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Rank the new corners

DMoney

DMoney

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Let's hear them Canes fans. One man's take:

1. Tracy Howard

Reminds me of Brandon Harris. Not big or fast but athletic and smart. Probably better in press-man coverage than Brandon was. He may have some rough patches early but he will play.

2. Antonio Crawford

Fastest corner in the class. Built like a running back with a strong, compact frame. Jumped off the screen in the state title game covering Malcolm Lewis.

3. Deon Bush

Is he Mike Rumph or Carlos Armour? My big concern is mental toughness. People from Columbus questioned it and he was never a huge playmaker. He will need to deal with the early burnings. Has the frame and the explosiveness (40 inch vert at the Nike Opening) to be a great one.

4. Nate Dortch

If he adds weight, he can shoot up this list. Probably the most natural corner along with Howard.

5. Vernon Davis

One of the better all-around playmakers in the class. The best punt returner of the group due to his quick feet. Size and speed are concerns (5'9, 163 and 4.6 at the UA camp) but he is an athlete.

6. Larry Hope

An experienced corner with some of the best speed in the class. Won the fastest man competition at UM camp. Not as quick as guys like Howard and Davis but has superior burst.

7. LaDarius Gunter

A lifelong corner who has grown into the safety position. Will he be caught in Kacy Rodgers limbo? Will be interesting to see where he ends up after spring.

Wild Card- Herb Waters

Love him as a receiver, but he moves like a corner. Little man feet on a 5'11, 175 pound frame. Would not be surprised if he ended up there down the road.
 
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1. Howard

Love the Harris comparison. He is more physical though. He will start from Day 1 imo.

2. Bush

I think he was used incorrectly at CCHS. I think Golden & the staff will do wonders with him. He may not help the most next year, but I think he has a chance to be the highest draft pick of the group.

3. Davis

One of my favorites in the group. Just a great football player. The biggest ? is teams hardly tested him.

4. Crawford

Great football player. Good upside, but from what i have seen he is still raw corner wise and relies on his athletic ability. Was great in the state final though and was Plant's best WR

5. Dortch

Needs to fill out. I think of the group he is the most likely redshirt. Have to like the fact UNC wanted him.

6. Hope

Injured as a senior. Good football player. Top end speed and athleticism is his ?

Dont really know enough about Gunter to rank him. I would have had Leggett at 2 for the record
 
Good stuff. I hope one or two of these guys can be safeties because now that position worries me a **** of a lot more then CB.

We got RRA, VT, Highsmith all will be Srs (hopefully they give us a **** of a lot more then they did this year). Then only Cornelius (coverted from LB), Rodgers (is he really a S?), and Armbrister (a late addition last year). Jenkins is the only one I know of slated to play S from the jump (maybe Gunter?).
 
DMoney said:
Let's hear them Canes fans. One man's take:

1. Tracy Howard

Reminds me of Brandon Harris. Not big or fast but athletic and smart. Probably better in press-man coverage than Brandon was. He may have some rough patches early but he will play.

2. Antonio Crawford

Fastest corner in the class. Built like a running back with a strong, compact frame. Jumped off the screen in the state title game covering Malcolm Lewis.

3. Deon Bush

Is he Mike Rumph or Carlos Armour? My big concern is mental toughness. People from Columbus questioned it and he was never a huge playmaker. He will need to deal with the early burnings. Has the frame and the explosiveness (40 inch vert at the Nike Opening) to be a great one.

4. Nate Dortch

If he adds weight, he can shoot up this list. Probably the most natural corner along with Howard.

5. Vernon Davis

One of the better all-around playmakers in the class. The best punt returner of the group due to his quick feet. Size and speed are concerns (5'9, 163 and 4.6 at the UA camp) but he is an athlete.

6. Larry Hope

An experienced corner with some of the best speed in the class. Won the fastest man competition at UM camp. Not as quick as guys like Howard and Davis but has superior burst.

7. LaDarius Gunter

A lifelong corner who has grown into the safety position. Will he be caught in Kacy Rodgers limbo? Will be interesting to see where he ends up after spring.

Wild Card- Herb Waters

Love him as a receiver, but he moves like a corner. Little man feet on a 5'11, 175 pound frame. Would not be surprised if he ended up there down the road.
Click to expand...

