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- [00:00]
Dominick Robinson
Sam.
- [00:00]
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- [00:19]
Bob Sturb
the following is a KTCK sports podcast presentation. All right, welcome back. We have take over traits episode two, Bob Sturb, Dominick Robinson and we are going again in week two. This is the episode known as the cornerbacks episode because we are defensive heavy in the Dallas Cowboys 2026 draft. We did the Edge Rushers in episode one. I was leading that charge. Dominic, the position near and dear. He's a DB guy by nature and he is on top of DBs for us here. Corners today I'll come back with linebackers. Next episode he'll probably come back with safety is the episode after that. And back and forth we shall go until we are ready to do some drafting. Dominic, how we doing, baby?
- [01:18]
Dominick Robinson
Excited, man. Corner near and dear to my heart. Excited about corners, excited about safeties. I actually worked the Under Armour All American camp this weekend for the high school corners, the best high school corners in the country. And so I've been, I've been deep in the, in the muck, in, in the secondary muck. So excited about, you know, kind of going through this, this group and you know, kind of seeing, seeing where you're at on the guys that I've got and.
- [01:49]
Bob Sturb
Yeah, okay, well, so what I will do before I get out of your way so I can hear your top five is just kind of tell people what we're looking for in cornerbacks. It is called tape over traits. So we'll start there. We want you, we want to find great athletes because in the NFL level you better be a great athlete if you're going to compete against some of the monsters, they're going to line up against you. But the fact of the matter is that we assume you're a pretty good athlete to get to this level. We're talking about consensus board, top 100 guys, top 50 guys. So there is a baseline for all these guys that say they are studs, they are better than you out there listening or us in here talking. I mean, they're unbelievable athletes and players. So we know that going in. So when we say a guy isn't athletic enough, it is all relative. So we'll start there. When I evaluate, I'm looking to see where is he best at this position? Is he a man guy? Is he A zone guy or preferred. And when we're talking top five, this guy can be in any scheme and be just fine. So we're not looking for guys that are only good with this group of teams. We're looking for a guy who can kind of do it all. He can cover very well. He can cover in press, he can also cover in off and soft. He can click and close. Then we start adding value for what else can you do? Are you a slot guy? Can you blitz? What is your ability against the run? Can you key and diagnose? Can you run down a play from behind with that type of speed? Are you a good tackler? Do you have a nose for the football? Do you have some sort of gift that's going to help our team get takeaways? So, so these are all kind of sub topics, Dominic, to the ultimate question of can you cover the guy who you are assigned to cover? And once we check that box, then we start looking for added value to say, no, he's much more than that. He can do this, this and this as well. Or that's kind of what he is. And what's so bad about that if he's good enough at that? So that's kind of an overview of this position. Then you talk about a Travis Hunter who can also be a wide receiver for you. Or we talk about, I don't know, Keyshawn Nixon, where he can lead the NFL and kick returns on the side or punt return. So cornerback is a position that is one of the big five, but there are out outliers that can also do like Deion Sanders things or Charles Woodson things. Or, you know, you just start going down the list of all the different packaging of a cornerback and all the different scheme questions. And so it can get complex. But in the end we just want to know if we put you up against Puka Nakua or Devonte Adams, are you going to be okay? Is that, is that a reasonable summary of this position?
- [04:52]
Dominick Robinson
Yeah.
- [04:53]
Bob Sturb
Yeah.
- [04:53]
Dominick Robinson
And I think corner is really, really interesting in terms of like corner production. One is because interceptions is obviously a false positive. We know that from the Trayvon Diggs. Yep. Deal. And so, you know, covering a guy, is there more value to a guy who gets a lot of interceptions in college than a guy who has zero interceptions but literally no one ever catches the ball.
- [05:19]
Bob Sturb
Right, A false positive. Meaning. Meaning of course, that the best way to be great at defending is they don't even challenge you. And, and if you are, if you are getting interceptions, it's often because they're trying to target you. So there is the false positive. Just wanted to make sure everybody's up to speed with what you're saying.
- [05:39]
Dominick Robinson
Correct. And I could also look and go, well, he has 10 and he has five, so the guy with 10 is better. That would be a false positive. 10 is obviously more than five.
- [05:50]
Bob Sturb
Right.
- [05:50]
Dominick Robinson
But 10 also doesn't mean that you are a better player.
- [05:54]
Bob Sturb
That's right.
- [05:55]
Dominick Robinson
Or a better defensive back.
- [05:57]
Bob Sturb
Yes.
- [05:57]
Dominick Robinson
But then also there's such a premium at turnovers. Oh. You know, in guy that gets turnovers, like you just said. So that can be a real slippery slope because I want guys who get turnovers, but I also want better players.
