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Robert Rochell draft scouting report

Doublemint Twins

In November of 2020, Draft Diamonds said that Robert Rochell had the potential to be as good, if not better, than Jalen Ramsey. Rob Rang named Rochell the top CB sleeper in the draft. Such lofty praise isn't entirely unwarranted. In terms of Combine testing, Rochell is a virtual carbon copy of Ramsey. The elite athleticism and physical tools are there for Rochell to someday become a top NFL cover corner. So, if his ceiling is so high and the NFL teams are so hungry for CBs, how did Rochell manage to fall all the way to the Rams in the late 4th round, pick 130 overall?

We've seen other CBs get drafted early based almost entirely on physical traits and athleticism, even if their college tape was uneven. Artie Burns was a 1st round pick. Byron Jones was a 1st round pick. Prior to his jaw dropping combine workout, Jones wasn't a highly regarded prospect. Matt Miller had him ranked as only the 24th best CB in that draft. Lance Zierlein had him graded as a special teams player and backup. The better NFL comp for Rochell is probably Jones, not Ramsey. Rochell and Jones have very similar size and athleticism.

Early in his career, Jones was inconsistent, as Dallas struggled with trying to figure out whether to play him as a CB or at safety. His breakout didn't come until his 4th NFL season when Dallas moved him back to CB. The Dolphins gave him a $16.5 million salary in free agency, which at the time made him the highest paid CB in the NFL.

When Ramsey was in the draft, it wasn't a slam dunk that he'd become a great CB. Most people loved him. Doug Farrar ranked him as the best prospect in the draft. Ramsey, however, had issues sticking with quicker WRs. He was impatient in press and could be beaten off of the LOS by a good fake. He only had 3 career INTs. He dropped multiple INT opportunities. Some people believed he'd be better as a safety than as a corner. Lance Zierlein quoted an NFC exec who said the team's scouts were split, with some saying Ramsey was the next Richard Sherman and others saying Ramsey was overrated.

Ramsey was a good NFL player early in his career. This is relatively uncommon, because many young DBs struggle when they enter the league. Almost all of the DBs drafted in the first 2 rounds last year were poor as rookies:

Jeff Okudah (3rd pick): 42.5 PFF grade, ranked 115th out of 121 CBs.

CJ Henderson (9): 57.9, 74th/121.

AJ Terrell (16): 60.8, 62nd/121.

Damon Arnette (19): 41.7, 116th/121.

Noah Igbinoghene (30): 37.1

Jeff Gladney (31): 50.1, 102nd/121.

Xavier McKinney (36): 70.0, not enough snaps to qualify

Kyle Dugger (37): 64.1, 49th out of 94 safeties.

Grant Delpit (44): Injured in training camp, did not play.

Antoine Winfield Jr. (45): 67.2, 35th/94.

Jaylon Johnson (50): 54.9, 84th/121.

Trevon Diggs (51): 62.7, 58th/121.

Kristian Fulton (61): 56.1

Jeremy Chinn (64): 59.0, 65th/94.

Compared to these rookie safeties, Taylor Rapp had a better PFF grade than all of them and Jordan Fuller was better than everyone except for Winfield. Compared to the CBs, Troy Hill for the Rams (74.2, 27th/121) was better than all of them and even David Long with his very mediocre 53.4 score graded higher than four of the 1st round CB picks (he didn't get enough snaps to qualify for the rankings.)

Rochell is an investment in the future, a developmental pick. Barring injuries to other players, I don't anticipating him playing much on defense in 2021. If he were pressed into action immediately, he'd probably struggle like most of the 2020 draft class CBs.

Due to the high importance of outside CBs in the NFL, I think it is reasonable to argue that Rochell could yield the highest total value of any of the players the Rams drafted this year. If he really did turn out to be the next Jalen Ramsey, he could make the draft successful by himself, regardless of what happened with the other picks.

Background

5'11 3/4'' tall, 195 pounds, 32 3/8'' arms, 79'' wingspan, 8 3/4'' hands

4.41 sec (40 time), 1.51 sec (10 yard split), 43'' vert, 11'1'' broad, 4.08 sec (shuttle), 6.84 sec (3 cone)

Rochell is known for viral videos where he makes impressive jumps (e.g. in a parking lot jumping onto the back of a pickup truck.) Central Arkansas listed him as being 6'2'' tall, but he's not even 6 feet tall.

