Previewing The NFL Scouting Combine: Cornerbacks

Janoris Jenkins? Did he declare? He was pretty good before he got kicked out of Gainesville.

Sounds like a lot of these guys in here are pretty good, especially that Johnson just hearing from a couple of these comments. Sounds like he would be a steal. I love how you put in Chaz Powell. I’m a huge Penn State fan, and he’s fun to watch. He was a fan favorite at Penn State. He’s a good cover guy, but he’s a real steal I think when it comes to the kick returning. I’ll throw out another Penn Stater. D’Anton Lynn was another guy who was good at covering and could knock down passes a lot. You heard a lot of his name in most Penn State games. He did have some injury problems and he’s only 6’0, and not 6’2 like Trumaine, but I think the Colts could maybe get him around 6th or 7th round if he’s still there.

He broke his leg at the Senior Bowl, so he probably won’t be doing many workouts. I really like him, but I just feel that he is too small. Size-wise he is similar to Jason David and another Bulldog Tim Jennings. 150+ tackles and 9 ints as a 3 year starter isn’t too shabby. His 3, 100 yard KO returns for TDs would be a nice addition to the Colts. If he were 2" taller and 20 lbs. heavier, he would be a 1st rounder.

Casey Hayward – Vanderbilt. Second team all SEC, 5 ints was 3rd in SEC, decent size at 5’ 11’’, 188 lbs., decent speed, projected 4th-5th rounder

Josh Norman – Coastal Carolina This guy was supposedly very impressive at the East-West Shrine practices/game. Great ball skills, big CB 6’-0", 203 lbs, shows safety size with corner skills according to some reviews. Now projecting in the late 3rd/early 4th round range.

Justin Bethel – Presbyterian. Another small school guy who had an impressive East-West Shrine week. Tackling machine, fast high 4.3 – low 4.4, decent size at 5’-11’’, 196 lbs., projected 5th-6th round (for some reason when I read about this guy I kept thinking about Bethea)

Asa Jackson – Cal Poly. Similar to Bethel, fast guy 4.3 – 4.4, punt returner, okay size at 5’-10", 193 lbs., projected 6th-7th round, probably a nickel/dime corner and punt return guy.

and after watching Brandon Boykin for three years, I can honestly say that grabbing him in the 3rd-4th rounds would be a steal. The kid can play just about every skill position (CB, S, RB, WR) and is a whiz returning punts and kicks. He’s by far one of the smartest football players I’ve met in a long time.

“I’m starting my Combine previews with the Cornerback position because it is both the most important defensively”

That was only true from the Deion Sanders era until the rules changes following the Patriots-Rams Super Bowl (that have since been added to and emphasized even more). Now, the CB position has been marginalized because A) CBs can’t really play lockdown, physical aggressive coverage anymore and B) teams play 3-4 WRs so much – in addition to TEs and RBs that can catch – that the benefit of having one or even two very good CBs is diminished. The last 5 Super Bowl champs (Giants, Packers, Saints, Steelers, Giants) were pedestrian at CB. Meanwhile the Eagles have been throwing money at CBs right and left (Asante Samuel, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Nnandi Asomugha) and their defense still stinks. In today’s NFL, safeties are more important than corners, and the most important defensive position is DE (in a 4-3) and OLB (in a 3-4) and the second most is DT.

As far as the Colts go, let me give you a hint as to the biggest need on this roster.
Anthony Castonzo: rookie LT (who probably should be playing RT) drafted #22 overall with back problems that gave up 6 sacks in 12 games. Though, that may not be ENTIRELY his fault. See the rest …
Joe Reitz: 3rd year undrafted free agent LG
Jeff Saturday: 37 year old C who even in his prime owed SOME of his Pro Bowl invites to snapping the ball to Peyton Manning and is a free agent (the Colts want him to take a front office job)
Ryan Diem: 33 year old RG who is merely OK (though some would say that even that is too much) and is currently a free agent
Jeff Linkenbach: 2nd year undrafted free agent RT

Those are the starters. Backups: Mike Pollak, Jamey Richard and Quinn Ojinnaka. Not much there, and only Pollak, entering the last year of his rookie deal, can we be sure is even still with the team.

Another thing: these OLs don’t fit the new smash-mouth philosophy. To the extent that any of them are good players and would perform well in any philosophy, they were acquired to fit the finesse football favored by Polian (and Manning). So really, the only guy that you would WANT back starting on this offensive line next year is Castonzo, unless an argument can be made for bulking Linkenbach up a bit and letting him slide into Diem’s RG spot. The Colts’ #1 personnel priority this offseason should be getting a big time starting RT. Getting a big time C needs to be high on the list too. And as Wayne isn’t going to be back (too old and expensive, plus a finesse player) and Garcon is a free agent, WR should be up there too.

I know that folks want the Colts to finally build a dominant defense like the Steelers, Patriots, Giants etc. Super Bowl teams have had. But giving the QB a line and targets so he won’t get pounded (whether that QB is Manning or Luck by the way … Luck because he is a rookie and Manning for obvious reasons) has to be the first priority. The defense is going to have to wait until year 2.

6’3 guys playing DB cause serious matchup problems especially in man and press coverage situations…

It time to get some super athletes to mix in with the core of smaller quick and smart players

That Quick kid outta App St. is also the type they need. A 6’4 WR to add to Garçon who I assume they resign and Collie…

Those two players could be had in RD 3-4…

I understand your points though. If you have the same qualities I like the size and height especially because a person that size can play press coverage. But if you don’t have to closing speed or fluidity in the hips you won’t be very effective…

But I’d grab Cliff Harris with a 6-7round pick to go with whatever DB they take in rd 2 or 3. He has 1-2 round talent but is a pothead and knucklehead. Character issues are indeed there but he seems to me like a guy unfit for college as opposed to a complete waste. He isnt violent or a menace to society, just immature and not the smartest guy.

However, he has unreal instincts and speed…He could immediately be a ball hawking nickel corner and he is electric in the return game. High reward potential for a late round pick…if he doesn’t pan out its a 7th rounder no real harm done or money spent. Many here will disagree, but he is gonna be a big time playmaker of he gets his head screwed on straight