- [06:12]
Bob Sturb
That's right. Yeah. And. And then the thing I didn't even mention that I should point out here is I am looking for dogs. So. So this is a position where there are many players in the league, and especially in college football, where they may not have that dog Foley in them. They are great athletes. They can play corner, but they would rather not tackle. They wouldn't rather not compete harder when the going gets extra hard and look like I athleticism. Let me also say with. With being a dog. If you're in the NFL, you're a dog. Okay? So. So you do have a warrior spirit in you. So again, this is all relative. There are guys that would absolutely saw off their arm to beat you. And then there are other guys that kind of enjoy Fridays and Saturdays in the league because they get to live that life. And. And you know, Sunday is just what they do to fund that life. And so it's all relative. But when I'm looking for my gu. I might actually raise it a letter grade or two if I think he's a warrior out there on the corner. I want a guy who wants to get in on plays where he's tackling and maybe even, you know, messing up a dude who isn't his guy. He's just coming over there to fly in and help his team win. And, you know, then you got guys like Peanut Tillman who are literally having a term named after them because they get the ball so often. So Antoine Winfield. Not Antoine Winfield Jr. Who's a heck of a player, but his actual. His dad was one of those guys who I thought loved run support as much as he loved covering guys. And these are the guys that really attract me at times. And maybe, maybe I'm barking up the wrong tree from time to time, but if I got. If I got warriors on my roster, especially at the glamour positions, then I'VE got a hard football team like some of those top 49ers teams where they, they will all go to war with you and they don't care where they'll play you in the parking lot sort of stuff. So, so that's the stuff I'm looking for. And I assume you are too.
- [08:26]
Dominick Robinson
Yeah. And so the other thing that can get tricky with evaluating this position is a college corner may play in a system where they play off coverage, for instance, for 70 to 80% of their snaps.
- [08:42]
Bob Sturb
Yep.
- [08:43]
Dominick Robinson
And then you draft him. But you are a press coverage team. Maybe you play press quarters, maybe you play press man. And so you may go get a guy who is a quote unquote first rounder that isn't, that's uncomfortable in press coverage, but he's been phenomenal in off coverage and vice versa. And so you, you may watch a guy that just is dominant in college because he plays 70 to 80% press, but you need to be able to do them both at the NFL level. You cannot be there. There's no real position where you, I mean maybe a pass rush edge where you can just be a like all out specialist anymore.
- [09:30]
Bob Sturb
Right.
- [09:31]
Dominick Robinson
They just will, they'll find a way to exploit you in some way shape or form.
- [09:36]
Bob Sturb
No, no.
- [09:37]
Dominick Robinson
You know, if you just play all off coverage, then I know. Or I know that's what you're best at. I will put you in situations where you have to press.
- [09:46]
Bob Sturb
Yep.
- [09:47]
Dominick Robinson
And, or I will. Or vice versa. And so that's these guys, the coordinators you know now, they're just so smart, they're so sharp. So you can get some, some sort of tricky evaluations because you may evaluate a guy on his, all of the tape you have on them, but you just don't have enough. And in whatever, you know, technique that you prefer, your coordinator prefers or you fire your coordinator, you don't even know and you go get the player. You know, similar to with the Cowboys have a, have a new coordinator coming in and you know, had they have already committed to sort of certain, certain secondary players that don't fit, you know, his, his scheme. You may have a really good player that, that doesn't perform or produce at the level that you want because the technique that he's comfortable playing.
- [10:41]
Bob Sturb
This is a position where There are between 20 and 30, often closer to 30 players taken in every NFL draft. You never have enough corners. You always should grab an ext. Your roster is going to need them over the course of the season. And now in this age where we have 11 personnel and 10 personnel. You're going to need three or four corners on the field at the same time. This has changed over the course of history. When we were little kids, a team might have two corners and then a third one that could, you know, be depth, but now you better have five that you feel good about when you had. So that's. That's why in the draft, everybody gets pushed up the board. Corners will go early. And what we're trying to do here is identify each of our favorite five. I have definitely not looked at 30 of these guys. I've looked at closer to 10, and I anticipate I'll get to 12 or 13, but I got to keep moving and I can't get to all of them. But. But I'm anxious to hear your top five and then see how it compares to my list because I usually trust your eyes better than mine in this position.
- [11:51]
Dominick Robinson
Yeah. And just really quick, before I get to my five, I do want to point out some other false positives or sort of tricky things in terms of evaluations with corners that, you know, this position is probably missed more than any other position aside from quarterback. You know, quarterback is a little bit different because there's only one. And it's very obvious, obviously, when that happens. And they're always taken early. But cornerback, straight line speed, 40 times straight line speed gives you very little advantage at cornerback. You have to be able to see. Your eyes have to be good, your processing has to be good. Not only seeing it, but seeing it, then processing it, and then going and doing the thing, whatever movement is called for it. So straight line speed, that obviously when you're running in a straight line, you don't have to think, you don't have to process. And where your eyes are not important. So a guy running really fast can help, but it's not what creates a good cornerback. Winning in press. There will be very, very, very physically talented players in college that can just play press coverage, and they're better athletes than the guys they go against. So when you watch the tape, if they live in press, not saying that you run away, but you have to be able to play some sort of off coverage, because we have to, we have to disguise and show that we are not in man coverage. Sometimes when we are in man coverage, right, you are in press, you are typically in man. And if the offensive coordinator and the offensive players know what coverage you're in, you will get exposed. So a guy that's just dominant in press man coverage in college does not always translate. And Then the last thing is you get away with a lot more grabby coverage in college than you do at the NFL level.
- [13:56]
Bob Sturb
That's right.
- [13:57]
Dominick Robinson
Have to. You talk about athleticism, you have to be an absolute freak athletically because every rule is slanted towards offense winning.
- [14:08]
Bob Sturb
Yep.
- [14:09]
Dominick Robinson
So you can't be grabby. You. So, guys, you'll see some grabby wins. If you're seeing a bunch of grabby wins, that's a red flag when you're watching the tape.
- [14:17]
Bob Sturb
No doubt.
