The Dolphins know they absolutely must acquire at least one quality cornerback in the draft and they are using a higher percentage of confirmed pre-draft visits on corners than any other position.
Per league sources, the Dolphins have asked at least nine corners to visit their headquarters to meet with coaches and team executives: Ohio State’s Eli Apple and Houston’s William Jackson III (both options with the 13th pick or a trade down), UM’s Artie Burns (a possibility at No. 42 if there), Baylor’s Xavien Howard (second- or third-round option), potential mid-round picks James Bradberry (Samford), Rashard Robinson (LSU) and Cre’von LeBlanc (FAU) and potential late-rounders Ryan Smith (North Carolina Central) and Kevon Seymour (Southern Cal).
All except Burns and LeBlanc count among the maximum 30 players that the Dolphins are allowed to invite to their offices. And all except Smith and LeBlanc are at least six feet, which is no coincidence. It's important to note that the Dolphins have at least some level of interest in every player they bring to Davie. With some, they're merely trying to clarify issues (injuries, off field, etc.). But the Dolphins say they're not going to waste visits on players who don't interest them at all.
The Dolphins also have done private workouts with cornerbacks Taveze Calhoun (Mississippi State), Eric Murray (Minnesota) and Tavon Young (Temple), among others, and spent time with UM’s Tracy Howard after the Dolphins’ local workout last Friday.
Some chatter on the cornerbacks:
• With FSU’s Jalen Ramsey very likely long gone by No. 13, analysts are mixed about whether the other corners are worthy of the 13th pick. Though many believe UF’s Vernon Hargreaves is, ESPN’s Todd McShay downgraded him to 20th in his mock draft Tuesday because of “less than ideal measurables – 5-10 and 30 5/8 inch arms.” As of last weekend, the Dolphins hadn’t invited Hargreaves or Clemson’s 5-10 Mackensie Alexander (rated 44th by McShay) to visit, though they do draft some players who don’t visit.
They have researched both intensively and Hargreaves is certainly a worthy option at 13. But it’s notable that the Dolphins didn't fret about losing out on Hargreaves in moving from 8th to 13th in the draft.Half of the 48 passes thrown against Hargreaves were caught last season (for 380 yards) but quarterbacks had only a 49 rating in his coverage area.“Hargreaves isn't a true speedster (4.50 40-yard dash at the combine),” McShay said, “but he wins in coverage thanks to his exceptional quickness, fluidity and ball skills. Even though he's just 5-foot-10, Hargreaves' leaping ability (39-inch vertical jump) helped him snag 10 interceptions in college.”
Alexander allowed only a 48 passer rating, with just 19 of 57 targets caught. But he had no interceptions in 27 college starts and that’s a “red flag,” McShay said. Still, he has “one the higher ceilings in this year's cornerback class due to his movement skills and ability to play press-man coverage.” • The Dolphins like big corners and Apple and Jackson – both 6-1 – fit the bill. But McShay has Jackson 25th and Apple 33rd, and some other analysts also see them going later than Miami’s pick. Miami might be able to trade down to land one of them.As for Apple, passers had a 67.9 rating in his coverage area last season and his “tape is good but not elite,” McShay said. “While his 4.40 40 speed is a positive, he needs to improve his technique in press coverage. He's a willing participant against the run.”
Kiper’s view: He “has major upside as a physical cornerback with length.”
Jackson, who held quarterbacks to a 55.6 rating in his coverage area, has “elite speed (4.37 40)… and thrives off the challenge of facing the opposing team's No. 1 receiver,” McShay said. “He showed some playmaking ability with two interceptions returns for touchdowns this season, but he struggles at times when the ball is in the air.”But he is “rising on boards everywhere,” Kiper said. NFL Net’s Charles Davis said some teams who talked about him as a third-rounder now have him going in the first.
• Burns, 6-0, who limited opposing quarterbacks to a 39.8 rating in his coverage area, had six interceptions last season after one combined the previous two. He dined with Dolphins officials last Thursday night. NFL people like his long arms (33¼ inches) and ability to play press coverage. McShay has him 36th in his newest mock.The Dolphins also are intrigued by the 6-0 Howard, who had five interceptions and just a 32.4 passer rating in his coverage area.
