NFL Draft 2014 Preview (53 page)

Strengths:
Physical supporting the run — fills quickly and likes to hit. Tough pound-for-pound. Takes on bigger receivers with aggression and sets a hard edge. Plays off blocks well. Good open-field tackler. Good press strength to re-route receivers at the line. Alert in zones. Has big-play return ability (recorded most memorable play of the 2013 season returning field goal 109 yards for TD vs. Alabama). Can factor as a punt returner with a low center of gravity and good run strength. Emotional, energetic field presence. Respected team leader.

Weaknesses:
Is short, short-armed and very stiff-hipped. Straight-linish and tight transitioning — allows separation at break points. Marginal ball skills and hands (zero career interceptions). Gets caught playing flat-footed and peeking. Can do a better job carrying receivers in short zones. Mismatched vs. bigger receivers and struggles contending in the red zone.

Future:
A compact, physical zone corner with intriguing return skill, Davis will be more challenged by his lack of height and tight hips in the pros. His intangibles, toughness against the run and ability to factor as a punt returner will allow him to carve out a role.

Draft projection:
Fifth- to sixth-round pick.

Scout’s take:
“I heard a great one today. One of the younger scouts said — ‘Davis plays really well vs. big guys.’ I asked him, ‘How’d that work out against Florida State.’ Maybe he can check the cover of Sports Illustrated where (Kelvin) Benjamin is catching the game-winner on him in the national championship game. I heard some (scouts) putting Davis in the second round in the fall, getting caught up in his size and comparing him to the kid who Kansas City (Javier Arenas) took in the second round a few years ago. How did that work out for them. He’s on the street now. Guys can try to manufacture players all they want. I know he got some notoriety from the big field goal return (to beat Alabama). As a corner, he’s a free agent. He will get stretched and beat over the top.”

BCB DARQUEZE DENNARD, #31

MICHIGAN STATE
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Grade: 6.10

Ht: 5-10 7/8 | Wt: 199 | Sp: 4.51 | Arm: 30 1/4 | Hand: 9

History:
His name is pronounced “DAR-kwez duh-NARD.” His cousin, Alfonzo Dennard, is a cornerback with the Patriots. Two-way standout as a Georgia prep. As a senior in 2009, he caught 11 touchdown passes, returned two of his nine interceptions for scores and ran back two punts for touchdowns. Also lettered in basketball and track. Saw action in six games (two starts at boundary corner) as a true freshman in 2010, recording 11 tackles, zero pass breakups and zero interceptions with two tackles for loss, one sack and one forced fumble. Did not see action in two early season games (coach’s decision) and missed the final five games with a knee injury. Made 11 starts at boundary corner in ’11 and totaled 42-3-3 with one tackle for loss. Tied a Spartans bowl-game record with two interceptions in an Outback Bowl victory over Georgia, including a 38-yard touchdown return. Missed three games with an ankle injury. Started 13 games at field corner in ’12, tallying 52-7-3 with 3 1/2 tackles for loss. After the season, he underwent double hernia surgery and was limited in spring drills. Was the Jim Thorpe Award winner as the nation’s best defensive back in ’13, starting 14 times at boundary corner and recording 62-10-4 with 3 1/2 tackles for loss and two forced fumbles. Became the first Spartans cornerback to earn unanimous first-team all-America honors and also was selected as the Big Ten’s Defensive Back of the Year. Team captain. Did not do drills at the Combine because of a left hamstring injury.

Strengths:
Looks the part — well-proportioned, muscular physique with strong calves and thin ankles. Good press strength. Controlled, efficient pedal. Field-fast with competitive play speed. Transitions cleanly in man-off coverage. Has very good eyes and anticipation and reacts quickly to what he sees. Good pattern recognition — sorts out what he sees quickly. Stays in the hip pocket downfield. Swift speed turn. Likeable personality. Accountable with leadership traits.