- [14:17]
Dominick Robinson
Because. And it's why that will. You'll get away with a lot of stuff in college that, you know, I. There was a guy that I played with that you may be familiar with. Batman, Carol. It was a Packer.
- [14:30]
Bob Sturb
Yeah, he sure was.
- [14:32]
Dominick Robinson
And they, they put boxing gloves on. They tried everything. So Pat. So I was the number one corner in my class and Pac man was number or bat. Batman was number two. And so with me being Robinson, we. Somebody wanted us to go together. We were supposed to be Batman and Robin. I can't remember where is Arkansas? Where did he end up going?
- [14:51]
Bob Sturb
Arkansas, I believe. Yeah. Yeah.
- [14:52]
Dominick Robinson
So anyways, so that guy was a really, really good athlete, but he was grabby. He was really grabby and that really. And that ended up ending his, his high or, sorry, his pro career a lot sooner than it should have because he was a really good corner, but he couldn't help it. And so he got away with it in college and it made him a first round pick. And so he, you know, he's a millionaire, I'm sure. And, you know, I'm sure he's not, you know, there's no complaints about his career, but, you know, he was never, he was never, you know, what? He probably could have been or should have been. And that was a red flag that you could have seen prior to him
- [15:30]
Bob Sturb
getting to the NFL, no doubt. Okay. And yeah, and with that, we're also looking for arm length. We're looking for, you know, honestly, just strength in your, in your ability up and press. But let's not get too far lost in the weeds. And let's not make this a three hour podcast. So let's, let's hear your top five corners and see how it compares with mine.
- [15:55]
Dominick Robinson
All right, so number five, from San Diego State, Chris Johnson. Fluid athlete, explosive. He's got adequate, adequate size, good recovery speed. He's a little slender, which would, you know, will, you know, makes you worry a little bit for him being vulnerable at the top of routes, push offs, you know, things that things at the break point. But I really love his athleticism. You know, he's got a really high athleticism score. And I, I just, to me that's, he's a good player for the mid, mid to late second round, you know, in the, in the 40 range. And so that's, that's who I have at five.
- [16:42]
Bob Sturb
Yeah, he's my number four. And, and I liked him a lot as a zone guy especially. I liked his vision, his awareness. I, honestly, from the tape, you were like, how's this guy going to test? And then he tested through the roof. So he has really easy athleticism. He has great feet. And I kind of like how he activates downhill and goes to blow stuff up in front of him. And, you know, that's a big, big metric for me is the BSU metric, which is blow s up and if you're willing to throw your shoulder in there and you know, he's not off the charts there, but he's very good. And so I didn't know, I didn't know what I think of him, but I ended up liking him quite a bit. So I put him at number four.
- [17:32]
Dominick Robinson
Okay. At number four. For me, I have Colton Hood from ufc. Good size and length. You know, going back to the conversation we just had about physicality and potential holds this guy in press coverage, he is a very good press coverage guy. You know, he, he stalls receivers really well on their releases and get offs and you know, the guy, guys really struggle in that area against him, which could also be a potential red flag for holds. He does play very physical, and the NFL just doesn't allow it the way that they do. I worry about him a little bit in, off in terms of his, his hips and sort of his consistency where I'm, where what I was talking about earlier, as far as it's not just seeing it, but seeing it diagnosing and then knowing or being able for your brain and body to connect. Yeah, go do it. So if you're talking about having a zone, if you're a zone heavy guy that, you know from a coordinator standpoint that asks their cornerbacks to read a lot of things and kind of see formations and play things, play coverages based off of that, I worry about him in this sense, but in terms of, you know, you know, I just, I liked him in that, in that, you know, kind of same range as, as, as Chris Johnson where he, you know, he's not your first round, early second round, but I thought he was a really good player. And I have him as the, the
- [19:11]
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Dominick Robinson
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- [19:40]
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- [20:28]
Bob Sturb
Okay, so for me, I want he's my notes where I wanted to like him a little bit more than I did. I'm with you on great athlete. Kind of looks like you can do man or Z. I did not see the run support I was hoping for. And again, we all rank that importance differently. I remember, remember Marcus Peters?
- [20:54]
Dominick Robinson
Oh yeah, of course.
- [20:55]
Bob Sturb
Okay, so Marcus Peters, I remember writing him up from the Washington Huskies and I thought, okay, here's a guy that doesn't tackle at all, does not help his run game at all. And I just, I can't stand that because like I said, I'm looking for Antoine Winfield. And then Marcus Peters gets to the league and he has like eight interceptions as a rookie and he's like an all pro. And he honestly, it kind of taught me thinking about him, thinking about Deion Sanders, that run support is important to certain people like me and I think some head coaches and probably some DCs, but it's not a deal breaker across the board. And that's like a bias of mine that I've got to get past and maybe I never will because, you know, I'm just sitting at my desk in my office watching football. So what, you know, if I, if I want to be stubborn about it, I suppose I Can. But what it means to me is I'll miss on some good guys who are really good at playing corner, but they don't do that extra thing I'm looking for, which is get up there and set a good edge and take it personally when they're running wide runs right at me because they. They don't think I've got the spine interest, you know, like. Like Trayvon Diggs. Right. And this. I feel like a hypocrite, too, because I really liked Trayvon Diggs for most of his career, but at the end, teams were kind of making fun of him by running at him and seeing that he, you know, when he sees a running play come at him. And you know this because you played the position, but I imagine there's a mental thought that fires in your head of either, oh, good, or oh, no, because preservation. Yeah. Here comes Derek. Here comes Derrick Henry at me, and, man, I'm already. This already hurts. So. So Colton Hood's very, very good. I left him off my top five just because I value that run support. But there's no question he's. He's a really good player. And, you know, maybe he's the next guy that I miss on a little bit of this position because I. I make run support and frankly, the interest in violence such a high priority in my cornerback. So I left him off. And I'll tell you who I.
