At 5'8" and 168 pounds, Nickell Robey isn't the biggest cornerback prospect in the 2013 NFL draft. However, what Robey lacks in size he makes up in playmaking abilities, emotion and physicality.
The former USC cornerback didn't have as statistically sounds of a junior season as many expected, but he still managed to display his unique skills to NFL teams. Let's break down what makes Robey such an intriguing prospect heading into the draft.
Robey is one of the draft's premier athletes. Even though he ran a 4.53 40-yard dash at the NFL combine, Robey has the speed to keep up with quicker receivers.
He's extremely light on his feet, is fluid throughout his hips and can easily turn and run with receivers. Robey also displays excellent balance and quickness.
His playmaking skills are also evident when you watch Robey on the field. He possesses above-average hands (seven interceptions in three years) and the ability to make plays after the catch.
One look at Robey's smaller frame and you'll see his biggest weakness. He's always going to have trouble matching up with bigger receivers in the NFL due to his short stature.
Robey will also rely on this athleticism too often. This causes him to be out of position in both the run and pass game. There are times when he'll look to make a big hit only to completely overrun the ball-carrier.
Robey is surprisingly physical for a player his size and he isn't afraid of contact. His 4.53 40-yard dash and 4.09 short shuttle times aren't overly impressive for such an athletic player.
Robey started all 37 games of his career for one of the premier programs in the country. He was a verbal leader for USC, a reliable starter and emotionally invested in the game of football.
Robey has experience playing both man and zone coverage during his college career. His size, as long as it's used correctly, won't hinder him playing in either system.
One of Robey's strongest abilities is playing the ball. He is able to adjust to throws while the ball is in the air.
Robey does a good job at turning his head and getting his feet under him. His leaping ability allows him to be a factor in jump balls.
Due to Robey's surprising physicality, he is actually quite effective against the run. He consistently wraps up running backs and makes the tackles.
Robey's size is the biggest factor when playing man coverage. While he has fluid hips and the ability to turn and run with receivers, bigger wideouts are simply too much for Robey to handle.
Robey has a good understanding of zone coverage. He does a good job at reading a quarterback's eyes and can jump underneath routes to make a play.
Despite his size, Robey is a rather physical cornerback. He consistently makes tackles in the open field against larger opponents.
He's got some pop to his hits, but this will sometimes get him into trouble as he'll overrun running backs and receivers. Other than that, Robey is fundamentally sound at tackling and wrapping up opponents.
Robey does a good job at keeping his body low when backpedaling. He rarely struggles with balance and consistently keeps his feet under him.
When Robey does get out of position, his athleticism has bailed him out. However, that won't fly in the NFL playing against top-flight receivers.
As the NFL becomes more of a passing league, teams are going to need reliable nickel/slotcornerbacks. That is an ideal position for a player lacking in size like Robey.
No comments:
Post a Comment