Alontae Taylor and the importance of scouting (1 Viewer)

[Outbackjack]

I just want to dig in a little bit on how impressive this seemingly small nugget is, from a coach's perspective.

"Football IQ" is one of those things that's talked about a lot but not really crystallized and defined well, in terms of how it's presented. Understand that at every level of a football, including the NFL, football IQ is not just a common thing that should just be taken for granted.

So much of this game is intuitive, and skill is acquired through drill, repetition, muscle memory. Instinct plays in, of course, and IS NOT the same as football IQ.
So when a reporter just kind of innocuously asks a rookie what the differences between nickel and perimeter corner are, the most common answer would be something general about where you are on the field or the type of WRs you match up against, or some very canned "You just gotta be ready to step up where the team needs you" type stuff.

To have a rookie go into a detailed explanation about space, leverage (being able to use the sideline to your advantage), and technique (how you play a lot less press man in the slot)... and to do it articulately, without pausing to think, using precise language, to the point where he sounds like a coach... that means he really UNDERSTANDS football. There is a degree if introspection and awareness of his play.

So on top of being a very instinctive player (just roll the tape), that 1 minute in answer in his first Q&A with the NOLA media told me A LOT about Taylor's football IQ. He absorbs the information, he understands the dynamics of his play... AND he has those rare anticipatory instincts on film (like a CJGJ) AND he runs a freakin 4.3!

I have zero doubt in my mind that this kid is going to be a wildly successful NFL player. The question right now is just how quickly he acclimates and which position he'll be making plays at.

The opposite of Stephon Anthony

 

[Outbackjack]

In addition, he was a star QB in high school.
Just another notch when discussing a guy’s football acumen.

 

[TCUDan]

I mentioned earlier I was listening to WWL on the way home when the pick was made. Deuce watched this kid and
liked the pick. Deuce said he began his career at TN as a FS. He was moved to CB due to injuries to other starters.
If he does play safety for us,we have one who is over 6ft tall and runs a 4.3. There are not many of those and most
play Wr.

If I'm not mistaken, he was actually recruited to Tennessee as a WR and later made the switch to DB.

 

[blackngoldmike]

After the pick, I watched some tape on him as well, including bad stuff and I agree with your assessment.

We have a vision for this player, and for very good reason. The first word that I thought to describe him besides the obvious athleticism is “rangy.” He’s never out of a play and with slight tweaks to his technique especially from our db coaches, he can be an absolute monster!

 

[Saint Spud]

Makes me wonder if the Saints think they’ll lose CJGJ next year.

We needed more depth on the back end and a potential Jenkins replacement. Doesn’t have anything to do with CJGJ.

 

[Que Que 6]

I don’t know, why didn’t you mention this in your non mock draft then. If you thought they should do this. Seems a bit self serving, to say now.
The saints obviously have drafted for need.
Given their recent successes identifying secondary players I’m optimistic this pick will pan out. I’d still like Honey Badger.
Bad night for the arm GMs who bragged about the QBs.

Sure, dude. Let's run this guy off. What a bum! Sheesh.

 

[Saint Taysom]

I just wanted to post real quick regarding this pick and offer a little perspective as a lot of people run around with their hair on fire.

In my last article, I made a point of saying that I see mock drafts as kind of pointless because we aren't in the war room (I still am not calling what I did a mock draft ). But when I was considering what I think the Saints should do in round 2, before slotting in Jalen Pitre, I actually went and looked at a few scouting reports to try and ID a CB prospect who was 1) a freak athlete and 2) had S potential. The only one I kind of landed on who I was familiar with was Kyler Gordon, but I don't think he has the football IQ/instincts to make the move.

But I really felt like, if this type of player was there--a versatile CB with all the tools to move to safety (and more athleticism than Pitre and the other S candidates available)--that was the direction the Saints would go. Pitre was the closest fit in terms of fitting that poor man's Honey Badger/CJGJ mold, where he can play on top of the tree, in the box, or in that slot role.

The Saints, however, seem to have found the guy I couldn't in Alontae Taylor. I've only scanned a little bit of film on him and the athleticism and football instincts are ABSOLUTELY there. As a CB, he is a little raw/inconsistent in his technique, but he's over 6 feet, runs a 4.3, has very loose hips (something the other S prospects including Pitre lacked), is very aggressive (both on the ball and in the run game) and plays with instinct!

Dennis Allen (who I will absolutely give the benefit of the doubt on drafting DBs, given his track record these last few years) and his staff seem to have a vision for Taylor, either in that slot role of CJGJ (which would mean moving CJGJ to a more traditional SS role) or as a more traditional safety. Either way, the hsyteria over this pick is a little unwarranted, because when you watch film on this guy you love him. Yes, he may not stack up with some of the other CBs in terms of being ready to hit the field day 1 b/c he gets high is backpedal and stuff like that... but the dude covers the field, plays the run and the ball like an NFL player.

I don't know if he'll be a starter right out the gate, but he'll definitely be hitting the field somewhere. Honestly, I love this pick, and THIS is exactly why scouts get paid. They have a vision for a guy every fan under the sun overlooked (including myself). It is literally their job to do more than the draft pundits and find guys like this.

If drafting Olave and Penning was an A+, I would give this pick a solid A/A-.

Thanks Dan. I trust your opinion, and this post has me backing off the ledge a little

 

[NeverGiveUP2]

but but... draft capital....

I like your analysis TCUD.... I don't do the work.. you did... thanks

 

[guillermo]

Makes me wonder if the Saints think they’ll lose CJGJ next year.

No way no how

We needed more depth on the back end and a potential Jenkins replacement. Doesn’t have anything to do with CJGJ.

It may have to do with Gardner-Johnson.

He is widely recognized as one of the best slot-corners in football. We may not want to think about it, but his second contract will be higher than expected, and we already have a high contract at the secondary with Lattimore.

It seems to me that we drafted a replacement for Malcolm Jenkins, maybe not at his last year, but at the role Jenkins played in his early days as a saint player.

 

[sammymvpknight]

We needed more depth on the back end and a potential Jenkins replacement. Doesn’t have anything to do with CJGJ.

We have Jenkins replacement, it’s Mayes. I’m not sure we have Williams replacement.

It may have to do with Gardner-Johnson.

He is widely recognized as one of the best slot-corners in football. We may not want to think about it, but his second contract will be higher than expected, and we already have a high contract at the secondary with Lattimore.

It seems to me that we drafted a replacement for Malcolm Jenkins, maybe not at his last year, but at the role Jenkins played in his early days as a saint player.

He’s not ready to replace anyone right now. I think that the Saints like that he may have the versatility to replace Jenkins or CJGJ. That’s a bridge that will have to be crossed next year

 

[Domeination]

Underhill says Taylor will compete with Adebo as a starting perimeter CB, although he has the ability to play in the slot and at S. I think the team is going to move him all over the field in TC and see where he meshes best with the entire defensive backfield. He gives DA more ability to switch up the coverages and could end up being a chess piece moved around to confuse QBs. I do like the idea that Adebo has instant competition, though.

 

[faceman]

If I'm not mistaken, he was actually recruited to Tennessee as a WR and later made the switch to DB.

You are not mistaken. I'm not sure why he was moved to Db. I'll do some more research and find out why. It goes
to show how athletic this young man is.

 

[oodank]

If Taylor is a CB are they cutting Roby or trading him?

 

[CRESS_137]

Thanks for your insight. It's greatly appreciated!

 

[JackDiesel]

If Taylor is a CB are they cutting Roby or trading him?

Why do either? Can never have too many CB's and now we have 4 guys that can play the perimeter. It's a strength of the team so continue to build on it.