- [23:21]
Dominick Robinson
Here's where. When you say miss, here's where that gets. That word gets a little tricky, because it's not necessarily that you miss. It's you. If you had a team and you had a scheme that was going to highlight either that ability or lack of ability, right? Then it would. He would fit, and it wouldn't be a miss. And that's where this comes in, is like, if you have a Dion, you got to make sure that Dion's able to do Dion things. And this is where there's such a disconnect sometimes.
- [23:52]
Bob Sturb
That's right.
- [23:53]
Dominick Robinson
Front office and coach. And that's why that's so important that everybody has to be aligned. Because you go get a player that doesn't fit what I like to do, and he might still be very valuable to someone else.
- [24:07]
Bob Sturb
That's right.
- [24:07]
Dominick Robinson
Different system.
- [24:08]
Bob Sturb
Here's another one.
- [24:09]
Dominick Robinson
You got to go get a guy that fits. And so him not wanting to tackle or being interested in tackling, you can still get great value out of him. If you can scheme, you know that into him or away from him. But if you can't do that or you have a Coach that can't do that, then that's where you end up, you know, completely. That's where the miss happens.
- [24:31]
Bob Sturb
Well, and here's another thing. Trayvon Diggs was projected in his draft to go where CD Lamb went. And I remember that the Cowboys had their list, and then CD Lamb fell to them, and they're like, well, heck with our list. CD Lamb is too good. Like, we thought he would go. We thought he'd be gone in the top five, certainly in the top 10. And here we are, like, at 17, and CD Lamb is in our laps. We have to take him. Well, who are they going to take if they didn't take him? As I recall that year, Trayvon Diggs was on that short list, and I think Caleb on Chase on the. The edge from lsu, couple other guys, and then Diggs was still available at 51. So when I'm value, you know, trying to put a valuation on these guys. No, in the first round, yes. In the second round, it's the same player. He has the same traits, same faults, same positives. But now we're just talking about, here it is at a high, high price, and then here he is at a price analysis. Yes, here he is at a price that. That I actually can deal with what he doesn't do and focus on what he does do. So. So that's. That my guy at number five is different. Should I. Should I spill the beans or.
- [25:52]
Dominick Robinson
Let's wait.
- [25:52]
Bob Sturb
Okay. Okay, You.
- [25:53]
Dominick Robinson
You go ahead.
- [25:54]
Bob Sturb
You go to three, then.
- [25:55]
Dominick Robinson
Yeah, so three. I have his teammate, Jermon McCoy.
- [25:59]
Bob Sturb
Okay.
- [26:00]
Dominick Robinson
This was where it gets a little funky because he was hurt, and his tape in 24 was very good. And what's interesting about him is his tape. The things that I say or the positives on his teammate, Colton Hood, are sort of the negatives for him and vice versa. I think this is a reliable tackle tackler. I think he's a physical run defender. He. I think he's very good. And clicking clothes and off man.
- [26:35]
Bob Sturb
Yep.
- [26:36]
Dominick Robinson
And cover two stuff. He's good with high, low. He looks like he's instinctual, where it's like with Colton Hood, it was sort of the opposite. More physical, better in press, not. I don't know how good he is in. In reading and diagnosing an off man and clicking, closing, you know, space when he's playing off. So, you know, so that's who I had at number three. Some people have him as high as the best corner in this. In this draft, and I can get there. I can get on that train. Maybe I just love my other, my other two guys way too much. I. And having recent tape on them. And then I actually my son going against both of the other. The next two guys.
- [27:22]
Bob Sturb
Okay.
- [27:23]
Dominick Robinson
Where I couldn't help but to be biased towards, you know, towards the next two. But. Okay, I can see him at one, you know, against guys. And then the last thing I'll say is he struggled against Jeremiah Smith, which. Who doesn't?
- [27:37]
Bob Sturb
Right.
- [27:37]
Dominick Robinson
And Andrew. Andrew Armstrong from, From Arkansas. So, you know, those things give me a little bit of pause. And then obviously him not playing in the, the 25 season.
- [27:47]
Bob Sturb
Yeah. I mean, that's the thing is you're looking at 2024 tape, but boy, was that tape good. He's so SM talented disposition that I like press coverage, is excellent big time ball skills and just, you know, he can recover if he, if he gets beat for a second. You know, the click and close is great. Young, very talented. So I, when I, when I was watching him, I was thinking, this is my favorite corner. Now, he got passed by one guy, but I said, this might be the best player. He might have an all pro ceiling. I love it, I love it, I love it. And I published my evaluation and I got a call and he said, yeah, I don't know, man. And what I got was basically the report that 2026 might be a full red shirt year and that the knee he didn't perform at the combine and the whispers, now, again, please take this for what it is. This is not me reporting it. This is me not saying it's verified. This is me telling you that somebody who would know is got caution flags out that we're going to need to really get our doctors to examine to put a first round grade on a player like this. Because, you know, the ACL was January of 2025. It should be fixed by now. We're looking at 14 months and by all reports, it's not there yet. And so they might have to go in and do something again, which could mean a full redshirt year, which means almost every single team would take him off their first round board. So I love them.