Weaknesses:
Has been slowed by injuries and durability needs to be examined closely (double hernia surgery). Showed some hip stiffness in Combine drills. Was not asked to play a lot of zone coverage. Could stand to get functionally stronger and work to disengage from blocks. Could show more consistent willingness to support the run and set a hard edge. Selective physicality.

Future:
Solidly built, athletic, instinctive, press-man cover man who took his game to another level as a senior. Brings intensity, confidence and competitiveness to the corner. Offers size to lock horns with bigger receivers, and has a ceiling as a No. 2 cover man.

Draft projection:
First-round pick.

Scout’s take:
“I put him in the third early in the year. He’ll go higher with all the pub on him now. Some of the short-area stuff he is not very good at. Our (scouts) had grades on him from the first through the third round. He’ll probably go in the second. Maybe he gets into the late first.”

LCB-KR PIERRE DESIR, #3

LINDENWOOD
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Grade: 5.42

Ht: 6-1 | Wt: 198 | Sp: 4.59 | Arm: 33 | Hand: 9 5/8

History:
Married with two daughters. A native of Port Au Prince, Haiti, he emigrated to the St. Louis area with his parents when he was four years old. In January 2010, his grandfather and an eight-month-old cousin were among those killed in the earthquakes that devastated Haiti. Had two surgeries in 2004 to repair a chipped bone in the growth plate of his left knee. Began his college career at Division II Washburn University in Kansas, redshirting in 2008. In ’09, he played 11 games at cornerback and recorded 33 tackles, six pass breakups and four seven interceptions to go with two forced fumbles. Had 10 kickoff returns for 294 yards (29.4-yard average). Appeared in 12 games in ’10 and had 33-4-5 with 5 1/2 tackles for loss, two sacks and one forced fumble while returning kickoffs 17-333 (19.6). Sat out in ’11, moving his family back home to Missouri and transferring to Division II Lindenwood University. In ’12, tallied 60-9-9 with 2 1/2 tackles for loss and one sack in 12 starts. His school-record nine interceptions ranked second among all NCAA levels. Was the ’13 winner of the Cliff Harris Award, given to the nation’s top small college defensive back, after recording 33-8-4 with one tackle for loss and one forced fumble. Earned invitations to the East-West Shrine Game and the Senior Bowl.

Strengths:
Outstanding body and arm length — looks the part. Explosive athlete — 11-foot, 1-inch broad jump was second-best at the Combine. Has loose hips and a fluid pedal. Superb two-year production on the ball. Natural interceptor — attacks the ball in the air like a receiver and tracks it very well. Plays big in critical situations. Very confident demeanor. Outstanding zone instincts — sees patterns developing and jumps routes. Solid tackler. Mature and accountable. Experienced, four-year starter. Demonstrated toughness to play hurt.

Weaknesses:
Average timed speed. Loses a half-step in transition and will struggle to carry NFL receivers vertically. Does not consistently play to his size as a run defender. Could stand to do a better job wrapping as a tackler and filling faster — does not always play to his size in the run game. Production was inflated by marginal competition.

Future:
Overaged, exceptional-sized, zone cover man who was a big fish in a Division II small pond, though he did not look out of place when he was introduced to Division I all-stars after the season. Size, ball skills and anticipation will appeal to teams such as the Seahawks, Jaguars and Buccaneers.

Draft projection:
Fourth- to fifth-round pick.

Scout’s take:
“Someone will get caught up in his size and give him a chance. We have him in the fifth right now on our board.”

