Sports Buzz: Dolphins studying cornerbacks at No. 13

[cuchulainn]

http://miamiherald.typepad.com/sports-buzz/2016/03/saturday-six-pack-richt-addresses-concern-um-cornerback-update-dolphins-draft-gase-on-de-lebrons-hea.html

No surprises here...

• The Dolphins are carefully studying several potential cornerbacks in the mix at No. 13, including UF’s Vernon Hargreaves, Ohio State’s Eli Apple and Clemson’s Mackensie Alexander.
But we’ve found a wide range of opinion about those three, especially the last two. One example: While Todd McShay has Hargreaves going ninth, he has Apple lasting all the way to the 25th pick and Alexander not going until the 38th pick.
By contrast, draftnik Tony Pauline said Apple and Alexander are both worthy of consideration at No. 13.
So there are definitely mixed opinions.
By the way, McShay has Houston cornerback William Jackson as the fourth cornerback off the board, going 28th --- behind FSU safety/corner Jalen Ramsey (third), Hargreaves and Apple.
• Adam Gase expects defensive end to be one of the most competitive positions in training camp, with Mario Williams, Cam Wake and Andre Branch assured of jobs and Chris McCain, Damontre Moore, Terrence Fede, CFL project Cleyon Laing and maybe Dion Jordan and others competing for roster spots. You would think Jordan would stick if he’s reinstated, but he has to prove himself.
“I keep looking at it and saying, man, ‘A good player is probably going to get cut somewhere,’" Gase said. "We have some good depth. I’m excited to see how this thing plays out. If we are healthy coming out of camp, that front is going to be tough.”

[FTLDOLFAN]

I have seen some mock drafts lately that have the Raiders at #14 taking Eli Apple. So if we took him at #13 I don't think that would be much of a reach.

[cuchulainn]

Yeah, I still like Alexander better. I do feel better about Apple than William Jackson, but I have an admitted bias against players from small schools who faced no top tier opponents.

[FTLDOLFAN]

Yeah, I still like Alexander better. I do feel better about Apple than William Jackson, but I have an admitted bias against players from small schools who faced no top tier opponents.

I just have a feeling that Apple is going to be an elite corner and he might be this years Marcus Peters. I think he compares favorably to him in his ability.

[cuchulainn]

Let's hope you're a CB Oracle then. lol... I hope whoever we take is a rookie stud.

Apple favors Peters in what way, other than size?

[AquaXI]

I like Mcshay more than his partner, he seems more accurate. So if Apple Nd Alexander he feels goes 25/38 than I'm happy grabbing either of them at 13. Why? Cause they won't last till we pick in the 2nd so as we did with Jawaun James, go for it.

[cuchulainn]

Yeah, Hickey misplayed it... then in the 3rd, the trade up for Billy Turner, at OT, and passing on Trai Turner an, OG, really blowed.

I'll be fine with either Alexander or Apple. Just have to trust Joseph's input on who we take.

[AquaXI]

It also sounds like Guard in the 2nd from reading into it. That Gase is saying pass rushers are deep on our team. Again nothing is set in stone as many surprises in the top Ten await and we can pounce like we did last year never believing Parker would drop to us.

[cuchulainn]

From PFF... https://www.profootballfocus.com/blo...back-workouts/

Eli Apple also helped himself, now he just has to find the ball

With a 40 time at 4.40 at 6-1, Apple also showed the size and speed that the NFL is looking for in their press man corners. He may be the best in the class from a press standpoint, playing sticky coverage but still surrendering catches as he doesn’t always find the ball in the air and has proven susceptible to back-shoulder throws. While it may be anecdotal, this is the same issue that Buffalo Bills rookie CB Ronald Darby had coming out of Florida State last year, and he went on to improve in this area on his way to PFF Defensive Rookie of the Year honors. The inability to find the ball, along with shoddy open-field tackling, was a big reason Apple posted only the 24^th-best coverage grades in the draft class, though he may excel if given an opportunity to play pure press man coverage in the right system.

[cuchulainn]

It also sounds like Guard in the 2nd from reading into it. That Gase is saying pass rushers are deep on our team. Again nothing is set in stone as many surprises in the top Ten await and we can pounce like we did last year never believing Parker would drop to us.

We've stocked up on DEs in FA and already addressed CB1 and LB as well. If we can find another boundary CB, then going OG in the 2nd would be ideal. That leaves us wide open the rest of the draft for all positions...

