Kendric Burney of North Carolina ~ 5.9/190
"A smart, savvy defender who exhibits good overall fluidity and a real feel in zone coverage. Does a nice job of baiting quarterbacks, reading his pass keys and quickly clicking and closing on the football. Exhibits the ability to keep his feet under him, remain balanced and quickly click and close on the play, with the ball skills to come down with the pass. Deciphers information quickly and exhibits good range when asked to track the football. Also, possesses some power and willingness as a tackler. Isn’t afraid to throw his body around and come up and hit someone both in run and pass support.
Showcases good fluidity when asked to turn and run down the field with receivers in man coverage, gets up to speed quickly, locates the football and makes it tough for wideouts to cleanly go up and try to make the catch.
However, isn’t as impressive when asked to quickly change directions and get out of his breaks. Isn’t as smooth, balanced or compact in his back-pedal as you would like, and he gets overextended and high in his drop. And the further down the field he goes the more he struggles to quickly regain his balance and redirect. Gives up significant separation initially and tends to drift too much from receivers in his drop. Isn’t real comfortable when asked to press off the line either. Will lose balance initially trying to get into his target’s frame, allowing receivers to cleanly gain a step behind him.
Impression: He does have some holes in his game, but because of his natural athleticism, ball skills and savvy, he’s a very good zone and off player who can find the football on plays in front of him. Looks like a potential starter if given a chance to play in a predominantly zone scheme."
Showcases good fluidity when asked to turn and run down the field with receivers in man coverage, gets up to speed quickly, locates the football and makes it tough for wideouts to cleanly go up and try to make the catch.
However, isn’t as impressive when asked to quickly change directions and get out of his breaks. Isn’t as smooth, balanced or compact in his back-pedal as you would like, and he gets overextended and high in his drop. And the further down the field he goes the more he struggles to quickly regain his balance and redirect. Gives up significant separation initially and tends to drift too much from receivers in his drop. Isn’t real comfortable when asked to press off the line either. Will lose balance initially trying to get into his target’s frame, allowing receivers to cleanly gain a step behind him.
Impression: He does have some holes in his game, but because of his natural athleticism, ball skills and savvy, he’s a very good zone and off player who can find the football on plays in front of him. Looks like a potential starter if given a chance to play in a predominantly zone scheme."
"Positives: Savvy, experienced cornerback. Rarely out of position. Reacts to the body language of the receiver and is typically ready to turn and run deep - even against play-action. Quick to read run. Avoids the block of the receiver and is an active defender willing to mix it up with the big boys to make plays near the line of scrimmage. Has a low, smooth backpedal and fluid hips to turn either direction and keep up with the receiver. Changes direction fluidly. Willing to match up with bigger receivers. Competes for jump balls. Shows a late burst to the ball. Times leaps well to compete with bigger receivers. Good vertical leaper. Shows good hands for the interception. A natural with the ball in his hands, showing good vision, agility to elude and the speed to run away from the pack. Has returned two of his 10 career interceptions for touchdowns (76, 77 yards) and has 347 career interception return yards, which ranks second only to Duke's John Talley (395) in ACC history. Good athlete. Played baseball for North Carolina as a freshman.
Negatives: Might be too short to operate as anything more than a nickel or dime corner. Appears to have good but not great straight-line speed. Typically maintains the proper cushion, though he bites on double-moves. Generally a reliable cut-and-swipe tackler; he can get himself in trouble lunging in run support. Scouts would like to see him wrap his arms more securely around the ballcarrier. Has only marginal strength overall for the position and can get tied up when blockers get their hands on him."
Negatives: Might be too short to operate as anything more than a nickel or dime corner. Appears to have good but not great straight-line speed. Typically maintains the proper cushion, though he bites on double-moves. Generally a reliable cut-and-swipe tackler; he can get himself in trouble lunging in run support. Scouts would like to see him wrap his arms more securely around the ballcarrier. Has only marginal strength overall for the position and can get tied up when blockers get their hands on him."
"Bio: Three-year starter awarded all-Conference honors after his sophomore and junior seasons. Totals last year included 30/2/2 in six games. Suspended seven games due to rules infractions. Junior numbers included 52 tackles and five interceptions. Sophomore totals included 78/3/5.
Positive: Opportunistic defensive back who plays with outstanding fundamentals. Quick pedaling in reverse,can flip his hips off the line, and loses nothing transitioning to run with opponents. Displays good route recognition in zone, shows a terrific burst of closing speed, and flashes on the scene. Plays with good awareness, works well with safeties, and has terrific hands.
Negative: Average size. Shows some inconsistency on the field. Lacks NFL speed and timed poorly at the combine.
Analysis: Burney is a well-rounded cornerback with potential in a variety of systems at the next level. He lacks classic size/speed yet does enough things well that he could see significant action as a nickel back in the NFL."
Positive: Opportunistic defensive back who plays with outstanding fundamentals. Quick pedaling in reverse,can flip his hips off the line, and loses nothing transitioning to run with opponents. Displays good route recognition in zone, shows a terrific burst of closing speed, and flashes on the scene. Plays with good awareness, works well with safeties, and has terrific hands.
Negative: Average size. Shows some inconsistency on the field. Lacks NFL speed and timed poorly at the combine.
Analysis: Burney is a well-rounded cornerback with potential in a variety of systems at the next level. He lacks classic size/speed yet does enough things well that he could see significant action as a nickel back in the NFL."