Ramsey: 6'1 1/4'' tall, 209 pounds, 33 3/8'' arms, 79 5/8'' wingspan, 9 1/2'' hands

Ramsey: 4.41 sec (40 time), 1.51 sec (10 yard split), 41.5'' vert, 11'3'' broad, 4.18 sec (shuttle), 6.94 sec (3 cone)

Ramsey is slightly taller and has arms that are an inch longer. Their testing numbers are nearly identical. Rochell has small hands. Byron Jones has 32'' arms, and a shorter wingspan, but 10'' hands. Lance Zierlein compares Rochell to James Bradberry.

Bradberry: 6'3/4'' tall, 211 pounds, 33 3/8'' arms, 78 7/8'' wingspan, 9 1/8'' hands

Bradberry: 4.50 sec (40 time), 1.53 sec (10 yard split), 36'' vert, 11' broad (at pro day), 4.21 sec (shuttle), 6.91 sec (3 cone).

Redshirt senior. Nickname is "Scoota", which he got from his dad. Degree in public relations.

From Shreveport, LA. Father was killed in 2009 in a drive-by shooting days after being released from prison. Also had uncle and 2 cousins killed by violence. Track sprinter as youth. Has 3 siblings, mom worked multiple jobs to support the family. He says his mom's work ethic inspires him to keep grinding. Has struggled with depression, says he wants to work with charities on mental health issues and initiatives.

Was a slot WR and change of pace RB in high school. Wasn't a regular defensive player. Injured his knee playing basketball senior year. Only weighed about 160 pounds.

Not offered until right before signing day. Recruited as a WR, then converted immediately at Central Arkansas to CB.

Missed 2 games due to injury in 2020.

2020 (7 starts): zero INTs, 3 PBU, 27 tackles, FF and FR for TD

2019 (13 starts): 5 INTs

2018 (8 starts, 11 games): 4 INTs

Career: 10 INTs, 38 PD, 3 FFs. Zero sacks.

ESPN 113th (4th round). Long arms, quick feet, excellent speed. Struggled at Senior Bowl practices. Good body control, ball skills, effective tackler.

PFF 139th (late 4th)

PFN 105 (late 3rd to 4th)

TDN 199th (6th round)

Bleacher Report 30th CB, 244th overall (7th round)

Sports Illustrated 19th CB (6th round)

Chad Reuter mock draft 127th overall (4th round), 3 slots before he was actually drafted by the Rams.

Lance Zierlein 6.25 grade (3rd round). LZ had him graded higher than Asante Samuel Jr. (pick 47), Paulson Adebo (pick 76), Ben St Juste (pick 74) and Ambry Thomas(102). He was tied with Elijah Molden (pick 100). He was the 69th ranked prospect per LZ, coming in just ahead of safeties Jevon Holland (picked 36th overall) and Richie Grant (40th overall). So, if you went by LZ's grades, Rochell would have been a reasonable pick for the Rams at slot 57. By getting Rochell at slot 130, the Rams were able to draft him nearly 2 rounds later than LZ felt Rochell could have been selected.

LZ said Rochell is a freakish athlete. Might require a year to polish due to lack of technique and spotty transitions. Ball hawk and wrap up tackler. Needs to calm feet and improve press technique. Falls for early release fakes. Upright pedal. Average plant and drive from top of drop. Doesn't find ball from trail position. Loses contain duties.

LZ compared him to James Bradberry, who went to a FCS school, Samford. Bradberry was a 2nd round pick in 2016 by the Carolina Panthers. As a rookie, Bradberry had a better PFF grade than Jalen Ramsey. He broke his wrist the following year and struggled, then was above average in 2018. When the NYG signed Bradberry to a $15 million per year contract last season, ESPN called it a bad signing. Instead, Bradberry was named All-Pro by PFF after he posted a 79.8 PFF grade, ranking as the 7th best CB, better than Ramsey who was the 9th ranked CB with a 77.3 grade. You could make an argument that the Rams would have been better off if they had never traded for Ramsey, kept all the draft picks they gave up, signed Bradberry at a lower salary compared to Ramsey, then reallocated the cap savings elsewhere.

There were multiple 1st round CB busts in that 2016 draft, so if you did a redraft, Bradberry likely would be a 1st round pick. He's a perfect example of how drafting a player from a small school at a lower level of competition can work out way better than taking prospects from bigger name, power conference schools.

Rams fans already know another former Samford DB who had success in the NFL. Cortland Finnegan was a 7th round pick in 2006 and became a Pro Bowl and All Pro player. Not all 7th round picks are pointless. Finnegan's run with the Rams wasn't good, but in his very first game with the Rams, he had a pick six against Matthew Stafford, one of 3 picks in the first half Stafford threw in that game. Stafford had a silly pick at the goalline to Janoris Jenkins, another bad red zone pick when the LB jumped in front of his TE, then a gift pick six to Finnegan sitting underneath Megatron on an out route. Undeterred, gunslinger Stafford rallied his team and in the final seconds of the 4th quarter, his short dump pass for a TD won the game, stealing it from the Rams.