[FTLDOLFAN]

Hickey did make a mistake in the 2014 draft when in the 3rd round he traded up with the Raiders for Billy Turner when he should have just stayed put and drafted OG Gabe Jackson who the Raiders took with the pick they got from us by trading down. Jackson has been a solid OG for them while Turner has struggled.

[AquaXI]

Hickey loves small school gems. His M.O. Thus he has not found work as of yet.

[cuchulainn]

Hickey did make a mistake in the 2014 draft when in the 3rd round he traded up with the Raiders for Billy Turner when he should have just stayed put and drafted OG Gabe Jackson who the Raiders took with the pick they got from us by trading down. Jackson has been a solid OG for them while Turner has struggled.

Yes... that 3rd round was a major fk up... If we had stayed where we were, we could have taken Trai Turner, who made the All Rookie team in 2014, then the Pro-bowl this year. /sighs

Turner had turf toe and ankle problems his rookie season, then Philbin moved him from LT/LG to RG and threw him into the fire last year after Douglas struggled to badly first half of the season... of course Douglas was also a LT/LG... jeez, Philbin was a disaster with the OL.

Still, Turner allowed half the pressures and hits that Dallas Thomas did in the games they played together. Turner should be much improved. Douglas should be as well. With all the OL guys we have, we should be able to dump Dallas Thomas this summer and have a much better LG.

[ONole1]

Don't count out Jackson at #13. If they stay at #13 and draft a CB I think it would come down to Apple and Jackson. Although wouldn't be shocked to see them trade back either. I think the value in this draft is between 15 - 60 so if they could drop back and pick up another second I would be fine with that.

[cuchulainn]

Don't count out Jackson at #13. If they stay at #13 and draft a CB I think it would come down to Apple and Jackson. Although wouldn't be shocked to see them trade back either. I think the value in this draft is between 15 - 60 so if they could drop back and pick up another second I would be fine with that.

My concerns with Jackson are that he faced no quality competition and that he shot up from a day 2 pick to now a Top 15 projection after running a 4.37 40 at the combine.

He has all the size, length, and speed you want, but again, he's faced no one of quality and made his case dominating AAC burger flippers. It's one thing to be a big fish in a small pond, but now he's in the deep with the baraccuda's. Juco transfer, so I question why as there is usually something behind that - learning, off field issues, etc...

Just don't see him as a Top 20 prospect, but again, that's me.

[ONole1]

I don't really get into the "draft gurus" but just things I have heard, and especially from Gil Brandt. Several of them on the radio have said many people they talk to have him rated in the top half of the first round. I know he didn't face a lot of top competition but when he did he preformed well. Hell he shut whoever he faced down against FSU in the bowl game, didn't matter who they lined up against him.

I still think Apple would be the best pick for what Miami is wanting to do just saying don't count him out.

[cuchulainn]

I gotcha, Shane...

I'm never surprised by anything we do in the draft. I also won't be surprised if we drop down again. lol...

For our defense I'd take Apple over Jackson though, but if Jackson is the guy, I just hope he turns out to be worth it. He plays off man a lot, not really a ''press corner'' ala what Joseph talked about with Maxwell.

If press is what we want for Joseph's cover 2 defense, then a better value might be Xavien Howard in round 2, who is a very aggressive corner coming out of Baylor and almost identical in size and attributes to Maxwell.

[cuchulainn]

We're all talking about the bigger CBs and press coverage now under Joseph, but something to keep in mind is that the game is played by explosive athletes, regardless of size.

Looked up something Belichick said:

''I think corners are like receivers," says New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick. "If a corner can cover, he's got a lot of value to your team. If a receiver can get open and catch, he has a lot of value. They come in a lot of different shapes, sizes and styles. You're going to have your Adam Jones, Aaron Glenns, guys that don't have the height but are still good players. No matter how big he is, if he can cover - find something to do with him."

Both Adam Jones and Aaron Glenn are 5-9. Grimes is only 5-8. Pretty safe bet we're looking to be more physical, but the field is still wide open for Mackensie Alexander, Eli Apple, Xavien Howard, Kendall Fuller, etc...

If we do drop down again, we should still be able to nab one of those guys and more picks... I just don't want to pass up on the next Earl Thomas for a couple JAGS like Jared Odrick and Koa Misi... would rather have the premium talent... quality over quantity.