Originally posted by GhostofFredDean74: Bottom line, we need speed and playmaking ability in our secondary immediately. Right now, we're everything we shouldn't be at the starting CB position:
~old
~slow
~lacking playmakers
In 1981 Bill Walsh selected Ronnie Lott, Eric Wright, and Carlton Williamson with the first 3 picks of the draft and they all started right away in the backfield. Maybe the Niners should do the same thing and pick Prince and Smith. I seriously doubt they would do that but it wouldnt be the worst thing ever.
Me and a buddy were talking about that last night, id be happy with that
I'd be happy with that. Trent Baalke picked 2 olinemen in the first last season. Our secondary sucks we need more then 1 good cb, spencer is the only guy i'd like to stay around next season. Insert taylor mays with his speed and hopefully his light clicks on soon. I watch jimmy against ou live, he's was all over the field that game. I dislike his going high, but that can be coached he will have to learn to be like nate and trip up the running backs, i like how he's willing to stick his nose in against the run...
I was just thinking about jimmy smith, big with some speed. Not sure if I'd go cb-cb though, because I think the pass rush also needs some help. Having a guy like von miller at OLB would improve the secondary(we were giving guys like brees WAY too much time with the ball), and add a whole nother dimension to blitzes. Right now teams can pretty much try to gameplan around taking willis out and if they're successful qb's have very little pressure from the linebackers.
I'd be pumped to see miller and willis wrecking havoc while justin still smashes guys too. Then jimmy smith at cb paired with either a cheaper clements or whoever we can get from FA.
Anyway, since this is about the draft, smith's stock depends on how fast he can run at the combine of course but it sounds like he's got good speed for a big dude and the only knock I see on him(probably just from lack of scout reports) is he doesn't have many picks but that'll happen when no one's throwing your way. He apparently shut down AJ green pretty completely and he's a big/fast dude.
I came across an article in Time Magazine today about NFL fans and their passion for their teams.
The article cited recent research which suggests fans’ “emotional connection can put them at an increased risk for a heart attack after the Super Bowl.”
I mention this here for two reasons. For starters, I want to give the impression that I’m intellectually curious and multi-dimensional (in truth, I only skim Time for articles regarding post-Super Bowl health maladies and the pictures). But the second point is this: Even fans of the wildly successful teams that reach the Super Bowl can die from disappointment.
It’s true, of course. The NFL season can exact quite a toll on a fan base (see 49ers, San Francisco, 2003 to Feb. 8, 2011).
And, for that reason, the NFL draft season is so appealing. After the horror of a 6-10 season comes the hope: Help is on the way.
You know how this works – “OK, we’ll draft this can’t-miss stud in the first round, grab this beast in the second, this future five-time, all-Pro will fall to us in the middle of the third …” By the time the fourth round rolls around, your sad-sack team is Super-Bowl bound. By the fifth round, whispers of a dynasty.
But this thought process is not just reserved for delusional fans. Even clear-headed draft experts can look at a draft and see the endless possibilities.
For example, CBS Sports draft guru Rob Rang can envision a scenario in which the 49ers, clutching the No. 7 overall pick, walk away with perhaps the best player in the draft, LSU cornerback Patrick Peterson.
“There is a possibility that Patrick Peterson just falls in their lap,” Rang said. “If a bunch of teams are going for quarterbacks and defensive linemen early on then Patrick Peterson, who I think is as good as any player in this entire draft, could fall right into their lap at seven.”
It sounds unlikely. And if there isn’t a Cam Newton-Blaine Gabbert-Marcell Dareus run, another cornerback, Nebraska’s Prince Amukamara, will likely be available for the Niners.
“You look at mock drafts around the web and there’s few mocks that have Prince going quite that high,” Rang said. “But the reality is talk to NFL clubs and they all think that he’s a top-10 kind of a talent. It wouldn’t be a surprise all, if Peterson is off the board, to see them take Prince. For some teams, those two guys are very closely rated.”
If the 49ers pass on a cornerback at No. 7, however, Rang had some thoughts on prospects that would be available later in the draft. Rang zeroed in on the type of tall and physical corners the Niners have preferred in recent years. It’s worth noting that the first two corners he mentioned below will likely be gone before San Francisco’s selects in the second round at No. 45 overall.
