2012 NFL Draft: LSU CB Morris Claiborne

by Ryan Van Bibber on Oct 10, 2011 10:01 AM CDT in 2012 NFL Draft

Cornerback Morris Claiborne #17 of the LSU Tigers intercepts a pass against Mississipppi State. Claiborne could turn some heads come draft time.

Whether the season is going well or in the tank, it's never too early to talk about the 2012 NFL Draft. Obviously, you can tell where the St. Louis Rams stand, since people are already weighing the options for trading down the chance to pick Andrew Luck in the draft. One position that the Rams simply must consider is cornerback, and one player that is making a loud case for an early draft slot is LSU cornerback Morris Claiborne.

Claiborne is only a junior. He has plenty of time to decide whether or not to enter the 2012 NFL Draft. If he continues to roll through LSU's season at his current pace, he might not have any choice but to head for the NFL as a high first-round pick.

He thrived last year playing across from Patrick Peterson. With teams throwing away from Peterson, Claiborne was able to snag five interceptions. Many wondered if he would play as well without Peterson on the other side of the field, and so far the results have been very promising. He picked off two passes against Mississippi State in week three of the college season. The week after that he added a 99-yard kick return touchdown in LSU's win over West Virginia.

Rob Rang at NFL Draft Scoutstill has him ranked as his fourth corner, behind Dre Kirkpatrick, Janoris Jenkins and Alfonzo Dennard, but those rankings could shift if he continues to play this way. Here's what Rang said about him:

He's been even better this season and possesses the quick feet and sticky hands usually reserved for wideouts.

Sticky hands...quick feet...that sounds exactly like what the Rams could use in their secondary. Claiborne is also a very good tackler, still more of what the Rams so desperately lack right now.

Fortunately for you, dear reader, we happen to have someone who knows quite a little bit about LSU, our own 3k.

This draft class has a handful of corners ticketed for the early part of the first round, where the Rams seem destined to pick in 2012. It will be a position to keep your eye on as the draft gets closer.

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Comments

A top CB sounds good but,

I would rather look at one of the top WRs or OLBs in the first round. Now if we find out Fletcher and Bartel are not gonna be back by next year then maybe we should look towards a CB

by ChrisL951 on Oct 10, 2011 10:09 AM CDT reply actions

What's Claiborne doing next Sunday?

If he’s not busy….

by DCRamFan on Oct 10, 2011 10:21 AM CDT reply actions

Good stuff Van

I had this quick comparison note about Claiborne on the site the other day:

Player: Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU
Comparison: Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, CB, Philadelphia Eagles

From purely a body standpoint, this is an apt comparison even though Claiborne is a couple inches shorter than Rodgers-Cromartie. The comparison is made though for much more than their similar stature. Rodgers-Cromartie and Claiborne have exceptional change-of-direction ability, good speed and superb body control. The big negative on both is the ability to jam wide receivers at the line. Claiborne should try to add more strength, but thus far it hasn’t been too big of a detriment for DRC.

Mocking the Draft: Talking NFL Draft all year.

by Dan Kadar on Oct 10, 2011 10:36 AM CDT reply actions