BroncoBuff
08-09-2008, 02:34 AM
According to Sporting News, anyway. Somebody might've posted this, but I missed it.
Cowboys land 4 DBs in top 25 ....
Ranking the top 25 NFL defensive backs
July 22, 2008
War Room scouts
The best cornerbacks in the NFL often don't get their names called, because quarterbacks are always throwing away from their direction. The best safeties, however, like to get to familiar with as many ballhandlers as possible, often driving right in their direction.
Whether it's in coverage or run support, it's important for the modern NFL defensive back to get physical with the opposition. Here are 25 who deliver for their teams in that way:
1. Champ Bailey, CB, Denver Broncos. A high-character team leader who is generally accepted as the best cover corner in the game. Bailey has the skills to hold up to any style of play, and the Broncos are never afraid to single him up on the opponent's best receiver. He is a solid tackler and willing player in run support, and he has the recognition skills to decipher plays quickly and make plays on the ball.
2. Bob Sanders, S, Indianapolis Colts. A fast, aggressive player who plays bigger than his size and has emerged as one of the game's hardest-hitting safeties. Although he is at his best playing down in the box to defend the run, he also is a physical presence for receivers across the middle and can take them out of the game, both mentally and physically. His lack of ideal size and his intensity on the field has led to several injuries, and he has yet to play a full 16-game slate in his career. But his skills and playmaking ability make Sanders--when healthy--the best safety in the game.
3. Troy Polamalu, S, Pittsburgh Steelers. A terrific strong safety who plays with great hustle. He excels in pursuit and never gives up on plays. He has great range and can quickly get to any spot on the field from his pre-snap location. Polamalu's speed makes him a great blitzer, and his physical style makes him a punishing tackler, both as a run defender and across the middle of the field against the pass. He gambles often and sometimes gets caught out of position, and injuries have limited him the past two seasons, but he is still a game-changing player.
4. Nate Clements, CB, San Francisco 49ers. An aggressive corner who is physical and excels in man coverage. He can smother receivers at the line of scrimmage and knock them off routes, and he still has the speed to turn and run with any receiver to make up for mistakes caused by his aggressive style. He has tremendous ball skills, change-of-direction ability and closing speed. Clemens shuts down an entire side of the field in the 49ers' secondary.
5. Antonio Cromartie, CB, San Diego Chargers. Cromartie led the NFL in interceptions (10) and passes defensed (28) while starting only eight games in 2007 and earned Pro Bowl honors as a result. He's a smart, explosive player with the speed to make plays on the ball and then take it to the house from anywhere on the field. We need to see him do it again this year, but based on the raw skills he has already displayed, Cromartie is clearly already among the game's top defensive playmakers.
6. Ed Reed, S, Baltimore Ravens. Reed had a down year in '06 but bounced back with seven interceptions and 20 passes defensed in '07, ranking in the top ten in the NFL in both categories. He has great size and physical tools, and his speed and instincts allow him to cover plenty of ground and make plays on the ball. Reed tends to gamble and get out of position, but he still has the recovery and ball skills to make plays even when you think he can't. A big-time playmaker, he can dominate a game from the deep safety spot.
7. Rashean Mathis, CB, Jacksonville Jaguars. At 6-1, 200 pounds, Mathis is a big, physical corner who is also blessed with great speed and strength. He's an excellent press corner and plays aggressively against the run. Opponents threw away from him last year after he posted a career-high eight interceptions in 2006, but he is one of the NFL's best shutdown corners and is still improving.
8. Chris McAlister, CB, Baltimore Ravens. His size, strength and agility make him a rare talent. He is a physical player who can shut down one side of the field and is comfortable going one-on-one with the league's best receivers. He can also take risks in coverage thanks to the pressure applied by the Ravens' front seven.
9. Antoine Winfield, CB, Minnesota Vikings. Although the Vikes were terrible against the pass last season, it didn't have a whole lot to do with Winfield. Teams tended to throw away from him given his aggressive style of coverage. He's one of the best tackling corners in the game, and is a top run support corner. Winfield is tough with his jam; some receivers never even get into their routes against him. He occasionally gets beat deep, but the rest of his work earns him a spot high on this list.