- [29:35]
Dominick Robinson
Yeah.
- [29:36]
Bob Sturb
I just don't know if the guy I watched on tape lives here right now.
- [29:41]
Dominick Robinson
Right. And that's where I struggled. I didn't even know if I wanted to put him in the five.
- [29:47]
Bob Sturb
Yes.
- [29:47]
Dominick Robinson
Because that's actually what I felt was he's not a first rounder.
- [29:52]
Bob Sturb
Yeah.
- [29:53]
Dominick Robinson
And most of these guys, I think could slip into the first round or the second round. You know, that's that's sort of what we're doing when we're ranking the top five, so.
- [30:01]
Bob Sturb
That's. Right.
- [30:02]
Dominick Robinson
You know, he may be the only one of all of our top fives that doesn't go in the first two rounds.
- [30:08]
Bob Sturb
I think everyone.
- [30:09]
Dominick Robinson
Everyone else we rank is gonna go in the first two rounds.
- [30:12]
Bob Sturb
Yeah.
- [30:12]
Dominick Robinson
I mean, so I thought about leaving him out and. But there was no one that I loved at the 6, 7, and 8 spot. So I. I left him in there because I do love his 24 tape and I do see where he could be. Like you said, he could be the best corner in this.
- [30:28]
Bob Sturb
Yeah. And it can still happen.
- [30:30]
Dominick Robinson
I mean, it might not be four years from. It might be four years from now.
- [30:33]
Bob Sturb
It could be. And, you know, if you're a rebuilding team and you don't feel urgency for 20, 26, that might be a guy you take at 35 early in the second round. 37. I don't know. And say, we think this could be a bonus first rounder for us.
- [30:52]
Dominick Robinson
Yeah. And you just stole the kid from the Chiefs and.
- [30:57]
Bob Sturb
Sure.
- [30:58]
Dominick Robinson
Like, hey, we just got our guy.
- [31:00]
Bob Sturb
Right.
- [31:00]
Dominick Robinson
Go get a guy for. For cheaper and.
- [31:02]
Bob Sturb
Right.
- [31:03]
Dominick Robinson
Get a first rounder in the. In the late second or third round.
- [31:06]
Bob Sturb
So he's my second best, based on tape. But I will caution people that I used red ink which says before we can lock this in on draft weekend, we're going to need to see him at his pro day. And it has been predicted to me that there may not be a pro day. And this might be one of those blind faith draft day weekend decisions by a team where they have no work out from him at all. They're just going on, you know, the belief that this can work out for them. So. So again, I hate to put that out there, but I do think it's kind of our job to at least let people know that if your team takes him, there are some fairly significant red flags right now that could get resolved, but they need to be resolved before anybody talks about a top 15 pick on Jermod McCoy.
- [32:01]
Dominick Robinson
Yep. At two. I love. So the next two guys I love. I only put him at two because I'm hoping that he could slide to the Cowboys and somebody else will take him or take the one before him.
- [32:17]
Bob Sturb
Okay.
- [32:18]
Dominick Robinson
I was. Not.
- [32:19]
Bob Sturb
Now, if that's your tactic, you can't say that's your tactic because they could be listening. But okay,
- [32:26]
Dominick Robinson
if. If he. If the Cowboys didn't have 12 and you know, and. And you know, they could go get him you know, I, I don't know. I think he'll get to 12 for sure. But anyways, I, I, Is it Avion? Avion.
- [32:44]
Bob Sturb
Avion. Terrell.
- [32:45]
Dominick Robinson
Avion Terrell from Clemson again. He's in the ACC and he plays against Florida State, so I've seen a lot of him. He's not a transfer. He's one of the few guys who are not a transfer. He's committed to Clemson out of high school, and he played his whole college career there. One of the few players who didn't regress at Clemson this year. A lot of talent at Clemson that just did not materialize. Excellent long speed, nimble feet, fluid hips. You know, backpedals and turns well. Can play press. He's patient. He leaves a little space in his man coverage, so pushing off and, you know, sort of contacts at the break point are very low for him. He doesn't have a lot of them. That also can leave you in positions where you don't grab. You're not grabby. So the, you know, the sort of, the flags, you know, getting those pass interference or holding calls at the NFL level shouldn't be an issue. He's a little smaller on the smallish side, so you, you, you may, you know, guys may want to, you know, physically sort of. He may be physically outmatched at the NFL level. And then one of my favorite things is probably eight force fumbles since 2024. Yeah, man, that's crazy for a corner. Yeah, that's just, that's a lot of force fumbles. Like, that's a, an absolute gift. Like, this guy has a talent, a gift you don't want. I mean, again, a lot of times we watch this tape and you get into sort of this trans. When you're watching tape, it's just like, same play over and over and over where, when you watch him, it's not like anyone else, any other corners, tape, and that his attempts at force fumbles, his production to be able to get the football out, it's just different. It's very, very good. And it's what I talk about when, when I say, like, this guy has to make you sit up. He's got to make you sit up. There's a couple plays where you're like, okay, that is special. That is different. I just love him at the 20 spot for the Cowboys. If he can make it that far. I don't know. I don't really study, you know, the whole draft in terms of, terms of teams where, Teams, you know, where needs are. If the, if this is a knee quarterback, cornerback need year. I guess every year is kind of that way now because you need three really good ones now. You got three starters, so. So I hope he can slide to 20 when I do the mock drafts. He's, he's getting there and so I love him. I think he's great and I, it would be, I just, he kind of, he just barely falls out of that 12 spot for me.