CBS’ Rob Rang compares Howard, 6-0, to Dolphins cornerback Bryon Maxwell: “With his broad frame, Howard looks more like an NFL safety than a traditional cornerback, but he possesses the natural coverage skills and confidence to remain on the perimeter. With patience, he should develop into a starter at the next level, as well, projecting best in a press-heavy scheme.”
• Some view Virginia Tech’s Kendall Fuller (not booked for a Dolphins visit at the moment) as a late first-rounder --- McShay has him 23rd --- while others rate him a second- or third-rounder. Among other potential second- or third-rounders: Alabama’s Cyrus Jones, LSU’s Jalen Mills, Southern Mississippi’s Kalen Reed, Texas A&M’s DeVante Harris, Mississippi State’s Will Redmond, Southeast Louisiana’s Harlan Miller, LeBlanc, Oklahoma State’s Kevin Peterson, Northwestern’s Nick Van Hoose and Oklahoma’s Zach Sanchez.One combo safety/corner that Miami really likes: Clemson’s TJ Green.
• Among mid-to-late-rounders who were summoned to Dolphins offices, Robinson (6-2) is especially interesting. He has great length and wingspan and started as a freshman on a talented LSU team but hasn’t played football since being suspended indefinitely by LSU in 2014 following multiple rules violations. He didn’t enroll in classes last year and has appeared in just 18 college games. The Dolphins want to talk to him about his past and if he’s changed.“His length, agility and tenacity will be especially valued by teams looking for outside press corners,” CBS’ Rang said. “Accelerates smoothly and possesses very good straight-line speed overall, especially for a cornerback with his height.”...As for Bradberry, he transferred from Arkansas State to Samford so he could play corner (instead of safety). CBS’ Dane Brugler: “Bradberry is well-versed with press technique and isn't shy using his long arms and physical hands to disrupt the rhythm of receivers, but his high center of gravity and stiffness force him to get turned around, lacking the burst to recover.”…
What about the 5-11 Smith? He's generating a lot of attention on the predraft circuit and “possesses the start/stop quickness and natural cover traits to contribute in a NFL secondary,” Brugler said.... Seymour, another of Miami’s 30 maximum Davie visits, has great physical gifts that exceed his production (three career picks).Incidentally, thanks to Pro Football Focus for providing the passer ratings in the coverage areas of the top college cornerback prospects.
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Per league sources, the Dolphins have asked at least nine corners to visit their headquarters to meet with coaches and team executives: Ohio State’s Eli Apple and Houston’s William Jackson III (both options with the 13th pick or a trade down), UM’s Artie Burns (a possibility at No. 42 if there), Baylor’s Xavien Howard (second- or third-round option), potential mid-round picks James Bradberry (Samford), Rashard Robinson (LSU) and Cre’von LeBlanc (FAU) and potential late-rounders Ryan Smith (North Carolina Central) and Kevon Seymour (Southern Cal).
All except Burns and LeBlanc count among the maximum 30 players that the Dolphins are allowed to invite to their offices. And all except Smith and LeBlanc are at least six feet, which is no coincidence. It's important to note that the Dolphins have at least some level of interest in every player they bring to Davie. With some, they're merely trying to clarify issues (injuries, off field, etc.). But the Dolphins say they're not going to waste visits on players who don't interest them at all.
The Dolphins also have done private workouts with cornerbacks Taveze Calhoun (Mississippi State), Eric Murray (Minnesota) and Tavon Young (Temple), among others, and spent time with UM’s Tracy Howard after the Dolphins’ local workout last Friday.
Some chatter on the cornerbacks:
• With FSU’s Jalen Ramsey very likely long gone by No. 13, analysts are mixed about whether the other corners are worthy of the 13th pick. Though many believe UF’s Vernon Hargreaves is, ESPN’s Todd McShay downgraded him to 20th in his mock draft Tuesday because of “less than ideal measurables – 5-10 and 30 5/8 inch arms.” As of last weekend, the Dolphins hadn’t invited Hargreaves or Clemson’s 5-10 Mackensie Alexander (rated 44th by McShay) to visit, though they do draft some players who don’t visit.
They have researched both intensively and Hargreaves is certainly a worthy option at 13. But it’s notable that the Dolphins didn't fret about losing out on Hargreaves in moving from 8th to 13th in the draft.Half of the 48 passes thrown against Hargreaves were caught last season (for 380 yards) but quarterbacks had only a 49 rating in his coverage area.“Hargreaves isn't a true speedster (4.50 40-yard dash at the combine),” McShay said, “but he wins in coverage thanks to his exceptional quickness, fluidity and ball skills. Even though he's just 5-foot-10, Hargreaves' leaping ability (39-inch vertical jump) helped him snag 10 interceptions in college.”