10. DeAngelo Hall, CB, Raiders. Hall's athleticism is what jumps out when you watch him play. He displays great speed, quickness, change-of-direction skills and leaping ability. He also goes after the ball aggressively. He's not a top corner technique-wise, but he has the speed to turn and run with anyone in the NFL. His confidence and swagger will instantly make the Raiders' defense better, and the change of scenery may be what Hall needs to put a tough couple years with the Falcons behind him and reclaim his spot among the NFL's elite corners.
11. Terence Newman, CB, Cowboys. Newman is an explosive athlete who shows great speed and agility. He can be overaggressive in coverage but has the makeup speed to get back in position. He has learned to play with greater maturity and better technique. He also has become more of a playmaker, with eight interceptions and 144 tackles over the past two seasons. His improved coverage skills are the reason Anthony Henry sees so many balls come his way.
12. Asante Samuel, CB, Philadelphia Eagles. Unlike the players ahead of him on this list, Samuel doesn't possess elite physical skills, but he is a smart, instinctive player who always puts himself in position to make plays on the ball. He has sufficient range and rarely makes mistakes in coverage. Samuel is also a great open-field tackler and a strong corner in run support. With the pressure the Eagles put on the QB, look for Samuel to get his hands on a lot more passes this season.
13. Brian Dawkins, S, Philadelphia Eagles. Smart and instinctive, Dawkins does it all, even at an advanced age. He tracks the ball well in coverage, has good range and makes plays on the ball. He is an aggressive, physical tackler against the run. He has the speed and savvy to attack the line as a blitzer in Philadelphia's zone-pressure schemes. The addition of Samuel will take some heat off Dawkins' coverage responsibilities in '08.
14. Al Harris, CB, Green Bay Packers. Although mileage is beginning to become a concern, Harris is an experienced DB who benefits from having Charles Woodson on the opposite side. Harris excels in press coverage, is a physical tackler and works well in short areas. He struggles when asked to run with top wideouts for too long, but that weakness is hidden by the Pack's improved pass rush and the overall play of the front seven. This is likely Harris' last season on this list.
15. Dre' Bly, CB, Denver Broncos. Bly is a top cover corner with great speed and coverage skills. Because of Bailey's presence on the opposite side of the defense, quarterbacks are more likely to attack Bly, which gives him good chances to make plays on the ball. Bly has top-end speed and the ability to turn and run with receivers. He can also close quickly on the ball and the receiver. He is an ideal man-to-man cover corner and shows a great set of hands when making plays on the ball.
16. Charles Woodson, CB, Green Bay Packers. Another aging corner who possesses an outstanding combination of size, speed and athleticism. He is physical at the line of scrimmage, has the height to compete for balls in the air, and is playing with an improved attitude in Green Bay. Woodson and Harris give the Pack one of the league's best corner duos.
17. Marcus Trufant, CB, Seattle Seahawks. Trufant had a great season in '07. He's a big corner who can shut down top receivers with his ability to cover deep and close quickly on the ball on shorter routes. He has good hands and is a dangerous runner after the catch. He has improved every year and continues to work his way toward being an elite corner. Once again, he will helped by the Seahawks' prolific pass rush.
18. Leigh Bodden, CB, Detroit Lions. Bodden has the coverage skills and physical tools (6-1, 195 pounds) to be a top corner. He began to tap into that potential in '07, when he ranked in the top five in the NFL in interceptions and passes defensed. Bodden can be beat deep, but he counters with a strong jam at the line and good instincts that always seem to put him in position to make plays on the ball. A good run defender and a physical tackler, Bodden will excel in the Lions' cover-2 scheme.
19. Roy Williams, S, Dallas Cowboys. Williams is a big, physical safety who is at his best playing close to the line of scrimmage. Although he's a big-time tackler and playmaker who can separate ballcarriers from the ball, he has always struggled in coverage, and teams are learning to exploit that weakness. Dallas has the depth in the secondary to use multiple personnel groupings to try to hide Williams' deficiencies. But the fact remains, he has become a nearly one-dimensional player, which is why he is so low on this list.
20. Nnamdi Asomugha, CB, Oakland Raiders. Most fans have already heard about how fast Asomugha is, but few people realize just how big he is until they see him in person. He has a 6-2, 210 frame. As a result, he is not super-athletic and is best in bump-and-run coverage. He still is improving his route recognition skills and technique, but nine interceptions over the past two seasons point toward his becoming a top cover man.
