NFL Draft 2019: Football Film Fight Volume I - Cornerbacks

Tis the Season

Christmas comes but once a year, but the NFL draft is a year round event.  With just the collegiate all star games remaining, it's as good a time as any to kick of the player evaluation process with a side by side comparison of the top prospects based on review of game footage.  

Let the Football Film Fight begin!

The rules are simple:  We line up the top prospects for a given position (with a possible wild card or two of my choice thrown into the mix) and randomly select a player.  We watch and evaluate his game based on no more than 3 video viewings.  We select another player at random and view 3 of his games.  One has to go.  The survivor takes on the next contestant in a head to head elimination round and so on until we end up with the Battle Royale winner!

This first FFF will be between the top cornerback prospects according to Drafttek Sports Information who list the CBs in their top 200 prospects as so:

1. Greedy Williams, LSU 6'1" 182 lbs (2.49 lbs/in in terms of simple mass)
2. Byron Murphy, Washington 5'11" 182 lbs (2.56 lbs/in)
3. Kris Boyd, Texas 6'0" 195 (2.71 lbs/in)
4. DeAndre Baker, Georgia 5'10" 185 lbs (2.64 lbs/in)
5. Trayvon Mullen, Clemson 6'2" 190 lbs (2.57 lbs/in)
6. Amani Oruwariye, Penn State 6'0" 209 lbs (2.90 lbs/in)
7. Kristian Fulton, LSU 6'0" 192 lbs (2.67 lbs/in)
8. Michael Jackson, Miami 6'0" 200 lbs (2.78 lbs/in)
9. Julian Love, Notre Dame 5'11" 193 lbs (2.72 lbs/in)
10. Mark Gilbert, Duke 6'1" 175 lbs (2.40 lbs/in)
11. Rock Ya-Sin, Temple 6'2" 190 lbs (2.58 lbs/in)
12. Myles Bryant, Washington 5'8" 180 lbs (2.65 lbs/in)
13. Iman Marshall, USC 6'0" 200 lbs (2.78 lbs/in)
14. Alijah Holder, Stanford 6'2" 174 lbs (2.35 lbs/in)
15. Sean Bunting, Central Michigan 6'1' 181 lbs (2.50 lbs/in)
16. Derrick Baity, Kentucky 6'2" 186 lbs (2.51 lbs/in)

Round One -  #5 Mullen vs. #12 Bryant

Mullen vs NC State 2017, Duke 2018 and Boston College 2018 - Got fooled on a trick play vs NCSU but did not bite on a similar look later so that was an impressive in game adjustment.  Could be more physical in run support.  Plays tight coverage but would like to see more PBUs when targeted. 

Bryant vs Auburn 2018, Penn State 2017 and Ohio State 2018-  Nickel but run support like a safety.  Definitely not shy of contact although he'll want to focus on open field tackling technique.  Very well prepped for Auburn; film rat?  Huge mistake in Fiesta Bowl, reaching for a bump in off coverage, couldn't recover.

Decision:  Bryant - Not sure anyone will give him a shot outside of the nickel, but his instincts for run support are superior and he clearly is very well prepared.  Once Mullen can convert his knack for tight coverage into PBUs, he will reach his full potential, which is very high.

Round Two - #12 Bryant vs. #16 Baity

Baity vs. Northwestern 2017, Missouri 2017 and Florida 2018 - What he lacks in physicality in run support he makes up in physicality in pass coverage. Dude can lay the lumber. 

Decision: Bryant -  Baity can make you pay when they throw at him but Bryant gets the edge for consistency.

Round Three - #12 Bryant vs. #14 Holder

Holder vs. Oregon 2018, Notre Dame 2018 and Utah 2018 - Engages blocks but needs to shed a bit quicker.  Willing to support run.  Can sometimes provide a bit too much cushion. 

Decision: Bryant - While both seemed well prepared in every game, the difference was aggressiveness attacking a target and overall efficacy.

[Have to admit, I'm surprised Bryant made it this far but he's only been underdog once.]

Round Four - #12 Bryant vs. #3 Boyd

Boyd vs West Virginia 2018, Iowa State 2018 and USC 2018 - Lot of contact downfield that would be called at the next level. Appears more quick than fast.  Will need to study routes to improve recognition. Solid technique. 

Decision: Boyd - Definitely will have to work on reducing the contact, he is aggressive and plays tight coverage showing solid break up fundamentals.

Round Five - #3 Boyd vs. #4 Baker

Baker vs. Oklahoma 2018, Missouri 2017, South Carolina 2018 - Fast, fast, fast. Seems like he can get lost occasionally.  Struggled a bit vs. Mizzou's big WRs. Hair on fire vs. SCAR; got a little chippy to the detriment of the team so needs to watch emotion.

