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Topic: 2004 NFL Draft - Player Profiles - CB (Read 226 times) |
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UFF Primetime Prophet
# 29
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Re: 2004 NFL Draft - Player Profiles - CB
« Reply #1 on: Mar 15th, 2004, 1:40pm » |
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DeANGELO HALL
Virginia Tech
HT: 5' 10"
WT: 195 lbs.
STRENGTHS:
Pure, unadulterated speed. DeAngelo Hall did not plan on running at the combine (as the surface in Indianapolis has a reputation of being "slow"), but saw many of the other CBs posting good times, so he ran unexpectedly and posted a time in the 4.3s. He will also run at the Virginia Tech Pro Day on a very fast surface. Don't be surprised to see results in the 4.1 -4.2 range. Hall is a natural athlete who is able to back-pedal and change body position with ease. He also doesn't mind tackling and playing the run. Hall is also a very dangerous (think Dante Hall) returner who is a threat to go the distance every time he touches the ball.
WEAKNESSES:
Hall still needs to work on his cover skills. While his speed has served him well in college, he'll be covering much better, much faster receivers in the NFL. Hall will also have to face NFL wideouts that seem to be getting taller and taller each year. While Hall is about average height for a CB, he will need to make up for this WR vs. CB height discrepancy through improved technique. Hall also likes to talk the talk.
PROJECTION:
Originally considered the third or fourth best CB prospect, he may have climbed to #1 on the CB chart. Hall will be probably be drafted somewhere between picks number 10 and 20 in the first round. With some good coaching, Hall will quickly become one of the better corners in the league. Likely suitors include the Steelers, Jets, and Niners.
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| « Last Edit: Mar 15th, 2004, 4:52pm by Philly » |
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UFF Primetime Prophet
# 29
Pay, I said pay attention, son.
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Re: 2004 NFL Draft - Player Profiles - CB
« Reply #4 on: Apr 19th, 2004, 3:04pm » |
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CHRIS GAMBLE
Ohio St.
HT: 6' 1"
WT: 195 lbs.
STRENGTHS:
Chris Gamble has two major advantages over many of the other CBs entering the draft. First off, he is one of the taller prospects. At 6' 1" he will be able to match up with some of the taller wideouts in the NFL. Secondly Gamble is an outstanding athlete. He has good speed for his size (4.5 forty) and tremendous body control. As a former WR at Ohio St., he brings an offensive skill set to the position. Gamble has great hands and ball-hawking skills and will be a prolific intercepting CB in the NFL. He has the ability to put bad plays behind him and move on instead of lingering and getting beat again.
WEAKNESSES:
Gamble has only been a full-time CB for one collegiate season. He still needs to improve his techniques. Gamble will need to become a more physical corner as he currently allows too much cushion and relies on speed and instincts to make plays in front of him. He does not have NFL strength which will result in receivers getting off the line of scrimmage easier. Receivers will also be able to outmuscle him for the ball and could break his tackles too easily.
PROJECTION:
Gamble is one of the top CB prospects and should be the second or third one chosen (DeAngelo Hall, Dunta Robinson) in the draft. A sure top-half first-rounder, Gamble could be selected as early as #10 (Texans), possibly at #12 (Jets), and most likely at #16 or #18 (Niners or Saints).
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UFF Primetime Prophet
# 29
Pay, I said pay attention, son.
Posts: 5675
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Re: 2004 NFL Draft - Player Profiles - CB
« Reply #5 on: Apr 19th, 2004, 3:05pm » |
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WILL POOLE
USC
HT: 5' 10"
WT: 184 lbs.
STRENGTHS:
Will Poole is a very physical corner who excels at taking receivers out of the play right from the snap. Poole is most often described as a smooth player. His backpedal is easy and controlled. He is able to turn and cut quickly and can recover when beaten. Poole has large hands and catches the ball well. He has decent technique, especially in man-to-man coverage. Poole is a good, wrap-up tackler. Every move seems calculated and there is no wasted motion.