"Positives: Good speed for the position (4.40-40)... Very good at recognizing run and getting in position to make a play... Aggressive and feisty, likes to stick his nose out and fight to get to the ball carrier, plays with intensity and passion for the game... Very productive four years (202 tackles, 10 interceptions), is a pretty good playmaker with above-average instincts... Good tackler for his size, breaks down well and gets in position to make a lot of hits, flies to the ball with aggression and purpose... Athletic in coverage, has good range and ability to recover when giving a step on deep routes... Ball skills are solid, does not miss a lot of opportunities to make a play on the ball... Generally stays in very good position, plays off the receiver a lot, has good instincts in zone coverage... Has not had any substantial injuries, durability appears to not be a concern despite his size.
Negatives: Is undersized, at least an inch too short for the position... Was suspended for NCAA rules violations, stock may have fallen slightly due to suspension... Has difficulty getting off blocks at times, size is really a major factor in run defense, makes the effort, but simply gets outmuscled at times... Height is a disadvantage in jump-ball situations, has decent leaping ability, but gives up too many inches to taller receivers... Is below-average in press coverage, mostly plays off the ball, not very physical in man coverage."
Negatives: Is undersized, at least an inch too short for the position... Was suspended for NCAA rules violations, stock may have fallen slightly due to suspension... Has difficulty getting off blocks at times, size is really a major factor in run defense, makes the effort, but simply gets outmuscled at times... Height is a disadvantage in jump-ball situations, has decent leaping ability, but gives up too many inches to taller receivers... Is below-average in press coverage, mostly plays off the ball, not very physical in man coverage."
"Strengths: Very experienced and confident 4-year starter for one of America's best defensive collegiate programs. Feisty, and will compete hard in every facet of CB play. Fluid, and possesses excellent feet and footwork. Enough speed to turn and go with the fastest college receivers. Very good anticipation and can track the ball and make the interception. Tackles well for his size. Jumps routes. Is active in run support.
Weaknesses: Has major size limitations, and can be over-powered by modern 220-pound wideouts. Will lose in red zone situations and jump ball situations to NFL #1s and #2s. May be a career nickle back. May be best used as a slot spy. Not the best open field tackler, especially on big backs or tightends. Will have to have his character questions evaluated in the post season.
Projection: 3-4 the rounder right now, who could sneak into 2nd with an excellent interview-eoom performance at the NFL Combine or pro days."
Weaknesses: Has major size limitations, and can be over-powered by modern 220-pound wideouts. Will lose in red zone situations and jump ball situations to NFL #1s and #2s. May be a career nickle back. May be best used as a slot spy. Not the best open field tackler, especially on big backs or tightends. Will have to have his character questions evaluated in the post season.
Projection: 3-4 the rounder right now, who could sneak into 2nd with an excellent interview-eoom performance at the NFL Combine or pro days."
"For his first three seasons at North Carolina, Kendric Burney did not miss a start at his cornerback position. As a freshman in 2007, the 5-9 Jacksonville, North Carolina native did a superb job for such a young player who was thrown into the fire from day one. On the year he tallied 50 tackles and broke up four passes. He also picked off a pass which he returned for a touchdown. As a sophomore those numbers just kept getting better. Burney tallied an impressive 78 tackles, including 7.5 tackles-for-loss. On top of breaking up five passes, Burney continued to be a ball hawk and picked off three passes.
The interception theme would continue in 2009. Even while teams avoided Burney, he still managed to intercept five passes. His tackle and passes defended numbers were down, but that was more a result of the opposition avoiding his side of the field than anything else. Burney's starting streak ended at the beginning of 2010 as he missed the first six games of the season while serving a suspension dished out by the NCAA for receiving improper benefits. He missed a seventh game for what UNC called an "unresolved issue." Burney finally got back on the field in late October and in five regular season games tallied 24 tackles and recorded his tenth career interception.
Burney could only do so much for the North Carolina defense after sitting out for so long during his senior season. His 5-9 frame has always been a concern to many NFL teams and now they have even more of a reason to let the corner slide down their draft boards. While Burney was serving his suspension, other corners have had productive seasons and flown past him on many draft boards. Burney will have to have some good workouts, which is certainly possible since he can run a 4.4 40, to move out of the middle rounds."
The interception theme would continue in 2009. Even while teams avoided Burney, he still managed to intercept five passes. His tackle and passes defended numbers were down, but that was more a result of the opposition avoiding his side of the field than anything else. Burney's starting streak ended at the beginning of 2010 as he missed the first six games of the season while serving a suspension dished out by the NCAA for receiving improper benefits. He missed a seventh game for what UNC called an "unresolved issue." Burney finally got back on the field in late October and in five regular season games tallied 24 tackles and recorded his tenth career interception.
Burney could only do so much for the North Carolina defense after sitting out for so long during his senior season. His 5-9 frame has always been a concern to many NFL teams and now they have even more of a reason to let the corner slide down their draft boards. While Burney was serving his suspension, other corners have had productive seasons and flown past him on many draft boards. Burney will have to have some good workouts, which is certainly possible since he can run a 4.4 40, to move out of the middle rounds."
Fanatical FootBall Fiend on Kendric Burney
A powerfull Force, and a particularly fluid Athlete with excellent Processing Speed. LOVE'm.
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As always, the preceding thoughts were regurgitated, derivative tripe, adding no value whatsoever, while in fact obliterating intelligent thought and offending the spirit of all decent men. You are now stupider for having read it, and are encouraged, in the strongest possible language, never to expose your eyes to this Site again.
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