- [35:50]
Bob Sturb
Okay.
- [35:50]
Dominick Robinson
Really close to wanting to take him at 12, but I think you can trade, trade back and get some real value there. And so that's what I would want to do is go back and go get Macedor a little bit later and go get Terrell. And now you're really cooking with gas.
- [36:07]
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- [36:22]
Dominick Robinson
Hi, I'm Adam Devine, chief fundraiser for Children's Miracle Network.
- [36:28]
Bob Sturb
No, no, no, no, no.
- [36:29]
Dominick Robinson
I said more fun. When I was a kid, a Children's Miracle Network hospital helped me me get back on my feet, literally. So trust me when I say that these places aren't just hospitals, they are hoop factories. Children's Miracle Network is hospitals, programs, partners and donors like you.
- [36:46]
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- [37:22]
Bob Sturb
Man, you got. You gave me a lot to think about here because, because I, I, it's possible I picked some bad games and listening to you talk about him, I feel like I screwed up here. I, the size thing bothered me a little bit. He does seem to get big brothered a little bit out there against some of the bigger guys and I, so I start freaking out and I start thinking about like duron Bland and maybe that's extremely unfair, but I didn't see enough testing at the combine to say, no, no, this guy, this guy's at a Different level than Bland. He probably, but with Bland, man, I hate to put this on Terrell because they may be wildly different players and I just see it poorly. But with Bland, I see a guy who's too small to play outside and not physical enough to be a big time slot. And so like even hearing, you know, CP talk about what he wants for his slot, he wants like a, like a corner safety hybrid. Like a, like a corner cover. Like a corner hit. Like a safety. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
- [38:34]
Dominick Robinson
And so that plays physical. Yeah.
- [38:36]
Bob Sturb
And I just couldn't get there with, with him. But he's not there.
- [38:39]
Dominick Robinson
Yeah, no, but. And I will say, like probably two or three years ago, he actually is an inside slot safety. I saw, I mean a slot corner. I saw some of that in his film.
- [38:51]
Bob Sturb
Yeah.
- [38:51]
Dominick Robinson
The problem is now offenses have countered and they're going 12, 12 and 21.
- [38:58]
Bob Sturb
Yes.
- [38:58]
Dominick Robinson
And so now you have to, you used to be able to have to have a corner nickel and now you need to have a safety nickel. Big nickel.
- [39:07]
Bob Sturb
Right.
- [39:07]
Dominick Robinson
And he's not that. He's definitely not that. So.
- [39:10]
Bob Sturb
Yeah.
- [39:10]
Dominick Robinson
And so the, the old nickel mold, not the what, the, the sort of what. The transition. What we're transitioning.
- [39:18]
Bob Sturb
Yeah. So then I try not to, I try not to marry like a weight to that type of player because I often think it's more of a disposition and a body armor and just the way, you know, the way you play. At the same time, if you're closer to 180 than you are to 200, each pound does start to wear. Wear on me a little bit. Like, like 182 is a. No, 185 is a rarely 188. You know, and so again, we're talking about a couple of pounds here, like my lunch. So, so we're not, we're not talking about the end of the world. So I, I need to look at him again. I need to. Eight force fumbles. When you say that, you're describing the type of player I'm looking for. And yet when I see him, I'm just like, I wish, I wish he had a little more d' Angelo Pons in him, who's actually a smaller player who looks like he is a dog that's broken out of office leash and just looks like, you know, a savage out there who, who you know, we could talk about at some point. But, but he's, you know, that dude wants a street fight. So, so I'm going to go back and look at Terrell again. I did not put him at number two on my list. And there's another. So so far I've got two guys that aren't even on your list, but I'll save them. And to Hear your number one.
- [40:41]
Dominick Robinson
Love it. Okay, and then number one, Mansoor Delane.
- [40:45]
Bob Sturb
Yes.
- [40:46]
Dominick Robinson
From LSU. 40 career starts, zero penalties, zero touchdowns. Just two 20 yards receptions allowed in 20, 25.
- [40:58]
Bob Sturb
Holy heck.
- [40:59]
Dominick Robinson
In the SEC. Come on. Come on, man. Like that's. This guy's. This is a player. Light feet, loose hips, easy change of direction. Swivel, you know, swivel and break out of a speed turn, you know, with minimal lag, fluidity, technical polish mirrors complex, complex routes off coverage, press coverage, sticky man zone coverage.
- [41:28]
Bob Sturb
Yep.
- [41:29]
Dominick Robinson
Yes. You name it, he's got it. The, you know, any. The negatives would be little short arms, you know, which reduces his tackle radius and he's sort of average size 10 percentile and arm length. So, you know, you're not looking at. And then, you know, this is tape over traits. But the, the, his linear speed is probably not, you know, you're, you know, he's not going to be the fastest guy you have on your team, you know.
- [42:03]
Bob Sturb
Yeah, yeah.
- [42:04]
Dominick Robinson
That may scare some guys. It doesn't scare me because I, again, I watch tape and when I say all those things, I say all those positives I said were enough for me. And, and yeah, so I love him. I. And I hope he goes, you know, before the, before the Cowboys spot so that the Cowboys can get Terrell. But. But yeah, this is, that's, this is my number one.
