CB in the 2008 Draft: Round 1: 20 to 32
2a. Antoine Cason, Arizona, 5115, 182, 4.49, 20, 35.5 (CB/S)
Cason returned to Tucson and now has 4 years at starting corner for the Wildcats, becoming even more polished and experienced. He improving drastically in each season. All Pac-10 2nd team in 2005, and Al Pac-10 1st team in 2006 and 2007. Good athleticism, excellent instincts, anticipation and awareness have made him almost flawless in coverage. Cason shows very fluid hips, good technique and footwork keeps him with the receiver step for step and is very rarely beaten on a route. He is quick and plays faster than he times. Cason is the only shutdown corner in the offense strong Pac-10. Cason had intercepted 5 passes in 2007 and would likely have double that number if teams did not throw away from them to counteract his play making ability. Cason has returned two of his five interceptions for touchdowns, showing his home run ability; the guy is a defensive play maker. Play maker with terrific hands and ball skills with 15 career interceptions. He is very physical at the line of scrimmage, great at jamming smaller wide receivers at the line. Good size for a corner at almost 6 feet with long arms and confident with a short memory. His picks always seem to come at the right time. Also, a great special teams contributor at punt returning, with 2 punt returns for touchdowns last year. Big game player. Cason has supreme confidence in his ability and has no problem playing on an island and has done so starting in all 34 games since arriving at Arizona in Mike Stoops' blitz heavy. He has the frame to bulk up in order to more effectively play press coverage and get off of blocks in the run game. Cason is an effective blitzer from his corner position. Does a solid job of supporting the run and he is a reliable tackler. Smart, a hard worker and a leader. Terrific bloodlines.
Cason is an all around corner, there really isn't one thing you can pinpoint about him that he isn't good at. He may have trouble pressing some of the big receivers in the NFL and will struggles to recover when beat. Cason is also a little weak on defending fades in the corner of the end zone against taller wide outs. Cason has trouble getting off blocks when trying to come up in the run game, but can combat that with strength training. Not the fastest straight line speed and lacks a burst. He is not overly physical and will have to stronger. Has trouble taking on / shedding blockers. Probably won't be an ideal fit for everyone.
Antoine Cason, Cason may go in the top 20. Cason had a good combine, a corner who thrives in the spotlight, ran a decent 40 but shocked the crowd with a vertical of 35.5, a broad jump of 10'8" and showing good strength while pressing 20 reps on the bench press, He's the type you hate to doubt due to those top-notch intangibles.
Prototypical zone corner that maybe better of as a potential safety.
Cason is my guy at CB this year. He lacks ideal size but he is very strong and really gets in guy's grills and lets them know that he is covering them. It allows him to push and cushion as well as cushion and close out on underneath routes. One thing Cason does not have however is elite NFL speed.
This is the safest pick at CB. He is also my bet to be the CB a team in the top 20 will reach on.
2b. Mike Jenkins, South Florida, 5102, 197, 4.38, 18, 34
Jenkins was already rated as one of the top corners in the nation. He is versatile with experience at both corner and safety. Mike played quite a bit--splitting time between S and CB--throughout his true freshman season in 2004, although he was slowed somewhat by an ankle injury. You'd be hard-pressed to find a better cover corner in the country - he's had 12 pass breakups and three interceptions this season despite teams trying to stay away from him. Jenkins' has decent size, bulk with long arms and cover ability. A great athlete with good timed speed and acceleration with a burst to close. Deceptive. Disguises what he is going to do until the last second, then jumps routes. Equally comfortable in bump-and-run or man coverage. He is smooth with fluid hips and nice change of direction. Mike shows an adequate burst coming out of cuts and flashes ability to hold own on an island. Times jumps fairly well and is tall enough to compete for jump balls. Active and can effectively bluff blitz. Has some experience lining up at safety, can line up over the slot or on the outside and is versatile. Has experience blocking for punt returns and can contribute on special teams.
He is far from polished yet. Not overly instinctive and plays pretty inconsistent. Footwork and technique are shaky. Elite skill set, but lacks elite production to back it up. Lacks superb ball skills and awareness. Not as physical as you would like and is not great in run support. Hasn't shown great upper body strength, doesn't use hands that well and gives away the inside too much. Fills hard when reads run but doesn't shed blocks well and takes poor angles to the ball at times so doesn't offer much in run support. Needs to mature a bit more both physically and mentally. More track fast than football fast.
