Building your draft board position by position - week 4: Cornerback

[shirtsleeve]

Hmmm, like I said, my first shot at it. Lots harder than it looks.

That said, I tried to keep the value groups clean, but there were talent issues that kept glaring up at me. Hill and Cromartie have the legs, hips, speed, burst and cover abilities, at least according to the scouts, that could make them good bump and run cover corners here. Call me spoiled by a certain corner who used to play here, and I know it doesn't fit the mold of who we would group, but these two just couldnt get off my board.

And the attitude, off field character things kept creeping in, too. Tough for me to hold to it on that one. Webb would have been higher if not for that stuff. And I almost pulled Williams off the board. Or dropped him to group 3 which would have meant there would have been two groups, the first one of which you just discussed. I got suckered just like many GM's by the clear talent level that Williams posesses, and put him too high.

Back to the drawing board....

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

Hmmm, like I said, my first shot at it. Lots harder than it looks.

That said, I tried to keep the value groups clean, but there were talent issues that kept glaring up at me. Hill and Cromartie have the legs, hips, speed, burst and cover abilities, at least according to the scouts, that could make them good bump and run cover corners here. Call me spoiled by a certain corner who used to play here, and I know it doesn't fit the mold of who we would group, but these two just couldnt get off my board.

And the attitude, off field character things kept creeping in, too. Tough for me to hold to it on that one. Webb would have been higher if not for that stuff. And I almost pulled Williams off the board. Or dropped him to group 3 which would have meant there would have been two groups, the first one of which you just discussed. I got suckered just like many GM's by the clear talent level that Williams posesses, and put him too high.

Back to the drawing board....

Ain't it fun!

 

[shirtsleeve]

Ain't it fun!

Like trying to solve a Rubik's cube.

How many Deons and TO's do I need to see to know there is no fixing attitude. How many Deons and TO's do I need to see to know there is no fixing attitude. How many Deons and TO's do I need to see to know there is no fixing attitude.....only 497 to go!

 

[dryheat44]

I just have a hard time seeing Williams as an NFL corner. I think he has free safety written all over him.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

I just have a hard time seeing Williams as an NFL corner. I think he has free safety written all over him.

And from what I've read, he has Raven or Raider written all over him.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

Cornerback has been the most challenging draft board to build, at this rate I expect I will be sorting through prospects right up to the draft. I’ve refined things somewhat, enough to come up with two value groups for the first day.

Group One: The following players are reported to be decent tacklers who support the run.

Ashton Youboty, Ohio State, 4.43 - 40: Reported to be a bit raw and inexperienced, but comes from a good program. He made my initial cut based on his career interception production.
http://www.nfldraftcountdown.com/scoutingreports/cb/antoniocromartie.html

Richard Marshall, Fresno State, 4.42 - 40: Junior, reported to be a bit raw and inexperienced. He made my initial cut based on his career interception production.
http://www.nfldraftcountdown.com/scoutingreports/cb/richardmarshall.html

Jonathan Joseph, South Carolina, 4.31 - 40: A bit raw, Junior College transfer with one year of Div 1 experience. He made my initial cut based on his interception production in his Junior season.
http://www.nfldraftcountdown.com/scoutingreports/cb/jonathanjoseph.html

Gerrick McPhearson, Maryland, 4.32 - 40: At least one report expressed concern that he was more athlete then CB. Son of a former Patriots’ player.
http://www.nfldraftcountdown.com/scoutingreports/cb/gerrickmcphearson.html

David Pittman, Northwestern State, 4.44 - 40: 1-AA player invited to the Senior Bowl as an injury replacement, I considered him the best CB in the game and in the practices I saw. Most reports expressed concern for his slight physical stature. No one has made any specific statements to indicate his stock is rising from late second day consideration, but my reading suggests he has been noticed and may slip into the first day.
http://www.nfldraftcountdown.com/scoutingreports/cb/davidpittman.html

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Group Two: The following players are reported to be good cover corners who don’t tackle as well as they might for Patriot standards.

Antonio Cromartie, Florida State, 4.37 - 40: A Junior who missed his Junior year due to injury and only played part time his Sophomore year.
http://www.nfldraftcountdown.com/scoutingreports/cb/antoniocromartie.html

Kelly Jennings, Miami, 4.39 - 40: Reportedly reluctant to support the run, but I have a Senior Bowl note indicating that he made a good play in run support. He made my initial cut based on his career interception numbers.
http://www.nfldraftcountdown.com/scoutingreports/cb/kellyjennings.html

Derrick Martin, Wyoming, 4.4 - 40: A Junior. He made my initial cut based on his career interception numbers.
http://www.nfldraftcountdown.com/scoutingreports/cb/derrickmartin.html

Charles Gordon, Kansas, 4.55 - 40: A Junior who has been moved around to help the team. He made my initial cut based on his career interception numbers.
http://www.nfldraftcountdown.com/scoutingreports/cb/charlesgordon.html

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I expect the Pats to shop off the first list, but they may take a chance on one of the others in Group two.

 

[patchick]

Another sleeper for you...

