Archie Bunker
03-31-2010, 12:19 PM
http://www.nfl.com/draft/story?id=09000d5d8173a2c0&template=with-video-with-comments&confirm=true
2. Can Berry play corner as a pro?
Several teams at the top of the draft are debating the potential of moving Eric Berry from safety to cornerback after closely studying him on film and in workouts. His movement skills and instincts would be uncommon for the position, and scouts are intrigued by the possibility of playing him at the game's premier defensive spot early in his career.
Although Berry never played the position in college, his potential to develop into a "shutdown" corner is worthy of consideration when pondering the impact.
Elite cornerbacks are capable of eliminating an entire side of the field with their superior skill, and their penchant for timely playmaking reduces the number of options available to the quarterback in the route tree.
Additionally, the presence of a dynamic cornerback puts an offensive coordinator in a bind. Savvy play callers are forced to re-examine their game plans when facing cover men capable of snuffing out No.1 receivers. The use of a scaled-down playbook dramatically diffuses the potency of an offense.
Given the importance of keeping opponents out of the end zone, it's not a surprise that scouts and coaches are constantly on the hunt for potential game-changers at cornerback.
In Berry's case, he has some intriguing tools that make the position change an enticing possibility. The 6-foot, 211-pound prospect ran 4.47 seconds in the 40-yard dash. With that, Berry has the size and speed to matchup with swift receivers on the edge. He's smooth and fluid in his movements, and possesses the natural instincts to make plays on the deep ball.
As a former high-school standout at cornerback -- Berry was rated the No.1 cornerback by several recruiting services as a senior -- he's comfortable playing receivers in space. His ability to routinely handle the SEC's top tight ends on the perimeter also showcases his outstanding cover skills. While covering a tight end vs. a receiver in the NFL can be dramatically different based on the speed and quickness differential, Berry's unique skill set gives him a chance to succeed against the game's top wideouts.
Given the sophistication of the pro passing game, Berry's ability to cover like a corner makes him ideally suited to play strong safety. More offenses are using athletic tight ends to create mismatches on the edge, and having a player of Berry's caliber allows the defense to nullify those advantages. Furthermore, Berry appears to have the potential to line up over the top of slot receivers in a base defense and function as a nickel corner in sub-packages. This allows the coordinator to matchup with opponents in a variety of ways and grants him the opportunity to include Berry in the pass rush -- he will be close enough to the line of scrimmage to be used as an extra rusher off the edge on some blitz calls.
With the ability to impact the game as a multi-dimensional weapon, Berry has not only cemented his status as the draft's top safety, but may have also earned recognition as the top defensive prospect.
2. Can Berry play corner as a pro?
Several teams at the top of the draft are debating the potential of moving Eric Berry from safety to cornerback after closely studying him on film and in workouts. His movement skills and instincts would be uncommon for the position, and scouts are intrigued by the possibility of playing him at the game's premier defensive spot early in his career.
Although Berry never played the position in college, his potential to develop into a "shutdown" corner is worthy of consideration when pondering the impact.
Elite cornerbacks are capable of eliminating an entire side of the field with their superior skill, and their penchant for timely playmaking reduces the number of options available to the quarterback in the route tree.
Additionally, the presence of a dynamic cornerback puts an offensive coordinator in a bind. Savvy play callers are forced to re-examine their game plans when facing cover men capable of snuffing out No.1 receivers. The use of a scaled-down playbook dramatically diffuses the potency of an offense.
Given the importance of keeping opponents out of the end zone, it's not a surprise that scouts and coaches are constantly on the hunt for potential game-changers at cornerback.
In Berry's case, he has some intriguing tools that make the position change an enticing possibility. The 6-foot, 211-pound prospect ran 4.47 seconds in the 40-yard dash. With that, Berry has the size and speed to matchup with swift receivers on the edge. He's smooth and fluid in his movements, and possesses the natural instincts to make plays on the deep ball.
As a former high-school standout at cornerback -- Berry was rated the No.1 cornerback by several recruiting services as a senior -- he's comfortable playing receivers in space. His ability to routinely handle the SEC's top tight ends on the perimeter also showcases his outstanding cover skills. While covering a tight end vs. a receiver in the NFL can be dramatically different based on the speed and quickness differential, Berry's unique skill set gives him a chance to succeed against the game's top wideouts.
Given the sophistication of the pro passing game, Berry's ability to cover like a corner makes him ideally suited to play strong safety. More offenses are using athletic tight ends to create mismatches on the edge, and having a player of Berry's caliber allows the defense to nullify those advantages. Furthermore, Berry appears to have the potential to line up over the top of slot receivers in a base defense and function as a nickel corner in sub-packages. This allows the coordinator to matchup with opponents in a variety of ways and grants him the opportunity to include Berry in the pass rush -- he will be close enough to the line of scrimmage to be used as an extra rusher off the edge on some blitz calls.
With the ability to impact the game as a multi-dimensional weapon, Berry has not only cemented his status as the draft's top safety, but may have also earned recognition as the top defensive prospect.