- [42:29]
Bob Sturb
Okay, so you, you wouldn't be all over Delane at 12, or is that. Are you just saying that's unrealistic?
- [42:36]
Dominick Robinson
I just don't think he'll get there.
- [42:38]
Bob Sturb
Okay. Yeah, because, because, I mean, that would be the dream for me is. Yeah, if I get this guy, if
- [42:44]
Dominick Robinson
I could get him at 12, yeah, I go get him. I just don't think he'll get there.
- [42:47]
Bob Sturb
I don't think so either, especially given that the Chiefs have lost two corners and, you know, it just. He probably doesn't get out of the top 10. But I see a CB one in just about every way. He gets to the ball, even if it isn't his guy. He sees the whole field, he helps, he has easy athleticism, he anticipates just the type of corner I love. I was blown away, you know, I didn't know. I didn't know he was a Virginia Tech kid for a couple years and only played at LSU that final season. And so you're like, okay, is this guy one of these top LSU corners, or is he a guy that took a check to play there one year and just put the uniform on? I'm like, no, no, this guy's a legit, big time LSU corner who, who happened to only play there one year. And, and I'm. I'm completely sold just, just the way he's so calm and composed. And his first game as an LSU player was at Clemson. And so you would think if ever there was a time where you would be jumping around and extra hyper and maybe even exhausted midway through the first quarter because you're so amped up that you've actually depleted all your energy, it would be that game. And he's out there, and it doesn't even look like his heart is above 70 beats per minute. He's just as chill as can be and confident and, and just doing his job. So, yeah, Delane, especially with McCoy's question marks, Delane's the best corner in the draft. Okay, so I want to tell you about two guys on my top five, and then we'll get out of here. Unless you want to talk about anybody else. And I also want to say there's a couple down the list that I do think are, are slot candidates that I haven't spent enough time on. And Trey Trade in Stukes from Arizona and Keontae Scott from Miami are two guys I love at first pass, but I haven't. I haven't been in there enough. But I don't believe either are candidates for top five. I just wanted to say, if you're looking for that star position, that hybrid, hybrid corner from what I. The people I talk to in the league, they do talk about, kind of keep an eye on them in day two for that type of role. But the two guys that made my top five, that did not make yours. So I want to hear your thoughts on them. At number five, I have Keith Abney from Arizona State, and I just liked his balanced versatility. I think he can go inside and out. I do need to confirm, you know, the testing a little bit, but. But I just. I liked his disposition. I like the way he played. You know, just his, his overall game, it seemed like he had a lot of value. Maybe not spectacular in anything, but really solid across the board. And so I, I put him in a top of the second round type area for me. And I'm curious if that's too rich for you.
- [45:58]
Dominick Robinson
It is not. No. This is a good player. And if you didn't. If you have time. You may want to go back and watch the 2024 game against Texas. Yeah, phenomenal game.
- [46:13]
Bob Sturb
Okay.
- [46:15]
Dominick Robinson
He was very sticky versus obviously Texas, has some very good wideouts and does a very good job offensively. Definitely his best game.
- [46:25]
Bob Sturb
Okay.
- [46:26]
Dominick Robinson
The guy's a player though. This is a player. He's right outside. He was probably six or seven for me. He's right outside the five and yeah, love him. I, I think is he was called for seven penalties. He's got shorter arms. He didn't test well. You know, TMac ate him up, which T. Mac's the first round. He's a top eight pick. So. Yep, that's, that's not too much of an indictment, but that's what pushes you. That's right to the end of the second round and not the front end of the second round or the first round round. And then at number three, given the elite guys beat you, you know, you fall that conversation. All right.
- [47:05]
Bob Sturb
And then at number three for me, and maybe this is my bias where I like, you know, legion of boom type corners. I fell in love with Brandon C. Say from South Carolina who transferred over from NC State.
- [47:20]
Dominick Robinson
Yeah, as, as you're talking, I'm like, Bob's gonna bring up this, this South Carolina kid for sure. Yeah.
- [47:27]
Bob Sturb
I think when you're getting, getting in on C, say there's, there's, there's a path to development here. He's still young, he still is figuring it out, but he competes really hard, so that's big for me. He's outside only, so, so he's, he's not going to, to move inside and frankly, I don't think he's great with the little Cole Beasley's of the world underneath, you know, so they're going to try to go at him with, with underneath routes and try to, you know, prove that he can change direction at the, at the elite levels of the NFL. But he's looking for the ball. He takes runs at him personally. You know, where he's trying to punish a running back which, which again, hopefully your body can hold up playing that style. But I just, I think with his vertical explosion and his 20, 25 tape, I, you know, this, this guy to me was, was even right there kind of their tags touching with the Johnson kid for that 3, 4 spot on my list. So, so I, I, I like Brandon C. Say a lot.
- [48:33]
Dominick Robinson
Yeah. Good player. Definitely. Obviously all these guys are, Yeah, I would say why he wasn't in my top five was, you know, I'm a, I'M a, you know, I was an offensive player also. So I look for guys that are playmakers. You know, I love the, obviously, you know, Deion Sanders was my, you know, my muse. Travis Hunter is obviously, you know, these are, these are my guys. My secondary guys are guys that seem to get the ball in their hands and do something with it. He's just not, not a playmakers to two career interceptions only. But you're right, he brings it in run support. This is a long arm guy. He's got adequate size. He's pretty twitched up in terms of like, his movement capabilities are very strong. But yes, I don't see him, you know, being an inside, inside guy. And if he were, then this conversation would probably be a little bit different and you're looking at, you know, probably a top five guy. So good, really good player.