Has some character questions:
However, there was an off-field issue earlier this year that might make some teams balk. In March, Jenkins and another USF starter, Carlton Williams, were arrested on charges of disorderly conduct and obstructing or opposing an officer without violence and as a result were suspended for a time by USF coach Jim Leavitt. . His arrest could drop him a few spots, but his talent will ensure he's taken before too long.
Measured more than an inch shorter than expected at the Combine.
The #2 gamble in round 1.
2c. Tracy Porter, Indiana, 5107, 186, 4.33, 18, 34
Porter has been one of the most consistent corners over the last few years. He shows fantastic ability out in coverage, especially when playing man-to-man. Porter's tackling from the corner position is also among the best in the country. He is explosively quick, has that burst to recover and the speed to stick with any wide out step-for-step. An outstanding athlete that has fluid hips and is very agile with great hands. As a four year starter at Indiana, Porter proved to be a dynamic player on the defensive side of the ball. Porter is currently second among active NCAA players with 16 career interceptions (6 this season, with a 22.8 yard return average). with good height with long arms ( 32") the 5'11", 185 lbs. Porter has recorded 83 tackles this season (63 of them solo). Along with his lofty interception total, he has proven to have a knack for getting around the football. Porter has 24 career pass break ups, along with 5.5 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 2 forced fumbles, and 3 fumble recoveries. He flies to the football, blows the play up and is a sure tackler who will rarely miss. Physical, loves to come up and hit. To go along with his abilities on defense, Porter is one of the better return men in the country. As a junior he averaged 18.6 yards per punt return -- scoring on an 86 yarder -- while only sharing the duties. During the regular season, Porter returned all 23 punts for the Hoosiers, averaging 11 yards per return. A threat to score every time he touches the ball.
He doesn't have the bulk you look for and will have some trouble getting a jam at the line. Needs to hit the weight room. Marginal technique and footwork resulting in him giving a big cushion. He will give up some easy catches. Struggled against bigger wide receivers.
This guy is really the definition of a play maker in the secondary. Also a top punt returner and coverage team gunner. A talented, finesse corner with a great combination of size / speed
CB Tracy Porter worked out at his school's Pro Day this week. Porter ran a 4.33 40-yard dash, while he ran a 4.45 40-yard dash at the 2008 NFL Scouting Combine.
He has what Flowers does not; SIZE and SPEED!
Cason returned to Tucson and now has 4 years at starting corner for the Wildcats, becoming even more polished and experienced. He improving drastically in each season. All Pac-10 2nd team in 2005, and Al Pac-10 1st team in 2006 and 2007. Good athleticism, excellent instincts, anticipation and awareness have made him almost flawless in coverage. Cason shows very fluid hips, good technique and footwork keeps him with the receiver step for step and is very rarely beaten on a route. He is quick and plays faster than he times. Cason is the only shutdown corner in the offense strong Pac-10. Cason had intercepted 5 passes in 2007 and would likely have double that number if teams did not throw away from them to counteract his play making ability. Cason has returned two of his five interceptions for touchdowns, showing his home run ability; the guy is a defensive play maker. Play maker with terrific hands and ball skills with 15 career interceptions. He is very physical at the line of scrimmage, great at jamming smaller wide receivers at the line. Good size for a corner at almost 6 feet with long arms and confident with a short memory. His picks always seem to come at the right time. Also, a great special teams contributor at punt returning, with 2 punt returns for touchdowns last year. Big game player. Cason has supreme confidence in his ability and has no problem playing on an island and has done so starting in all 34 games since arriving at Arizona in Mike Stoops' blitz heavy. He has the frame to bulk up in order to more effectively play press coverage and get off of blocks in the run game. Cason is an effective blitzer from his corner position. Does a solid job of supporting the run and he is a reliable tackler. Smart, a hard worker and a leader. Terrific bloodlines.
Cason is an all around corner, there really isn't one thing you can pinpoint about him that he isn't good at. He may have trouble pressing some of the big receivers in the NFL and will struggles to recover when beat. Cason is also a little weak on defending fades in the corner of the end zone against taller wide outs. Cason has trouble getting off blocks when trying to come up in the run game, but can combat that with strength training. Not the fastest straight line speed and lacks a burst. He is not overly physical and will have to stronger. Has trouble taking on / shedding blockers. Probably won't be an ideal fit for everyone.
