SportingNews.com on DRC

[bobad]

I believe DRC is the real deal. Outstanding measurables aside, he is one of those smooth athletes that don't come along very often. If he has the mental makeup to be a CB, the sky is the limit for him. The Sr. Bowl showed me what he can do, and I have no reason to believe he couldn't make those same plays 1000 more times.

Having said that, I think a front 7 defensive player is a bigger need for the Saints. I want Gholston, Ellis, or Lofton(rd 2), but may shed a tear if an NFC South team gets DRC.

 

[longtime lurker]

Darrell Green said David Jones was the real deal. Green who is a 2008 HOF inductee.

If that's the case then Jordan's kid should be a lottery pick because he has a great gene pool. Yes the same kid that couldn't even earn a scholarship.

I'm not trying to downplay his ability. If he's the real deal then he is, just don't say he is because Sanders says so and he's the cousin of a current NFL CB.

Whoa Rich!

I'm not saying it's the only reason. I'm saying it's one of many. DRC dominated at the Senior Bowl. He tackled well, he was step for step on coverage, he demonstrated excellent catch up speed, & his vertical leap was amazing.

Deion Sanders has mentioned twice that DRC is legit. He did this at the Senior Bowl and the Combine. No that isn't a guarantee that DRC will be a great CB or even good, but his recommendation goes far in my book.

And don't forget about Tom Shaw's endorsement either:

"I never make blanket statements, but this guy is going to be as good or better than Deion Sanders," Shaw said. "This kid can fly. As soon as he learns the game . . . I've never seen anyone break on the ball like that kid. He's going to be the steal of the draft, like Devin Hester two years ago."
http://www.nola.com/lsu/t-p/football/index.ssf?/base/sports-2/1203920581101540.xml&coll=1&thispage=2

Shaw has trained a lot of first round picks at his camp down in Orlando.

Hey I understand the uncertainty. He does have his questions. He didn't play in a major Conference and he looks thin.

But I'd still take him at 10 if Dorsey, Gholston, or Ellis are all gone.

 

[Kin Korn Karn]

Not that this means anything but Shaw and neon Deion are very good friends.

 

[SodiumBenzoate]

I share some of the same concerns about DRC, but I do think he's a solid first-round pick - not where the Saints are drafting, but anywhere from about 20 back makes sense. He's one of those high-risk, high-reward players.

For what it's worth, some players who dramatically raise their stock at the Senior Bowl do have good NFL careers.

 

[Scorpius the Allfather]

If it is true I don't want him. If you do then that's you but I want football players, not athletes.

Aren't football players athletes?

 

[bergeaux]

The bottom line is that DRC is a risk, just like all players you draft are a risk. I think he is a bigger risk than some of the other top 5 CBs in the draft. He has raw speed and a higher upside, but you draft in the 1st round on NFL readiness AND upside. Especially at 10. If we were drafting at 25+ like last year, I might say look at the kid who has that upside. 2nd round? Especially there. First round, I want someone who has proven on tape and with measureables that he can PLAY and he has TALENT.

I don't know who that is, but DRC doesn't seem to be that person when you look at the tape (according to a lot of "experts", not just one). He may end up being a STAR in the NFL, but you can't say that for sure by what we know now.

My only hope is that Dorsey, Ellis, Rivers, Long or Gholston are there at 10. Other than that, I don't know who REALLY has shown to be worth the top 10 pick on defense. At that point, IF we can find a willing partner, I say trade back 5 or 10 picks and get something out of that 7-9 record.

 

[NPs6724]

did not play nearly as well in college as he did at the Senior Bowl. At Tennessee State, allowed inferior receivers to separate and catch passes

From http://www.nfl.com/combine/profiles/dominique-rodgers-cromartie?id=306:

In 39 starts for the Tigers, opposing quarterbacks completed just 55 of 161 passes (34.16%) thrown in Rodgers-Cromartie's immediate area. He intercepted 11 of those throws, deflected 25 and held the opposition to a miniscule 3.54 yards per pass attempt, the best of any collegiate defensive back over the last three seasons.

That doesn't add up. He gave up the fewest yards per pass of any college DB the past 3 years and allowed only 34.16% of passes to be completed but he "allowed inferior receivers to separate and catch passes"? What does the author expect, zero catches? The fact is DRC succeeded twice as many times as he failed and his deflection/interception rate (22.36%) was almost as high as the QB completion rate (34.16%).

does not come upfield quickly in run support, content to allow teammates to make tackles

Sounds like Deion. Certainly didn't affect his status as one of the all-time great CBs. If it's not a Cover 2 defense, I couldn't care less if the CB was in on run support. If you are relying on a CB to stop a RB, your defense is in trouble.

Shows sloppy and raw technique, raising questions of how well he learns from coaching

Couldn't (and shouldn't) that also raise questions about how he was coached? Is it that far-fetched to believe his DB coach may not be the best in the world? Somehow I doubt the top position coaches flock to D1AA. These negatives just seem out-of-place and strange. It sounds like the author is making these comments without ever watching him play except for highlight videos.

 

[Pookie]

As long as we don't draft Rivers, I'm happy. Cromartie at 10 would be great.

 

[NPs6724]

He should have dominated at his college level.

He allowed only 1/3 of passes thrown his way to be completed and he intercepted or deflected 1/5 of those as well and gave up the fewest yards per pass of any college DB the past 3 years. I would say that's as dominating as a CB can be.

 

[TheDeparted]

He allowed only 1/3 of passes thrown his way to be completed and he intercepted or deflected 1/5 of those as well and gave up the fewest yards per pass of any college DB the past 3 years. I would say that's as dominating as a CB can be.

Lay the law, dude. DRC @10 (or higher )