Jordan Reid for TDN said Rochell is suited to be a press man CB. His posture and technique immediately deteriorate after the snap. Highly grabby, a penalty magnet. Plays too tall. Gives up extra separation at top of route. Leaves gaping lanes outside on runs. Creates 2 for 1 blocks by following WRs inside as they block interior defenders.

Sports Illustrated named Rochell one of the losers from the Senior Bowl. He was only able to participate in part of one practice and they said he looked incredibly overwhelmed by the WRs. Quick to close and light on his feet. Fluid hips. Lunges in press. Lax in technique. Grabs up the stem and through break point. More of an athlete than a football player, needs coaching. Many INTs were just poorly thrown balls. Needs to locate ball better in air. Good tackler. Day 3 developmental project.

Strengths

Excellent speed to attack runners in front of him in flat and make tackle. Speed burst to click and close, driving on out routes and stick routes.

Prototypical length and athleticism for outside NFL CB. Looks the part. Good size and length to tackle in space and chop down runners.

Very good makeup speed to close gap if he gets behind or prevent the gap from widening, limiting separation.

Repeatedly made tackles at critical moments of close games. On crucial 4th&3 in 4th quarter, against shallow cross, made tackle 1 yard short of marker. Key tackle on run play on 4th&1 in 4th quarter. Important tackle on 3rd&4 in the box to prevent first down.

Ball production and turnover generator with 10 career INTs. Ripped fumble out, then scooped up ball and ran it in for TD.

Good teammate, helped to calm down injured teammate on field.

Shows very good potential as gunner in punt coverage. Gets off of LOS and very fast running down the field. Tried to use his hands to bat ball near GL back into field of play, but the ball bounced off of his foot and went over his head into the end zone for touchback.

Picked up some type of injury in 2nd quarter of a game, but stayed in and finished rest of game.

Inexperienced player who didn't play CB until college and best football should still be ahead of him. Raw, developmental project with very high ceiling, Pro Bowl level potential.

If Rochell is willing to learn directly from Ramsey how to play the position, he might have been drafted into the very best situation he could hope for in the NFL. He has the perfect mentor to follow. If he just tries to directly copy Ramsey's game, you'd think he'd get better in no time and the more time he spent with Ramsey learning the tricks of the trade, the more he'd improve.

Will be tried first at outside CB, but if that doesn't work out, might have potential to play safety.

Weaknesses

Not fluid flipping his hips or smooth in transitions. Herky jerky movements in transitions. Stiff transitions allow the WR at the LOS to run past him on the release. Lazy in his technique, not detailed oriented or consistent. Too often put on his heels in press coverage, making it difficult for him to react and stay attached to WR on release. WRs can cross his face coming off the line, sometimes leaving him in the dust. A basic jab step by the WR can put him on his heels, give the WR a clean release and put CB in trail position. Jab step got him to backpedal, lost when the WR cut inside on slant route.

So upright in his stance that on a 3 yard out route by WR, after contact at break point, there are 3 yards of separation. WRs can shake him on double moves and comeback routes. WRs get leverage on him on shake routes and create separation going towards sideline. Head fake by WR at top of route loses him, creating separation on out route. The more complicated or nuanced the route, the higher the likelihood he'll get lost.

Timed speed doesn't match his ability to defend deep bombs, because he sometimes effectively gives the WR a head start in the race. WRs ran by him down in Mobile during Senior Bowl practice. Could have been burned on straight go route, but WR didn't catch the pass.

Awareness issues on the field. Overly focused on his 1 on 1 battle with the WR, causing him to follow the WR and step inside on run plays where he needs to stay wide and he blows his containment responsibility. One such play resulted in nearly 70 yard TD run. Stepped inside on pin and pull toss wide, creating 2 for 1 block by WR when the WR tried to block the LB. Doesn't show recognition and anticipation of route combinations, resulting in him moving in the wrong direction as zone defender, leaving receivers open. Eyes lost on trick play and he's way out of position, not aware to screen pass developing in his area of field. On long 3rd down, didn't anticipate or react well to WR screen. Plays zone coverage so soft on critical 3rd down in 4th quarter that curl route is open in his area of the zone. Doesn't alert other defenders to jet sweeps coming in their direction. Zone coverage, he carries WR too far vertical when he should be aware to the RB slipping out of the backfield in front of him, leaving the RB wide open 12 yards past the LOS. Way too soft in coverage on crucial 3rd down late in 4th quarter of tight game. Late finding ball after fake jet sweep. Not an instinctive defender.