But the 49ers, who will have at least 10 draft picks, could offer an attractive trade package to move up in the second round or get into bottom of the first and grab … (see how this works? Anyone can play along!)
CORNERBACKS
AARON WILLIAMS, TEXAS
Height: 6-1
Weight: 195
Rang’s projected draft round: Late first, early second
The skinny: Williams may not be Deion Sanders – who is? – but he also doesn’t possess Prime Time’s reluctance to tackle. Williams, who declared for the draft after his junior season, is a physical corner who relishes his role in run support. He had 46 tackles, 13 pass-breakups and three forced fumbles en route to earning second-team All-Big 12 honors this past season. In his first mock draft, ESPN’s Mel Kiper has Williams being selected at No. 31 overall based on his ball skills, size, speed and awareness.
Rang: “He isn’t quite as established, but he’s only come out after his junior season. Give him two years and he might be among the two of the best ones of the bunch.”
JIMMY SMITH, COLORADO
Height: 6-2
Weight: 205
Rang’s projected draft round: Early second
The skinny: Smith didn’t pick off a pass as senior, but he’s also didn’t have many opportunities. According to Colorado stats, Smith was targeted about 20 times in man coverage during 12 games this past season. The same coaches who made a point of avoiding him also named him an all-Big 12 first-team selection. Draft analyst Russ Lande of the Sporting News is a believer: He ranks Smith ahead of Peterson and Amukamara in his cornerback rankings. A force in run support, Smith had 70 tackles in each of his past two seasons.
Rang: “He’s a player who has the height, and the physicality in the running game, that you’re looking for.”
RAS-I DOWLING, VIRGINIA
Height: 6-2
Weight: 200
Rang’s projected draft round: Third
The skinny: Dowling decided to stay at Virginia for his senior season, but the preseason All-American’s draft stock wasn’t helped thanks to an injury plagued season. Dowling, who played in only five games, had knee and hamstring issues before he suffered a fractured ankle in mid-November. He didn’t participate in the Senior Bowl due to an injury. He was a second-team all-ACC pick as a junior and compared favorably with secondary mate Chris Cook, who was selected with the 34th overall pick in last year’s draft by the Vikings. He possesses ideal size to match up with NFL wideouts, but lacks elite speed.
Rang: “He’s a player that I like in that press scheme that I expect San Franciso is going to run a little bit. He’s a tall, lanky kid and he came in and was viewed by some as a possible first-round pick. Then he just had a really unfortunate year with injuries. So his stock has dropped a little bit.”
I came across an article in Time Magazine today about NFL fans and their passion for their teams.
The article cited recent research which suggests fans’ “emotional connection can put them at an increased risk for a heart attack after the Super Bowl.”
I mention this here for two reasons. For starters, I want to give the impression that I’m intellectually curious and multi-dimensional (in truth, I only skim Time for articles regarding post-Super Bowl health maladies and the pictures). But the second point is this: Even fans of the wildly successful teams that reach the Super Bowl can die from disappointment.
It’s true, of course. The NFL season can exact quite a toll on a fan base (see 49ers, San Francisco, 2003 to Feb. 8, 2011).
And, for that reason, the NFL draft season is so appealing. After the horror of a 6-10 season comes the hope: Help is on the way.
You know how this works – “OK, we’ll draft this can’t-miss stud in the first round, grab this beast in the second, this future five-time, all-Pro will fall to us in the middle of the third …” By the time the fourth round rolls around, your sad-sack team is Super-Bowl bound. By the fifth round, whispers of a dynasty.
But this thought process is not just reserved for delusional fans. Even clear-headed draft experts can look at a draft and see the endless possibilities.
For example, CBS Sports draft guru Rob Rang can envision a scenario in which the 49ers, clutching the No. 7 overall pick, walk away with perhaps the best player in the draft, LSU cornerback Patrick Peterson.
“There is a possibility that Patrick Peterson just falls in their lap,” Rang said. “If a bunch of teams are going for quarterbacks and defensive linemen early on then Patrick Peterson, who I think is as good as any player in this entire draft, could fall right into their lap at seven.”
