Hey folks, a few asked where they could find the comparison chart I created when touting Eli Apple back in January. For those that want to see the real numbers, not what shows up in a typical stats sheet, go to this link here.
NOTE the targets vs. passes caught, especially vs. Hargreave & Jackson. Then, in a real sign of lack of cahones, look at those two's meager play vs. the running game. When the chart was done, Ramsey was still be considered a corner, even though we did cite that we regarded him as a safety;
THE NFL DRAFT REPORT’S CLOSE EXAMINATION OF THE 2016 NFL DRAFT CORNERBACK ELITE TALENT
Every year, fans become enamored with that great college “pass thief,” the guy who comes up with that big play that has the stands rocking. All too often, those defensive backs have holes in their game that does not get exposed until they are under the watchful eyes of the astute NFL fans. At The NFL Draft Report, we stress production over potential when evaluating talent. We feel that if the athlete can not develop in four years in college, there is doubt that the “porch light” will suddenly come on when they reach the pro ranks.
In this report, I closely break down and examine every statistical aspect that goes into making a quality cornerback. While most teams seem to feel that Florida State’s Jalen Ramsey might be a better fit at free safety, the Seminole is included in this report, along with Clemson’s Mackensie Alexander, Ohio State’s Eli Apple, Florida’s Vernon Hargreaves III and Houston’s William Jackson III – all considered valid candidates to be drafted in the first round. The link to this article could be found here;
http://nfldraftreport.sportsblog.com/posts/14394009/the-nfl-draft-report-s--by-the-numbers--series---before-an-nfl-general-manager-drafts-a-cornerback-in-the-first-round--they-might-want-to-check-out-these-numbers.html
The NFL Draft Report's Stating Their Case - Eli Apple vs. the Top Cornerbacks in this Draft Class - By the Numbers - (
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Most impressive thing about that entire article?
Apple allowed only 4 1st downs last year
I don't know how accurate that is and if it includes 1st downs via PI, but that's a hell of a stat even on an absolutely loaded team. Hargreaves gave up 19 in comparison.
The more you read about him, the more there is to like about Apple. A little raw technique wise it seems with his overly physical style which could lead to penalties against NFL caliber WRs + not the best ball skill; but those are areas where experience can help.
Even if you think Hargreaves was the better choice, I think it's fairly obvious that Apple has more potential to become a #1 shutdown CB.
Great job Dave. Appreciate your input. I was pretty skeptical about the pick until I saw your write up and Sy'56. You both rated Apple extremely high.