DMN Blog: Scandrick: Could Be Steal Of Draft...
by Albert Breer
Size: 5-foot-10, 192 pounds
Drafted: Fifth round, 143rd overall
POSITIVES
Scandrick burned up the combine with a 4.32 in the 40-yard dash, indicating the explosiveness that was apparent during his Bronco career. At minicamp, he showed strong instincts in coverage and didn't let receivers separate on him. He drop his hips and change direction quickly, and flip out of his back pedal fluidly and get downfield. He closes on the ball well, and seems to have a good sense of timing. Started right away as a true freshman at Boise, and didn't miss a game in his college career. Scandrick is also a proven commodity on special teams - he blocked four kicks as a junior and has experience as a kick and punt returner.
NEGATIVES
Most people felt as if Scandrick really needed another year in school, and might've been taken in the first or second round of the 2009 draft. While he was among the best players in the WAC, he hasn't faced a lot of NFL-level receivers, so there's some question as to how he'll play against a higher level of competition. Isn't the most physical corner, and could be a liability against the run early in his career. Issues were raised about his mental makeup, and whether he can bounce back in the face of adversity.
COWBOY FIT
Scandrick flashed his physical ability in rookie minicamp, having perhaps the best weekend of any defensive back there. He can cover one-on-one, there's no question about that, and could contribute right away in sub packages. If Pacman Jones, Terence Newman and Anthony Henry are the top three corners - which is contingent on Jones' reinstatement - then Scandrick would likely start the season fighting for snaps with fellow rookie Mike Jenkins. If Jones isn't there, or someone's hurt, then he and Jenkins will probably both come off the bench and get snaps. Even if he's the fifth corner, Scandrick's special teams ability gives him a good shot at dressing for games. And down the road, he's got the potential to be one of the real steals of this draft.
COWBOYS SECONDARY COACH DAVE CAMPO
I like Scandrick, I think he's got some quickness, he can move. Time will tell. But I like what I saw. ... This is the best thing for him, is to be able to work with him one-on-one. Being in a rookie-only setting, you get to do that. And that'll help him. ... He can really run, and he's got pretty good reactions. So that combination's pretty good. If you can react and you can accelerate, you're going to have a chance to get to the ball and make some plays.
BOISE STATE SECONDARY COACH MARCEL YATES
He's an extremely fast, coachable, smart player. He was an all-around player for us, he played defense, he played special teams, he blocked punts, he blocked field goals. ... On the field-goal block team, he was edge rusher. And on punt return, he was the jammer, always on the other team's top gunner, and used him off the edge some too to block punts. ... Defensively, he was a starter for us at right corner. The guy basically shut people down, he didn't get stats, because teams would go the other way. But he didn't get beat much. ... He dropped some (potential interceptions) he should've caught, and he also didn't have a whole lot of chances, because no one was throwing at him. ... We switched it up some, so he played both (corner) positions, to the boundary and the field. According to the teams we were playing, it would change. He really did it all, even played some nickel (corner) as a junior. We'd put him on the slot receiver, and he blitzed a lot, too. ... I thought played well right from the very first game he ever played, against Georgia. He played real well in that one. ... (One thing he needs to work on) is playing hard every snap and finishing plays. He got a little bored out there at times. ... I think he can be good (as a pro), I think he's going to shock a lot of people. ... No question, without a doubt, he gave us flexibility. We could blitz a lot, put eight or nine up in the box, and put him out there alone on an island. ... I'd he say he can play them equal, both man and zone. ... He's a good kid, hard-working. He could be a little more humble. He's very confident. ... He was fine (with teammates). Because he was so confident, half of them would say he's cocky, half of them would say he's great. He was good to me. He had no off-field issues, and he was good in school. ... He perfect, as far as I'm concerned, as far as studying the game and preparing.
Size: 5-foot-10, 192 pounds
Drafted: Fifth round, 143rd overall
POSITIVES
Scandrick burned up the combine with a 4.32 in the 40-yard dash, indicating the explosiveness that was apparent during his Bronco career. At minicamp, he showed strong instincts in coverage and didn't let receivers separate on him. He drop his hips and change direction quickly, and flip out of his back pedal fluidly and get downfield. He closes on the ball well, and seems to have a good sense of timing. Started right away as a true freshman at Boise, and didn't miss a game in his college career. Scandrick is also a proven commodity on special teams - he blocked four kicks as a junior and has experience as a kick and punt returner.
NEGATIVES
Most people felt as if Scandrick really needed another year in school, and might've been taken in the first or second round of the 2009 draft. While he was among the best players in the WAC, he hasn't faced a lot of NFL-level receivers, so there's some question as to how he'll play against a higher level of competition. Isn't the most physical corner, and could be a liability against the run early in his career. Issues were raised about his mental makeup, and whether he can bounce back in the face of adversity.
COWBOY FIT
Scandrick flashed his physical ability in rookie minicamp, having perhaps the best weekend of any defensive back there. He can cover one-on-one, there's no question about that, and could contribute right away in sub packages. If Pacman Jones, Terence Newman and Anthony Henry are the top three corners - which is contingent on Jones' reinstatement - then Scandrick would likely start the season fighting for snaps with fellow rookie Mike Jenkins. If Jones isn't there, or someone's hurt, then he and Jenkins will probably both come off the bench and get snaps. Even if he's the fifth corner, Scandrick's special teams ability gives him a good shot at dressing for games. And down the road, he's got the potential to be one of the real steals of this draft.
COWBOYS SECONDARY COACH DAVE CAMPO
I like Scandrick, I think he's got some quickness, he can move. Time will tell. But I like what I saw. ... This is the best thing for him, is to be able to work with him one-on-one. Being in a rookie-only setting, you get to do that. And that'll help him. ... He can really run, and he's got pretty good reactions. So that combination's pretty good. If you can react and you can accelerate, you're going to have a chance to get to the ball and make some plays.
BOISE STATE SECONDARY COACH MARCEL YATES
He's an extremely fast, coachable, smart player. He was an all-around player for us, he played defense, he played special teams, he blocked punts, he blocked field goals. ... On the field-goal block team, he was edge rusher. And on punt return, he was the jammer, always on the other team's top gunner, and used him off the edge some too to block punts. ... Defensively, he was a starter for us at right corner. The guy basically shut people down, he didn't get stats, because teams would go the other way. But he didn't get beat much. ... He dropped some (potential interceptions) he should've caught, and he also didn't have a whole lot of chances, because no one was throwing at him. ... We switched it up some, so he played both (corner) positions, to the boundary and the field. According to the teams we were playing, it would change. He really did it all, even played some nickel (corner) as a junior. We'd put him on the slot receiver, and he blitzed a lot, too. ... I thought played well right from the very first game he ever played, against Georgia. He played real well in that one. ... (One thing he needs to work on) is playing hard every snap and finishing plays. He got a little bored out there at times. ... I think he can be good (as a pro), I think he's going to shock a lot of people. ... No question, without a doubt, he gave us flexibility. We could blitz a lot, put eight or nine up in the box, and put him out there alone on an island. ... I'd he say he can play them equal, both man and zone. ... He's a good kid, hard-working. He could be a little more humble. He's very confident. ... He was fine (with teammates). Because he was so confident, half of them would say he's cocky, half of them would say he's great. He was good to me. He had no off-field issues, and he was good in school. ... He perfect, as far as I'm concerned, as far as studying the game and preparing.
posted by The Gryphon at 1:39 PM
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