It sounds unlikely. And if there isn’t a Cam Newton-Blaine Gabbert-Marcell Dareus run, another cornerback, Nebraska’s Prince Amukamara, will likely be available for the Niners.
“You look at mock drafts around the web and there’s few mocks that have Prince going quite that high,” Rang said. “But the reality is talk to NFL clubs and they all think that he’s a top-10 kind of a talent. It wouldn’t be a surprise all, if Peterson is off the board, to see them take Prince. For some teams, those two guys are very closely rated.”
If the 49ers pass on a cornerback at No. 7, however, Rang had some thoughts on prospects that would be available later in the draft. Rang zeroed in on the type of tall and physical corners the Niners have preferred in recent years. It’s worth noting that the first two corners he mentioned below will likely be gone before San Francisco’s selects in the second round at No. 45 overall.
But the 49ers, who will have at least 10 draft picks, could offer an attractive trade package to move up in the second round or get into bottom of the first and grab … (see how this works? Anyone can play along!)
CORNERBACKS
AARON WILLIAMS, TEXAS
Height: 6-1
Weight: 195
Rang’s projected draft round: Late first, early second
The skinny: Williams may not be Deion Sanders – who is? – but he also doesn’t possess Prime Time’s reluctance to tackle. Williams, who declared for the draft after his junior season, is a physical corner who relishes his role in run support. He had 46 tackles, 13 pass-breakups and three forced fumbles en route to earning second-team All-Big 12 honors this past season. In his first mock draft, ESPN’s Mel Kiper has Williams being selected at No. 31 overall based on his ball skills, size, speed and awareness.
Rang: “He isn’t quite as established, but he’s only come out after his junior season. Give him two years and he might be among the two of the best ones of the bunch.”
JIMMY SMITH, COLORADO
Height: 6-2
Weight: 205
Rang’s projected draft round: Early second
The skinny: Smith didn’t pick off a pass as senior, but he’s also didn’t have many opportunities. According to Colorado stats, Smith was targeted about 20 times in man coverage during 12 games this past season. The same coaches who made a point of avoiding him also named him an all-Big 12 first-team selection. Draft analyst Russ Lande of the Sporting News is a believer: He ranks Smith ahead of Peterson and Amukamara in his cornerback rankings. A force in run support, Smith had 70 tackles in each of his past two seasons.
Rang: “He’s a player who has the height, and the physicality in the running game, that you’re looking for.”
RAS-I DOWLING, VIRGINIA
Height: 6-2
Weight: 200
Rang’s projected draft round: Third
The skinny: Dowling decided to stay at Virginia for his senior season, but the preseason All-American’s draft stock wasn’t helped thanks to an injury plagued season. Dowling, who played in only five games, had knee and hamstring issues before he suffered a fractured ankle in mid-November. He didn’t participate in the Senior Bowl due to an injury. He was a second-team all-ACC pick as a junior and compared favorably with secondary mate Chris Cook, who was selected with the 34th overall pick in last year’s draft by the Vikings. He possesses ideal size to match up with NFL wideouts, but lacks elite speed.
Rang: “He’s a player that I like in that press scheme that I expect San Franciso is going to run a little bit. He’s a tall, lanky kid and he came in and was viewed by some as a possible first-round pick. Then he just had a really unfortunate year with injuries. So his stock has dropped a little bit.”
I can see Sherman from Stanford as well in rounds 4-5. He too would be a solid later round pickup and already knows Fangio's system, played well in it too.
-They don't really throw his way. When they do its short and intermediate. Usually in a good position to make the play.
-Plays WAY too high.
-Decent punch at the line of scrimmage in press coverage. Might be too light weight/lanky to do that against the Fitz's, Andre's, and Megatron sized wrs.
What i didn't learn from the Jimmy Smith videos.
-Can he run? How fast?
-Does he have good hips? Can he backpedal, turn and run?
i want to look at his 40, yes s**tty tackler he can be taught that, you can't teach speed, he's all over the field though always seems to be in a spot to make the play!
[ Edited by TheGoldDiggerrrr on Feb 8, 2011 at 21:42:37 ]
Originally posted by TheGoldDiggerrrr: i want to look at his 40, yes s**tty tackler he can be taught that, you can't teach speed, he's all over the field though always seems to be in a spot to make the play!
