Marshon Lattimore -
Strengths - Quick twitch allows him to match up with all receivers. Lower body explosiveness allows him to change directions seemlessly and with force. Stays attached at the hip, and can run routes just as well as receivers. Above average speed. Can quickly recover with secondary speed to make up first move mistakes. Stays low and on balls of feet on the backpedal. Competes at the catch point, and reliable hands to pick off passes. Alert and makes quick decisions to help in run support.
Weaknesses - Two years of injuries due to hamstrings. Hamstrings also a problem in HS. Long term durability is questionable. Limited experience. Lacks ideal bulk and frame. Plays a lot of press coverage, but does not jam receivers, allowing WR to get first hit, push him in the direction they want, and break free. Needs to improve awareness when his back is to the QB. Will rack up holding penalties, and he grabs when he's panicked. Falls for body and head fakes too easily, needs better anticipation. Plays small in run support, needs to work on technique for tackling.
Kevin King -
Strengths - Very versatile, and produced at Safety & DB. Has size, acceleration, awareness & open field tackling ability to even move to Free Safety. Very big DB, long limbed but surprising agile, as a DB would likely need to be in press or zone scheme. Despite a lot of body to move, can make smooth hip turn and shadow WRs in press. Extremely smart player with a lot of experience. Even slid into Nickel DB. Plus awareness in zone, good anticipation to close on underneath routes, and break up the pass, or deliver big hit to knock ball loose. Great hand-eye coordination to get hands in and rip the ball away as it gets to WR, and had great ball skills to get the INT. Reliable in Open Field tackling, using long arms to wrap up and trip up ball carriers. High character guy.
Weaknesses - Physicality wanes at times, and is somewhat deceptive because of occasional big hits. Looks to strip ball more often than he should and loses some tackles that way. Relies on length of arms to get tackle when he has power and strength to wrap up. Better when facing QB. Because of size, needs extra step to change direction, which can hurt him against small WRs. Could end up having to move back to Safety.
Marlon Humphrey -
Strengths - Great combition of size, speed, and physicality. Track star who transitioned into football. Great frame with long arms for press coverage. Balance and stick on initial jam, then had control to guide receivers where he wants. Can also use flexibility and balance off jam to turn hips, and stay with even fast WRs. Good awareness, in man and zone. Has a feel for how routes develop, in front and behind him, while staying locked on QB. His blockers on screens and in the run, and uses strength and will to set the edge. Size + timing and jumping ability allows him to contest jump balls, and has good hands to get the pick. Tracks ball well over shoulder. Very durable. Great on Special Teams.
Weaknesses - Likely limited to outside in DB play. Likely will not slide into nickel. High backpedal, has trouble rotating hips on packpedal. Limits ability to change direction quickly and mirror WRs as effectively. When running with WRs, can sometimes get too focused on WR, losing ball, failing to turn back towards it, can lead to crushing Pass Interference calls. Can get hit with holding calls as well, as he extends his arms to limit WRs movements. Smaller and quicker WRs will give him trouble because of lack of ability to change movement quickly. Also concerns about coverage when not with Elite Pass Rush.
Tre'Davious White -
Strengths - Patience in backpedal. Stays calm doesn't panic. Good field awareness in Zone. Good recognition of route combinations. Good anticipation to jump routes in man. Uses feet quickness and average turn stay with WR in press. Long arms. Stays on balance in jam, and uses hands to disrupt receivers. Very physical in pass coverage. Above average closing burst and top end speed. Can make big hits, and has good closing burst in run support. Good balance & technique to make open field tackles
Weaknesses - Some tightness in man coverage when having to plant and change direction. Slow shuttle may indicate deficiency in lateral agility. Underwhelming production. Needs work on playing man versus playing ball on Go routes. Someties stuck staring at QB, and loses man. Not very physical in run support. Only looks to set the edge when absolutely necessary, isn't actively looking to do it. Needs to get stronger, and learn to use hands to get off of block in run and screens. Varying degrees of athleticism. Sometimes looks like a plus athlete, sometimes looks lost and a step behind.
