2014 Draft

2014 NFL Draft Player Scouting Report – Duke CB Ross Cockrell

By Alex Kozora

Posted on April 23, 2014 at 7:05 am

By Alex Kozora

Our focus has shifted to the offseason and for the next few months, I’ll be providing scouting reports on several draft prospects. Some of these players the Pittsburgh Steelers may look at and others will be top players that will be off the board before they select. All to make you as prepared as possible for the 2014 NFL Draft.

Breakdown of Duke cornerback Ross Cockrell.

Ross Cockrell/CB Duke: 6’0 191

The Good

– Slightly above average size but frame isn’t that noteworthy

– Some explosion and ability to close

– Plays the ball in the air well

– Speed not great but good enough

– Showed some toughness to play through injury

– Times where he shows aggressiveness as a tackler, playing through the hands to force fumbles

– As much experience as you could hope for

– Productive, decorated career

– Seemingly high character

The Bad

– Very short arms (29 7/8) and small hands (9 inches) given his frame

– Devoid of functional strength

– Put on skates when stalk blocked

– Shy and hesitates to get his nose dirty against the run

– Soft tackler

– No special traits athletically

– May play too tall in his pedal

– Minor medical issues

Other

– 49 career starts

– 2013: 46 tackles, 3 INTs

– Career: 233 tackles, 12 INTs

– Two-time All-ACC First Team (2012, 2013)

– Four-time Academic All-ACC

– Missed one game and half of another due to ankle injury in 2013

– Missed one game in 2011 with a leg injury

– Father played football at Columbia

– Helped high school team go undefeated and win state title as a junior

Tape Breakdown

Cockrell is a decent athlete who has some explosiveness and click and close. Does a nice job with the ball in the air. Competitive and aggressive on the ball.

Pass is thrown behind Mike Evans but Cockrell capitalizes by playing the pocket and knocking the pass away. Came on 3^rd and 10, too. Get off down for the defense.

Another big play this time against Miami. 4^th and 3. Cockrell, bottom of the screen in the following clip, reads the quarterback in zone, and closes to the ball quickly. Contests the throw and the pass falls incomplete effectively eliminating any hope the Hurricanes had at a comeback.

Am of course a fan of the starting experience. As much as you can want in a player. After redshirting as a true freshman, he grabbed hold of the starting reigns and never looked back. Just reading the tea leaves but a two-time captain and four time all-academic bodes well for his character.

Even after watching four games, I struggled to find many positives in his game. As weak as the 5^th grader picked last in dodgeball (side note: that was me). Huge liability in the run game. Can’t shed and worse, gets washed repeatedly. Saw it in every game. Cockrell sporting #6 for Duke.