He is probably one of the best covering the pass coming out, but the knock on him is his poor tackling.
Quote: Scout Talk: 2011 Draft Class of Cornerbacks
It seems there rarely are enough good cornerbacks to keep pace with all the good receivers. But the coming draft offers a deep group of cover men. April will provide the opportunity for teams to stock up and build depth at the position. As many as 19 corners could carry grades that would justify them being picked in the first four rounds.
Scouts are in agreement Louisiana State’s Patrick Peterson and Nebraska’s Prince Amukamara are the top two, and that both are in the elite class. But I have heard some differences of opinion over which is the best prospect. Peterson is more physically gifted because he outweighs Amukamara by about 20 pounds. He also is a dynamic return man. But he is unusual. There really isn’t another top NFL cornerback who is as big as he is. So there is a bit of a bust factor with him. Amukamara, meanwhile, might be more of a sure thing.
Three other corners could be first round picks, though it is unlikely all three will be. They are Miami’s Brandon Harris (he has excellent coverage skills and quickness for a man-to-man scheme), Colorado’s Jimmy Smith (nice combination of size and athleticism) and Texas’ Aaron Williams (he may be the most athletic corner in the draft, but he has not been consistent).
The next tier of corners, all of whom figure to be off the board by the end of round three, includes Utah’s Brandon Burton (the junior could have benefited from another year in college, but he has size and speed), Virginia’s Ras-I Dowling (he had great tape in 2009, but injuries set him back in 2010), Louisville’s Johnny Patrick (he could be a little underrated), Colorado’s Jalil Brown (this is a physical corner who will flourish in a zone scheme), Virginia Tech’s Rashas Carmichael (he has ball skills), Southern Cal’s Shareece Wright (he could excel over the slot) and North Carolina’s Kendric Burney (his size isn’t ideal, but he competes).
The best of the rest: West Virginia’s Brandon Hogan, Michigan State’s Chris L. Rucker, New Mexico state’s Davon House, Boise State’s Brandyn Thompson, Utah State’s Curtis Marsh, Bufalo’s Josh Thomas and Texas’ Chike Brown.
McShay claiming Smith a better prospect than Prince. What's with him and trying to make outlandish predictions? Didn't this dude say Gerald McCoy was a better prospect than Ndamukong Suh?
Originally posted by Ether: McShay claiming Smith a better prospect than Prince. What's with him and trying to make outlandish predictions? Didn't this dude say Gerald McCoy was a better prospect than Ndamukong Suh?
A lot of people jumped on that silly McCoy bandwagon. He's a good player, but he Suh is on an entirely different level.
Quote: Scout Talk: 2011 Draft Class of Cornerbacks
It seems there rarely are enough good cornerbacks to keep pace with all the good receivers. But the coming draft offers a deep group of cover men. April will provide the opportunity for teams to stock up and build depth at the position. As many as 19 corners could carry grades that would justify them being picked in the first four rounds.
Scouts are in agreement Louisiana State’s Patrick Peterson and Nebraska’s Prince Amukamara are the top two, and that both are in the elite class. But I have heard some differences of opinion over which is the best prospect. Peterson is more physically gifted because he outweighs Amukamara by about 20 pounds. He also is a dynamic return man. But he is unusual. There really isn’t another top NFL cornerback who is as big as he is. So there is a bit of a bust factor with him. Amukamara, meanwhile, might be more of a sure thing.
Three other corners could be first round picks, though it is unlikely all three will be. They are Miami’s Brandon Harris (he has excellent coverage skills and quickness for a man-to-man scheme), Colorado’s Jimmy Smith (nice combination of size and athleticism) and Texas’ Aaron Williams (he may be the most athletic corner in the draft, but he has not been consistent).
The next tier of corners, all of whom figure to be off the board by the end of round three, includes Utah’s Brandon Burton (the junior could have benefited from another year in college, but he has size and speed), Virginia’s Ras-I Dowling (he had great tape in 2009, but injuries set him back in 2010), Louisville’s Johnny Patrick (he could be a little underrated), Colorado’s Jalil Brown (this is a physical corner who will flourish in a zone scheme), Virginia Tech’s Rashas Carmichael (he has ball skills), Southern Cal’s Shareece Wright (he could excel over the slot) and North Carolina’s Kendric Burney (his size isn’t ideal, but he competes).