Antoine Cason, Cason may go in the top 20. Cason had a good combine, a corner who thrives in the spotlight, ran a decent 40 but shocked the crowd with a vertical of 35.5, a broad jump of 10'8" and showing good strength while pressing 20 reps on the bench press, He's the type you hate to doubt due to those top-notch intangibles.
Prototypical zone corner that maybe better of as a potential safety.
Cason is my guy at CB this year. He lacks ideal size but he is very strong and really gets in guy's grills and lets them know that he is covering them. It allows him to push and cushion as well as cushion and close out on underneath routes. One thing Cason does not have however is elite NFL speed.
This is the safest pick at CB. He is also my bet to be the CB a team in the top 20 will reach on.
2b. Mike Jenkins, South Florida, 5102, 197, 4.38, 18, 34
Jenkins was already rated as one of the top corners in the nation. He is versatile with experience at both corner and safety. Mike played quite a bit--splitting time between S and CB--throughout his true freshman season in 2004, although he was slowed somewhat by an ankle injury. You'd be hard-pressed to find a better cover corner in the country - he's had 12 pass breakups and three interceptions this season despite teams trying to stay away from him. Jenkins' has decent size, bulk with long arms and cover ability. A great athlete with good timed speed and acceleration with a burst to close. Deceptive. Disguises what he is going to do until the last second, then jumps routes. Equally comfortable in bump-and-run or man coverage. He is smooth with fluid hips and nice change of direction. Mike shows an adequate burst coming out of cuts and flashes ability to hold own on an island. Times jumps fairly well and is tall enough to compete for jump balls. Active and can effectively bluff blitz. Has some experience lining up at safety, can line up over the slot or on the outside and is versatile. Has experience blocking for punt returns and can contribute on special teams.
He is far from polished yet. Not overly instinctive and plays pretty inconsistent. Footwork and technique are shaky. Elite skill set, but lacks elite production to back it up. Lacks superb ball skills and awareness. Not as physical as you would like and is not great in run support. Hasn't shown great upper body strength, doesn't use hands that well and gives away the inside too much. Fills hard when reads run but doesn't shed blocks well and takes poor angles to the ball at times so doesn't offer much in run support. Needs to mature a bit more both physically and mentally. More track fast than football fast.
Has some character questions:
However, there was an off-field issue earlier this year that might make some teams balk. In March, Jenkins and another USF starter, Carlton Williams, were arrested on charges of disorderly conduct and obstructing or opposing an officer without violence and as a result were suspended for a time by USF coach Jim Leavitt. . His arrest could drop him a few spots, but his talent will ensure he's taken before too long.
Measured more than an inch shorter than expected at the Combine.
The #2 gamble in round 1.
2c. Tracy Porter, Indiana, 5107, 186, 4.33, 18, 34
Porter has been one of the most consistent corners over the last few years. He shows fantastic ability out in coverage, especially when playing man-to-man. Porter's tackling from the corner position is also among the best in the country. He is explosively quick, has that burst to recover and the speed to stick with any wide out step-for-step. An outstanding athlete that has fluid hips and is very agile with great hands. As a four year starter at Indiana, Porter proved to be a dynamic player on the defensive side of the ball. Porter is currently second among active NCAA players with 16 career interceptions (6 this season, with a 22.8 yard return average). with good height with long arms ( 32") the 5'11", 185 lbs. Porter has recorded 83 tackles this season (63 of them solo). Along with his lofty interception total, he has proven to have a knack for getting around the football. Porter has 24 career pass break ups, along with 5.5 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 2 forced fumbles, and 3 fumble recoveries. He flies to the football, blows the play up and is a sure tackler who will rarely miss. Physical, loves to come up and hit. To go along with his abilities on defense, Porter is one of the better return men in the country. As a junior he averaged 18.6 yards per punt return -- scoring on an 86 yarder -- while only sharing the duties. During the regular season, Porter returned all 23 punts for the Hoosiers, averaging 11 yards per return. A threat to score every time he touches the ball.
He doesn't have the bulk you look for and will have some trouble getting a jam at the line. Needs to hit the weight room. Marginal technique and footwork resulting in him giving a big cushion. He will give up some easy catches. Struggled against bigger wide receivers.
This guy is really the definition of a play maker in the secondary. Also a top punt returner and coverage team gunner. A talented, finesse corner with a great combination of size / speed
CB Tracy Porter worked out at his school's Pro Day this week. Porter ran a 4.33 40-yard dash, while he ran a 4.45 40-yard dash at the 2008 NFL Scouting Combine.
He has what Flowers does not; SIZE and SPEED!
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