Chidobe Awuzie -
Strengths - Great recognition to read QBs eyes, allows him to recognize route combinitions and make good jumps on throws. Good awareness in zone. Always studies film. Understands situations, and the tenents of different formations. Adept at reading tells. Good instincts in zone & man. Quick feet in backpedal. Has some tightness in hips that will slow him down when needing to change directions & turn and open downfield in man. But very good agility drill times in combine may ease concerns. Great straight line speed & closing burst. Knows when to attack ball versus receiver. Short arms, but makes up for it with ridiculous leaping ability. Should be very good at 50-50 balls with bigger WRs. Top notch in run support. Very physical and very aggressive. Plays run support like a LB. Good angles and above average burst to get to ball carriers. Extremely reliable open field tackler, and has some pop.
Weaknesses - Although he did well in combine agility, very tight, and can get beat on change of direction routes, as well as fly routes with elite speed WRs. WRs get separation in and out of breaks.
Gareon Conley -
Strengths - Great frame & length. Can recover quick on press & shadow on different types of WRs. Long strides and lower body strength to stay close in Man. Great route anticipation to read and jump. IQ when it comes to positioning guys near sidelines to make routes and passess difficult. Above average arm lenth, good timing to get hands into throwing lanes. Experienced in press & off man. May have ability to move into slot. Great downhill burst & ability for run support. Team captain.
Weaknesses - Plays on heels too much, can hurt effectiveness out of stance, and on top of routes. Very athletic, but needs to learn how to move better when transitioning. Loves to play press at LOS, but he does not jam or engage receivers off snap. Very inconsistent when back is to the QB. Trouble turning a locating - led to several huge pass plays & tds downfield. If WR gets a step, he will grab. Needs to work on strength because he can be easily outmatched on 50-50 balls. Blockers can move him fiarly easily on the outside, has to be more aggressive to shed blocks. Reckless on run defense, and is lacking good technical wrap ups in space.
Fabian Moreau -
Strengths - Size, fluidity and open field tackling. UCLA would put him on an island, and he would do well in man coverage. Tight, low backpedal, good hip turn to remain in WRs pocket. Makes intelligent gambles (will allow WR to get enough space, that he knows he can make up to break up QBs once they commit). Good hand-eye, and great timing to knock ball away. Great hand-use and good technique to avoid penalties. Length & strength to get ball carriers in the open field.
Weaknesses - Uses hands well, to break up passes, but has to start converting pass breakups into turnovers. While he is a great tackler, needs to get awareness & strength to beat WRs blocks. Though he takes smart gambles, on occasion will overestimate space and miss. Inconsistent tracking & playing the ball.
Cordrea Tankersley -
Strengths - Good size athlete. Height & length, uses arms well to obstruct WR vision and disrupt their rhythm. Above average ball skills, can quickly locate ball, get good position and judgement. Stays at the hip in man coverage, and some skill tracking down ball carriers from behind. Tough in run support. Wrap up finishes.
Weaknesses - Not a lot of speed. Returned to school when he could have left, didn't improve much. When panicked, grabs WRs and draws a lot of attention for flags. Can be inconsistent on timing, and does not turn his head, left a lot of INTs and pass break ups on the field. Loses balances at top of routes. Gets beat easily on comebacks. Lack of experience against versatile WRs is glaring.
Adoree Jackson -
Strengths - Amazing athlete with tremendous speed. Played WR / DB / KR / PR for USC. Immediate impact as a returner. May also end up as a WR in slot action, to get quick routes and hope to turn upfield. Very explosive, lacks size, but has a good athletic frame. Light feet and very flexible that allows him to change direction fluidly & accelerate instantly.
Willing to take chances in coverage, improved route anticipation in 2016. Quick burst back to the ball, and forces QBs to second guess. Great recovery speed makes up for initial mistakes. Great ballskills with body control and soft hands to make difficult catches. Improved as a tackler with aggression & physicality. Great ability and vision to read blocks. No hesitation to get through traffic.