The best of the rest: West Virginia’s Brandon Hogan, Michigan State’s Chris L. Rucker, New Mexico state’s Davon House, Boise State’s Brandyn Thompson, Utah State’s Curtis Marsh, Bufalo’s Josh Thomas and Texas’ Chike Brown.
Peterson is built differently than any CB I can remember. He's like champ but with more bulk. But just b/c he's built differently doesn't mean there is a bust factor. Means he might be one of a kind thus why he's about to be making millions of dollars.
Quote: Scout Talk: 2011 Draft Class of Cornerbacks
It seems there rarely are enough good cornerbacks to keep pace with all the good receivers. But the coming draft offers a deep group of cover men. April will provide the opportunity for teams to stock up and build depth at the position. As many as 19 corners could carry grades that would justify them being picked in the first four rounds.
Scouts are in agreement Louisiana State’s Patrick Peterson and Nebraska’s Prince Amukamara are the top two, and that both are in the elite class. But I have heard some differences of opinion over which is the best prospect. Peterson is more physically gifted because he outweighs Amukamara by about 20 pounds. He also is a dynamic return man. But he is unusual. There really isn’t another top NFL cornerback who is as big as he is. So there is a bit of a bust factor with him. Amukamara, meanwhile, might be more of a sure thing.
Three other corners could be first round picks, though it is unlikely all three will be. They are Miami’s Brandon Harris (he has excellent coverage skills and quickness for a man-to-man scheme), Colorado’s Jimmy Smith (nice combination of size and athleticism) and Texas’ Aaron Williams (he may be the most athletic corner in the draft, but he has not been consistent).
The next tier of corners, all of whom figure to be off the board by the end of round three, includes Utah’s Brandon Burton (the junior could have benefited from another year in college, but he has size and speed), Virginia’s Ras-I Dowling (he had great tape in 2009, but injuries set him back in 2010), Louisville’s Johnny Patrick (he could be a little underrated), Colorado’s Jalil Brown (this is a physical corner who will flourish in a zone scheme), Virginia Tech’s Rashas Carmichael (he has ball skills), Southern Cal’s Shareece Wright (he could excel over the slot) and North Carolina’s Kendric Burney (his size isn’t ideal, but he competes).
The best of the rest: West Virginia’s Brandon Hogan, Michigan State’s Chris L. Rucker, New Mexico state’s Davon House, Boise State’s Brandyn Thompson, Utah State’s Curtis Marsh, Bufalo’s Josh Thomas and Texas’ Chike Brown.
Peterson is built differently than any CB I can remember. He's like champ but with more bulk. But just b/c he's built differently doesn't mean there is a bust factor. Means he might be one of a kind thus why he's about to be making millions of dollars.
Quote: Among the most alarming terms that can be associated with a cornerback is “stiff,” referring to the inability of the defensive back to fluidly flip his hips, run and cover a wideout.
On Thursday’s NFL Network conference call with the media, draft analyst Mike Mayock used the same word when discussing LSU cornerback Patrick Peterson.
“He’s got a little bit of stiffness to him,” said Mayock, adding that Peterson is “most comfortable in press-man (coverage),” but explaining that the 2010 Thorpe Award winner “might be best served as a safety.
“He might be an All-Pro safety.”
Peterson is listed at 6-foot-1 and 222 pounds, and Mayock isn’t the first media member to suggest a position switch for the over-sized corner. Mayock even compared Peterson to Antrel Rolle, an early-career cornerback for the Cardinals who busted at the more valuable position before resurrecting his career at safety.
A more recent example of an All-American college corner who made this transition in the NFL was Malcolm Jenkins of Ohio State.
Jenkins was widely considered a surefire top 8-10 pick entering the 2009 NFL Combine. He fell to the Saints at No. 14 after running a forty time in the mid-4.5s, and is now the starting free safety in New Orleans.
Sounds like he's may turn out to be a better Rolle or Jenkins.