2012 NFL Draft: CB class

PTulini · 2011-12-16T13:37:52-08:00

For discussion about this year's CB class leading up to the NFL Draft... Ranking the top five senior corners: http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/Ranking-the-top-five-senior-corners.html 1. CB Janoris Jenkins: North Alabama (5-10, 182) If he can put it together off the field, he's got the ability to develop into a very good cover man in the NFL. His size is still a concern, which could limit where he plays at in the NFL. However, he's still going to be a really tough defender to separate from and has proved h can play big vs. the best competition in college football. 2. CB Alfonzo Dennard: Nebraska (5-10, 205) He's strong/feisty, can press off the line and turn and run. Needs to clean up some technical flaws both in press and off the line, which hinders his balance. But can be a guy who could start both on the outside and in the slot at the next level. Lacks ideal top end speed however. 3. CB Coryell Judie: Texas A&M (5-11, 190) He's a naturally gifted athlete with good range and great ball skills. Displays enough fluidity and balance to develop as a man-to-man corner, but looks ideally suited for a cover two type role where he can attack the football and create turnovers. Should fight for a starting job early in his career. 4. CB Jamell Fleming: Oklahoma (5-11 191) He's a balanced, coordinated kid who keeps his feet under him when changing directions and can turn and run. Doesn't give up much separation out of his breaks, knows how to make plays on the football and if he can improve as a tackler looks like a guy who warrants a starting job in the NFL early on. 5. CB Casey Hayward: Vanderbilt (5-11, 188) A smart, productive corner who can consistently make plays on the football. He routinely gets early jumps on the football and come down with the catch as a zone corner. Looks like one of the safer prospects in the draft as a cover two type guy.

Dec 16, 2011 at 2:02 PM

49ersalldaway126
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Posts: 14,549

i am not worried about jenkins size he shut down aj green 2 times and julio jones twice

also shut down blackmon once

dennard wont happen but i want jenkins or heyward this draft

Dec 16, 2011 at 2:46 PM

SunDevilNiner79
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Posts: 61,788

Honestly, I think Casey Hayward may be the best pro out of that group, Janoris Jenkins is gifted, but has a lot of baggage that may prevent him from being a great pro.

Other CBs

CB Chase Minnifield , Virginia - another zone coverage CB with great size
CB Brandon Boykin, Georgia - undersized CB but he could have the most speed out of the group
CB Cliff Harris* (Junior but kicked off team) - another guy with major off the field problems, but he also has a ton of talent

Dec 16, 2011 at 3:11 PM

LasVegasWally
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Posts: 24,913

Thanks PTulini.

Are there any sleeper guys like Culliver was last year that may be steals in the 2nd or later rounds?

Dec 16, 2011 at 3:17 PM

SunDevilNiner79
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Posts: 61,788

Originally posted by LasVegasWally:
Thanks PTulini.

Are there any sleeper guys like Culliver was last year that may be steals in the 2nd or later rounds?

Only Jenkins and Dennard are expeceted to go in the 1st along with junior Claiborne (LSU) and Kirpatrick (Alabama).

Dec 16, 2011 at 4:49 PM

nw9erfan
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Posts: 1,497

I know those first 5 guys may be the highest rated but with all of the big, tall receivers in the NFC West, I think the Niners would be looking for corners 6 feet tall or over (Culliver is 6'1" for example)... Minnifield would probably fit their criteria best among the higher rated guys.

I also believe that because most of the higher rated corners in this draft are shorter than they would prefer, they may simply sign a vet FA to add to their depth and then take a flyer on a later round taller CB.

They have managed to compete pretty well with the guys they have this year (Rogers, Brown, and Culliver). Even thought the coaching staff really likes Brown, Culliver probably has a decent chance of completing for a starting gig next season and I would imagine bringing Rogers back would be a priority in the off season too.

It is interesting to me how the needs a team has tend to change during the course of a season. At this point, it seems that CB is no longer an absolute top priority whereas a few months ago it was a virtual given.

Cheers!

Dec 16, 2011 at 5:08 PM

Travisty13
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For those interested, Trumaine Johnson from Montana (the CB that OTC has had in his mocks) is playing on espn right now.

Dec 17, 2011 at 5:27 AM

PTulini
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Posts: 12,412

Originally posted by LasVegasWally:
Thanks PTulini.

Are there any sleeper guys like Culliver was last year that may be steals in the 2nd or later rounds?

No problem, sir.

Dec 17, 2011 at 1:28 PM

Kolohe
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Posts: 67,638

If we don't go CB in the 1st, I hope we go CB in the 2nd and hopefully 3rd or 4th and pick up Coryell Judie and Shaun Prater. From what I've seen of them, they're both solid in Man-coverage and I think would be ideal fits for our defense. Then go back to the secondary in maybe the 5th or 6th rounds and take a Safety, hopefully Lance Mitchell or Winston Guy. Of course where I'm projecting these players to go, I could be real off pending Combine results.