CornerBack ~ Carlton Davis ~ Auburn Tigers
6010/208
Old Roles are getting dramatically transformed, and virtually every Front 7 ~ or Front 6!! ~ Defensive Job Description is transitioning into an Hybrid Role where the Defender is asked to excel in multiple Roles and in multiple Fronts.
For that reason, and in order to offer NomenClature that speaks not to archaic, obsolete "Positions", but rather to Skill Sets that accurately reflect the dynamic Changes of the 21st Century Game and the Roles they have spawned, I have undertaken to craft Terminology that is designed to break Skill Sets down as they really are.
Defensive Coordinators have, since Time Immemorial, employed highly creative terminology in devising Defenses and in designating Assignments. In that Spirit, I have admittedly indulged myself considerably in devising the following NomenClature. It is undeniably colorful, but I like to think that there's an underlying Logic, as well:
CornerBacks ~ I find it quite amusing that the very last Skill Set on my list is the only Defensive Skill Set ~ so far!! ~ for whom I haven't adapted or invented a new Term. The Prototype would be about 6000/195.
CornerBacks are of course Pass Defense Specialists, but I will include Run Defense in my Evaluations. But I will note, of course, that as with Blocking as it pertains to WideOuts, it is desirable, yes, but its absence is no Red Flag.
This is how I break down CornerBacks:
Agility: Acceleration, Ricochet, Fluidity, Verticity ~ that's Turn & Burn Acuity, to you Earthlings!! ~ and Speed!!
Processing Speed: How quickly and effectively one Reads & Reacts to the developing Play.
Run Defense: Power, Agility, Combat Skills, Processing Speed, Motor, and Tackling.
Pass Coverage: Agility, Processing Speed, and Field Vision.
CatchPoint Capacity: Tracking, Timing, Combat Skills, and WingSpan.
Broken down into SubCategories, it'd go something like this:
Agility
* Fluidity, above all things: Core Agility & Flexibility makes everything possible.
* Ricochet ~ How crisply and how rapidly one breaks in a new direction.
* Acceleration ~ Short Speed or Quickness. Closing Speed.
* Verticity ~ The Ability ~ or lack thereof ~ to Flips Hips and Turn & Burn in Pass Coverage.
* Speed ~ Corner and WideOut are really the only Roles where 40 Times matter.
Processing Speed
* How quickly and effectively one Reads & Reacts to the developing Play.
Run Defense
* Power
* Agility
* Combat Skills
* Processing Speed
* Motor
* Tackling
Pass Coverage
* Agility ~ Fluidity, Ricochet, Acceleration, and Speed, baby!!
* Processing Speed ~ Reading and Reacting with Speed & Precision to Offensive Tactics.
* Field Vision ~ Processing Speed with an emphasis on the Tactical LandScape.
CatchPoint Capacity
* Tracking
* Timing
* Combat Skills
* WingSpan
* Vertical Agility
Agility: 40. Sluggish in all regards.
Processing Speed: 40. Sluggish in all regards.
Run Defense: 75. Terrific combination of Power, sprawling WingSpan, and Combat Skills. Effective Tackler.
Pass Coverage: 30 in Off Coverage, but 60 in Press Coverage with considerable upside. Davis lacks the Agility to mirror effectively, but exhibits outstanding Combat Skills and enough Closing Speed in Press Coverage to potentially excel.
CatchPoint Capacity: 50 and with excellent upside. Davis is a former WideOut, and it is evident why that is so: His Hands are FootBall-retardant. Even so, his sprawling WingSpan, strong Core Power, and outstanding Combat Skills offer extraordinary CatchPoint potential, if his Tracking & Timing can catch up to the rest of his Game.
As with Oliver, though, there's a whole lotta work to do.
They both exhibit very shaky Field Vision and Processing Speed in their Route Reading, but whereas Oliver exhibits excellent Closing Speed but marginal Combat Skills and Run Defense, Davis's Closing Speed is pretty average, yet both his Combat Skills and Run Defense are excellent. And those aspects of his Game inspire far more confidence in his future.
Attention to detail, and all the Time & Training invested that these developed aspects imply, suggest the levels of Intelligence and Drive that often separates the wheat from the chaff. Davis is light years away from being a sure thing, but he's been blessed with the Frame, the WingSpan, and enough Agility to compete for a starter's gig and to develop into a solid CornerBack, and the Intangibles suggested by his Combat Skills and Run Defense speak well'f'is chances.
Even so, it seems to me that Davis has less natural talent to work with, as Oliver exhibits substantially better Closing Speed and an amazing WingSpan. There's less downside with Davis, but less potential, as well, I think.
Ceiling? Warrior. 2nd Rounder.
Floor? Contender. 4th/5th Rounder.
Risk/Reward Ratio? Very good. 2 to 1 in his favor.
But I think that, as with Oliver, his Pick reflects a dry Corner Market that pushed prices a bit higher than their Intrinsic Value.
Thank you so very much, Draft BreakDown, without whom my Work would be virtually impossible.
Market Value #63 | Yankee Grade 3rd Round |
Please also note, Fellow FootBall Fiends: These CyberScouting Reports are not intended as predictions of success or failure, but as assessments ~ ludicrously amateurish assessments ~ of potential success. FootBall is a rough and often unfair business, and many a worthy Prospect has fallen far short of his potential, sometimes not because of his own failings, but because of those of coaching, scheme, timing...or because huge investments were made on other Prospects.
In other words: If any of my Super Dooper Deeper Sleepers ever fail to fulfill their vast potential, I’m confident that it goes without saying that it wasn’t their fault…or mine!!...Yes, I think that I'm being funny.
In other words: Caveat Emptor, Fellow FootBall Fiends!!
Enter at your own risk!!