me his is a 5th round developmental guy.
Jalen Collins- LSU
Another guy where I just don't see it. His length makes up for a lot of deficiencies in his game that I don't think will fly in the NFL. He has great length and excellent straight line speed, but he struggles changing direction and needs a lot of technique work. He is much better playing vertical routes where he can use his length and speed, but he is poor against breaking routes. I'm also not convinced about his commitment to playing the run. I think he is another 5th round developmental guy at best because he has physical limitations laterally.
Quinten Rollins- Miami (OH)- See earlier post
Just another random note from watching Williams and Darby. The guy that stood out to me in every game I watched for Florida State was Jalen Ramsey. He is a flat out playmaker that is all over the field. He is going to be a special player in the NFL.
One of the issues we have is we don't know what kind of scheme and coverage the Pats will run this year so we don't know what kind of CB they may be looking for. What I am confident of though is we won't be running the same system as last year simply because we don't have the same talent at CB. Because of that I'm not necessarily looking for just a physical press-man CB, but someone who has really good fundamentals, especially tackling.
The guys I like are:
(Note: Projections are where I personally think they should go, not where draft experts think they should go)
Eric Rowe- Utah
Positives
Tall, long CB with excellent athleticism. Tested out very well at the combine, especially for his size. Long arms give him good potential as a press corner, but I didn’t really see him do that a lot in the film I saw. Physical in the run game and isn’t afraid to make a tackle (former safety). Special teams contributor.
Negatives
Despite running well at the combine he can be beat deep. Needs to learn to press at the LOS to take advantage of his length. Good but not great cover guy.
Love the length, like the physicality, still has room to grow.
Projection: 2nd round- I think he can be a solid #2 CB in the NFL
PJ Williams- Florida State
Strengths
I love the way he plays the game. Tough, aggressive, instinctual. Versatile, plays both sides of the field, inside and out, and is an active blitzer. Love his physicality, is a strong tackler that can lay a hit and often tries to strip the ball. Playmaker.
Weaknesses
Isn’t an elite athlete. Lacks top end speed and can be beat deep. Not great change of direction skills. Adequate cover skills but not exceptional. Better in man coverage than zone because he can be late to break on balls in front of him, but will likely need safety help over the top against speedy receivers.
Love the way he plays the game, I just wish he were a better athlete. Lack of elite athleticism the only thing keeping him from being a top flight CB prospect.
Projection: 3rd round- I think he can be a good NFL starting CB given the right system. Character could be a concern
D'Joun Smith- Florida Atlantic
Excellent, fluid athlete with loose hips and lots of potential. Still raw and needs to develop and clean up his technique. Not great size or length but very physical in the run game. Good ball skills and temperament for a CB. I think he can develop into a good #2.
Projection: Round 3
Senquez Golson- Ole Miss
If any of you are Red Sox fans you should LOVE Golson. A little fun fact- Golson was drafted by the Red Sox in the 8th round of the 2011 draft. He was seen as a tough sign and one that the Sox would need to push hard to sign away from Ole Miss. As it turns out, despite a strong effort by the Red Sox, Golson chose football over baseball. Because of this, on the last day before the deadline to sign draft picks, the Red Sox had some extra money left over which they used to instead sign Mookie Betts. If Golson had of chosen baseball, the Red Sox never would have gotten Betts.
Now on to the important stuff. I love Golson's game. I love his athleticism, his skill set, his attitude. I love everything about him except that he is 5'9" with short arms. If he were bigger I would take him much earlier, but the size does knock him down because of his limitations playing outside.
Projection: 3rd/4th round
The guys I DO NOT like are:
Ronald Darby- Florida State
I really just don't get the love. He is a much better athlete than he is football player right now and I want football players. He is weak against the run, doesn't play very physical and there have been time I've seen him look completely lost. Overrated as a cover man. To me his is a 5th round developmental guy.
Jalen Collins- LSU
Another guy where I just don't see it. His length makes up for a lot of deficiencies in his game that I don't think will fly in the NFL. He has great length and excellent straight line speed, but he struggles changing direction and needs a lot of technique work. He is much better playing vertical routes where he can use his length and speed, but he is poor against breaking routes. I'm also not convinced about his commitment to playing the run. I think he is another 5th round developmental guy at best because he has physical limitations laterally.
Quinten Rollins- Miami (OH)- See earlier post
Just another random note from watching Williams and Darby. The guy that stood out to me in every game I watched for Florida State was Jalen Ramsey. He is a flat out playmaker that is all over the field. He is going to be a special player in the NFL.