21. Dunta Robinson, CB, Houston Texans. Robinson is a matchup corner who can line up across from any receiver in the NFL and run with him. He has great athleticism and is a natural playmaker, but he needs to stay healthy. He will likely still be feeling the effects of ACL and hamstring injuries suffered last year come Week 1, but even with a shortened season he can have an impact.
22. Donte Whitner, S, Buffalo Bills. Whitner is an instinctive playmaker who can make plays in traffic or in the open field. This rising young player will be helped even more in '08 with the return of Ko Simpson, another young safety, and the addition of rookie cover corner Leodis McKelvin.
23. Kerry Rhodes, S, New York Jets. A consistent playmaker, Rhodes has already been to a Pro Bowl. He has great range in the secondary and does a good job tracking balls in zone coverage -- he has nine interceptions over the past two seasons. Rhodes has also become an effective blitzer and is comfortable playing near the line of scrimmage.
24. Adam Jones, CB, Dallas Cowboys. Jones is both physical and athletic, and he plays bigger than his size. He can run with anyone and make big plays on the ball, and he is a threat to score from anywhere on the field. The issue, of course, is that his body of NFL work is limited, as is his ability to make good decisions off the field. If his head is on straight, Jones has the skills to be one of the NFL's very best.
25. Ken Hamlin, S, Cowboys. Hamlin ranked in the top 10 in the league in passes defensed last season, and was fourth among safeties with five interceptions. He has great range and can track down a lot of balls while playing in center field. Hamlin is at his best jumping routes in zone coverage, but he can also match up with both tight ends and slot wide receivers. He provides a strong complement to Roy Williams and is the player who may best be able to keep Williams on the field.
Maybe next year?
The top breakout candidates to crack the top 25 for '09:
Darrelle Revis, CB, New York Jets, and O.J. Atogwe, S, St. Louis Rams. The future is bright for the Jets at corner. Revis started every game as a rookie last season and showed some playmaking flair with three interceptions and a forced fumble. He displays good technique, size, instincts and toughness and will continue to excel in the Jets' zone coverage schemes.
Atogwe is another young player with smarts and good instincts. He plays deep coverage in the Rams' scheme and has benefitted from the pressure fronts they play. He has improved greatly on his read-and-react skills and began showing a great break on the ball last season. He ranked second in the NFL with eight interceptions and tied for eighth in the league with 20 passes defensed. Experience will just make him better.
http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=437105
Cowboys land 4 DBs in top 25 ....
Ranking the top 25 NFL defensive backs
July 22, 2008
War Room scouts
The best cornerbacks in the NFL often don't get their names called, because quarterbacks are always throwing away from their direction. The best safeties, however, like to get to familiar with as many ballhandlers as possible, often driving right in their direction.
Whether it's in coverage or run support, it's important for the modern NFL defensive back to get physical with the opposition. Here are 25 who deliver for their teams in that way:
1. Champ Bailey, CB, Denver Broncos. A high-character team leader who is generally accepted as the best cover corner in the game. Bailey has the skills to hold up to any style of play, and the Broncos are never afraid to single him up on the opponent's best receiver. He is a solid tackler and willing player in run support, and he has the recognition skills to decipher plays quickly and make plays on the ball.
2. Bob Sanders, S, Indianapolis Colts. A fast, aggressive player who plays bigger than his size and has emerged as one of the game's hardest-hitting safeties. Although he is at his best playing down in the box to defend the run, he also is a physical presence for receivers across the middle and can take them out of the game, both mentally and physically. His lack of ideal size and his intensity on the field has led to several injuries, and he has yet to play a full 16-game slate in his career. But his skills and playmaking ability make Sanders--when healthy--the best safety in the game.
3. Troy Polamalu, S, Pittsburgh Steelers. A terrific strong safety who plays with great hustle. He excels in pursuit and never gives up on plays. He has great range and can quickly get to any spot on the field from his pre-snap location. Polamalu's speed makes him a great blitzer, and his physical style makes him a punishing tackler, both as a run defender and across the middle of the field against the pass. He gambles often and sometimes gets caught out of position, and injuries have limited him the past two seasons, but he is still a game-changing player.
4. Nate Clements, CB, San Francisco 49ers. An aggressive corner who is physical and excels in man coverage. He can smother receivers at the line of scrimmage and knock them off routes, and he still has the speed to turn and run with any receiver to make up for mistakes caused by his aggressive style. He has tremendous ball skills, change-of-direction ability and closing speed. Clemens shuts down an entire side of the field in the 49ers' secondary.