Decision: Baker - Better coverage man without being grabby.  Has much better make up speed and is also not shy about contact.  His improvement over the period is astounding. 

Round Six - #4 Baker vs. #9 Love

Love vs. NC State 2017, Michigan 2018 and Vanderbilt 2018 - Gets lost sometimes.  Willing to play hardnosed defense and support the run.  Lost on a good hard pivot point.

Decision: Baker - Better all around athlete, tighter in coverage and higher field awareness.

Round Seven - #4 Baker vs. #10 Gilbert

Gilbert vs. Virginia Tech 2017, Baylor 2017 and Sophomore compilation - Very tight coverage he's like a mirror.  Didn't see a lot of opportunity for run support but aggressive defender.  Very grabby at the end of routes.

Decision:  Baker -  Gilbert suffered a hip injury early in the 2018 season so it is unclear if he will declare. Either way, he will have to work on eliminate holding from his closing technique or he will be an NFL penalty machine.

Round Eight - #4 Baker vs. #2 Murphy

Murphy vs. Penn State 2017, Arizona State 2018 and Utah 2018 (Pac 12 Championship) -  Plays a lot of off coverage and seems to disappear.  Had a couple of INTs.  Struggled vs. larger receivers.

Decison: Baker - Murphy will provide run support when he can but comparatively, Baker has had more impact on the field for his team over the season.

Round Nine - #4 Baker vs. #11 Ya-Sin

Ya-Sin vs. Buffalo 2018, Maryland 2018 and UCF 2018 -  Plays well tight or off. Solid run support.  Fast and strong.

Decision: Baker - Ya-Sin is very impressive and will be a nice pick up for someone, everything he does well, Baker does even better.

Round Ten - #4 Baker vs.  #1 Williams

Williams vs. Alabama 2017, Texas A&M 2018, Georgia 2018 - Plays tight, but very, very grabby downfield.  Will need to work on run support.  Some incredible closing speed. 

Decision: Baker - Williams is amazing but the "grabbiness" may impact his efficacy at the next level.

Round Eleven - # Baker vs. #6 Oruwariye 

Oruwariye vs. Michigan State 2017, Iowa 2018 and Pittsburgh 2018 - Tremendous improvement in coverage, anticipation and open field tackling year over year. Can work to fight through blocks.  Patient through double moves.  Laid the lumber a couple of times.

Decision: Baker - Oruwariye improved his standing with a strong 2018 and based on the games viewed, should improve his final ranking here.  Baker just too strong.  

Round Twelve - #4 Baker vs. #7 Fulton

Fulton vs. Alabama 2018, Georgia 2018 and Texas A&M 2018- Showed solid cover skills. Run support should be more consistent with NFL coaching. 

Decision:  Baker - On the field, Fulton should have no problem living up to his potential with next level coaching but there are other concerns that may keep him off he field making him a risky pick.

Round Thirteen - #4 Baker vs. #8 Jackson

Jackson vs. Wisconsin 2017, Florida State 2018 and LSU 2018 - Definitely improved the most over the viewing period.  Will need to improved disengagement techniques with pro level WR blocking.  Can get turned around at times.

Decision: Baker - If Jackson's learning curve continues as it has from the 2017 bowl game vs Wisconsin to his 2018 footage, he can be one of the best, however today, it's Baker.

Round Fourteen - #4 Baker vs. #15 Bunting

Bunting vs. Akron 2018, Buffalo 2018 and Kentucky 2018 -  He is aggressive and can cover.  Adding bulk/strength should help him get off blocks. No fear.  Didn't see a lot of grabbing on deep routes.

Decision: Baker - Bunting is definitely a sleeper pick but will be interesting to see his weigh in for the draft process as tends to get out muscled.

Final Round -#4 Baker vs. #13 Marshall

Marshall vs.  Stamford 2017, Washington State 2017 and Texas 2018  - Not a lot of USC 2018 footage readily available. The best of the bunch in terms of run stopping.  No fear.  Not very grabby downfield.  Quick to adjust to routes and fast to close.  

Decision: Baker - Will do a deeper dive but hard to evaluate Marshall's growth from just 1 2018 game in the bunch,  Good  but Baker just stands a cut above. 

Football Film Fight Cornerback Champion 

De'Andre Baker, Georgia

From the game footage I watched, Baker was just a cut above.  He played SCAR game at a different speed than everyone else.  Looking forward to his pre-draft process.  

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It's That Time of Year!!!

The 3rd Annual People's Top 100 survey is our right now!  It's 100% free and 97.3% fun!  

Just leave a comment or shoot me an email to  boombearfootballmail@gmail.com for an email link to the online Excel worksheet form with dropdown lists for ease of use!   Check out last year's 2nd Annual Top 100 list here!

No pressure, just have fun.