Takes some poor angles in run support, gave up huge run when RB cut back and he missed tackle. Can be dragged for extra yardage, inconsistent tackle strength. Not enough strength and aggression when setting the edge against run plays. Stays stuck on blocks, sometimes wrong leverage on block, giving up outside lane to RB. Comes in too hot as tackler in space, causing him to miss some tackles.

Rub route on short 3rd down where his WR runs shallow cross. He bubbles way over the top and takes such an extraordinarily conservative angle to avoid traffic that he's 6 yards away from the WR in man coverage, might as well have been in a different zip code by NFL standards. Important drive late in 4th quarter, protecting 7 point lead, unable to stay with WR on short slant route, giving up way too much separation.

Bites and jumps on underneath candy, susceptible to being baited, then beaten over the top by play design or double moves. Habit of relaxing when he sees the WR slow down and relax, which could create an opportunity to trick him.

Lacks feel for turning around to find the pass in the air. WR on straight go route turns around super early to look for pass, but the CB never turns around at all.

His vertical jump doesn't matter at times, because on fade routes into the end zone he never gets himself into position to jump and contest the catch point. The WR leaps in the air and the CB has his feet on the ground.

Sloppy and undisciplined hand usage as he grabs WRs. Hugged WR, clumsily grabbing WR on nameplate on back of jersey on 3rd down, mugging him. Not composed in middle of route, sometimes tries to lean into the WR, doesn't seem comfortable running with them without physical contact.

Beneficiary of bad QB play at his lower level of competition. Got some INTs off of bad throws. Hands appear to be overrated. Had opportunities to make more picks, but unable to catch the ball. Jumped stick route and got in front of the WR, but didn't make catch.

Motor is cold. Doesn't play to the whistle. Doesn't follow up and get to the ball and the RB, content to just watch the action. Willing tackler when he thinks the play is important, but not the same level of effort when he thinks he can take the snap off.

Loses his cool and composure when WRs try to bully him on run blocks and engage in extracurricular activities after whistle. Costly 15 yard personal foul penalty retaliating to WR in 4th quarter. Complained to refs when WR shoved him after play.

Knee injury from high school could be source for concern.

Pro Comparison

Dwayne Gratz (3rd round 2013, Jaguars, UConn)

Gratz: 5'11 1/8'' tall, 201 pounds, 32 1/8'' arms, 76.5'' wingspan, 10.5'' hands.

4.47 sec (40 time), 38'' vert, 10'5'' broad, 4.15 sec (shuttle), 6.70 sec (3 cone), 22 bench reps.

Gratz was an early 3rd round pick, sandwiched between Travis Kelce and Larry Warford. He had a promising rookie season, but missed several games that year due to injury. After his solid rookie season, a Bleacher Report article declared that he was on his way to becoming the next great NFL cornerback, predicting that he'd be a top 15 CB by the end of his second season and a top 5 CB by the end of his rookie contract.

Gratz started 13 games in 2014 and played the most defensive snaps of his career in 2014, but struggled. During his team's bye week in 2014, a drunk Gratz was arrested in Miami in the early morning hours on a Sunday, when he tried to pay for items at a grocery store with bubble gum, then argued with employees and refused to leave the store. Saints coach, Sean Payton, loves Juicy Fruit gum, so if Payton had been the cashier, maybe things would have been cool. There also was an advertising campaign for Trident Layers revolving around people paying for things with gum. Did Gratz just have the wrong flavor of gum? Was the 5th dentist also the grocery store manager? That's what you get for trying to offer people Dentyne. Try Hubba Bubba next time. If gum were valuable, kids would have thrown away their Topps trading cards and just kept the gum.

In the middle of the 2016 season, the Jags waived Gratz. Instead of becoming a top 5 CB by that point, the way BR predicted, he didn't even last on the roster to the end of his rookie contract. Gratz was briefly on the Rams roster for about a month, then got a look by the Eagles, but he never played in the NFL after that 2016 season. You might say that Gratz flashed early potential in the NFL, but then his bubble burst.

There was another Central Arkansas CB named Tremon Smith I kind of liked as a later round prospect. He was a 6th round pick by the Chiefs in 2018. He's with Houston, his 5th NFL team. He's been used mostly as a special teams player and kick returner. KC waived him after only one season. He ran 4.38 sec in the 40. At one point, KC tried turning him into a RB.

I hope this post gave you enough information to chew on.