5. Antonio Cromartie, CB, San Diego Chargers. Cromartie led the NFL in interceptions (10) and passes defensed (28) while starting only eight games in 2007 and earned Pro Bowl honors as a result. He's a smart, explosive player with the speed to make plays on the ball and then take it to the house from anywhere on the field. We need to see him do it again this year, but based on the raw skills he has already displayed, Cromartie is clearly already among the game's top defensive playmakers.
6. Ed Reed, S, Baltimore Ravens. Reed had a down year in '06 but bounced back with seven interceptions and 20 passes defensed in '07, ranking in the top ten in the NFL in both categories. He has great size and physical tools, and his speed and instincts allow him to cover plenty of ground and make plays on the ball. Reed tends to gamble and get out of position, but he still has the recovery and ball skills to make plays even when you think he can't. A big-time playmaker, he can dominate a game from the deep safety spot.
7. Rashean Mathis, CB, Jacksonville Jaguars. At 6-1, 200 pounds, Mathis is a big, physical corner who is also blessed with great speed and strength. He's an excellent press corner and plays aggressively against the run. Opponents threw away from him last year after he posted a career-high eight interceptions in 2006, but he is one of the NFL's best shutdown corners and is still improving.
8. Chris McAlister, CB, Baltimore Ravens. His size, strength and agility make him a rare talent. He is a physical player who can shut down one side of the field and is comfortable going one-on-one with the league's best receivers. He can also take risks in coverage thanks to the pressure applied by the Ravens' front seven.
9. Antoine Winfield, CB, Minnesota Vikings. Although the Vikes were terrible against the pass last season, it didn't have a whole lot to do with Winfield. Teams tended to throw away from him given his aggressive style of coverage. He's one of the best tackling corners in the game, and is a top run support corner. Winfield is tough with his jam; some receivers never even get into their routes against him. He occasionally gets beat deep, but the rest of his work earns him a spot high on this list.
10. DeAngelo Hall, CB, Raiders. Hall's athleticism is what jumps out when you watch him play. He displays great speed, quickness, change-of-direction skills and leaping ability. He also goes after the ball aggressively. He's not a top corner technique-wise, but he has the speed to turn and run with anyone in the NFL. His confidence and swagger will instantly make the Raiders' defense better, and the change of scenery may be what Hall needs to put a tough couple years with the Falcons behind him and reclaim his spot among the NFL's elite corners.
11. Terence Newman, CB, Cowboys. Newman is an explosive athlete who shows great speed and agility. He can be overaggressive in coverage but has the makeup speed to get back in position. He has learned to play with greater maturity and better technique. He also has become more of a playmaker, with eight interceptions and 144 tackles over the past two seasons. His improved coverage skills are the reason Anthony Henry sees so many balls come his way.
12. Asante Samuel, CB, Philadelphia Eagles. Unlike the players ahead of him on this list, Samuel doesn't possess elite physical skills, but he is a smart, instinctive player who always puts himself in position to make plays on the ball. He has sufficient range and rarely makes mistakes in coverage. Samuel is also a great open-field tackler and a strong corner in run support. With the pressure the Eagles put on the QB, look for Samuel to get his hands on a lot more passes this season.
13. Brian Dawkins, S, Philadelphia Eagles. Smart and instinctive, Dawkins does it all, even at an advanced age. He tracks the ball well in coverage, has good range and makes plays on the ball. He is an aggressive, physical tackler against the run. He has the speed and savvy to attack the line as a blitzer in Philadelphia's zone-pressure schemes. The addition of Samuel will take some heat off Dawkins' coverage responsibilities in '08.
14. Al Harris, CB, Green Bay Packers. Although mileage is beginning to become a concern, Harris is an experienced DB who benefits from having Charles Woodson on the opposite side. Harris excels in press coverage, is a physical tackler and works well in short areas. He struggles when asked to run with top wideouts for too long, but that weakness is hidden by the Pack's improved pass rush and the overall play of the front seven. This is likely Harris' last season on this list.
15. Dre' Bly, CB, Denver Broncos. Bly is a top cover corner with great speed and coverage skills. Because of Bailey's presence on the opposite side of the defense, quarterbacks are more likely to attack Bly, which gives him good chances to make plays on the ball. Bly has top-end speed and the ability to turn and run with receivers. He can also close quickly on the ball and the receiver. He is an ideal man-to-man cover corner and shows a great set of hands when making plays on the ball.