- [49:42]
Bob Sturb
Last guy we should talk about, then we'll get out of here is Indiana's d' Angelo Pons. I absolutely love him, think he's great, Warrior heart, all that type of thing. Playmaker finds the ball, takes everything personally. I just can't get past 5, 9 ish, maybe 5, 10 if he's on heels and like 182. There's an exception to every rule. I would hesitate saying that he is that exception, but I would also hesitate saying he isn't that exception. The Indiana tape from the pick six to start the Oregon game to, I mean, go anywhere you want on that Indiana tape. D' Angelo Pons is from Miami. And I hate to say that you can tell a guy's from Miami just by watching him play, but I feel like you can tell he's from Miami and I love him. I just can't talk myself into going too high on him. But there's a price where I would be excited to run to the, run to the podium 100% this.
- [50:50]
Dominick Robinson
I loved him. Maybe my favorite corner, not in terms of ranking, but like my favorite guy that I hope to see succeed. This guy is a hell of a player to watch. Severely undersized and only 26 snaps at nickel. So you're worried that, hey, if I do bring him and he's my second or third best guy, I don't end up using him at all. Again, going back to the cost benefit analysis.
- [51:17]
Bob Sturb
Yep, yep.
- [51:18]
Dominick Robinson
But in the third round, if I, if I need a, if I need a corner and I got a little extra cash hanging around, I'm, I'm throwing it at this guy easily. I, I love him. I, I, he's one of the guys that will probably play for 12 years. And you know, I think teammates love him. I think he makes your. I think he makes your whole program better. These guys, guys like him, they're guys you got to have on the roster. I just can't pay you first or second round money.
- [51:48]
Bob Sturb
That's right.
- [51:49]
Dominick Robinson
That's it. But I love him and I think he's a really, really good player that just, he makes teams better. And obviously the way the style he plays, he should add to your special teams. So, yeah, there is, there is something there. He does bring value. Like I said, that's more than what you actually watch on tape.
- [52:08]
Bob Sturb
Well, these, these, these guys who are small, who get attacked by the, the opposing coaches who, who see the tape and they say, okay, we're going at this guy the whole game. What we got to remember is these guys have been attacked since like middle school. They're used to it. They take it fine, bring it on. He, he. They left him alone with Jeremiah Smith for a lot of that Ohio State game, and it didn't go great for him. Let's not kid ourselves. I mean, Jeremiah Smith is a beast and he'll be a top five guy, maybe a top one guy very, very soon. But what I loved about Pons is he would get beat and then he would get up and say, let's do it again. I bet you can't do it again. And it was just like a, like a sadistic masochist, you know, view of. He, he, you know, I. Short memory Steve Smith, if he was a corner, you know, it's just, it's just that mentality where you're kind of surprised he's not in the UFC right now because that's that type of man in the arena type mentality that gets us all cooking a little bit. So anyway, shout out to Pons and it's a fun corner class. There's a lot to like here. There's a lot of starters in this group. And I enjoyed your list. And I'm also challenged to go back and maybe look at a few of these guys a little more that I left off because like I said, you're usually onto it here.
- [53:36]
Dominick Robinson
Yeah. I think what was our biggest disagreement was Terrell, right?
- [53:40]
Bob Sturb
Yeah. Yeah. And like I said, I get it. I just, he's. He just doesn't fit my eye. But maybe that's my eyes fault because, you know, you're, you're probably spot on and you know, there's nothing more important than the game of football, than getting, getting the football for A defense. You know, I always like to say, if you're a defensive coordinator, are we going for takeaways or are we trying to suppress explosive plays? And, and I, I realize in this cover six, you know, quarters world we live in that teams are trying to take away explosives, but let's not kid ourselves. Turnover differential still runs the world. And I guess, I guess the answer is both. You're trying to get both for sure.
- [54:31]
Dominick Robinson
So next, next episode, we're on to the linebackers, huh?
- [54:35]
Bob Sturb
Yes, sir. Onto the linebackers.
- [54:36]
Dominick Robinson
We already know from episode one that I've got Arvel Reese.
- [54:41]
Bob Sturb
Yeah.
- [54:41]
Dominick Robinson
In there. And you won't. Right. I won't still put him in there. No.
- [54:45]
Bob Sturb
Okay. No, no. I'll keep him at edge. I think that's where he ends up. But, but I'm really excited about talking about these linebackers because.
- [54:53]
Dominick Robinson
Especially because the Cowboys just, just got an edge, which I, you and I probably got to talk either off air or maybe I can come on the Musers this week, no doubt to talk about what they did because are they going to go get another edge since they just got one and he's a Packer. So I know you, you got, you got enough time watching him. Yeah, but, but yeah, I think there's a possibility that one of those two picks is going to have to be an off ball linebacker.
- [55:23]
Bob Sturb
Yeah.
- [55:23]
Dominick Robinson
Especially now that, that they just got an edge.
- [55:26]
Bob Sturb
So I would think so. But we'll see. We'll see how free agency goes in that direction as well. But moving, moving to this defense, you probably can't have too many linebackers as well. All right, we'll do linebackers next time. And we appreciate you locking us in for episode two of Tape Over Traits. You've been listening to a KTCK sports podcast presentation.
- [55:58]
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