Alexander allowed only a 48 passer rating, with just 19 of 57 targets caught. But he had no interceptions in 27 college starts and that’s a “red flag,” McShay said. Still, he has “one the higher ceilings in this year's cornerback class due to his movement skills and ability to play press-man coverage.” • The Dolphins like big corners and Apple and Jackson – both 6-1 – fit the bill. But McShay has Jackson 25th and Apple 33rd, and some other analysts also see them going later than Miami’s pick. Miami might be able to trade down to land one of them.As for Apple, passers had a 67.9 rating in his coverage area last season and his “tape is good but not elite,” McShay said. “While his 4.40 40 speed is a positive, he needs to improve his technique in press coverage. He's a willing participant against the run.”
Kiper’s view: He “has major upside as a physical cornerback with length.”
Jackson, who held quarterbacks to a 55.6 rating in his coverage area, has “elite speed (4.37 40)… and thrives off the challenge of facing the opposing team's No. 1 receiver,” McShay said. “He showed some playmaking ability with two interceptions returns for touchdowns this season, but he struggles at times when the ball is in the air.”But he is “rising on boards everywhere,” Kiper said. NFL Net’s Charles Davis said some teams who talked about him as a third-rounder now have him going in the first.
• Burns, 6-0, who limited opposing quarterbacks to a 39.8 rating in his coverage area, had six interceptions last season after one combined the previous two. He dined with Dolphins officials last Thursday night. NFL people like his long arms (33¼ inches) and ability to play press coverage. McShay has him 36th in his newest mock.The Dolphins also are intrigued by the 6-0 Howard, who had five interceptions and just a 32.4 passer rating in his coverage area.
CBS’ Rob Rang compares Howard, 6-0, to Dolphins cornerback Bryon Maxwell: “With his broad frame, Howard looks more like an NFL safety than a traditional cornerback, but he possesses the natural coverage skills and confidence to remain on the perimeter. With patience, he should develop into a starter at the next level, as well, projecting best in a press-heavy scheme.”
• Some view Virginia Tech’s Kendall Fuller (not booked for a Dolphins visit at the moment) as a late first-rounder --- McShay has him 23rd --- while others rate him a second- or third-rounder. Among other potential second- or third-rounders: Alabama’s Cyrus Jones, LSU’s Jalen Mills, Southern Mississippi’s Kalen Reed, Texas A&M’s DeVante Harris, Mississippi State’s Will Redmond, Southeast Louisiana’s Harlan Miller, LeBlanc, Oklahoma State’s Kevin Peterson, Northwestern’s Nick Van Hoose and Oklahoma’s Zach Sanchez.One combo safety/corner that Miami really likes: Clemson’s TJ Green.
• Among mid-to-late-rounders who were summoned to Dolphins offices, Robinson (6-2) is especially interesting. He has great length and wingspan and started as a freshman on a talented LSU team but hasn’t played football since being suspended indefinitely by LSU in 2014 following multiple rules violations. He didn’t enroll in classes last year and has appeared in just 18 college games. The Dolphins want to talk to him about his past and if he’s changed.“His length, agility and tenacity will be especially valued by teams looking for outside press corners,” CBS’ Rang said. “Accelerates smoothly and possesses very good straight-line speed overall, especially for a cornerback with his height.”...As for Bradberry, he transferred from Arkansas State to Samford so he could play corner (instead of safety). CBS’ Dane Brugler: “Bradberry is well-versed with press technique and isn't shy using his long arms and physical hands to disrupt the rhythm of receivers, but his high center of gravity and stiffness force him to get turned around, lacking the burst to recover.”…
What about the 5-11 Smith? He's generating a lot of attention on the predraft circuit and “possesses the start/stop quickness and natural cover traits to contribute in a NFL secondary,” Brugler said.... Seymour, another of Miami’s 30 maximum Davie visits, has great physical gifts that exceed his production (three career picks).Incidentally, thanks to Pro Football Focus for providing the passer ratings in the coverage areas of the top college cornerback prospects.
http://miamiherald.typepad.com/spor...-to-add-quality-at-position-heat-panther.html