16. Charles Woodson, CB, Green Bay Packers. Another aging corner who possesses an outstanding combination of size, speed and athleticism. He is physical at the line of scrimmage, has the height to compete for balls in the air, and is playing with an improved attitude in Green Bay. Woodson and Harris give the Pack one of the league's best corner duos.
17. Marcus Trufant, CB, Seattle Seahawks. Trufant had a great season in '07. He's a big corner who can shut down top receivers with his ability to cover deep and close quickly on the ball on shorter routes. He has good hands and is a dangerous runner after the catch. He has improved every year and continues to work his way toward being an elite corner. Once again, he will helped by the Seahawks' prolific pass rush.
18. Leigh Bodden, CB, Detroit Lions. Bodden has the coverage skills and physical tools (6-1, 195 pounds) to be a top corner. He began to tap into that potential in '07, when he ranked in the top five in the NFL in interceptions and passes defensed. Bodden can be beat deep, but he counters with a strong jam at the line and good instincts that always seem to put him in position to make plays on the ball. A good run defender and a physical tackler, Bodden will excel in the Lions' cover-2 scheme.
19. Roy Williams, S, Dallas Cowboys. Williams is a big, physical safety who is at his best playing close to the line of scrimmage. Although he's a big-time tackler and playmaker who can separate ballcarriers from the ball, he has always struggled in coverage, and teams are learning to exploit that weakness. Dallas has the depth in the secondary to use multiple personnel groupings to try to hide Williams' deficiencies. But the fact remains, he has become a nearly one-dimensional player, which is why he is so low on this list.
20. Nnamdi Asomugha, CB, Oakland Raiders. Most fans have already heard about how fast Asomugha is, but few people realize just how big he is until they see him in person. He has a 6-2, 210 frame. As a result, he is not super-athletic and is best in bump-and-run coverage. He still is improving his route recognition skills and technique, but nine interceptions over the past two seasons point toward his becoming a top cover man.
21. Dunta Robinson, CB, Houston Texans. Robinson is a matchup corner who can line up across from any receiver in the NFL and run with him. He has great athleticism and is a natural playmaker, but he needs to stay healthy. He will likely still be feeling the effects of ACL and hamstring injuries suffered last year come Week 1, but even with a shortened season he can have an impact.
22. Donte Whitner, S, Buffalo Bills. Whitner is an instinctive playmaker who can make plays in traffic or in the open field. This rising young player will be helped even more in '08 with the return of Ko Simpson, another young safety, and the addition of rookie cover corner Leodis McKelvin.
23. Kerry Rhodes, S, New York Jets. A consistent playmaker, Rhodes has already been to a Pro Bowl. He has great range in the secondary and does a good job tracking balls in zone coverage -- he has nine interceptions over the past two seasons. Rhodes has also become an effective blitzer and is comfortable playing near the line of scrimmage.
24. Adam Jones, CB, Dallas Cowboys. Jones is both physical and athletic, and he plays bigger than his size. He can run with anyone and make big plays on the ball, and he is a threat to score from anywhere on the field. The issue, of course, is that his body of NFL work is limited, as is his ability to make good decisions off the field. If his head is on straight, Jones has the skills to be one of the NFL's very best.
25. Ken Hamlin, S, Cowboys. Hamlin ranked in the top 10 in the league in passes defensed last season, and was fourth among safeties with five interceptions. He has great range and can track down a lot of balls while playing in center field. Hamlin is at his best jumping routes in zone coverage, but he can also match up with both tight ends and slot wide receivers. He provides a strong complement to Roy Williams and is the player who may best be able to keep Williams on the field.
Maybe next year?
The top breakout candidates to crack the top 25 for '09:
Darrelle Revis, CB, New York Jets, and O.J. Atogwe, S, St. Louis Rams. The future is bright for the Jets at corner. Revis started every game as a rookie last season and showed some playmaking flair with three interceptions and a forced fumble. He displays good technique, size, instincts and toughness and will continue to excel in the Jets' zone coverage schemes.
Atogwe is another young player with smarts and good instincts. He plays deep coverage in the Rams' scheme and has benefitted from the pressure fronts they play. He has improved greatly on his read-and-react skills and began showing a great break on the ball last season. He ranked second in the NFL with eight interceptions and tied for eighth in the league with 20 passes defensed. Experience will just make him better.
http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=437105