Rolando Humphrey, SMU 5'9" 175 4.4

Undersized, but what else is new? Humphrey is a true senior who has contributed since his freshman year. Jr-Sr stats:

2005: 44 solos, 21 assists , 2 TFL's (-4 yards) , 3 INT's (98 yards) , 3 PD , 1 FF, 1 Blocked Kick.

2004: 58 solos, 13 assists, 7.5 TFLs, 1 sack, 2 ints., 10 PDs, 1 FF.

What I like: Reported to be a hard hitter who's solid in run support despite his size (note forced fumbles). Quick athlete with good hands (returns kicks); technically sound, good character, highly competitive. He also seems to be very active on the field and always in on the action (blocking kicks, recovering muffed punts.)

A nice writeup: http://condraft.com/player.php?id=485

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

Another sleeper for you...

Rolando Humphrey, SMU 5'9" 175 4.4

Undersized, but what else is new? Humphrey is a true senior who has contributed since his freshman year. Jr-Sr stats:

2005: 44 solos, 21 assists , 2 TFL's (-4 yards) , 3 INT's (98 yards) , 3 PD , 1 FF, 1 Blocked Kick.

2004: 58 solos, 13 assists, 7.5 TFLs, 1 sack, 2 ints., 10 PDs, 1 FF.

What I like: Reported to be a hard hitter who's solid in run support despite his size (note forced fumbles). Quick athlete with good hands (returns kicks); technically sound, good character, highly competitive. He also seems to be very active on the field and always in on the action (blocking kicks, recovering muffed punts.)

A nice writeup: http://condraft.com/player.php?id=485

He's on my worksheet, I just don't know where to rank him yet. He has 7 career ints and 4.4 speed with a 37" vert, 4.16 ss, and benched 12; I like how his solo tackles and PDs both decreased, suggesting they started avoiding him.

Edit: Now that I've read his profile, his is the closest description to Ellis Hobbs' that I've read.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

Mid-round considerations A couple of these guys may get a look in the third round, but I expect them to be considered second day to UDFA. They all initially made my long board based on career interception statistics and I've not found any reason to cross them off.

Rolando Humphrey 5'9" 170 Southern Methodist - Hi patchick!

Marcus Hudson 6'2" 200 NC State 4.59/40, 4.22/short shuttle, 6.91/3-cone, 36.5â€/vert jump, 10’/broad jump - sprained a knee in Senior Bowl practice, scratched at the Combine while healing, don't know if he could do better in his tests if the injury hadn't come when it did.

Jarrett Bush 6' 194 Utah State 4.46/40, 6.67/3-cone, 10'5"/broad jump, 39"/vert jump, 4.11/short shuttle, 11.08/long shuttle

Alton "Dee" McCann 5'11" 198 West Virginia 4.52/40, 42.5â€/vert jump, 10’7â€/broad jump, 4.1/short shuttle, 7.05/3-cone, 12 benched

Josh Lay 6'2" 195 Pittsburgh 4.49u/40, 40.5â€/vert jump

John Eubanks 5'10" 176 Southern Mississippi 24.21/KR avg, 4.5/40, 37.5â€/vert jump, 9’8â€/broad jump, 4.28/short shuttle, 6.90/3-cone, 16 benched.

Willie Smith 6' 197 Marshall

Antonio Malone 5’11.75†200 Toledo 4.63u/40

Travis Johnson 6'1" 191 Mississippi

Javon Johnson 5'9" 177 Iowa 17.38/PR avg, 4.6/40, 4.43/short shuttle, 7.00/3-cone, 36â€/vert jump, 10’1â€/broad jump, 7 benched - shaky Hula Bowl working against Brandon Marshall, but I like his PR avg...

Kevin Stanley 6' 175 Nevada

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Special Teams/late Second day looks

T.J Rushing 5'11" 180 Stanford 4.37/40, 20 benched, 9.14/PR avg, 27.38/KR avg - Pats reportedly checked him out.

Marcus King 5'9.5" 199 Missouri 4.54/40, 6.61/3-cone, 9'5"/broad jump, 33.5"/vert jump, 4.08/short shuttle, 11.36/long shuttle, 13 benched - Made a couple nice plays in Hula Bowl, Micheal Huff's half brother.

Willie Andrews 5'9" 193 Baylor 10.15/PR avg, 24.1/KR avg, 4.38/40

Cortland Finnegan 5'10" 188 Samford 15.14/PR avg, 25.07/KR avg, 4.33/40, 6.95/3-cone, 10'8"/broad jump, 44"/vert jump, 4.34/short shuttle, 14 benched

Trestin George 5'9" 178 San Jose State 27.25/KR avg

Dennis Mitchell 5'8" 185 Western Kentucky 16.13/PR avg

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I posted a lengthy list of late Second day/UDFA candidates in P-Nut's thread, all are there because of their career interceptions or a breakout senior year in interceptions.

http://www.patsfans.com/new-england-patriots/messageboard/showthread.php?t=33253

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

bump......

 

[Flying Fungi]

bump......