Detroit Lions Draft Needs: Specifications for Cornerback

I am going to attempt a different take on the Detroit Lions' draft needs.  Rather than naming who they should draft, I want to explore just what specifications are needed for each position. 

The inspiration for this was an article I had read in the Seattle Times regarding how the Seattle Seahawks are attempting to follow a winning draft formula.  The Seahawks are taking a page from the Green Bay Packers and their drafting methodology.

Height

With the numerous wide receivers in the 6'2" to 6'5" range, height is becoming more of a requirement for cornerbacks than speed.  How often have we seen quarterbacks throw high to their big receiver and see how futile the coverage attempt is by the 5'9" to 5'10" cornerback?

Calvin Johnson has a vertical leap of 43 inches.  A ball can be thrown to him nearly four feet above his head and he can go up and get it.  A cornerback, just for the sake of argument, at 5'10" with the same 43-inch vertical leap can only get to about three-and-a-half feet above his head.  And with Johnson's nearly 34-inch arm length, who do you think is going to win that battle most of the time?

So I would be looking for a CB at least six feet tall and with a good vertical leap.

Speed

The big wide receivers aren't just tall, they are fast too.  Sticking with Johnson, he runs a 4.32 40-yard dash.  A corner with any chance of keeping up with him for any amount of time is going to need to have at least 4.5 speed.

Strength

The five yards a cornerback is allowed to slow down the receiver is perhaps the most crucial part to disrupting a receiver's pattern.  He'll need to have the strength to push the receiver to the outside when he wants to go inside on a crossing pattern. 

It's important in a timed passing pattern, as the QB is expecting the receiver to be there when needed.  If he isn't, the play blows up and the QB needs to take just a bit longer to decide what to do.

Backpedal Agility

Most successful cornerbacks, playing off the receiver five to 10 yards, need to have a good backpedal technique.  This is very similar to hockey, where the defensemen are so fluid when watching the opponents bring the puck down the ice.

Another need is to have good transition from the backpedal to sprint for instances when the receiver turns into a post or speed pattern.  Corners that stumble or fall will get burned in a heartbeat if they don't have that transition down pat.

Hands

A corner has to have decent hands.  He makes his living on disrupting passes and gets even more recognition on interceptions.  Naturally, if he had really great hands, most coaches would want him to play on the offensive side of the ball.  But his first and foremost responsibility is to stop the play by forcing an incompletion. Interceptions are just a bonus.

So by listing what I think are the most important attributes of a cornerback, and considering who is available to draft, here are the best five corners for the Lions to consider.

Patrick Petersen, LSU

At 6'1" and 212 pounds, Peterson has the size and strength to stay with just about any receiver.  With 4.4 speed and a vertical leap of about 40 inches, the battle for jump balls will be about even.  However, unless the Lions are able to trade up to the top five, there is little chance for him to be there at 13.

Prince Amukamara, Nebraska

Another 6'1" cornerback.  At 200 pounds, he may need to add 10 or 12 pounds as to not get run over.  His speed at 4.49 is OK, but his technique makes up for that.  The Lions may have a shot at him but he could go in the top 10.

Jimmy Smith, Colorado

Most likely the player the Lions will draft if they are going for secondary help.  Smith is 6'2" tall and weighs 205 pounds.  His speed is solid at 4.52 and his instincts and technique are above average.  He wasn't thrown at too much in 2009, but he still was able to break up seven passes.

Ras-I Dowling, Virgina

He was one of the top-rated cornerbacks last year.  He chose to stay for his senior year and had somewhat of a disappointing season.  But he fits the specifications at 6'2" and 200 pounds.  A bit slow at 4.52, he managed 58 tackles and eight passes broken up in 2008.  If the Lions choose to go another route with their first pick, Dowling is most likely available in the second or third rounds.

Brandon Burton, Utah

A great finesse player, he has very good low backpedal technique and very clean footwork.  He has a good feel for the game as well.  He has the height at 6'1", but at 187 pounds I'd be concerned he wouldn't have the strength to misdirect receivers when he had to.  Finesse players tend to play off the receivers five to 10 yards and give up the underneath passes.  He would be available in the third or fourth rounds but could be considered a high risk pick.

Let me know what you think...

Go Lions!