2011 NFL Draft News: Detroit Lions Visited by Virginia CB/S Ras-I Dowling

The Detroit Lions have one of the greatest needs in the NFL for a quality defensive back. Ras-I Dowling, a cornerback from Virginia, may be one of the most underrated defensive backs in the 2011 NFL Draft.

It's a match made in heaven.

Or, the third round of the draft this April.

Last year, Dowling was projected as a fringe first round prospect at either cornerback or safety. A year later, he's fallen into the fringe of second round projections thanks to great years by Jimmy Smith (CB Colorado) and Brandon Harris (CB Miami) as well as injury/durability concerns.

Dowling isn't letting the slip in draft stock get him down. He told the Lions' website, “It was frustrating, but I feel like things are going to happen. You’re not going to go out and play football and not get injured. Everyone’s going to deal with injuries.”

Although he was a college CB, many feel he could project better as an NFL safety. For the Lions, he would be a similar prospect to Amari Spievey whom they drafted in the third round last year.

Like Spievey, Dowling was known for being a physical corner at the college level. Dowling has the advantage of being a few inches taller and about 15lbs heavier. He understands what his strengths are.

“I feel I can do a lot more things than a lot of what other corners can do. Just being physical, especially as a tackler. I do a lot of things well.”

For the Lions, that sort of physicality is needed in their defensive scheme. The Lions' front seven strive to funnel offenses to the middle of the field which often leave defensive backs on an island with ball carriers and even more often taking on blockers.

The Virginia CB's stock would be much higher after running a 4.4 40-yard-dash at the NFL combine, but he pulled his hamstring—worsening durability concerns. The biggest part of his visit in Allen Park may be seeing how he moves on that hamstring.

Whether or not the Lions actually draft Dowling is dependent on a lot of factors this April. He clearly fits their system and could be around for both of their second day picks. If he ends up being drafted earlier, it will likely be by Cover-2 teams or as a safety.

If healthy, Dowling is definitely a player the Detroit Lions should be targeting.

Michael Schottey is an on-call editor for the Bleacher Report College Writing Internship, as well as an NFL Featured Columnist and an NFL Labor/Draft Expert. A member of the Pro Football Writers of America, he has professionally covered the Minnesota Vikings and the Detroit Lions, as well as NFL events like the Scouting Combine and the Senior Bowl. Follow him on  Twitter.