Weaknesses - While he'll be great in KR/PR, and make contributions in WR. Has a great deal to improve as a DB. Soft hands & return ability makes him a scary Pick 6 threat. But when matched against other fast WRs, he struggles. Would bite underneath routes & get beaten over the top. Plays the receiver too often and not the ball, and fails to look back for the ball. Lack of size hurts in run support, if you get a good blocking team. Has to be more aggressive fighting through blocks, even with improvement throughout college career. Not willing to do the dirty work.
Sidney Jones -
Strengths - Quick and easy movements. Light feet & loose hips allow him to shadow WR. Height & long arms and quickness of movement makes him good at Press at LOS.
Good initial hit on WR in Press. Then can turn and mirror WRs. In zone, has good anticipation, and can break up passing lanes. Very confident and poised when ball is in the air. Can read WR, turn and locate the ball, with good ballskills to get the INT. Not a physical tackler, but is an effective technical tackler. When blitzing he is very aggressive and lowers his shoulder. Very durable.
Weaknesses - Frame raises concerns about ability to hold up to NFL physicality. Lacks strength against physical and big WRs who can push him to get separation.
Quincy Wilson -
Strengths - Good & long frame. Smooth turn & run skills. Enough speed to stay with WRs if he can guess route. Physical in Press Coverage, violent hands, but also controlled on jabs. Amazing in run defense, gets to the ball, and keeps outside contained. Long arms gets in passing lanes, and has WR skills to catch. Very confident and head stays in game when he makes mistakes.
Weaknesses - Great initial acceleration, but tops out quickly. Lazy in backpedal, and makes it easy for smart receivers to beat him. Late to adjust on routes. Poor timing in coverage, and lacks recovery burst. Too much contact with WR downfield. Inconsistent tackling mechanics, gets thrown off balance, or goes too low.
Teez Tabor -
Strengths - Athletic frame. Good weight distribution. Broad shoulders, long limbs. Loose hips & light feets, give him ability to change direction without loosing speed. Quick acceleration and fluidity allows him to stay on hip of WRs in press, and size allows him to stay with bigger WRs. Good anticipation to lure in QBs. Confident with ball in the air. Locates it quickly, with good timing and explosiveness on jump balls. Good hands to get INTs and can pick balls off outside frame.
Weaknesses - Quick, but tops out on straight line speed. Needs better awareness of blockers in runs & screens. Gets tied up easily & knocked off feet. Reliable wrap-up tackler, but will duck his head, which leads to lunging and coming up empty. Bad track record off field - suspended twice, and missed a game over fight with teammate. Suspended for refusal of drug test, then criticized Florida AD on twitter.
Jalen Myrick -
Strengths - Long arms, and makes up for being 5'10". Decent frame, very good speed. Dual threat on defense & special teams. Can anticipate the ball, knows when to make his move on it. Natural athlete and speed that you want for DB. Has great feel for DB.A25
Weaknesses - Would be a late 1st round pick, if not for his size. Not a very good tackle in open space, and lacks strength when making hits. Will rely on athletic ability & speed too much, and leads to lapses in coverage. Can jam at LOS, but obviously bigger receivers can disengage easily. Cannot get away from blocks in run support, has to learn how to in order to make plays.
Jourdan Lewis -
Strengths - Foot quickness & fluidity at LOS to turn and stay with WRs. Balance & instincts in man allows him to stay close. Quick eyes to locate the ball, and aggressive to attack catch point.
Weaknesses - Doesn't have the power or body to play off coverage. Needs to be tight coverage, it is his preference, but leads to flags. Cannot defend bigger WRs at all. Smaller than you want at DB.
Cameron Sutton -
Strengths - Man cover and can match WRs. Decent intincts to jump hitches and WR screens. Fluid movement to open and run from backpedal. Confident in coverage, rarely penalized. HS WR has given him ability to have soft hands, and take good routes on the ball. Only allowed 3 TDs in career. Very competitive. But solid leader, and all about the team. Good Punt Returner.
Weaknesses - Needs to add muscle. Passive in press, and does not attempt / can't slow down WRs or redirect routes. Trouble planting and exploding forward on backpedal.
Has trouble with back to QB. Late to turn to find the ball, allows catches ball over head. Struggles carrying speed down the field. Short arms & small hands. Unreliable in run support, tries to grab trackle.
