Small School Cornerback Prospects
by Parks Smith on Feb 7, 2012 11:31 AM EST
in NFL Draft 2012
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PrintThere has been a lot of discussion about where to spend our first round pick if the notion of drafting a quarterback at number six is off the table. The two most popular positions of need seem to be the offensive line and the defensive secondary. If the Redskins don't grab Morris Claiborne or Dre Kirkpatrick in the first, then where could they turn for help later in the draft? Could three small school prospects help solidify the secondary?
Josh Norman, Coastal Carolina: Norman has shot up many draftboards after a very good week at the Shrine Game. Wes Bunting noted Norman's talent in his practice notes:
He displayed good vision when feeling routes, a solid initial burst when looking to close and displayed "plus" hands when asked to come down with the catch. There are some character concerns to his game off the field; however, the talent is most certainly there.
Norman is a big, physical corner standing nearly 6'1, 195 lbs. Simply put, Norman is a ballhawk and has great length and great hands. He is also pretty decent in run support. Since the Shrine Game some have Norman's stock as high as the third round. Personally I think Norman would be a tremendous corner for Raheem Morris to mold. He'll greatly benefit from individual coaching and a bunch of practice and preseason reps.
Most feel that Norman's "character issues" stem from a string of unpaid traffic tickets his freshman year.
Micah Pellerin, Hampton: Pellerin is another fairly large corner standing 6'0, 195 lbs. Pellerin needs to improve his footwork the most and has got away with some sloppy technique because of his closing speed and skills. He is a high character guy and a vocal leader on the Pirates. He has also contributed to special teams as the "gunner". Look for Pellerin to come off boards in the 5th round.
Justin Bethel, Presbyterian: Bethel is a late round prospect (probably 7th) who would be a solid project for Raheem Morris and the Redskins. Tom Melton reviewed Bethel at the Shrine Game practices:
Bethel was a bit of a confusing prospect for me today because he showed some ability to close on plays in front of him but his backpedal needs serious work. There were times he wasn’t even pedaling in 1 on 1’s which was a bit surprising to see. He’s a small school guy who probably got away with some sloppy technique against a lower level of competition.
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I voted for Pellerin
We’ve had enough “character issues” on this team and we don’t need to add any more of that into the locker room mix.
I like both really. I saw Norman and Bethel in person and both were impressive. I've been more impressed w/ Norman over the years though.
The “character issues” is a bit misleading as noted over on Blogging the Boys:
In the reports on Josh Norman this week many in the media have made references to off-field character concerns but failed to give any details. I thought I would share what I know about these concerns. These stem from some maturity issues that Josh had while a freshman. He had received several traffic tickets that had gone unpaid. As a result his license was suspended. He was pulled over and arrested for the unpaid tickets. The tickets were going to be paid for by a family member who failed to do so and that family member took responsibility for not doing so. This still does not lift the responsibility for Josh’s actions. Since that time Josh has not had any further problems and has been described by his coaches and teammates as being a high character person. I think Josh is past these problems and on the right track. I will update if any more information becomes available.
Editor at Hogs Haven - Redskins Blog
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LOLOL
I could care less about parking tickets. Character concerns are bad work ethic, woman beating, drug abuse, multiple dui’s etc. Not unpaid tickets. In the NFL he’ll have plenty of money to pay for those.
to be honest I wouldn't even consider those character issues
Sure it was immature to not handle the tickets but young people tend to be immature. At that age, if someone had told me they were going to handle the tickets I would assume they would do so.
I'm gonna go Norman
"And you can pass it to someone you never met, and let 'em get as high as you...you're eyes red as sh*t, mine too"
Don't know much about any of them
But I don’t think it would hurt to bring in 2 CBs via the draft this off season
When I was a kid, my father told me, "Never hit anyone in anger, unless you're absolutely sure you can get away with it." -Russell Ziskey
The gunner
Lower end DBs will be special teamers regardless. Rather have a non character problem guy who pitches in.
Pellerin is also a Southern Miss transfer, so keep that in mind.
Editor at Hogs Haven - Redskins Blog
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Why not
take a shot on 2 of them. Don’t care which 2. Norman didn’t kill anyone so what the heck.
by redskins-texas-fan on Feb 7, 2012 12:24 PM EST reply actions
I say Norman
I’m not concerned with parking ticket character issues, just the ones where players routinely smoke weed or stomp on other players heads.
I want to see us get at least a good Tackle and a developmental QB prospect in the first 3 rounds, assuming we don’t trade up for RG3. If we trade back, then I can easily see us having the flexibility to snag Norman.
I think our defensive front is going to look pretty good next season, leaving most of the question marks in the secondary. So I would put a pretty strong emphasis on upgrading the CB position. I think we need a new potential starter at CB, not another project.
What is our Cb situation right now??
Hall, Wilson, Barnes, Westbrook??
That Norman kid sounds pretty good to me.
Hopefully Thompson can move up in the rotation.
