Prior to the 2007 NFL Draft, Real Football is providing newyorkjets.com with position-by-position analysis of the top prospects. Today's installment: cornerbacks.
Leon Hall, CB, Michigan
Strengths: Tough, physical player who plays well in coverage and plays bigger than his size. Has strength to force receivers off routes. Reads the QB well and is very instinctive. Possesses excellent ball skills. Will fight for possession and come down with the ball. Willing and physical in run support. A sure tackler.
Weaknesses: Slow to turn and run with receivers. Lacks burst and will struggle to recover when beaten downfield. Overaggressive against the run at times and will get caught out of position.
Bottom Line: Hall can play in any coverage, but he excels as a bump-and-run corner in man coverage. A complete player with great physical tools, instincts and ball skills who should grow into an NFL star.
Darrelle Revis, CB, Pittsburgh
Strengths: Plays with excellent speed, quickness and athletic ability. Possesses good height with long arms. Very good in off coverage and closes quickly on balls in front of him. Excellent downfield speed and smooth hips allow him to turn and run with most receivers. Good ball skills and will make the tough catch. Fights through blocks, hits hard and wraps up in run support. Excellent read-and-react skills. Elusive in the open field and a dangerous punt returner.
Weaknesses: Inconsistent effort — got bored when teams threw away from him consistently. Plays with poor technique and relies too much on natural speed and athletic ability. Will let receivers get on top of him before reacting. Will reach and grab too often.
Bottom Line: Revis is an early-entry prospect who possesses outstanding physical tools and big-play ability that will make him a solid NFL starter. But he must improve his technique and play more consistently to become an elite player at the next level.
Chris Houston, CB, Arkansas
Strengths: Very athletic corner with outstanding quickness and speed. Can run in man coverage all over the field. Does a good job in press coverage, is physical, has a strong initial punch and can reroute receivers off the line. Does a good job of reading the QB and has the burst and athleticism to attack the ball in the air. Smooth in transition. Makes good use of hands.
Weaknesses: Inconsistent effort and technique. Tends to stop moving his feet during backpedal and gets upright to bump receivers a few yards off the line. Not always in good position. Doesn't break up many passes.
Bottom Line: Houston is a junior whose production hasn't lived up to his physical tools. He showed tremendous strength, speed and quickness in predraft workouts, which will raise his draft stock, but he will struggle to contribute as anything more than a special-teamer early in his career.
Marcus McCauley, CB, Fresno State
Strengths: Tall and fast, an outstanding athlete with special skills. Very instinctive player. Excellent change of direction and closes on the ball quickly. Has long arms and makes plays on the ball. Is a big hitter who can separate the receiver from the ball. Is smooth in transition and can turn and run with receivers. Adjusts well to the ball in the air and will compete for balls downfield. Physical in press coverage and can reroute WRs. Tough and aggressive in run support and a sure tackler.
Weaknesses: Played poorly as a senior. Problems stemmed from inconsistent footwork, particularly in his backpedal. Tried to overcompensate and played too aggressively, which led to big mistakes in coverage. Plays too upright. Lacks lower-body strength.
Bottom Line: McCauley went from feast to famine in quick fashion. Easily projected as a Top Ten pick after his junior season, he struggled mightily as a senior, and aside from some technique issues, no one is quite sure why. He continued to show poorly in the all-star games and predraft workouts. He's a player with tremendous physical tools who has shown the ability to be a top-tier player, but his recent performance makes him a risky pick even at the end of Day One.
Aaron Ross, CB, Texas
Strengths: Good size and height with long arms. Can play in any coverage. Is not afraid to mix it up at the LOS and will play physically in press coverage. Has the speed to run with receivers. Reads routes well. Has great burst to the ball and will make plays in front of him. Has good recovery speed. Plays the ball well and long arms allow him to make reach-in plays and deflect downfield balls. Has good hands and will make the tough interception. Adequate in run support.
Weaknesses: Lacks game experience. Very good player who had to wait his turn behind some NFL-caliber players. Does not play aggressively enough at times.
Bottom Line: Ross will slip due to his lack of playing time at Texas, but he is a physical specimen with excellent skills, smarts and instincts. He has the potential, with experience and coaching, to be a great NFL corner and return man.