Ahkello Witherspoon -
Strengths - Good combo of size & speed. Can open hips and get top speed very quickly. Very athletic, allows him to quickly recover when beaten on release. Improved instincts and feel for coverage, and beginning to recognize patterns and guess routes. Defends point of catch with great timing. Completion percentage against him was 26.5%.
Weaknesses - Questions about frame because it's all arms & legs. Needs to add strength to compete in NFL. In backpedal, too much weight on his heels. For breaking up 2nd most passes (20) last year, only 1 INT in 143 targets. Off balance and feet get tied up when WRs make breaks on routes. Horrible in run support. Will retreat when the run comes his way. Unwilling to help contain the edge.
Rasul Douglas -
Strengths - Tall, decent frame type with above average arms. Long strides when running with fly routes. Tries to jam and disrupt receivers. Understands time & space on off-coverage to get to underneath throws, great reaction time, but needs better anticipation of when the throw is coming. Knows down & distance, situational awareness, and makes him better decision maker when jumping routes. Great ball skills, and can steal ball away from WRs. Always competes.
Weaknesses - Lower body is a little small. Can get too high in backpedal, and feet get tangled up. Very aggressive jabs, but needs to improve his timing and to keep himself balanced. Has trouble making movements and can lose his man on non-fly routes. Gives up inside too easily and late to try to regain position. Latches on receivers and does not let go, leads to penalties. Has long stride speed, but can't accelerate to catch receivers from behind.
Shaquill Griffin -
Strengths - Good size & strength. Disruptive punch and good feet in press coverage. Very athletic & fluid in movements. Can turn hips, match receivers without giving up separation. Good timing on leaps and strong hands to catch the ball on 50/50. Good at jarring the ball loose. Aggressive in run support. Can wrap up or chop down RBs.
Weaknesses - Average long distance speed. Will get beat on Verticals against Speed WRs. Average instincts & anticipation. Slow to recognize pattern on combo routes. Issues with off man coverage. Plays too tall in space, allows WRs to get open on moves because he cannot transition quick enough. Sometime lunges when trying to reroute WRs after release.
Howard Wilson -
Strengths - Great ball skills. 1 Pick per 15 targets. Uses length over throwing windows. Size & speed to stay with fast WRs down field. Great leaper with large catch radius on 50/50 balls. Always has an eye on QB in off man and zone. Direct line to ball when going after. Hips & feet to mirror WRs. Can play a lot of techniques. No fear going after ball carrier. Goes low and hard.
Weaknesses - Limited experience compared to other DBs. ACL tear in 2015. Needs time to hone ability to recognize patterns and trust / learn techniques down field. Thin frame with skinny legs. Needs to put on a lot of muscle. Can end up too upright at times. Needs a simple defensive scheme or else he'll struggle early.
Corn Elder -
Strengths - Plays much bigger than he is. Very physical, and confident in skills. Patient in press with footwork & body control to mirror WRs. Can knock WRs off routes. Can cut off window on Vertical Routes by pushing them closer to sideline. Very little hesitation in transitions. Good instincts to pounce on throws from zone. Aggressive in run support strikes through target and runs through guys.
Weaknesses - Too small to play outside in NFL. Light and can get pushed around by bigger Slot WRs. Quick, but not fast.Lacks second gear, and gives up separation on medium and deep routes. Can't get to high throws. Tall WRs can go over him. Physicality of NFL can hurt durability if he has to play a lot of run support.
Brian Allen -
Strengths - Very long. Sticks jabs into WRs chest in press coverage and disrupts release. Comfortable in bump & run coverage. Uses length as recovery tool. In trail coverage, his size makes deep touch passes difficult. Very impressive long speed in combine.
Weaknesses - Very raw & inexperienced. Former WRs who didn't have any tackling ability and still has a long way to go. Ducks head in contact, and doesn't square up targets. Did not finish tackles at a good rate. Ball skills need more work. Slow to adjust to ball path on deep throws. On West Coast & vertical offenses he will struggle. Has trouble with hips and feets when he needs to open up suddenly in off coverage. Can lose balance easily as he transitions forward.
: Derek Barnett, DE, Tennessee
