Broaddus draft watch- Patrick Peterson

[dbair1967]

PATRICK PETERSON
Position: CB
School: LSU
Scouts Inc. ranking: No. 3 overall

[+] EnlargeDerick E. Hingle/US Presswire
LSU cornerback Patrick Peterson has shown the ability to be an impact player right away.Bio: Consensus All-American who won the Bednarik Award (nation’s top defensive player) and Thorpe Award (nation’s top defensive back) in 2010. Was also named the SEC defensive player of the year and special teams player of the year. … Three-year starter at LSU who declared for the draft after his junior season. Finished his career with 135 tackles, 22 pass breakups, seven interceptions and four touchdowns (two on punt returns, one on an interception return and one on a return of a blocked field goal). … Averaged 29.1 yards per kickoff return and 16.1 yards per punt return.

Size: 6-foot-¼, 219 pounds
40-yard dash: 4.34
Arm length: 32 inches
Hand size: 9¼ inches
Vertical jump: 38 inches
225-pound bench press reps: 15
Broad jump: 10-6
20-yard shuttle: 4.07
60-yard shuttle: 11.01
Three-cone drill: 6.58

Broaddus Breakdown (viewed Auburn, Alabama, Arkansas and Texas A&M games): Has more of a strong safety build than that of a corner. … Will usually line up as the right corner but in certain schemes will flip to the left side. Runs easy, able to track receivers across the field and maintain position in the route. Will also see him cover from the slot. If he did allow separation it was more on the out routes than any other. … Has quick feet to drive on the ball. Able to keep leverage on the outside. … Wrap-up tackler. … Can play press coverage well. Physical with his hands on the press. Can jam and redirect routes. Will make receivers have to restart. … For the most part, did a nice job of finding the ball in the air but did see a play against Julio Jones of Alabama where he struggled on the fade. Did not get his head back around quick enough. Jones was able to take the ball at the highest point. … Jones also gave Peterson trouble on the slant. Had inside technique but had poor footwork, got turned and gave up inside. … Can be physical in the running game and also showed toughness on the goal line fitting against the run from the linebacker spot. Showed some nice reaction to Trent Richardson of Alabama on a swing pass to the flat. Able to make the tackle in the open field but did miss a tackle the same way against Mario Fannin of Auburn. ... Plays with balance and change of direction. Has catch-up speed. He is a hard man to run away from. Smooth pedal and explosion. Just so smooth in the way he plays. No wasted movement, effortless. ... Is a dynamic returner in the kicking game. Has feel, vision and speed to deliver huge plays. … No doubt that he is the best corner in the draft. When compared to Prince Amukamara of Nebraska, it is not even close. Peterson has the skill set to be an immediate impact player for his future team.

 

[Cr122]

I wouldn't mind Peterson for two reasons.

1) He can play special teams.

2) We can convert him to safety.

Other than that I don't want him. I don't want another Newman because you can find quality corners later in the draft.

 

[Midswat]

Part of me hopes we draft him because... lets face it, we've got maybe a year or two left of Newman, and I think sbk will need someone new to target his angst against.


In all seriousness... I love the player, but I hate the idea of ignoring our most obvious need. I'd really have to see what else we did in the draft before I could accurately grade the pick. If we turned around and addresssed Oline in the second and with a few more picks, then I'd warm up to it.

But if we take Peterson, give up a third (or more), went DE in the 2nd, and didn't start addressing the line until the 5th or later, I'd pretty much shit on the draft.

 

[Midswat]

Peterson is the kind of player I think would have an immediate impact on the defense. Moreso than Roy Williams in 2002. I think he'd be a bona'fide DROY candidate.

 

[Cr122]

The only way I'd be happy with Peterson at 9 would be taking back to back offensive lineman in the second and third rounds. Like you mentioned, Middie.

For example: if we landed any of these players in the second and third rounds, Ijalana, Cannon, Franklin, Rackley, Gilbert, Brewer, Barksdale.

In that scenario we drafted our safety and added two offensive lineman starters for 2012/2013.

 

[Midswat]

We're not going to take Peterson at 9. If we take him, it's because we traded up. Which means we don't have a third rounder.

 

[Cr122]

I wouldn't trade up if it means we lose a pick. We need our third round pick. Then hell with Peterson.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

I'd rather we play to the strengths of the draft and which coincidentally happens to follow in an order of our needs. OT, DE in the 1st 2 rounds and CB in the mid-rounds.

 

[sbk92]

I wouldn't trade up if it means we lose a pick. We need our third round pick. Then hell with Peterson.

We'll put you down for being in favor of only trading up if we don't have to give up picks.