WEAKNESSES:
Poole is on the smallish side and could have trouble with some of the NFL's bigger receivers. He will need to bulk up some, while maintaining his speed and quickness. He will also go after the ball instead of the player and can get burnt when he misjudges a ball. Poole left Boston College after a suspension early in his collegiate career and had to re-establish himself at a junior college before joining USC.
PROJECTION:
Poole has struggled a bit in the off-season workouts. He was sick for part of the winter, lost ten pounds, and underimpressed at the USC pro-day. He ran again a month later and did well. However, Poole's best efforts came on the field, not on a track or in a weight room. Poole could sneak into the end of the first round where Philadelphia (if they stay put) might be interested in him. He will, more than likely, slip into the early second round where he could make the Atlanta secondary much better.
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UFF Primetime Prophet
# 29
Pay, I said pay attention, son.
Posts: 5675
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Re: 2004 NFL Draft - Player Profiles - CB
« Reply #6 on: Apr 19th, 2004, 3:05pm » |
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DERRICK STRAIT
Oklahoma
HT: 5' 11"
WT: 198 lbs.
STRENGTHS:
Derrick Strait is a solid CB in many areas. He has good size and long arms to help defend. Strait is a true student of the game who spends many hours watching film of opponents and of himself. He is able to recognize plays and read an offense. Strait recognizes the tendencies of his opponents and takes advantage of them. Strait is an incredibly consistent player. He is not the fastest or strongest player on the field, but he is always near the ball and is always making plays. He is a true team-player and a character guy.4.5
WEAKNESSES:
Strait has had problems with smaller, quicker receivers in college. He himself is not all that quick and can be burnt when a quicker receiver is able to cut and alter his route. Strait needs to get bigger and stronger. He is a willing tackler now, but not too adept at the skill. He is a drag down tackler who needs to learn to wrap up. He will get involved in run support, but could have problems with bigger, stronger backs.
PROJECTION:
Derrick Strait entered the 2004 season as one of the more highly touted CB prospects, had a terrific season, yet he has managed to slide down the draft boards since the end of the season. He is a better pro prospect than former teammate Andre Woolfolk (2003 first-rounder). Because of numbers and needs, Strait could go at the end of round one (Chiefs, perhaps?) or slide into the middle of round two where the Steelers would be remiss not to select him.
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UFF Primetime Prophet
# 29
Pay, I said pay attention, son.
Posts: 5675
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Re: 2004 NFL Draft - Player Profiles - CB
« Reply #8 on: Apr 19th, 2004, 3:08pm » |
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SHAWNTAE SPENCER
Pittsburgh
HT: 6' 0"
WT: 176 lbs.
STRENGTHS:
Shawntae Spencer has been off the radar of many teams until recently. He had a very productive senior season (only DeAngelo Hall had more tackles among CB prospects). He has excellent speed (4.48 forty) and can run with most receivers. He works hard in practice and prepares well for opponents and always gives 100% effort on the field. One of the best prospects at reaching around or over receivers to bat the ball away with his long arms. Spencer has good body control and quickness, backpedaling easily and using good hips to flip and stay with the receiver. He is taller than most CBs and uses his size and leaping ability well. Spencer was a defensive leader who earned the respect of teammates and coaches.
WEAKNESSES:
Spencer is a bit lanky and could be out-physicaled by some of the 6' 4" NFL wideouts. He is an aggressive tackler, although he relies on his arms too much and could have trouble wrapping up stronger receivers and backs. Spencer is a bit too generous with his cushions, especially while working a zone coverage, and will allow too many passes underneath. Spencer also relies on instincts and will be fooled by misdirection and play-action.
PROJECTION:
With Larry Fitzgerald garnering most of the attention at Pittsburgh, Spencer has gone unnoticed to some extent. He attracted some attention with his personal workouts. At the end of the college season, most prognosticators had Spencer as a second-day selection. However, most now feel he is a solid second round pick. If they don't go CB in the first round, look for the Bengals to look at him with pick #49.
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