Editor at Hogs Haven - Redskins Blog
Twitter: @RVAparks Check it out for the latest Redskins news and opinions
with a whole offseason
I don’t see why he wouldn’t be able to overtake Barnes
"And you can pass it to someone you never met, and let 'em get as high as you...you're eyes red as sh*t, mine too"
But Parks you know where I stand..
Sign #18, draft Claiborne with that #6 pick and Tannehill in the 2nd.
I'd like to know why everyone that wants to sign a QB thinks Tannehill is going to be around at #7 in the 2nd.
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Is he the clear cut #3 Qb of the draft??
Weeden didn’t jump him at the Senior Bowl?? I thought after the injury he dropped out the first round.
Dude is February, everything right now is pure speculation.
I thought after the injury he dropped out the first round.
But I seriously doubt, at this point, that he makes it out of the 1st.
Editor at Hogs Haven - Redskins Blog
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That's fine with me.
I’m not in love with him like HH is, I’d be happy with Foles in the second if he’s gone.
Yea Foles at #39 would be a tough pill for me to swallow.
Given your situation, if we sign a FA and Tannehill is off the board, I’d rather wait until the 3rd and take the best remaining QB.
Editor at Hogs Haven - Redskins Blog
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whats wrong with Foles?
Did you watch the senior bowl? Rex wouldn’t even have to mentor him
A fan of losers, Redskins, Wizards, Orioles, Terps, Dale Jr, America
Where did I say anything was wrong with Foles?
Editor at Hogs Haven - Redskins Blog
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Yea Foles at #39 would be a tough pill for me to swallow.
Given your situation, if we sign a FA and Tannehill is off the board, I’d rather wait until the 3rd and take the best remaining QB.
A fan of losers, Redskins, Wizards, Orioles, Terps, Dale Jr, America
So I'll ask you again where I said anything was wrong with Foles?
I’m fine with drafting him just not at #39.
I’d rather wait until the 3rd and take the best remaining QB.
Which could very well be Foles.
Editor at Hogs Haven - Redskins Blog
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Foles wasn't good senior bowl week
yes the game was nice, but that counts about 2% of his evaluation
Steveospeak - Content Manager of Fanspeak.com
Yea most of the scouts bail Friday anyways.
Very few even go to the actual game.
Editor at Hogs Haven - Redskins Blog
Twitter: @RVAparks Check it out for the latest Redskins news and opinions
Yea but he's a 1st round prospect with serious character issues, no thanks
Editor at Hogs Haven - Redskins Blog
Twitter: @RVAparks Check it out for the latest Redskins news and opinions
Just wondering, don't want him either
Don’t know much about the three list. Went with the biggest:)
Don't know much about them
But I want big physical corners that can help close the gap in size advantage to the new breed of big athletic TE’s and receivers
This
Munchkins aren’t going to cut it anymore.
Malcom an Devin worked out so great for us though...
Need to look at the play more than the body type. Brees is the wrong hight for a QB also, but I would still take him over any of our bunch…
by TCO on Feb 7, 2012 1:27 PM EST up reply actions
And Kerrigan is the right size for OL in a 3-4 defense.
Guys that don’t have the ideal size don’t make it in this league as often as guys who do have the ideal size. The little guys have to earn if as lower round picks, UDFA’s, and so forth. Brees would have been a 1st round pick with the size. London Fletcher was a UDFA. You point to Devin and Kelly….I point to Calvin Johnson.
Redskins @RGIII - 2012
To be fair Brees basically was a 1st round pick, I think he went 1st pick, 2nd round
Editor at Hogs Haven - Redskins Blog
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What about Ryan Steed from Furman?
5’11" 190
showed up really well during the Senior Bowl and could run a 4.40….
I could also just be rooting for one of the few prospects from my alma mater…
by marriott on Feb 8, 2012 12:10 AM EST via mobile reply actions
Man good point, my bad I forgot about Steed. He could go as high as the 2nd!
I have Big South bias.
Editor at Hogs Haven - Redskins Blog
Twitter: @RVAparks Check it out for the latest Redskins news and opinions
*Small School Cornerback - Micah Pellerin*
Wes Bunting’s Practice Notes from East-West Shrine Game state:
bq. “Small-school CB Micah Pellerin displayed a great feel in coverage Monday during one-on-one sessions. He’s slow in his drop, exhibits a good closing burst and despite getting a bit leggy at times he had the length to get his hands on a lot of footballs. Looks like a potential NFL starter at 6-0, 195.”
After observing three days of practice at the East-West Shrine Game, Wes Bunting ranked the Game’s top 10 prospects for the upcoming NFL draft stating:
bq. "Just miss[ing] the cut: Hampton CB Micah Pellerin (6-1, 195) — A tall, good-looking corner who can turn and run, and showcases good quickness/feel in off man coverage. Has a tendency to get a bit overextended when trying to get out of his breaks and close. However, he displays a “plus” burst when driving on throws and uses his length well to get after the football."
Pellerin, Steed, Norman and Bethel all played in the FCS.
In 2011, Pellerin ranked First in the FCS with 19 Total Passes Defended.
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