SS AHMAD DIXON, #6

BAYLOR
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Grade: 5.22

Ht: 6-0 | Wt: 212 | Sp: 4.64 | Arm: 32 1/4 | Hand: 9 7/8

History:
Highly recruited Texas prep who also lettered in track, advancing to the state meet as part of the 4x400-meter relay team as a sophomore. Appeared in 11 games as a true freshman in 2010, seeing action as a backup safety and on special teams. Recorded 16 tackles and one forced fumble. Missed two games with an undisclosed injury. Moved into a starting role in ’11, starting 13 times at the hybrid nickelback position and registering 89 tackles, three pass breakups and one interception with 5 1/2 tackles for loss. Made the switch from safety to nickelback during spring drills. Returned his first career interception 55 yards for a touchdown against Rice. In ’12, he started all 13 games at the nickel position and had 102-3-2 with 5 1/2 tackles for loss and one sack. In ’13, tallied 81-6-1 with two tackles for loss in 13 games (12 starts). Had 11 starts at safety and one at nickelback. His one missed start was a result of a targeting penalty against TCU, forcing him to the sideline for the first half of the ensuing Texas affair. Was arrested on misdemeanor assault charges in September, but was subsequently cleared by a grand jury.

Strengths:
Very good size. Is aggressive stepping downhill and supporting the run. Closes fast to the ball. Secure, wrap tackler. Takes efficient angles and is a reliable last line of defense. Good backside chase pursuit. Solid special-teams potential.

Weaknesses:
Very tight in the hips — straight-linish. Pedals tall and is late transitioning. Average recovery speed. Limited cover skills and awareness. Marginal ball skills and small, shaky hands (four career INTs in three seasons as a starter). Very average football IQ — takes an extra tick to sort out routes and digest what he sees. Narrow vision. Limited agility and change of direction in man coverage. See-and-go reactor (not instant or anticipatory diagnosing). Not a forceful tackler or explosive hitter. Posted worst vertical jump (32 inches), broad jump (9 feet, 2 inches) and 3-cone drill (7.55 seconds) among defensive backs at the Combine. Cleared of charges, but September assault incident requires closer scrutiny.

Future:
Box safety possessing the physical talent to compete in the NFL and even earn a starting job eventually if he can stay focused, commit to a playbook and hone his eyes. Should be able to factor readily on special teams. Coverage limitations will leave him vulnerable and would be best in a very simple scheme.

Draft projection:
Fifth- to sixth-round pick.

Scout’s take:
“I just left Baylor. I put Dixon in the sixth (round). He can’t sort it out. He had bad ball skills. He has to play in the box. He is a straight-line, tight-hipped striker, and you can’t ask him to handle a lot.”

LCB brandon dixon, #1

northwest missouri state
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Grade: 5.29

Ht: 5-11 1/2 | Wt: 203 | Sp: 4.41 | Arm: 32 1/2 | Hand: 9

History:
Prepped in Florida. Began his college career at Joliet Junior College in Illinois in 2010, appearing in 10 games and recording 21 tackles, four pass breakups and three interceptions with 2 1/2 tackles for loss and one sack. In ’11, tallied 37-7-2 in seven games with one-half tackle for loss. Moved on to Division II Northwest Missouri State in ’12, lining up opposite his brother at the cornerback spots. In 13 starts, he totaled 38-5-5 with one tackle for loss. Had two interceptions in his Bearcat debut against East Central, including a 38-yard touchdown return. Also had two punt returns for 27 yards. Registered 36-11-1 with one tackle for loss and a fumble return for a touchdown in ’13 (14 starts). Helped lead his school to the NCAA Division II football championship.

Strengths:
Excellent size, musculature and body length. Nice balance and body control. Quick-footed to mirror off the line. Can flip his hips and run vertically. Good plant-and-drive quickness. Willing to step up and throw his weight around in run support. Has special-teams experience. Tough and durable. Competitive and motivated.

Weaknesses:
Has small hands. Lacks elite explosion and top-end speed. Ordinary leaping ability and ball skills to contend with taller high fliers. Faulty diagnostic skills — processes slowly and reacts more than he anticipates. Gets caught squatting and peeking. Inconsistent tackler. Poor football aptitude — requires extra reps to grasp complicated assignments.

Future:
Big, athletic, Division II standout and JUCO product whose size, length and physicality will appeal to teams in search of a developmental press corner. Could also be viewed as a potential safety conversion, but does not exhibit requisite instincts and dependability as a tackler.