Wade;313009After watching the highlight videos:

1.
The pick sixes looked good.
But both times were horrible telegraphing by the QB.
2.
He needs tackling work.
He's not Deion Sanders bad, but he's about as good as most packer DBs have been in recent years.
Which isn't very good.
3.
He looks like a typical 2nd/3rd round DB.
Which, of course, is what the Packers were choosing from if they were going DB at #30.

You're drafting #30 and you can't trade down (I'm assuming).
It is what it is.

An "OK"pick.

I agree the tackling form is bad but with 106 tackles this last year he's clearly willing to stick is nose in and get dirty.
I'm more concerned when defensive backs don't want to go in and tackle.
Clean up his form and he could be productive in run support.

Putting together a play by play on Damarious Randall to verify my general evaluation posted here earlier and just evaluated back to back plays w/ Ty Montgomery.

3rd Q, 10:21. 2nd 11 at 31½ of ASU.
Stanford goes 3 WRs left w/ TY in middle of 3.
AZ’s lines up 2 CBs on the two outside WRs at 5 yards deep; DR is between other 2 CBs across from Ty 8 yards deep.
There is no safety help for this 3 on 3.
Ty steps back on a bubble screen, catching ball at 35.
2 WRs flanking Ty block down nicely on their CB counterparts.
Ty runs up field like he going outside of the 2 blocks and DR closes.
At the perfect moment when DR must commit whether he should go inside or outside of outside WR’s block, Ty fakes to the inside as if he’s going into the hole between the WRs and DR commits to that inside hole, but Ty cuts outside for a 9 yrd gain and is pushed OOB by outside CB, who came off his block.

Shifty instinctive RB-type running by TY.
DR picked the wrong hole, albeit because of Ty’s move; but given there was no help over top, DR was too aggressive.
He did recover nicely; it looked like he had an angle to stop Ty from going for a TD had the outside WR held his block a second longer.
DR does this repeatedly in the 4 games [Oregon, Notre Dame, USC] reviewed.
TT did not pick him to be a safety. This is what that scout saw a lot of that gave DR a 5th rnd grade.

3rd Q, 9:46. 3nd 2 at 22 of ASU.
Stanford in a 3x1 w/ Ty in slot right and DR covering man w/ no safety help.
At the snap DR comes up to jam Ty who fakes outside and releases inside and runs a post.
In perfect trail technique, DR covers Ty [within a foot] w/ back to QB.
At the 10, Ty breaks off post for a deep corner route and as soon as the cut is made, DR cuts w/ him like he’s Ty’s conjoined twin and immediately swivels his head to look at QB.
In perfect technique DR holds his left hand back to “feel” movement of WR he’s no longer looking at, in case Ty breaks off corner route.
This subtle left hand is what the real stud CBs use to control/slow a WR w/o being flagged [Can’t tell if DR is subtly controlling/pushing off].
As the conjoined twins come out of the break to the deep corner DR sees before TY the slightly underthrown ball.
DR becomes the receiver, he accelerates and flattens "his route" and ends up the first one to ball for an INT by a full yard.
But Ty, who turned DB, stuck his hand in to knock ball down and when he missed he instinctively grabbed DR’s right arm pulling it back causing the INT to be dropped.

Folks, Don’t believe that combine time, Ty is a mid 4.3 guy and DR covered him like an absolute glove w/ the perfect technique and athleticism of a HOF CB.
There’s not a lot of these plays, maybe 2-3 per game, because of ASU’s scheme and plays run by offenses.
But, this is what TT and Whitt are salivating over.


I watched every video of the CBs that I thought TT might/could draft early [Johnson, Williams, Rollins, Collins, Rowe, Darby, Jones, Carter and Mager].
IMHO, only Johnson approached DR’s outside CB skill.
Johnson got to hone his technique and skill play after play in game and practice.
For DR to play like this 2-3 plays a game is outstanding.
It’s a real toss-up; but I’m guessing TT gives up the inch and takes DR even if Johnson was on the board.
This is not about versatility; DR is not “a project;” his OCB skills are as unrefined as any late 1st rnd CB.
Moreover, he’s a team player; understands the safety position; possesses football acumen; and is coachable.
I predict DR is going to practice at OCB and by midseason in 4 WR sets, Hayward will move to slot w/ DR playing solidly outside [unless Goodson or Rollins is better].

From Ask Vic:

What is this new-breed defensive back position everyone is talking about?

They’re cornerback/safety hybrids. They can play both positions, and that gives defensive coordinators the security of knowing they won’t get trapped with the wrong personnel on the field.

---

Vic always knows how to express the things I am thinking!

I think some of you owe Mr. Thompson and Mr. Randall an apology.

Laser Gunns;310902Booooooooooo!

Why in the salted shit did we take this dud?

uffda udfa;312202This is a Ted Thompson special.
Panic that you aren't going to get a CB so you reach for a S to convert him.

Smokey;312215I became physically sick as a result of this pick. It turned my stomach.

In 2 years when this undersized fellow ends up on Buffalo's practice squad, then this wasted pick will be compared to the drafting of Tony Mandrich.

yooperfan;312220Disappointed!
Small for an NFL safety and a project at corner.
This is the best you can do in the 1st round?[cursing]

uffda udfa;312227 NOBODY will ever convince me he was the BPA, or even close to it unless they were planning on using him exclusively at safety.

It's real comforting to read the scout at JSO's take who said this guy was a FIFTH ROUND project.


Ted Thompson strikes again... trying to be the smartest guy in the room. 9th out of 11 1st round picks used on defense.
How long does this STELLAR drafter get to build a defense when it's been proven he can't?

Randall is a good lesson to people who want to shit all over a draft pick they know nothing about just because it's not a "name" they heard a lot before the draft.