StevensTechU wrote:The trouble with the DB recruiting is that when it comes to recruiting cornerbacks, the staff seems to think that you can fit safeties and 'athletes' into the position, rather than looking for guys who show they're great at staying in a receiver's hip pocket.
Class of '20
- Dontae Manning is a fantastic athlete and was a great dual threat QB in high school, but he's new to CB. He would probably get on the field faster as a free safety where he can let his athleticism take over (remember Charles Nelson was our most productive safety with a week of practice), but will take time to be a cornerback.
- Bennett Williams doesn't have the speed to be a corner, so he's a safety and maybe nickel.
- Jared Greenfield could play corner in a pinch, IMO, but safety is definitely his natural position due to both a 'center fielder mentality' and not the greatest top line speed.
Class of '21
- Davies is a natural corner.
- Daymon David is a downhill run-stopping safety. Definitely not a corner.
- Bassa is probably a OLB because of his size/lack of cover ability.
- Barkins has the athleticism for the position, but looks most natural at wide receiver. Whatever position he plays, it will be a while before he sees the field.
Luke Hill is a natural corner, but doesn't help when you're incarcerated.
This is looking to be the case, where DB to them seems a bit interchangeable. And I often see fans saying something along the lines of just switch him to CB but if there is one position in all of football that had the most specific combination of requirements it’s CB.
Most positions have some leeway on height, weight, speed, etc. CB is extremely limited. 5’10”-6’2” and a legit 4.60 or under 40. 5’9” and 4.60 40 puts you in the bottom 7% of height and bottom 20% of speed at the NFL combine. In 2020 only three CBs ran over 4.60 and only one of them was under 6’1” - Washington’s Myles Bryant who went undrafted and got signed by the patriots as a safety. It’s not just straight line speed either, that hip flexibility that they talk about is a requirement. Your ability to quickly change direction and accelerate, so you can cover a receiver who will be going in unknown directions.
So we’re basically looking for nothing special, just those 6’ 190 pound dudes who can run a 4.45 while having supreme agility and long arms. Oh, and they need to be aggressive too. They also need to be strong enough to get off a block, box out a 6’6” 260 pound TE, and tackle a 220 pound running back.
There’s a reason the elite CBs go on the NFL hierarchy on tier 3. Tier 1 being QBs, Tier 2 are edge rushers and OTs, and Tier 3 are CBs and WRs. The elite CBs are rare.
If you’re going to take a chance on any position because of the right athletic and size profile then CB is up near the top. It’s troubling that Cristobal and company aren’t prioritizing this position when there is one proven CB on the roster, and there’s a good chance he’s gone after this season.