Getting Bush, Crawford, and Howard will hopefully allow us to play Gunter at S. Kid has size and speed and our depth at S is terrible.
 
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The top of my list is Crawford, while Howard has all the tools, for Crawford to cover Lewis the way he did puts him at the top for me
 
Will be interesting to see how Dortch matches up in three years, as he is a recruit Butch identified and offered early.
 
Gotta put Howard first.


2. Crawford
3. Bush
4. Davis
5. Hope
6. Dortch
7. Gunter


As sigmar pointed out, Crawford manned up on Malcolm Lewis and I am a huge Lewis fan. His big TD catch in the championship game was still against great coverage, just a ridiculous catch. I love Crawfords ability and he is still relatively new to defense so he has tons of potential to grow.
 
When was the last time Bush played Corner? Wasnt he pulled form that spot on his HS team and moved to Safety cause he was getting burned all the time.
 
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I think Howard is #1 and is an immediate contributor.

I think then, Bush has the most upside, but I think Crawford is more ready to play now on that second tier...I kind of like Vernon Davis as a low end Tier 2 type, high end Tier 3...I think he can return some kicks and I think he'd be a heckuva nickel guy by the time he's done at Miami.

Then you have the "projects" like Dortch (natural at the position, but needs to work on the physical things) and Hope (physically there, worked for his scholarship, but needs a little work)...I honestly think Hope is a bit of a sleeper and he'll push a lot of guys to be better or go home...maybe not in this class, but the Keion Payne's of the world...when those boys start to see themselves getting passed on a depth chart by the Nate Dortchs, the Larry Hopes, the Vernon Davis' they might re-evaluate their life.

Gunter is a guy that will give us a guy that can come in right away and play. I don't know how good he'll be, but he'll contribute right away at the S/CB spot in some way. He at least brings some + athleticism to the table and some seasoning against higher than HS level competition.

I hate to rank per se...but whatever...

1. Howard
2. Bush

3 and 4 get a little murky for me...I like Crawford on the outside, and I like Davis on the inside and on specials.

I like Hope over Dortch because I think his ceiling is a bit higher.

I won't rate Gunter.
 
I'll let you know after Spring. They have all played against varying degrees of competition. Impossible to rank & predict.
 
Hurrikane said:
I'll let you know after Spring. They have all played against varying degrees of competition. Impossible to rank & predict.
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Howard will never play at UM. Period. My source is as good as gold.

Excuse me if I dont hold my breath waiting for your list.
 
JHallCanes said:
Hurrikane said:
I'll let you know after Spring. They have all played against varying degrees of competition. Impossible to rank & predict.
Click to expand...

Howard will never play at UM. Period. My source is as good as gold.

Excuse me if I dont hold my breath waiting for your list.
Click to expand...

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I'll say this about Bush, he was playing out of position at CCHS. He's not a safety.....he lacks instincts and is often times slow to react when facing the play.

Now...Bush in a pure man to man chase role is a different story. He has the speed and athletic ability to be a good corner IMO. Doesn't have great hands (notice he didn't play much offense at CCHS) so don't expect alot of big plays but he's definitely a kid that can stick his assignment and will allow little separation. Think Kelly Jennings but more athletic.
 
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I don't get the comparison between Howard and B. Harris. Just look at those two backpedal, turn, and run. Howard is much more fluid and natural. It's not even close. Harris almost falls over his own two feet half each time a guy makes a cut.
 
I think right now Howard and Crawford, but after another year maybe Howard and Bush. I am finally glad we got us some CB's. In 2 years we are going to have an experienced Howard, Bush, Crawford and Finnie.
 
1. Crawford He has all the tools... Speed, size, and he's physical... you can leave him on a island also..
2. Hope He's small but brings the wood. plays with heart...
3. Howard good cover 3 corner but I still have doubts about playing him man to man...
4. Bush If Saban offered the kid thats all you need to know.. probably the best bump and run corner in this class...
 
dycane said:
I don't get the comparison between Howard and B. Harris. Just look at those two backpedal, turn, and run. Howard is much more fluid and natural. It's not even close. Harris almost falls over his own two feet half each time a guy makes a cut.
Click to expand...

Strongly disagree with this. Deion Sanders watched him run drills at the combine and said he had the best hips of anyone there. Harris's only problem is that he is 5'9 and runs a 4.5.
 
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