RobertHorry
Scout Team
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After reading what Gil Brandt(Extremely close friend to Parcells) say that Parcells believe Clemons can play and has a large amount potential and has the chance to be our starting FS in the future, I decided to do some digging on this guy.
Chris Clemons ran a 4.33 and a 4.41 40. That is impressive and astounding. Yes, The 40 is extremely important, BUT the 3 cone drill is the most important drill for DBs and Safetys.
When evaluating the cornerback and safety position it’s always important for that prospect to feature good straight-line speed. However, there have been plenty of NFL corners and safetys that lacked elite speed who have found ways to be successful in the NFL. The cornerback and safety position is all about body control, footwork, balance and flexibility which in turn, allow corners and safetys to more consistently close on the ball out of their breaks. With that said, it’s bothersome that there is so much stock put into the 40-yard dash for cornerbacks and safetys, since it’s rare NFL corners and safetys are asked to simply cover receivers in a straight-line. However, one test that does a good job measuring if a prospect can bend, pivot, drop his weight and play with balance is the three-cone drill.
The three-cone drill seems to be a much better measuring stick for corners and safetys then any other drill at the combine (even the 40-yard dash). To illustrate this point, let’s take a look at two similar cornerback prospects from two years ago draft. The first is Virginia Tech product, Brandon Flowers, a 5-foot-10, 189-pound corner who clocked in with a very average 4.55 40, but impressed scouts with a 6.72-second three-cone drill. The second prospect is Justin King from Penn State. King, a 5-11, 192-pounder ran a blistering 4.31 40-time. However, he also ran one of the slower three-cone drills at the combine among cornerbacks at 7.14 seconds. The significant difference (.42 seconds) of the two times displays a dramatic advantage in body control, balance and change-of-direction skills for Flowers, a trait far more valuable to the CB and Safety position then straight-line speed.
Vontae Davis ran a 6.72 3-cone drill. Davis not only displays the deep speed to turn and run with receivers down the field, but also has the balance and body control to explode out of his breaks. He plays just as fast and quick as all his times would indicate. This is all evident from the 3-cone drill.
This brings me up to my next point that Chris Clemons ran a 4.39 3-cone drill. Thats 2-3 seconds faster than anyone at any other position last year. To put it in perspective, Chris Clemons has the fastest 3 cone drill time of ALL-TIME. He is 2 seconds faster than the next place holder (Sedrick Curry who is at 6.02 time)
Clemons has the tools to Special. Now I know you guys are going to be quick to blame him for Mike Wallace's deep TD against Pitt. The thing that some of you don't know is that Clemons was at the opposite hashmarks covering Santonio Holmes because Sean Smith fell down. Clemons came all the way across the field in about 2.7 seconds and almost made the play on the ball. Thats amazing to fly to the ball like that. Clemons might just be a find. He had no major gaffes this year and was consistently covering his zone ( Watch Pitt game and how many times Big Ben had to pump and hold onto the ball for 4+ seconds because coverage was so good down field). Compare that to when Wilson is in (Ball goes out of Big Ben's hands instantly.
Chris Clemons ran a 4.33 and a 4.41 40. That is impressive and astounding. Yes, The 40 is extremely important, BUT the 3 cone drill is the most important drill for DBs and Safetys.
When evaluating the cornerback and safety position it’s always important for that prospect to feature good straight-line speed. However, there have been plenty of NFL corners and safetys that lacked elite speed who have found ways to be successful in the NFL. The cornerback and safety position is all about body control, footwork, balance and flexibility which in turn, allow corners and safetys to more consistently close on the ball out of their breaks. With that said, it’s bothersome that there is so much stock put into the 40-yard dash for cornerbacks and safetys, since it’s rare NFL corners and safetys are asked to simply cover receivers in a straight-line. However, one test that does a good job measuring if a prospect can bend, pivot, drop his weight and play with balance is the three-cone drill.
The three-cone drill seems to be a much better measuring stick for corners and safetys then any other drill at the combine (even the 40-yard dash). To illustrate this point, let’s take a look at two similar cornerback prospects from two years ago draft. The first is Virginia Tech product, Brandon Flowers, a 5-foot-10, 189-pound corner who clocked in with a very average 4.55 40, but impressed scouts with a 6.72-second three-cone drill. The second prospect is Justin King from Penn State. King, a 5-11, 192-pounder ran a blistering 4.31 40-time. However, he also ran one of the slower three-cone drills at the combine among cornerbacks at 7.14 seconds. The significant difference (.42 seconds) of the two times displays a dramatic advantage in body control, balance and change-of-direction skills for Flowers, a trait far more valuable to the CB and Safety position then straight-line speed.
Vontae Davis ran a 6.72 3-cone drill. Davis not only displays the deep speed to turn and run with receivers down the field, but also has the balance and body control to explode out of his breaks. He plays just as fast and quick as all his times would indicate. This is all evident from the 3-cone drill.
This brings me up to my next point that Chris Clemons ran a 4.39 3-cone drill. Thats 2-3 seconds faster than anyone at any other position last year. To put it in perspective, Chris Clemons has the fastest 3 cone drill time of ALL-TIME. He is 2 seconds faster than the next place holder (Sedrick Curry who is at 6.02 time)
Clemons has the tools to Special. Now I know you guys are going to be quick to blame him for Mike Wallace's deep TD against Pitt. The thing that some of you don't know is that Clemons was at the opposite hashmarks covering Santonio Holmes because Sean Smith fell down. Clemons came all the way across the field in about 2.7 seconds and almost made the play on the ball. Thats amazing to fly to the ball like that. Clemons might just be a find. He had no major gaffes this year and was consistently covering his zone ( Watch Pitt game and how many times Big Ben had to pump and hold onto the ball for 4+ seconds because coverage was so good down field). Compare that to when Wilson is in (Ball goes out of Big Ben's hands instantly.
